🌿 TRAINING • EXERCISE • GROOMING

Puppy Care Information

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but the first few days and weeks are important for building lifelong habits, confidence, and wellness. The time and consistency you invest now helps create a calm, well-adjusted adult dog.

A thoughtful, holistic approach supports long-term wellness through quality nutrition, routine, exercise, training, grooming, and preventative care.

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🐾 First Week at Home

Temporary loose stools may occur due to:

• Stress
• Excitement
• Environmental change

Helpful supports may include:

• Canned pumpkin puree with DE
• Probiotics
• Hydration
• Simple, consistent meals

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🍽 Feeding Schedule for Young Puppies

Feed approximately four times daily:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
• Evening snack

Small, frequent meals help stabilize blood sugar and support digestion.

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🏠 Important Home Reminders

• Continue dewormer as instructed
• Use probiotic and fibre support daily
• Frozen raw bones may be offered for supervised chewing
• Small, frequent meals help predict toileting routines
• Avoid public dog areas until vaccinations are more complete

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🧸 Toys & Chewing

Choose safe, durable toys such as:

• KONG toys
• Frozen raw bones
• Supervised soft toys

Chewing helps support:

• Teething relief
• Boredom prevention
• Stress reduction
• Mental stimulation

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🦴 Raw Animal Bones

Raw frozen marrow, rib, or knuckle bones may help:

• Clean teeth naturally
• Reduce stress
• Encourage calm self-entertainment
• Provide natural collagen support

Guidelines:

• Raw only
• Never cooked
• Always supervise

Available through:

• Butchers
• Grocery stores (soup bones)
• Our boutique

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🚽 Potty Training

Young puppies generally need bathroom breaks every 2–4 hours.

Best times include:

• After waking
• After meals
• After naps
• After play
• Before bed
• Before and after crate time

Consistency creates success.

Many families enjoy using:

• Doggy doorbells
• Designated potty areas
• Sanitized gravel potty stations
• Doggie toilet boxes

A designated doggie toilet area helps encourage consistent bathroom habits, cleaner paws, and improved hygiene around the home and yard.

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⏰ Establishing a Routine

Puppies thrive on structure.

Create regular routines for:

• Meals
• Naps
• Potty breaks
• Playtime
• Walks
• Bedtime

Routine builds confidence and speeds training.

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🐶 Behaviour & Training

Use positive reinforcement and reward the behaviours you want repeated.

Reward:

• Calmness
• Toileting outside
• Gentle manners
• Sitting politely
• Responding to name

Helpful starter cue words:

• Good
• No
• Come
• Sit

Patience and consistency are key.

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🏷 Identification & Safety

Every puppy should wear:

• A properly fitted collar
• A harness
• An ID tag

The collar should fit so two fingers can easily slip underneath.

TLC Name Tag Ordering

📞 877-328-8400

Mention "Lakewood Dog" for:

• $5 off
• Free name tag

Discuss microchipping with your veterinarian so you can make the best decision for your family.

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🛏 Crate Training

The crate should always feel like a safe, calm den — never a punishment.

Allow only enough space for the puppy to:

• Stand
• Turn around
• Lie down comfortably

Recommended Crate Sizes

• 36" crate for moyen dogs (30–40 lbs)
• 42" crate for mid-size dogs (40–50 lbs)

Helpful crate tips:

• Cover the crate, leaving the door area uncovered
• Use frozen raw bones for quiet entertainment
• Keep crate experiences positive and calm

Crate Duration Guidelines

• 2 months → 2 hours
• 4 months → 4 hours
• 6 months → 6 hours
• 8+ months → Up to 8 hours maximum

If you are away all day, arrange for a dog walker or bathroom break.

The crate is your dog's bedroom and safe retreat. Many dogs benefit from having access to a crate throughout their lives.

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🚗 Outdoor & Travel Safety

Keep puppies:

• Leashed
• Supervised
• Within secure fenced areas

Avoid:

• Dog parks
• Pet stores
• Public dog areas

until vaccinations are more complete.

For vehicle travel, use a harness and seatbelt leash system whenever possible.

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🐕 Exercise Guidelines

Exercise should always be gentle and age appropriate.

Walking Guide

Playtime also counts as exercise.

Dogs should spend most of their time with their family and not be left alone outdoors for extended periods.

Collar vs Harness

Use a harness for leash walking puppies until at least 4 months of age.

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🐾 Paw Protection

Protect paws from road salt, ice, and outdoor contaminants using a natural paw wax.

Benefits may include:

• Protective barrier against salt
• Reduced irritation
• Prevention of ice buildup between toes

Avoid leaving booties on unattended dogs as they may become a chewing hazard.

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✂️ Grooming & Swimming

Regular grooming helps prevent matting and supports healthy skin and coat development.

Suggested routine:

• Brush 1–3 times weekly
• Trim nails regularly
• Professional grooming every 2–3 months

Puppies should visit a groomer within their first month home to build positive grooming experiences.

Introduce water slowly and positively. A bathtub is often a great first water experience.

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🦷 Puppy Teeth & Coat Changes

Adult Teeth Development

• Puppy teeth begin falling out around 8–12 weeks
• Adult teeth continue developing throughout puppyhood
• By approximately 6 months, most adult teeth are present

Regular brushing and raw marrow bones may help support dental health and reduce plaque buildup.

Puppy Coat Shedding

Most puppies lose their puppy coat between 3–7 months of age depending on breed, size, and coat type.

Coat changes may appear patchy during this transition period.

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🌿 Flea & Tick Prevention

We prefer a holistic prevention approach whenever possible.

Suggestions may include:

• Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
• Natural flea and tick powders
• Natural repellent sprays
• Regular grooming checks
• Yard treatment with DE using a grass spreader

Discuss all preventative options with your veterinarian.

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✔ Before Pickup Checklist

Prepare ahead of time:

✔ Crate
✔ Food bowls
✔ Collar & leash
✔ Harness & seatbelt leash
✔ ID tag
✔ Puppy food
✔ Toys & chews
✔ Cleaning supplies
✔ Bed
✔ Baby gates
✔ Vet appointment (3–4 weeks after pickup)
✔ Optional pet insurance

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❤️ Your Puppy Needs

• Patience
• Consistency
• Guidance
• Routine
• Love

The habits you build now help create the dog you will enjoy for years to come.

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Lakewood Ranch Doodles

📍 Lindsay, Ontario
📞 705-875-5195
🌐 www.lakewoodranchdoodles.com

Partnering with you for successful dog ownership. 🐾