Pick up day is a big day. It’s exciting and overwhelming. So to help you prepare I’m going to list what you need and what you need to know. And what I supply.
Your pup will be eating both kibble and raw when they leave. You can select which you prefer to continue. I prefer raw. Feeding is 3 times a day if possible. If not 2 will be fine. Start with 1 cup of kibble or for raw 10% of body weight a day divided by number of meals If you are feeding raw please educate yourself with books provided. I feed a premix balanced diet of bone organ and meat. And I rotate proteins. I also use nuvet vitamins. With any diet you need to watch puppies body to determine if you are over feeding or under feeding. To defrost raw place the tube in refrig the day before. It should be semi defrosted by the next day for feeding. Do not cook or heat up. And it only lasts in fridge about 3 days before it sours. You can make your own meals. I recommend joining a good fb group and reading as much as you can before you decide to make you own meals.
Next is potty training. I will send home a couple pee pads. Place one pad at the exit door and it’s used for oh my gosh I have to go emergency. Take pup out every hour awake. As soon as pup eats or wakes up. I recommend going to bed at 10-11pm. Get up at 2am. And then awake at 5-6am. For at least first couple weeeks. I like potty bells and if you use them just take their nose and touch bells each time you exit door to potty. I also say command “go pee”.
Next is crate training. I send home a small crate. You will need a larger one later. This gets you started for a couple months. I crate when ever I’m not home. You can crate at night. If you are on fence about crating at all I recommend to do it at least first 6 months. You never know in the future if you will need to board or for some reason the dog needs contained. By crating in the beginning it gets them use to it. They will cry first couple days. Use a command and a treat. Like “go sleep” and put treat in crate along with a special toy like the snuggle puppy. Some people purchase a puppy playpen like I have. And they place the pup in the pen when they eat or can’t watch the pup. This is a great idea. It will take time to adjust to your pup being alone and not having sibling to share pen with. So keep at it. If you don’t buy a pen then contain the pup to one room. The room you are in. No free reign of house till at least a couple months old. You will have potty issues if you don’t contain them. If you can’t contain then leash them to your belt loop. I’ve saw many have success with this method. It’s a burden on you because they are under your feet but they can’t sneak off and potty.
I send home a harness, leash, and seatbelt. You shouldn’t walk dog on a collar unless it’s a no pull like a herms spranger. Walking should be done on one side right beside you. I like the treat pouch and clicker to get them to do this. Use the clicker and then command to stop and give treat. The more you walk the more they learn. Now remember hips are not developed. Walk on grass when ever possible for first 6 months. No hiking miles or mountains until they are adults. Short walks only and only after all shots are done.
Water bowl and and feed bowl. If feeding raw use a stainless bowl. I like the 360 water fountain. You can buy on amazon. I have the stainless and it’s over 12 years old, runs every day and still works. It keeps them from playing in the water when they are little. They make a plastic one that’s cheaper too. If you can use filtered water please do. Little pups are more sensitive to water then big dogs. If your water is not great then buy bottled.
Next lets talk talk about shots. I do a vet exam and first shots at 8 weeks. My vet recommends the next dose at 11 and final dose at 14 weeks. You will need another booster at 16-17 because the first shot does not contain lepto. You also need to decide what other shots you are doing besides the basics and rabies. I do them all. Lyme and kennel cough. While I’m at vets they insert microchip and I register for lifetime. My name is listed first then yours. If at any point the dog needs rehomed it’s important to notify me first. I have first right of refusal. You can not change the name on microchip. I also ask if you move or change info to notify me so I can update the file. Next the vet gives them their first dose of revolution for flea and heartworm prevention. I find that most vets switch you to another product. I like revolution. It’s safe. My second choice at 6 months old is Bravecto and heartguard. They are always coming out with new products. But I use revolution because it’s safe. But it does not guard against ticks. It does guard against parasites and ear mites. Talk with your vet about what they like and why.
I send home a paper for Trupanion for pet insurance. Your pup is covered for 30 days and then you can decide if you wish to continue. This is personal choice. But if your pup eats a sock and you need surgery it’s around $2,000 to do this.
