Puppy Care List

CARE LIST FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY.
Take time to read this.

  • Handle your new puppy often during the first 3 days. They have just been taken from the only family they have ever known and will need to bond with you. The puppy is going to be scared and will need emotional support. If the puppy seems sleepy or sad, give honey…this is important! Keep the puppy away from other unknown puppies/people for 2 weeks. This will give them time to adjust and help build their immunity. To avoid upset tummies, keep them on bottled water. A Snuggle Puppy has good reviews for calming. The mothers’ scent on a blankie will NOT help with adjustment, may make it worse. Choose a reputable vet/groomer. A country vet is most reasonable and does less tests.  Ask your vet for a reference on a groomer, if you don’t have one. Ask us about Lepto Vaccines. We have heard many times that these are deadly for your dog. 
  • Crate training, or any training, should be started after 2 weeks.  Take them out often. Get a LARGE crate. They will grow and need room for their bed, puppy pad, and food/water. The best method of potty training is to take the puppy outside every 2 hours and walk or stand with it for at least 5 minutes. Expect accidents! In a short time, they will hold it for 5-6 hours. Give a treat for each thing GOOD that they do, when they do it. Puppies are like an infant/toddler.  They are smart, but do not understand human language, just as we do not understand dog language. The preferred method of training is to place your puppy in a home area with several PUPPY PADS and NO carpet.  Once they choose their spot to “go” on, start removing some of the puppy pads. Persistence and lots of patience. Don’t give up!  They are only babies, but very smart. Choose a fabric mesh harness. XS size. Much more comfortable.
  • If the puppy has an upset stomach, get and eyedropper and administer 2-3 droppers full of Pepto-Bismol or Kao pectate in the back corner of the mouth. Boiled Chicken & Rice works well. 
  • The puppy enjoys PURINA PRO PLAN PUPPY *SHREDDS*, Chicken & Rice food.  The bag will be black with orange/teal and have a puppy Golden Retriever on it.    Menards, Chewy, or Amazon and some pet stores carries this.  Keep the puppy on this food for at least 2 months. A sample bag is provided. Purina Pro Plan has good stuff in it.  Switching food will cause upset tummy/diarrhea. 
  • Purina Pro Plan Development Shredded Blend Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Rice Formula
  • At night, puppy MAY have 2-3 tablespoons of canned Purina Pro Plan Puppy wet food…it is a favorite. This may be the only thing they want to eat the first day. ASK IF STILL BEING CAN FED, Most over 9 weeks are not. They ALL love White bread.  People food is okay as a small treat.  No grease.
  • As a treat for your puppy, try Pup-Peroni…These are great for training, and will help them adjust. We send Beggin Strips or Bark’n Bac’n as a treat.  They will do well with a lasting BULLY STICK “not” the odor free kind. -*NO* ABSOLUTELY *NO* RAWHIDES!  
  • If the puppy gets finicky about eating, try giving them chicken breast (boiled or fried).  To ease their tummy, canned Pumpkin WITHOUT SPICES is very effective and is a good canned food replacement. This provides vitamins and fiber. *Bottled water is recommended for the first week*.
  • Remember that a puppy is just like a baby and will need lots of attention and training. Patience is the key to training. Remember that they do not understand and MUST be trained.  DO NOT COMPARE THEM TO YOUR LAST DOG.  The puppy stage will pass soon and you will miss these often-trying times helping this struggling puppy to grow and learn. Help the puppy to understand what you want. They cannot understand you as you cannot understand them. Puppy has just been taken from everything it knows.  Your puppy is smarter than most people.  To this puppy, you are the love of their life and their only family. You have been blessed to own a great Havanese. CALL me if you have any concerns. 417.241.2352