FIRST FEW DAYS

Ease the Transition
Upon arrival at your home, your new pup should be offered water, should be given the opportunity to potty outside, and should then be introduced to his or her designated personal space. This is the place your new pup will associate with safety, security, peace, and quiet. Ideally, this place should be away from the hustle and bustle of the household. We support crate training; a crate serves as a safe, secure "home" for your new puppy.

We supply toys and a special blankie that has the scent of mama and the littermates. This blankie, when placed in the puppy bed, can help your new pup to feel at home more quickly and can reduce any separation anxiety.

Supply Toys
Toys are a must. Start with smaller toys that are made especially for puppies (not children). Offer just a few at first; giving the pup too many toys can add to a feeling of being overwhelmed.

Begin to Learn Your Pup's "Language"
From the time you bring your pup home, it is important to begin learning how to "read" your puppy. Does the puppy want to sleep? Play? Go outside? Eat? Keep monitoring the puppy closely, especially for the first week or so, to ensure a smooth adjustment. Please contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Provide a Safe Environment
The first few days with your pup is a lot like bringing home a newborn baby. Remember, this is not the time to take the puppy everywhere, invite all your friends and neighbors over, or otherwise overwhelm the puppy. It is important that a puppy be given a chance to adjust to a new home before experiencing the rest of the world.

If you've ever had a new pup, you know that, for some puppies, the first few nights can be difficult. Your new pup may whimper or cry; typically, the crying only lasts for a short time before the pup tires and falls asleep. If the crying persists, it is okay to hold and reassure the pup.

Get Started with Housebreaking
Renee makes a diligent effort to begin the housebreaking process, transitioning the pups through several phases of living quarters in an effort to enhance housebreaking success. Typically our pups understand the word "outside" when they are taken to their new homes, and this definitely helps owners get off to a great start with housebreaking their new pup. We have had excellent results and praise from our pup owners in this area.

On occasion, a puppy may urinate during the night or in the early morning, since puppies at seven weeks of age typically can't hold it for six to eight hours at a time. It is extremely important that the first person to wake in the household immediately pick up the puppy and take him or her outdoors.

Once outside, the puppy must be allowed to complete his or her "potty duties" prior to playing or participating in any other outdoor activities. Immediately following the pup's trip outdoors, PRAISE the puppy. Everyone in the family should make a habit of praising the puppy. Your pup will quickly learn which behaviors earn "kind, loving, praise words" and which behaviors don't. To a puppy, praise is even better than a treat!

The pup should be taken outdoors several times a day--after eating, playing, and sleeping. If the pup is not being monitored, he or she should be in a crate or some other confined area to discourage any accidents.

Supply the Right Food
On Adoption Day, we provide a supply of Purina Puppy Chow dry food as part of your puppy packet. You are free to choose the food that you wish to feed your puppy on an ongoing basis, but remember that you'll want to transition from one food to another gradually. During the first few days, feed Purina Puppy Chow. Slowly add the dry food of your choice. After a week or so, your puppy should be eating the new food without any problems.

At NO TIME should a puppy be given anything other than puppy food. If desired, you may offer a small amount of canned puppy food or puppy treats. No milk or "human food" should ever be given to a puppy. (Doing so is like asking for an upset tummy…and all the issues that go along with it!) A high-quality puppy food has all the essential ingredients that your puppy needs for nourishment, proper development, and growth.

See the Vet
We request that within the first few days, you see a licensed veterinarian for a "Puppy Check Up" appointment. If any questions or concerns arise, we ask to be contacted immediately.

By the time you come to pick up your new puppy, he or she will have already received the first set of puppy vaccines. However, subsequent puppy vaccinations should be scheduled with your vet in the recommended time frame. You'll also want to discuss with your veterinarian the recommended age for spaying or neutering. (Note: spaying or neutering is required, per the agreement all owners sign on Adoption Day.)