NEW PUPPY INSTRUCTIONS

Congratulations on your new puppy! Puppies bring happiness to a home like nothing else can. Your new puppy has just a few directions that come with him/her.

It is best to have a crate to house-break your puppy. Crating your puppy is not a punishment. It should be a resting place that provides safety for your pup while you may be busy doing something else. Puppy should be kept in his crate at night. Most people keep the crate near their bed or sleep on a couch near to the crate for the first few nights. This reassures the pup in the new environment and also allows one to be able to jump up to get a coat or slippers to walk puppy when insistent on needing to relieve himself.

Housebreaking occurs quickly if you stay to a schedule and remember that during the day, your puppy should be let out directly following a feeding and every 2-3 hours to ensure puppy comprehends where it is rewarded for going potty. A pocket full of treats to offer whenever puppy is successful is wise.

Your puppy is now eating Purina Pro Plan Puppy (under 1 year) food. You will not want to change this food as it is a wonderful diet. It is made specifically with puppy needs in mind. If you decide you must for some reason change this food, it must be done in very small exchanges over a twoweek time. Any abrupt change even with treats, can cause a digestive upset and diarrhea.

Pet Supplies Plus , Brother’s Country Store, and Farm & Fleet are large commercial stores that carry this brand of food. In addition you can order it on Chewy.com. Your puppy should be offered food twice to three times daily. The back of the dog food bag offers approximate amounts according to age and weight. We have been offering 1 cup three times daily. We sprinkle a little warm water over food to make it more palatable.

Your puppy is also being given two fantastic products called Nu-Vet Plus and NuJoint Plus that is a tasty daily tablet/powder used to optimize your puppy’s immune system, create desirable joint and ligaments for skeletal development, and to aid in preventing many potential health problems occurring in dogs.

Please view the page on our website which explains the benefits from this supplement. Use of this product for the first year of puppy’s life is part of our warranty program. We want to give your new puppy the very best start in life! You can order the product by calling 800 474-7044, visit online: www.nuvet.com. Or click the icon for Nu Vet Plus on our website. You must mention breeder’s code # 62914 or my name, Kathy Potocki. For an additional discount you can be on auto-ship.

If you are not in the Chicago area for Chicago water supply, it is also best to offer bottled water to your pup for the first few days. Very slowly add your own water so as to not upset puppy’s stomach. You will be provided with a list of current immunizations and dewormings.

You will need to continue to complete your immunizations as scheduled on a 3-4 week interval. Never immunize prior to three weeks between shots. You can be a few days late, but NEVER earlier. This can cause neurological damage. Most areas of Illinois and the Midwest have ticks that cause Lyme’s Disease. It is recommended to give this vaccine in this area. With the new canine flu viruses that have hit so hard in Chicagoland areas, it is highly recommended that you vaccinate against both flu types.

This is a first vaccine with an additional booster in three weeks. If you will be walking your puppy in areas where other dogs can contaminate the area, a Bordetella nasal immunization for Kennel Cough is recommended as is the canine flu vaccine series. Your vet will recommend a rabies immunization following puppies 4th month. I usually give that around 6 months if possible (check with local county regulations.) I always keep that separate from any other immunizations so as not to compromise the immune- system.

I recommend starting your puppy before 6 months on Heartgard, one of the safer Heart worm preventatives. Each year thereafter, your dog will need to be tested once per year to be sure there are not Heartworms.

You will need to continue deworming your puppy through 12 weeks. It is recommended that they are dewormed every two weeks until 12 weeks. Following this, it is recommended every 6 months for life. Over the counter or online dewormers work fine.

Your puppy’s nails should be clipped or (tipped) barely cut once every month. A cat nail clipper is best for use on small puppies. Remember to handle feet and groom puppy to keep them used to being handled for purposes like this. Puppies need proper exercise and lots of love.

Sometimes a community puppy class offers the Star Puppy program through the AKC to assist you with your puppy obedience and proper socialization skills. ENJOY this precious little wonder that you have added to your life! You now own a little being which will unconditionally love you forever.