Supplies Needed For New Puppy

​

Bringing a new puppy into the house is an exciting time for you and your family, but your puppy may be a little overwhelmed by all the changes in his life. After all he just left his mom, siblings and the people that have loved and cared form him since birth. Your strangers and will take some getting used to so be patient with him, it takes a little time to adjust to all the changes for you but especially for the puppy. When you get him home its best to give him a little time to settle in. When your puppy first arrives, let him sniff around and make himself familiar with his new surroundings.

 

Introducing the puppy into the household should be done with care. This is a difficult and confusing time for your puppy and can be very stressful. Your home is a profusion of strange sights, sounds and smells that he may find exciting but a little overwhelming. He will be missing his mother, brothers and sisters and will look to you and your family to replace the company, comfort and security that he has left behind. Choose a name for him as soon as possible. Be consistent and use it repeatedly as you talk to him. He will soon learn to respond. For the first few nights your puppy will probably be restless and whimper and howl,  when he is left alone. This is normal, He will stop, as he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings.

​

​

Supplies To Buy

 

A new puppy is like an infant, they require allot of quiet rest time, in addition to exercise and playtime. Make sure he gets at least 30 minutes of exercise and play time twice a day.

 

Before bringing your puppy home, make a list of what you want to purchase for supplies we carry most items here or you can purchase in advance if you prefer. Preparing for the arrival of your new puppy will allow you and your puppy to spend time getting to know each other.

​

A printable list is in your puppy manual

​

Puppy Food

 

We feed Nutrisource Small and Medium Breed Puppy because it is a quality premium food. If you do not stick with it than choose a Premium Food such as Nutro, or Chicken Soup. Science Diet IS NOT  a Premium food and is a waste of money, Allot of vets are paid to push Science Diet and similar foods. I do not feed them because their recipes are inconsistent and they all contain corn and soy by-product. This seems to cause diarrhea. If you are changing the pup’s food on your vet’s recommendation do the research first! NEVER change a pups food in the first two weeks of bringing them home, this just adds to the stress of readjustment.

 

Your puppy has been eating on free choice, however if you do not want to do this then you can feed 2-3 times a day such as 8 am 11:30 pm and 3 pm. At 6 months you can switch him over to once a day feeding. We feed in the late morning so they aren't hungry all day. 

​

When you do change food, do it slowly over a period of 4 weeks (this would be 6 weeks after purchase)

​

We carry larger bags available for purchase. 30# bag for $54.99 + tax or you can find it locally here http://www.nutrisourcepetfoods.com/where-to-buy

​

How much should my pup be eating?

 

Even though your puppy would prefer to share your dinner, it is best to buy him a top quality dog food. An eight week old puppy will eat approximately 1/8 - 1/4 cup of puppy food three times a day.  If he is being fed three times a day, gradually increase the food as he grows and his appetite increases. He may be cut to twice a day at about four-six months of age or if he loses interest in a meal. A healthy puppy is neither too fat nor too thin. You should be able to feel his ribs, backbone and hip bones, but not see them. An adult will eat two to three and a half cups of kibble per day depending on the dog. Spayed and neutered adults tend to put on extra weight. Besides giving them enough exercise, the quantity of food rather than the quality should be reduced.  It is easier to prevent obesity than to correct it.

 

Food And Water Bowls

 

Select bowls that won't tip over. Make sure they're easy to clean, since they will need to be washed at least once a week. Purchase separate bowls for food and water. Stainless steel or crock type bowls are the best.

 

I Recommend: Stainless Steel, Easy to clean , dishwasher safe and dogs usually won’t chew or carry. They are practically indestructible and will last a long time.

 

We have very hard water and a change of water with a young puppy can bring on diarrhea quickly. Therefore, it is recommended that you buy bottled water and slowly introduce your own water by mixing them together, until they are totally on your water. This can be accomplished in as little as 3 days to one week. The intestines are still young and will react to major changes in diet and water quickly in the form of mild to severe diarrhea.

 

 

Collar

 

**Your puppy does come with a Quality Collar and Leash

 

There are a variety of collars available for your puppy but your puppy's first collar should be made of lightweight nylon or leather. Some have buckles and others snap. Regardless of the collar style you choose for your puppy, remember to attach an identification tag listing your puppy's name, your address and phone number.  

 

I Recommend: A good nylon snap collar, it’s easy to put on and take off and is machine washable.

 

​

ID Tags are a MUST,

 

A good tag is always a must for easy identification.

 

We do carry tagss, they are top quality and available at pickup.

 

​

Micro-chip:

 

All my dogs are micro-chipped by us before they leave for safety. You never know when one  will run away and even if he loses his collar he can still be identified and returned to you instead of being put down at a shelter. Since they are done here they can always be traced back to us if the owner cannot be contacted. This gives us peace of mind that should any of our babies end up in a shelter, recue etc.. we will be contacted and can get them back here safely if needed.

 

 

Leash

 

**Your puppy does come with a Collar and Leash

 

Leashes come in a variety of styles, such as leather, nylon and retractable, and a in variety of lengths.  A six-foot leash is the ideal length for both training and walking. Always keep your puppy on his leash unless he is in a fenced-in area. Many states and cities have leash laws, which make it mandatory for your puppy to be on his leash at all times, even at public parks and playgrounds. Under these laws, you can be fined if caught with your puppy off his leash. Remember to clean up after your puppy if he goes to the bathroom in a public place, such as a park or a neighbor's lawn.

