When you get a new puppy, it’s only natural to want to simply hang out with them and play and cuddle all day. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that you need to do in those first few days and weeks — both to make sure that your new pup stays healthy and to establish good behavior patterns. Rest assured that the work you put in now will pay off tenfold in the long run. When your full-grown adult dog is balanced, well-behaved, and the envy of all your Pack Leader neighbors, you’ll be glad you took good care of her right from the beginning. A holistic approach will entending your dog’s life and build better health. To build immunity - Avoid antibiotics if you can.
Feeding - Give constant access to fresh water – Feed a wheat, corn and filler free holistic diet - we insist on a good quality food. TLC petfood. It is ordered online or by calling in and is delivered for free to your home anywhere in North America. A coupon code is available in the documentation that is emailed to your about preparing for your new puppy.
First Week Home:
First week home may result Loose stools from a new environment stress. Pumpkin helps slow down the bowel and helps avoid dehydration. Make up a mixture of canned pumpkin puree and some DE with honey or beef broth for flavour an fill ice cup trays and free. Pop out one cube daily for the first week at home. After that feed one to two cubes weekly.
Feeding Schedule - Feed an infant puppy 4 times daily - breakfast, lunch and dinner and snack at 8 pm. No food or water after 8 – to avoid accidents at night. Gradually transition to a free-feed situation when you can trust your dog to let you know they need outside for a bathroom break. A holistic diet – no wheat, no corn, no filler is important to prevent allergic reactions to food.
PROBIOTIC POWDER IS BEST FOR EVERY DOG, FOR LIFE!
Toys should be chew proof like KONG toys if you are leaving the dog alone with it. Soft toys are for supervised play only. Be sure to look for choke hazards when choosing toys.
Chewing is a natural and necessary part of your dogs behaviour and mental health.
Uncooked- frozen Cow bones from the butcher are part of the diet and teach self entertainment as well as reducing stress from the chewing action. Puppies NEED bones to chew.
A dog’s teeth need to be monitored regularly to ensure she can eat properly.
Unless you want to have a big mess on your hands, you need to make sure you’re giving your pup “potty time” every 2-4 hours. Any longer than that and she just won’t be able to hold it. Putting a set time (and place) to this activity also teaches her that this isn’t just something she can do whenever and wherever she feels like it. Use a doggy doorbell, dinging it with the puppies paw when you take it out on a leash to toilet.
A doggie toilet can be made quite easily.
A doggy toilet can be easily made to save a messy yard – a wood box – like a sandbox – with no bottom – 4’ x 6’ – fill half way with sand – top with pea gravel. Use a bucket with lid and small gardening shovel to scoop each time. Compost bucket contents when full. Bleach pea gravel each season- rinse with hose.
Best times to take your puppy outside is:
When you wake up• right before bedtime.
Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water.• when your puppy wakes up from a nap.
During and after physical activity.• before or after entering the crate.
One of the most important things you need to do for your puppy right off the bat is to establish a routine. Though it will be difficult initially for you to decide on a routine that will work for you, your family, and your puppy, don't wait too long to figure it out.
A trainer can help you establish routines.
Consistency and routines make a well trained pet.
Make sure the expectations you have of your dog are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. Recorrection of inappropriate behaviour should be done with a positive approach.
Remember, not all "behavior" problems are just that; many can be indicators of health problems. For example, a dog who is suddenly growling or snapping when you touch his ears may have an ear infection or is having an allergic reaction.
External Identification: Outfit your dog with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there's a chance your companion may become lost—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your pet will be returned home safely. The dog’s collar should not be tight; it should fit so two fingers can slip easily under his collar.
FOR A FREE ID TAG- CALL TLC pet food after you have placed your order and they will send you a free personalized tag.
The crate is the dog’s DEN. Not a punishment. The space should be reduced so the puppy does not toilet in the crate. Just enough space to go in- turn around and come back out. Time in a crate should not exceed age- 2 months = 2 hours 4 months = 4 hours; 6 months = 6 hours; 8 months or older – maximum of 8 hours. No food, water or soft toys should be in the crate. Bones only.
Even a dog with a valid license, rabies tag and ID tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your community and your dog to keep her on a leash and under your control at all times. Do not take your infant puppy off your property until after 4 months of age due to lack of immunity. Puppies under 4 months should be walked using a HARNESS – not a collar.
