Puppy Care--
Let's Get Ready!
(Luna's sweet babies)
It is a big step to welcome a new puppy into your home and into your lives. We do everything possible to get our puppies off to a good start so that they will bring PURE JOY into your lives. Each litter is born in our house and is constantly exposed to the noise, joys, and affection of our family. We never kennel our puppies or put them outside in a barn or building. The reason for this is because we like to be with them and want them to go to families who like having a companion in the house. Once their eyes open at about 2 weeks old we let our children hold them as often as they want. Before this age they are still very fragile. We do not let people outside of our household hold them until they are at least 4 weeks old. At about 3 weeks old we start potty training them. This teaches the puppies to have a separate area for sleep and potty-- a very big first step in potty training! They have their first shots at 7 weeks of age and also are vet checked. Each puppy will have his/her own certificate from our vet stating all the items from the check up. We gradually wean them from their mama's milk by starting to supplement with goat milk and lessen the time spent nursing and then add puppy food to the formula. By the time they leave at 8 weeks old they are eating puppy food with a little bit of water to soften it. We do this slowly so the mama can still spend lots of time with them and to make it easier for them to adjust to puppy food. When each puppy leaves us to go to his/her new "furever" home he/she will come with: a blanket with the litter scent, registration papers (if applicable), vet certificate, puppy contract, vaccine & deworming record, started on crate & potty training, and most importantly well loved by our family.
When you get your puppy home we HIGHLY recommend setting up a pen similar to what we had set up. This will become your puppy's safe place. Always put your puppy in this pen when no one is watching him/her. Use an exercise pen. We call them "arenas" that you find at Cal Ranch, Walmart, or Amazon. In this pen set up his/her food dishes, toys, and a crate with door left open. It's so much easier to see it set up than describing it. ASK ME FOR A VIDEO TO SHOW THE SET UP IF YOU'D LIKE. Do this set up for about 2-3 months after you get your puppy as you are transitioning him/her to going potty outside.
When you get your puppy home we HIGHLY recommend setting up a pen similar to what we had set up. This will become your puppy's safe place. Always put your puppy in this pen when no one is watching him/her. Use an exercise pen. We call them "arenas" that you find at Cal Ranch, Walmart, or Amazon. In this pen set up his/her food dishes, toys, and a crate with door left open. It's so much easier to see it set up than describing it. ASK ME FOR A VIDEO TO SHOW THE SET UP IF YOU'D LIKE. Do this set up for about 2-3 months after you get your puppy as you are transitioning him/her to going potty outside.
Welcoming in a new puppy can be a wonderful but stressful time. The most important thing I can say is to JUST RELAX. Your puppy will not be young forever and you will look back on these early months with fond memories. Dogs pick up on the energy of your household so take a deep breath and let go. It's going to be great! These are some of my favorite thing that I use with our dogs. By being prepared for your puppy it will help eliminate some of the stress of this new adventure.
One of the most asked questions is to see the set up for our puppies. We have tried MANY ways and finally found something that we LOVE that works AMAZING! We use white vinyl garden boxes from Costco. (Its seasonal so if I put a link on it won't always work) It comes as a set of two 5x5 boxes for $80-100. We stack them so the pups can't climb out once they are older. We love these because they clean very easily, the pups can't climb out, they are easy to put together/take apart, and they are cheerful and bright. Each level is about 11 inches. In this pen we put their blanket, toys, food/water, and potty trays. When pups are not out playing or relaxing with us they are in this pen. Our pups are ALWAYS INSIDE our home. Never in the garage or outdoor kennels.
A few of our favorite things...
click on the photos
BLACK METAL CRATE
We prefer black metal crates because your puppy is able to see out well and will still feel included when she is in her crate. We love the ones that come with dividers so that you can make it smaller when your pup is young. Do not give her an oversized crate. She only needs enough room to stand up, turn around, and stretch out.
We prefer black metal crates because your puppy is able to see out well and will still feel included when she is in her crate. We love the ones that come with dividers so that you can make it smaller when your pup is young. Do not give her an oversized crate. She only needs enough room to stand up, turn around, and stretch out.
SNUGGLE PUPPY
We love the Snuggle Puppies! When you get your new puppy it'll be his first time away from his littermates. We have found that having a snuggle puppy that feels warm and with a heart beat helps for those first few nights.
We love the Snuggle Puppies! When you get your new puppy it'll be his first time away from his littermates. We have found that having a snuggle puppy that feels warm and with a heart beat helps for those first few nights.
EAR CLEANING WIPES
Any dog that has long, floppy ears likely will be prone to ear infections. It is important that you keep her ears clean. When your dog is groomed be sure to ask the groomer to pluck her ear hair and clear her ears. Never put water directly in the ear. This can cause serious problems. We suggest using these wipes to keep her ears clean.