 

 

Grooming Supplies

 

Brush or mitt, puppy shampoo, toothbrush and paste, nail clippers. Make sure you have the proper grooming tools. These will differ depending on your puppy's coat. I recommended a sturdy wide-toothed metal comb and a slicker brush. Begin by establishing a weekly grooming program with your puppy.

 

A finger brush with beef paste for teeth, Nail clippers or a Dremel sander for nails, Cotton balls and Ear rinse for cleaning inside the ears.

 

For shampoo I use Fresh N Clean for most bathing. Your pup should not need a bath more than once to twice a year, unless he has gotten into something and stinks. Bathing dries out the skin and the coat so don't do it excessively. Any shampoo that is good for puppies (hypoallergenic, in case it gets in eyes) is fine to.

 

 

Safe Chew Toys

 

**Your puppy does come with a Premium Toy, and we have more available for purchase.

 

All puppies need toys to help them exercise and to provide them with a safe way to satisfy their chewing cravings. We carry a wonderful line of toys that we have tested with our own dogs, for durability and of course toys that they love and actually want to play with.  As a general rule, if the toy can fit comfortably in a puppy's mouth, it's too small.

 

I recommend: Rope Bones and Kong's they are fairly indestructible. Kong’s are wonderful things to give puppies and adult dogs. They are hallow inside, so you can take some canned dog food, stuff it into the Kong, then freeze it. Then when your puppy needs something to do, give them a frozen Kong.(Wonderful for teething!)  You can also wipe a little cheese or peanut butter inside the Kong. Nothing with eyes, lightweight rubber or rawhide knots, These can all cause your dog to choke.

 

 

Edible Chew Toys & Treats

 

I suggest compressed rawhide bones, pig ears and  Iams puppy biscuits, we also carry gourmet dog treats made from human grade ingredients. Fresh vegetables are great for pets and very healthy snacks. My dogs go through a couple of bags of carrots a week. Never give your dog/puppy rawhide chews unattended. These chews really help keep them busy, but you should always try to be close by. A piece could get caught in their throat, and they may need your assistance. If you do plan to give rawhide, the pressed rawhide is easier to digest, and are allot safer.

 

Your puppy's Toy Chest should NOT have any of the following items:

 

Sponge toys or items with hard, sharp points or attachments, which can break off and be dangerous if swallowed.

 

Shoes or other personal clothing. Giving your puppy these items will only teach him that it's okay to chew your shoes and rip holes in your shirts.

 

Balls of string, yarn, cellophane, twist ties, plastic baggies and other household goods that could get lodged in your puppy's throat causing him to choke or suffocate.

 

Children's toys made of soft rubber, fur, wool, sponge or plastic. If your puppy swallows a small particle of any of these materials, it could cause digestive problems. Running you big vet bills!!

 

 

A Pet Crate or Bed

 

This will be used for house training, trips to vet, and also as a den or home in the house. Your puppy will need a warm, comfortable place to sleep. A crate provides a den for your puppy when you are not home. Your puppy's crate should be large enough for him to stand up, turn around and lie down and should have adequate ventilation. If you buy an adult-sized crate, purchase partitions or place a cardboard box in the back to provide a cozy space for your puppy but not to large or they will sleep in one end and mess in the other. Make sure you buy a puppy-sized bed rather than an adult-sized bed, so your puppy will feel safe and snug. An enclosed, plastic crate w/ blanket or puppy bed.

 

Don't forget to put your puppy's favorite toy and chew in his crate so he has something to do. Never make his crate a bad place. If he is in trouble, don't use the crate as punishment! If you make the crate a nice, comfortable, and safe place. You puppy will grow to love it, and they really like having a safe place of their own. Once the pup reaches 6 month old he can be put in an outside kennel when you are gone during the day and in his crate at night. I would not leave a dog cooped up in his crate all day while you are at work that is to small of a space to spend all day in. I suggest an outside kennel with adequate shelter about 10 X 30 is adequate if you can go larger that’s fine they love to get up a run and if you are working with limited space Dogs prefer longer narrower rectangle type runs then a big blah square.

 

 

Bedding for Pet Crate

 

Bedding can be anything you choose from a old blanket to a new puppy bed but keep in mind that they chew and mess allot at this age so until they are older you may want to go with something cheaper so it can be tossed if they ruin it. I use carpet pieces (from my local carpet store) and put an old blanket on top of that. It works well till they have more control.

 

 

Stain and scent remover

 

Special formulated stain and scent remover takes the odor away from a puppy's nose, as well as yours. conventional household products not found in the pet aisle or a pet supply store mask the odor to humans, but not puppies. If you use a conventional household product to clean up after your puppy, don't be alarmed if he keeps repeating himself at the same spot. He's merely trying to mark his territory. Natures Miracle is an excellent stain/odor remover. (works miracles even on cat urine)

 

 

Veterinarian

 

Making sure your puppy gets good medical care. But how do you choose the right veterinarian? We recommend that people go about finding a veterinarian much the same way you would find a pediatrician or doctor. Ask people you know if they have a veterinarian they are pleased with then make an appointment to see that veterinarian, talk to them and get a feel for whether you can communicate with them, Because that's an important factor! Make sure you make an appointment for his/her next vaccinations due. Your puppy will come with a complete health record of what has been given and what is due.

 

Vitamins

 

NuVet Vitamins are required for the Health Guarantee, No other vitamins will honor guarantee. 1-800-474-7044 or http://www.nuvet.com order code is 80134. You want the NuVet Plus in either wafers or powder. You save more by doing auto ship! 

 

See why we like these vitamins here

 

 

A printable checklist to take with you, is in the puppy manual, sent to you when a deposit is received.

​