Next lets talk talk about grooming and brushes. I like the Chris christenson brush on amazon. It’s a good daily brush. A slicker brush pulls out under hair if pup is shedding or changing coat from puppy to adult. You can watch utube videos on how to pull hair up and brush from the shaft out in section. I want to tell you length is a personal choice. But know your lifestyle. Do you swim with pup? Do they get wet a lot? Then do a shorter groom. If you are not great at brushing 3 times a week then they will mat and you need to groom shorter. Find a good groomer and make appt every 8 weeks. This will eliminate the need to shave the pup because of mats. Plus when you go often it’s let work on groomer and it’s a lot cheaper. If you let them mat every time expect to pay a hefty bill and have your pup shaved.
Decide if if you are trimming nails or having someone else do it. They need done at least once a month.
Car riding. Use a harness and seatbelt. And make them sit on the seat. Young pups can get car sick. They usually put grow this by 6 months. Just keep trying. Don’t feed right before car ride. Try cracking windows for fresh air.
Socializing your pup is important. After all shots are complete take your pup to a puppy kindergarten training class. This is great experience for you and the pup. Take the pup to friends houses and visit. Try parks and big box stores. Get them use to going places and being well behaved. The first 6 months are critical to socializing. Introduce to young kids. The more you socialize the more relaxed they become around strange things.
At 6 months old you need to make an appt to spay or neuter your pup. This is a good age to do it. Talk with your vet. No younger than 6 months. But some vets like to wait a little longer. If you decide you don’t want to spay and you want to breed you must contact me to discuss. I do sell breeding rights. And we can discuss. If you breed with out notifying me I will have to resort to legal action for breech of contract.
Most importantly remember your pup is like an infant when they come home. You are the parent. What you teach them is what they know. And the first couple days are traumatizing to a new pup. They don’t have siblings to comfort them. So they will cry if left alone. Most of us were taught not to hold baby too much you will spoil them. Let them cry. I don’t like this method the first couple days. Pick them up and comfort them. By day 4-5 they are adjusting. Then you can let them cry a little in crate. After they have adjusted to you you can become more strict with the crate.
To recap what is supplied when you pick up: crate, harness, leash, seatbelt, training book, training pouch, food, toys, treats, scent blanket, snuggle puppy, microchipped, utd shots, revolution, a tote to carry it all and a folder with all vet paperwork.
Im always available to answer questions. Send me an email or call. And if at any point it’s not working out or you have life changes that you just can’t keep your pup I ask you to notify me. I will help you. I have people contact me all the time for adults. I would have no problem placing a dog that didn’t work out or couldn’t be kept.
Your pup will be eating both kibble and raw when they leave. You can select which you prefer to continue. I prefer raw. Feeding is 3 times a day if possible. If not 2 will be fine. Start with 1 cup of kibble or for raw 10% of body weight a day divided by number of meals If you are feeding raw please educate yourself with books provided. I feed a premix balanced diet of bone organ and meat. And I rotate proteins. I also use nuvet vitamins. With any diet you need to watch puppies body to determine if you are over feeding or under feeding. To defrost raw place the tube in refrig the day before. It should be semi defrosted by the next day for feeding. Do not cook or heat up. And it only lasts in fridge about 3 days before it sours. You can make your own meals. I recommend joining a good fb group and reading as much as you can before you decide to make you own meals.
Next is potty training. I will send home a couple pee pads. Place one pad at the exit door and it’s used for oh my gosh I have to go emergency. Take pup out every hour awake. As soon as pup eats or wakes up. I recommend going to bed at 10-11pm. Get up at 2am. And then awake at 5-6am. For at least first couple weeeks. I like potty bells and if you use them just take their nose and touch bells each time you exit door to potty. I also say command “go pee”.
Next is crate training. I send home a small crate. You will need a larger one later. This gets you started for a couple months. I crate when ever I’m not home. You can crate at night. If you are on fence about crating at all I recommend to do it at least first 6 months. You never know in the future if you will need to board or for some reason the dog needs contained. By crating in the beginning it gets them use to it. They will cry first couple days. Use a command and a treat. Like “go sleep” and put treat in crate along with a special toy like the snuggle puppy. Some people purchase a puppy playpen like I have. And they place the pup in the pen when they eat or can’t watch the pup. This is a great idea. It will take time to adjust to your pup being alone and not having sibling to share pen with. So keep at it. If you don’t buy a pen then contain the pup to one room. The room you are in. No free reign of house till at least a couple months old. You will have potty issues if you don’t contain them. If you can’t contain then leash them to your belt loop. I’ve saw many have success with this method. It’s a burden on you because they are under your feet but they can’t sneak off and potty.
