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Taking Your Puppy Home

Bring with you: These things are not required but are helpful for a easier transition.

 

What you will need at home: 

 

Settling in:

  • 8 – 10 weeks is a very critical time for a puppy. They begin to be more independent but with that come more fears. We have tried to help her experience many things (socialize) to help with this but it is important that you keep your puppy close and create an environment where she can feel safe to explore but with boundaries. 
  • Fear Imprint: Traumatic, fear producing experiences, may be permanently impressed causing defensive reactions in some circumstances.
  • Consistency/routine is very important.
  • Place a dirty towel or piece of clothing or blanket close to their sleeping space so they can smell you.
  • Keep them her close to you so your puppy begins to depend on you.
  • Use the crate at bedtime, cover it with a sheet to hide some of the light in the am and movement. Once you put her in for bed do not talk to her or try to ease her whimpering, you will only make that last longer if she knows you will give her attention.
  • ONLY go to your puppy if you have not seen her go to the bathroom, then go outside and back in with no additional “attention” a minimal amount of praise IF they do go potty outside. Then back in the crate.
  • Remember that your puppy is not fully vaccinated.  Be sure that any other pets/animals that you come in contact with are vaccinated. It is not wise to take them to public dog parks where you do not know all of the animals present.
  • ALWAYS keep your puppy on a leash, especially at the park, the forest preserve anywhere that you might think it will be fun to run with him. Years ago we had a family lose their puppy that way, he was just 4 mo old and they let him off the leash at the forest preserve and he got into something that was poisonous to him. They did not see it and by the time they noticed any symptoms it was too late.

  • Your puppy may not eat much for the first few days and may have diarrhea.  This is normal, however if either goes on for more than 3-4 days please contact your veterinarian.

 

Feeding: Country Vet Naturals Puppy

  • We feed two (2) times a day

    • 5:30 and 6 am​

    • 4:30 – 5 pm

  • Feed ½ of their daily allowance at each feeding.

  • Only allow them to eat for 15-20 min. If after 20 min they have not finished you should pick the food up and dump it back in the bin. At the evening feeding only feed them there evening ½ of their daily allotment.

  • Water should be available during meal time while potty training, once you are in a good routine you can make water available all day. Similar to a human who should drink 8 glasses of water a day, a dog should be offered 16 oz of water per 10 lbs of body weight per day.

  • Take them out to go to the bathroom 30-60 min after eating or drinking.

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Changing foods:

  • Always change foods gradually

  • Day 1: 75 % old/ 25 % new food

  • Day 2 – 3: 50% old/ 50% new food

  • Day 4 – 25% old/ 75 % new food – you can stay at this level until the old food is gone so it is not wasted.

 

What’s next?

  • Your puppy will need to go to the vet 3-7 days after taking your puppy home. At this time they will discuss vaccination schedule and heart worm solutions.
  • I suggest that you use Sentinal as your heartworm medication. I was recently informed by my vet that is covers whipworms (which heartguard does not) and has a flea inhibitor that helps stop fleas from becoming an infestation.
  • At 13 - 14 weeks of age they will need another booster shot, heartworm, rabies and you can talk to your vet about spaying/neutering your puppy.

  • Heartworm is a monthly dose, you need to watch the weight of your puppy to make sure they are getting the proper dosage each month. 

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