When they first arrive home your puppy will probably feel a little apprehensive and will be missing the companionship of his/her mother and littermates. To make this transition stress-free, allow him/her to explore their new surroundings without too much interference or noise. Children should be reminded that the new puppy needs lots of love and also rest therefore should not be overhandled. Any other family pets should be introduced to the new arrival slowly and under close supervision.

Living quarters

It’s a good idea to section off a part of your house such as the laundry for your puppy. Provide him/her with a blanket and a basket or box to curl up in. Your puppy is used to being cuddled up with his/her brothers and sisters so may cry when put to bed for the first couple of nights or when left alone. You can place a ticking clock under the blanket to simulate the mother’s heartbeat and/or a hot water bottle in the bed to keep him/her warm (but not too hot because puppies chew!).

You may decide that you want your puppy to sleep in your bedroom with you. This is fine, but remember, if you change your mind later on it may be hard to convince your pup that the laundry or outside kennel is just as cozy!

During the day or when left alone, always make sure your puppy has somewhere to shelter from the weather both sun and rain.

Feeding

Your puppy should be fed on a complete and balanced diet especially formulated to suit his/her stage of life. We recommend a premium brand puppy biscuit, as they are made from high quality ingredients and provide all the nourishment your puppy needs. Changes in diet should be made gradually as sudden changes can cause diarrhoea and other problems.

Puppies only have small stomachs and require small meals often. Three to four meals spread throughout the day is best.

Keeping bright and active

To keep your pup’s bright little mind active, supply a good range of toys such as Kongs , treat balls , Buster Cubes, Rope Chews, Bones etc, which can be rotated over a period of a week, so there is always something new to play with. Be careful when choosing toys. Puppies can break off and swallow small pieces of plastic, which could make them ill.

House Training

There are certain signs you should watch out for that will alert you that your puppy needs to go outside. These include:

• If your pup walks around in circles.
• Sits or whines at the door.
• Sniffs at the ground.

There are also times when you should ensure you take your puppy outside to prevent accidents.

• First thing in the morning.
• After every sleep.
• After being left alone for a period of time.
• After every meal.
• Last thing before you put your puppy to bed.

Of course accidents will happen! If you catch your puppy in the act you should immediately take him/her outside. NEVER spank your puppy, rub their nose in it, or reprimand him/her after an accident has occurred. A puppy is too young to be able to connect this with what he has done wrong.

Using praise is the best method of training. Puppies only want to please their owners. Give your puppy lots of praise whenever they do the right thing.

Socialisation

The peak socialisation period in your puppy’s life occurs between the ages of 6 to 16 weeks. It is during this phase that your puppy needs to become accustomed to as many new experiences as possible. At this age a puppy will quickly and willingly learn many training commands including sit, stay, come and heel. He/she will need to be house trained and learn to walk on a lead.

We recommend taking your puppy to Puppy Pre-school classes. These classes are great fun for owners and puppies alike and are a must for any pet owner wanting a well-behaved sociable dog. Advice is on hand at all times on any problems or questions you may have regarding your puppy. Ask us for more information.

Patience

Your puppy will make mistakes from time to time. Most of these mistakes are natural puppy behaviours. It is up to you to teach your puppy right from wrong in the human world. Patience, praise and commitment will assist your puppy in developing into a well behaved, loyal companion.

Identification

Your dog should be registered with your local council. As well as a council provided dog tag we suggest you also attach a personalised tag and use a mroe permanent form of identification, a microchip.

The microchip is painlessly injected under the skin and can be read by a special scanner used by rangers, welfare organisations and all veterinarians. Your pet’s details are kept on a national database so you can be contacted and re-united with your pet should they ever be lost.

Healthcare and your puppy

Vaccination

Some canine diseases are very serious and can be fatal even with treatment. Highly effective vaccinations are available to help prevent some these disease. At 8 weeks of age puppies should receive their first vaccination; this is temporary and needs to be followed up with another one at 12 weeks. After the 12 week vaccination you can then take your puppy out in public areas. Your puppy will need annual boosters.

Dental Care

More than 85% of dogs over four years old will experience some form of gum disease which can lead to irreversible damage to the teeth and to other organs in the body. Prevention is possible with a well balanced diet including raw bones (or specifically formulated dental bones) on a weekly basis, regular dental check-ups at least yearly and brushing.

Desexing

As well as reducing the number of unwanted puppies, desexing prevents pets from roaming, fighting or causing nuisance to neighbours. In females it significantly reduces the risk of uterine infections and mammary cancer and in males, cancer of the prostrate gland. The optimum time for desexing is five to six months of age, when puppies are approaching sexual maturity but before they come on heat.

Heartworm

A dog affected by Heartworm will have an infestation of long thin worms (up to 30cm in length!) lodged in the heart and vessels that feed on surrounding blood. Mosquitoes spread immature stages of heartworm when they bite dogs. Prevention is the best approach to this problem and relatively simple. Various products are available including monthly spot-ons and an annual injection. Puppies can start heartworm prevention from 12 weeks of age.

Flea control

All pets will be exposed to fleas at some stage so rather than letting an infestation develop, it is better to use a regular prevention treatment. There are a range of very safe and easy to use SPOT-ON-drops which are applied monthly and can be used on your pups at any age.

Worming

Puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age and then every month until 6 months of age, then every 3 months routinely. Worming should be performed regardless of whether worms are seen in droppings or not, as many worms are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Coat care

Regular brushing is important – daily brushing is best particularly with long-haired dogs. Shampoo only when necessary using a good quality dog shampoo, never a human shampoo. Ask us for a shampoo to suit your dog.

Ears

Healthy ears are clean and dry. Signs of ear problems include shaking the head, scratching at the ears, odour or discharge from the ears, and holding the head on one side. Ear problems should be checked by a veterinarian.

A note on using human medications

DO NOT give unprescribed medications to your dog without checking with a vet first. Even aspirin and paracetamol can be dangerous if given incorrectly, especially if your pet is on medication or has a medical condition.

Something isn’t quite right?

If your puppy appears listless, lethargic, off their food, or if you have any concerns about your puppy’s well being, please call us.