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My New Puppy

Getting prepared

So, you have decided to get a new puppy! This is a very exiting time and one for which you should prepare very carefully. Just as you would not bring a new baby home without months of advance preparation, it is not a good idea to bring a puppy home on a whim. You will find yourself playing catch-up for months afterwards correcting mistakes that was made by not being fully prepared. 

It is also very important that the whole family prepares and that everybody knows his/her role for when the new puppy is home. Decide beforehand who will give the puppy his food, who will take the puppy to the papers (and change the papers), who will take the puppy to the vet, and all the other small tasks that are a part of bringing up the young puppy. You will have to decide for instance where the puppy will sleep, where he will be during the day, who will train him, and how will he be trained, will he be allowed on the furniture and so on.

Remember also that this is a very stressful time in the young puppy’s life. If you are not prepared, it will increase that stress tremendously! Planning ahead will make a huge difference in everyone concerned’s stress levels for the very important first weeks of your puppy’s life at his new home. 

Jack Russel puppy play

Essential items to get before the puppy arrives

Firstly, it is important to get a diet sheet from the puppy’s breeder, so that you can get a good supply of all the recommended food for your puppy. Make sure you have all the other equipment necessary – a feeding bowl, water bowl, grooming kit for the specific breed of puppy. You can also invest in a special toy or two – that can prevent the puppy making off with your favorite pair of slippers! Tit bits, such as chocolate drops are also a good idea to use as rewards when you start training the dog. Another essential item is of course the puppy’s new bed. Here you can choose to use a separate bed with washable bedding or get the puppy used to sleeping in his crate form day one. You should also get your puppy his own collar or harness and leash.

Puppy Proofing

To get a new puppy is a lot like having a toddler in your house! A puppy is naturally curious and will try to eat absolutely everything. Give half the chance, this innocent looking, cuddly puppy can open cupboards, yank cloths off table and eat all your houseplants. 

To really puppy proof your house, you should look at it from your puppy’s viewpoint. Get down on your hands and knees and look at what your house looks like from that view. Your puppy like to chew and will chew anything, be that electrical and telephone cords, curtain cords, rugs, houseplants and of course, your favorite pair of shoes! It is a very good idea to use barricades like baby gates to confine the puppy to safe areas of the house. You should also not overlook you back garden – look for toxic plants and holes (however small) in the fence.

Fetching the puppy

It is a good idea for two people to go fetch the new puppy, otherwise the puppy will have to make the ride alone in a box or crate with nobody to comfort it. Remember that the puppy is taken away from all that he knew and loved up to this time in his life!

Take along an old towel to wrap the puppy in. Ask the breeder if it is possible to get a piece of blanket from his old home, so that he will still have the well-known smell with him. Also take along some newspaper, in case the puppy gets sick from the drive. 

Hold the puppy firmly on your knee, so that it will feel safe. The puppy is bound to be confused. Talk to it softly so that it will get used to your voice. Be very gentle and kind. If it is a long drive, you can take your puppy’s new crate and put him into the crate once he settles down and gets sleepy. 

The first few days

You have to be strict with your puppy right from the start, and do not give in when you hear pathetic little cries in the night. The puppy will soon learn to sleep in his own quarters without any fuss. It will need a great deal of rest in these early stages. Children will need to understand that the puppy is not a plaything. If they agree to play a part in educating and caring for the puppy, they should realize that it will have to have its basic needs met whether it is cold or fine outside, or whether there is a good program on the television. Dogs are creatures of habit and need a regular routine from the start.

A new puppy needs time to settle down into its new surroundings before any serious training begin. Allow it to lick the fingers of all the family members, so that it can get used to their smell. It will soon realize that it is among friends and become part of the household. 

At the age of 8 to 10 weeks (which is the age when you probably got your puppy) it will have only three main objectives in life. Food will be the most important part. Secondly it will want to play and have fun and thirdly it will want to sleep. You can use a combination of these three when you are training your puppy.

Feeding

Do not start your puppy on a new diet immediately. This will only add to the stress that the puppy is already on. It is important that you keep feeding him the same food that the breeder gave him for the first week or so. Thereafter you can slowly start him on a new diet if necessary. Remember to speak to the breeder and find out what type of food is good for the specific breed of puppy that you have. It is also important to buy the correct food for the dog’s age, as these foods are specifically formulated to cater for the growing puppy’s needs.

Puppy eat bone

Visiting the vet

You should take your new puppy to the vet within 48 hours. Serious congenital conditions are fortunately rare, but less serious conditions like internal and external parasites are common. Your vet will certify the new puppy’s health and will help you with preventative care.

The most common problem puppies develop in the first days in their new home is an upset stomach. This should not happen however if the diet sheet received from the breeder is followed correctly. Do not offer a variety of other foods in these early days – the puppy needs to settle in first before you can start him on a new diet. Normally there should not be any reason to change the puppy’s diet. The diet should change naturally as the puppy gets older. Another problem can be overfeeding – remember that most puppies will eat all that is put in front of them!

In winter the puppy should be kept in a warm, comfortable and even temperature environment. Just take it for short trips outside so that there is no danger of it catching a chill.

Do not allow the puppy to make contact with other dogs until it has been fully vaccinated against the various virus infections that dogs can catch. Each puppy’s schedule will vary according to which state it lives in and your dog’s individual risk factors. You should always discuss your dog’s vaccination with your veterinarian who will be able to give the best advice for your specific dog.

The American Kennel Club give the following guideline for the first year of your puppy’s life:

Puppy’s Age Recommended Vaccinations Optional Vaccinations
6 — 8 weeks
Distemper, parainfluenza
Bordetella
10 — 12 weeks
DHPP (vaccines for distemper, adenovirus [hepatitis], parainfluenza, and parvovirus)
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
12 — 24 weeks
Rabies
none
14 — 16 weeks
DHPP
Coronavirus, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis
12 — 16 months
Rabies, DHPP
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
Every 1 — 2 years
DHPP
Coronavirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Lyme disease
Every 1 — 3 years
Rabies (as required by law)
none

source: The American Kennel Club

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