Puppy Care

Tug@YurHart Inc.

Puppy Care

NEW PUPPY CARE:

We are confident in our ability of sending you a puppy well adjusted for your home. From the time our puppies are born, they are handled daily and called by name, once you've appointed them one. Music is played for their pleasure and socialization. Our children also interact with them.

*Be sure to ask for the many pictures I've taken of your baby. Many people are into scrapbooking and I have shots you were never able to capture. Those 1st baby days!

BATHING:
Baths are given at least twice and nails trimmed. In continuing these efforts, bathing should always be a bonding time rather than a battle.

**Pug & English Bulldog puppies will look at their best, if you wipe out their wrinkles over their noses weekly with a warm washcloth. Also a good time to clean out their ears.

***Australian Shepherd puppies will do well with a weekly brushing. I find that twice a year, once they've reached adulthood, a very thorough brushing needs to be done on them to remove large clumps of excess hair.

PUPPY FOOD:
We begin feeding ProPac lamb & rice puppy food to our puppies at 5 1/2 weeks of age(samples will be given with your puppy).

*Pug puppies are generally eating 3/4-1 cup per day at 8 wks. of age. As active adults 2 cups per day.

**English Bulldog puppies are eating 1 1/2-2 cups per day at 8 wks. of age, and as somewhat active adults (because bullies just aren't as active as other breeds) 3-4 cups per day. Beware of your bullies love for food. They will easily overeat. Divide their portion in half between a morning and evening feeding.

***Australian Shepherd puppies are generally eating 1 cups per day at 8 wks. of age. By adult age, 2-3 cups if living a moderately active lifestyle.

If you choose to change dogfood brands, wean them out gently. It is a 6 day process of adding a little more each day of the new variety. By day 7, your puppy will be strictly on the new.

DENTAL CARE:
80% of puppies have bad teeth by the age of 3. We recommend you buy healthy treats such as: Greenies, Milkbones or rawhides which help eliminate the tartar and bad breath. Rawhides need to be supervised, especially with English Bulldogs. A good quality food can also do much good in this area.

Toys of all kinds, soft to tough, help eliminate the different types of plagues with accumulate on their teeth.

TOYS: Having a variety of different toys will help to entertain your puppy when you can't be present. Once toys have been damaged from extensive chewing dispose of them before they become ingested by your dog.

*Pugs mouths don't open very large, so flatter toys work better rather than round tennis balls.

**English Bulldogs have incredible jaw pressure and need tougher built toys if expected to last very long.

***Austalian Shepherds do well with all toys, fetching ones especially.

VACCINATIONS:
Before puppies go home, at 8 wks. of age, they have received their 1st vaccination (Duramune Max 5 Cv-K). You will need to get a 2nd & 3rd round in this series at monthly intervals. It is very important to safeguard your puppy until he or she has received the final round of immunizations. It is best to not go to public places where other dogs have eliminated. Deworming will also have been done twice. My veterinarian does a very thorough examination at 6-7 wks. of age.

HANDLING SAFEGUARDS: New puppies can be so full of life and excitement. It is best to remember that when picking them up. Be sure to have a secure grip on them when you hold them so they don't wiggle out of your grasp and fall. Never pick them up by their front legs, always under the belly & behind.

Remember, a new puppy will need many little naps throughout the day. This would be a good time to introduce him or her to it's crate. If you have multiple floors in your home, a crate with a comfy bed is nice for your pet on each floor. When he/she is tired they can curl up securely at any time and nap.
POTTY TRAINING:
Our puppies 1st begin eliminating on newspaper and very quickly pick up how to use a puppy-door for their duties thereafter. Upon coming home to you & their "new" surroundings, they will need to learn your accomadations. Give them a small washable area (laundry room, kitchen or bathroom) of confinement 1st, when you are unable to watch them. Nearly every 2 hours you will need to take your puppy outdoors. Go with them so they don't feel as if they're in trouble. Remind him or her to "Potty". Shortly after waking, eating or playing are also critical times. Using a crate beside your bed can be very helpful as well. The crate also doubles as a safe haven for trips to the vet.

IDENTITY: I would recommend micro-chipping as well as a collar with your name & phone # on it for your new pet. Many people will return a pet whose tagged but keep a pet who is not. Micro-chipping has helped pets & owners find one another 6 or more months later.