Give your dog enough exercise to keep him physically fit (but not exhausted)
Most dog owners find that playing with their canine companion, along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient exercise. Walking benefits people as much as it benefits dogs, and the time spent together will improve your dog’s sense of well-being.
Exercise and play
Starting to think you’re never going to have any fun with your new puppy? Well, you can relax, because it’s also important to build time for exercise and play into your schedule.
Ideally, you want to begin your pup’s day with exercise before she has her first meal. After breakfast, try a pack walk (if she’s too young to go outside, you can do this around the house) followed by some bonding or play time. You’ll repeat this general routine throughout each day. Exercise, meal, exercise, bonding, meal, and so on.
By creating a good schedule for your puppy and starting small with tasks like feeding times, potty times, teaching keywords, and exercising and playing, you will not only save yourself innumerable future headaches, you’ll also ensure that your new bundle of joy grows up to be the best that he can be.
HOW FAR CAN MY PUPPY WALK?
2 MONTHS – 10 MINUTES - .5 MILE
3 MONTHS – 15 MINUTES - .75 MILE
4 MONTHS – 20 MINUTES – 1 MILE
5 MONTHS – 25 MINUTES – 1.25 MILE
6 MONTHS – 30 MINUTES – 1.5 MILE
If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral and check out our information on choosing a veterinarian. Interview vets to be sure they are about the animals and not just about selling you extras and making you feel guilty for saying no. More and more clinics are overcharging for services and pushing extra products and tests to increase their bottom line. Be careful.
Do not vaccinate every year. A holistic approach is to titer test to see if your dog NEEDS a booster or not.
A fenced yard with a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs; however, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended periods of time. Dogs need and crave companionship; they should spend most of their time with their family, not alone outside.
Positive training will allow you to control your companion's behavior safely and humanely, and the experience offers a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you share with your dog. Ask friends and neighbours recommendations for choosing a dog trainer.
Keywords training
Very young puppies can’t get into any kind of formal training class right away, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be teaching him some basics every day. One thing every pup can start learning: keywords.
Begin with important words like “good,” “bad,” and “no.” Keep these words simple and be consistent with which ones you use. Your dog needs to get used to hearing the same words in order to associate the same meanings with them each time. Use the pets name in front of the word EVERY time to teach its name.
Professional Grooming at every 2 – 3 months; Nails should be trimmed monthly; Regular brushing of hair is a must to avoid tangles; Bathing with water only anytime; Dog soap- no more than once per week. Teach your puppy to swim in the bathtub from the age of 8 weeks before pond, lake or pool swimming.
Check with your local animal shelter or humane society for information regarding legal requirements, where to obtain tags and where to have your pet vaccinated.
Do not use the nasty drops or pills for flea control. Your pet could have health problems, seizures, reduced immunity or an allergic reaction. . Diamonaceous Earth on the skin weekly helps keep fleas and ticks off your dog. Also use a NATURAL pest spray when going for walks. For internal parasites - DE ¼ teaspoon in a heaping tablespoon of pumpkin weekly. Grapefruit seed extract and oil or oregano can also be used to solve parasite issues – caused from drinking out of puddles or eating feces.
Other contaminants such as road salt can be avoided by using a NATURAL PAW WAX.
-PET INSURANCE- Call 1-855-828-1419
-trainer
-vet appointment for one month after going home
-name tag - call TLC for free tag
-register on Ontario spca website for spay or neuter at a reduced price
- bones from the butcher
- doggy doorbell & doggy toilet
- Get Diatomaceous Earth – (DE) for skin and food supplement
- canned pumpkin
**READ THE ENTIRE WEBSITE**
-Crate you need is a wire crate 42" depth with moveable wall
- Get frozen or fresh soft - beef, lamb or goat bones from your butcher. Save teeth - Do not use cooked bones – antlers or hard plastics to chew.
- Order Dog Food
Don't forget to order dog food! It's our recommended holistic food - made in Ontario- delivered to your door FREE automatically anywhere in North America
Your dog’s needs are important, and we recognize that not all products are created equal so our holistic boutique offers all you might need for a healthy pup!