I send home a harness, leash, and seatbelt. You shouldn’t walk dog on a collar unless it’s a no pull like a herms spranger. Walking should be done on one side right beside you. I like the treat pouch and clicker to get them to do this. Use the clicker and then command to stop and give treat. The more you walk the more they learn. Now remember hips are not developed. Walk on grass when ever possible for first 6 months. No hiking miles or mountains until they are adults. Short walks only and only after all shots are done.
Water bowl and and feed bowl. If feeding raw use a stainless bowl. I like the 360 water fountain. You can buy on amazon. I have the stainless and it’s over 12 years old, runs every day and still works. It keeps them from playing in the water when they are little. They make a plastic one that’s cheaper too. If you can use filtered water please do. Little pups are more sensitive to water then big dogs. If your water is not great then buy bottled.
Next lets talk talk about shots. I do a vet exam and first shots at 8 weeks. My vet recommends the next dose at 11 and final dose at 14 weeks. You will need another booster at 16-17 because the first shot does not contain lepto. You also need to decide what other shots you are doing besides the basics and rabies. I do them all. Lyme and kennel cough. While I’m at vets they insert microchip and I register for lifetime. My name is listed first then yours. If at any point the dog needs rehomed it’s important to notify me first. I have first right of refusal. You can not change the name on microchip. I also ask if you move or change info to notify me so I can update the file. Next the vet gives them their first dose of revolution for flea and heartworm prevention. I find that most vets switch you to another product. I like revolution. It’s safe. My second choice at 6 months old is Bravecto and heartguard. They are always coming out with new products. But I use revolution because it’s safe. But it does not guard against ticks. It does guard against parasites and ear mites. Talk with your vet about what they like and why.
I send home a paper for Trupanion for pet insurance. Your pup is covered for 30 days and then you can decide if you wish to continue. This is personal choice. But if your pup eats a sock and you need surgery it’s around $2,000 to do this.
Next lets talk talk about grooming and brushes. I like the Chris christenson brush on amazon. It’s a good daily brush. A slicker brush pulls out under hair if pup is shedding or changing coat from puppy to adult. You can watch utube videos on how to pull hair up and brush from the shaft out in section. I want to tell you length is a personal choice. But know your lifestyle. Do you swim with pup? Do they get wet a lot? Then do a shorter groom. If you are not great at brushing 3 times a week then they will mat and you need to groom shorter. Find a good groomer and make appt every 8 weeks. This will eliminate the need to shave the pup because of mats. Plus when you go often it’s let work on groomer and it’s a lot cheaper. If you let them mat every time expect to pay a hefty bill and have your pup shaved.
Decide if if you are trimming nails or having someone else do it. They need done at least once a month.
Car riding. Use a harness and seatbelt. And make them sit on the seat. Young pups can get car sick. They usually put grow this by 6 months. Just keep trying. Don’t feed right before car ride. Try cracking windows for fresh air.
Socializing your pup is important. After all shots are complete take your pup to a puppy kindergarten training class. This is great experience for you and the pup. Take the pup to friends houses and visit. Try parks and big box stores. Get them use to going places and being well behaved. The first 6 months are critical to socializing. Introduce to young kids. The more you socialize the more relaxed they become around strange things.
At 6 months old you need to make an appt to spay or neuter your pup. This is a good age to do it. Talk with your vet. No younger than 6 months. But some vets like to wait a little longer. If you decide you don’t want to spay and you want to breed you must contact me to discuss. I do sell breeding rights. And we can discuss. If you breed with out notifying me I will have to resort to legal action for breech of contract.
Most importantly remember your pup is like an infant when they come home. You are the parent. What you teach them is what they know. And the first couple days are traumatizing to a new pup. They don’t have siblings to comfort them. So they will cry if left alone. Most of us were taught not to hold baby too much you will spoil them. Let them cry. I don’t like this method the first couple days. Pick them up and comfort them. By day 4-5 they are adjusting. Then you can let them cry a little in crate. After they have adjusted to you you can become more strict with the crate.
To recap what is supplied when you pick up: crate, harness, leash, seatbelt, training book, training pouch, food, toys, treats, scent blanket, snuggle puppy, microchipped, utd shots, revolution, a tote to carry it all and a folder with all vet paperwork.
Im always available to answer questions. Send me an email or call. And if at any point it’s not working out or you have life changes that you just can’t keep your pup I ask you to notify me. I will help you. I have people contact me all the time for adults. I would have no problem placing a dog that didn’t work out or couldn’t be kept.