Any dog that has long, floppy ears likely will be prone to ear infections. It is important that you keep her ears clean. When your dog is groomed be sure to ask the groomer to pluck her ear hair and clear her ears. Never put water directly in the ear. This can cause serious problems. We suggest using these wipes to keep her ears clean.
PET YARD
You are going to need a safe place to put your puppy when no one is watching him. Let's face it-- it would be nearly impossible to keep him with you all the time. This will become your puppy's safe place, like a den. Keep his food/water dishes, toys, blankets, and place to potty in here. Use a small tote with pine wood pellet bedding in it for the first few months after you get your puppy. Please ask for a video on how to set this up.
You are going to need a safe place to put your puppy when no one is watching him. Let's face it-- it would be nearly impossible to keep him with you all the time. This will become your puppy's safe place, like a den. Keep his food/water dishes, toys, blankets, and place to potty in here. Use a small tote with pine wood pellet bedding in it for the first few months after you get your puppy. Please ask for a video on how to set this up.
PET YARD FOR CLIMBERS
We love this white metal pens for the rare climber puppy we get. Even the most determined climber puppy can't get out of this pen. We have a few of these and I can link them together to make a very big play area for older pups to play.
We love this white metal pens for the rare climber puppy we get. Even the most determined climber puppy can't get out of this pen. We have a few of these and I can link them together to make a very big play area for older pups to play.
PUPPY FOOD
***** PUPPIES ARE CURRENTLY EATING COSTCO PUPPY FOOD-TURQUOISE BAG-DON'T BUY THE YELLOW BAG*****.
We will give you enough for about 2 wks so if you want to feed a different brand you can transition gradually.
The most asked question we hear is-- what should I feed my puppy? This is a very debated topic as I'm sure you've noticed. We recommended a HIGH QUALITY puppy food. Some of our favorite brands are Kirkland puppy food (turquoise bag from Costco) and Blue puppy food. I like Blue puppy food because there is no corn, wheat, soy, and no meat by-products. We will send you home with a small bag of puppy food so that if you switch to a different food you'll have enough to transition. It is important to transition gradually to avoid upset tummy. Do half and half until the bag from us in gone. Feed puppy food until your dog is one year old. Then switch to an adult food. Another thing I HIGHLY recommend is once you find a brand you like ROTATE IT within that brand. Buy a bag of their chicken blend then next time do salmon or lamb, etc. This helps your dog not develop sensitivities to the food. They need variety. Can you imagine eating the same food for years?! Rotate it!!
***** PUPPIES ARE CURRENTLY EATING COSTCO PUPPY FOOD-TURQUOISE BAG-DON'T BUY THE YELLOW BAG*****.
We will give you enough for about 2 wks so if you want to feed a different brand you can transition gradually.
The most asked question we hear is-- what should I feed my puppy? This is a very debated topic as I'm sure you've noticed. We recommended a HIGH QUALITY puppy food. Some of our favorite brands are Kirkland puppy food (turquoise bag from Costco) and Blue puppy food. I like Blue puppy food because there is no corn, wheat, soy, and no meat by-products. We will send you home with a small bag of puppy food so that if you switch to a different food you'll have enough to transition. It is important to transition gradually to avoid upset tummy. Do half and half until the bag from us in gone. Feed puppy food until your dog is one year old. Then switch to an adult food. Another thing I HIGHLY recommend is once you find a brand you like ROTATE IT within that brand. Buy a bag of their chicken blend then next time do salmon or lamb, etc. This helps your dog not develop sensitivities to the food. They need variety. Can you imagine eating the same food for years?! Rotate it!!
Potty Training
At 4 wks old we start training the puppies to use a potty tray with pine pellet bedding on it. This teaches the puppy to keep himself clean and to not go potty where he eats, sleeps, and plays. This is an important step in potty training and will make your life SO much easier. We like to use Equine Pine Pellet Bedding which can be found at Cal-Ranch, Tractor Supply, or IFA. It is very reasonably priced, about $6-8 for a 40# bag. One bag will last you a very long time. Put about one cup on the tray. We like to put a grate over top of it to keep it cleaner.
(links coming for tray and grate. )
At 4 wks old we start training the puppies to use a potty tray with pine pellet bedding on it. This teaches the puppy to keep himself clean and to not go potty where he eats, sleeps, and plays. This is an important step in potty training and will make your life SO much easier. We like to use Equine Pine Pellet Bedding which can be found at Cal-Ranch, Tractor Supply, or IFA. It is very reasonably priced, about $6-8 for a 40# bag. One bag will last you a very long time. Put about one cup on the tray. We like to put a grate over top of it to keep it cleaner.
(links coming for tray and grate. )