Puppy Preparation

ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR YOUR PUPPY

• A warm bed/crate/kennel which is placed where your puppy is going to feel safe and secure to sleep.
• Food dishes, one for water and one for food. Stainless steel is better as it cannot be chewed up.
• You will need to purchase some advocate for puppy’s/small dogs. This will need to be put on your puppy as soon as you get him/her home. Adovocate is a very good product and it will protect your puppy from heartworm, fleas, lice, gastrointestinal worm, lungworms, ear mites, sarcoptic mange and Demodex mites.
• A leash, collar and an ID tag. The ID tag should have your phone number on it and be placed on your puppy’s collar.
• You will need some toys to play with your puppy with as well as to keep him occupied whilst you are not there. Chew toys, soft toys and puzzle toys such as the Kong range are all good selections.
• Paper towel or puppy training pads! Your puppy is going to have accidents during the toilet training phase.
• Other things that can be handy to have are healthy treats to use for training, a book on how to raise your puppy and positive training techniques (this is particularly useful for people who have not had a puppy before).

Helpful Shopping List for Your New Puppy

• Fresh beef or chicken mince can be purchased from your local butcher, supermarket or pet food store. I freeze appropriate size portions in the freezer.
• You will need to purchase Advocate for dogs 4-10kg. This will need to applied when you take your puppy home. Advocate can be purchased from your local pet store.
• You will need 2 x stainless steel dishes, one for water and one for food. These can be purchased from your local pet store.
• You will need a dog collar, leash and ID tag. These can be purchased from your local pet store.
• You will need a warm bed for your puppy to sleep in. Remember that your puppy will grow up so buy something that he/she will fit in as an adult. These can be purchased from your local pet supply store.
• You will need some paper towel or puppy training pads if you plan on having your puppy inside.
• Dog training treats can be used to help you train your new puppy. Training treats are available from Supermarkets and your local pet store.

Important Information for Bringing Your New Puppy Home

Transitioning to a new environment can be quite stressful for a puppy. It is important to reduce stress. There are a few things you can do to help with this:

• Avoid major dietary changes
• Don’t overtire the puppy
• Let the puppy have undisturbed sleeping and rest periods
• Confine your puppy when it is by itself so it doesn’t get lost or into trouble
• Let your puppy have the company of people as much as possible
• Let your puppy explore your home
• Let your puppy get used to its family before introducing it to new people
• Provide your puppy with fresh water at all times
• Stick to the recommended puppy diet guide
• Put your puppy somewhere quiet so it can eat without distractions.

You may find that the stress of a new environment can lead to:

• Your puppy losing its appetite for the first week
• Your puppy being finicky around food for the first couple of days
• Your puppy may have loose stool for the first few days
• If your puppy has not eaten for the first 24 hours please make contact