Transporting and welcoming your puppy home

  When Travelling:

Take with you;

-         a collar

-         an adjustable lead

-         a water bowl

-         a bottle of fresh water

-        old towels or a roll of kitchen paper should he be sick in the back of the car

Travelling on leaving the breeders can be quite traumatic for the pup. To reassure him, have a passenger hold him on their   knees or put him next to you on a blanket smelling of his mum and litter. If you’re travelling with children ask them to be calm and quiet so he isn’t even more stressed. Talk to him to reassure him.

 When at home:

-         First take him to where he’s allowed to relieve himself, (for example in the corner of the garden) and praise him when he does.

-         Let him explore his new home.

-         If he hides, leave him until he comes out by himself

-         Put a blanket or towel in his bed that smells of his mum and the litter;

-        Feed him and keep his water bowl filled

-         Give him his toys

-         Avoid any contact with other animals until the following day

-         Leave him alone when he naps

-         Explain to your children that the puppy is not a toy
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FOOD

  Dry food:

As there are so many brands of dry food available on the market, it’s best to take the advice of your breeder or vet, on what’s best for the age and activity of your pet.

Make sure you give him quality food

For our dogs we use   A Sample is included in the puppy kit we give you when you leave with your puppy.

The cheaper brands are lower quality and you need larger portions to take into account you dog’s activity and requirements. Feeding bigger portions can lead to serious health consequences (skin, digestive problems) or even interfere with his growth.

With a higher quality brand you should be able to avoid these problems. Your dog will digest and benefit from this type of food, passing fewer and healthier stools.

  Homemade Food:

If you prefer making his food, use good quality ingredients but never table scraps (they’re often too fatty and inadapted for  dog’s daily nutritional requirements)

Respect the following portions;

-         50% white meat (chicken, turkey) or lean (beef, lamb) or fish

-         25% cereals (rice, wheat, oats or maize..)

-         25% carrots or green vegetables for added  colour

It’s Very Important to add a growth complement for your puppy

  Deshydrated Foods:

This dry food is made differently and  it’s coloured. You need to add hot water with  or hot water with stock at least 30 minutes before feeding,  to allow for cooling.

  Tins:

They should not be used because they have an  80 % water content and are of extremely  poor nutritional value.

  Forbidden Foods:

-  table scaps (as we explained previously)

-  cakes and biscuits

WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO FEED YOUR DOG ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP HIS WATER BOWL FILLED AT ALL TIMES

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TRAINING

  House training your puppy:

This should start as soon as possible. It’s very important to establish a routine. Your puppy must associate the fact of going outdoors with relieving himself. When he does so, praise him warmly, and give him a dog biscuit as a reward. This way he’ll realise this behaviour is approved.

To help him, make sure you let him out when;

-         he wakes up

-         after each meal

-        after he’s had a drink

Important; when he messes indoors (it will be quite frequent at the beginning) only tell him off if he does so in your presence, clean it up when he’s out of the room (use white vinegar which he won’t like the smell of to wipe up)
Never rub his nose in it-it will only traumatise him and he could try and cover up his mistakes by eating his stools (Coprophagy)

  Obediance:

Should be done gently but firmly. It should be fun for a puppy to please his owner. When you’re “working” with him, reward him with pats and dog biscuits.
Never spend more than a quarter of an hour each day.

Be careful, puppy’s bones and joints are soft and fragile.

      -         When he’s small, carry him up and down the stairs

      -         Never pick him up by his front paws, pass your hand under his rear and the other under his chest.

      -         Do not let children pick him up

     -         Watch out for slippery floors

     -         Never make him jump vertically, or over obstacles

     -         Don’t play rough games

  -    Or take him on too long walks

Swimming is a great exercise but not until he’s fully innoculated, ask your vet

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CARE

  Health Care:

                       -     Grooming : once or twice a week; more frequently when he’s malting in spring and autumn to get rid of dead fur. Check the health of his skin and parasites (fleas, tics etc)

                       -      Shampoo : your dog only occasionally, as it will remove his natural protective oils. Better to wash his fur with water only. If he has parasites seek your vet’s advice for treatment.

                       -      Ears Check them regularly and if you notice any soreness, infection, strong smelling brown wax, etc… see your vet.

                        -     Paws : Check there’s nothing stuck between his pads. There are products to toughen up  puppies’  paws, ask vet’s opinion.

  Inoculations:

On leaving the breeders your puppy will have received his first round of inoculations.

- Canine distemper  High temperature, lung problems, diarrheic, eye, skin problems. This is often a fatal disease.-

-   Infectious canine hepatitis (Temperature and hepatitis)

                 - Canine Parainfluenza (severe cough “Kennel cough”)

You will have to take him for two more inoculations –one month apart after the first round so that your puppy is protected for the year. Then an annual booster will be required

  Worming:

Your puppy would have been regularly wormed by the breeder (the dates are in his health booklet) we recommend you worm your puppy once a month until 6 months of age. And then twice a year.

  Female dogs on eat:

Female dogs come on heat twice a year all throughout their lives. They last 3 to 4 weeks. Be careful interested males don’t come too close especially from the 9th day onwards when they are most likely to conceive. 

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