Here's the looooong post.......
I can’t believe it is almost time for these puppies to join their forever home. This week will definitely be an emotional week for me so please make sure you send lots of pictures and updates on how your new puppy is doing.
Now down to business…First we will start with food. Of course you know by now that all of the puppies are eating Merrick Puppy Food. The puppies are eating 1/2 cup in the morning and 1/2 cup at night. The main goal is the keep them lean. You need to be able to feel your puppy’s ribs and when viewed from above you should be able to see a defined waist. This should be the case when they are adults too.
Crate Training- All of the puppies have started the crate training process. We place them in their own crate each night at bedtime. Let me just say it is not quiet at our house during this time. Your puppy is going to cry and at first you are going to think this may never stop but I promise that if you stick with the process it will pay off big time. Just remember no matter how much your puppy cries do not take them out of the crate. When you take your puppy out to potty at night it should be all business and no play. We are currently taking them out around 1:00am and 4:00am…yes you will be sleep deprived for a little while but it will fly by. At night when you take your puppy out make sure they are on a leash- take them to the same place that you wish your puppy to always go…remember if you train them to go potty right by the door then this is where they are more than likely to go when they get older so make sure it is a place you want them to use. Take the puppy to the potty spot and use a command- we have been saying “Go Bathroom”. Continue to repeat this until your puppy uses the restroom. Once this happens praise your puppy then place them back in the crate. This is not a time to play but to use light praise so they know they have done the right thing. We set an alarm to take the puppies out at night- we do not wait for them to cry. You will continue to move the alarm back and you should be down to only one potty break within one month. Eventually your puppy will be able to hold it all night…this is when you will look back at your sleep deprived nights and feel proud- I promise it is worth it.
Here is a look at the schedule we have your puppy currently on. You do not have to stick to this exactly but your puppy will need a set schedule.
6:00am- Take all puppies out to their potty spot. Highly praise them for going to the bathroom.
6:15am- Feed all puppies and offer water. Play after then potty break followed by nap.
9:00am- Offer water, Potty break followed by lots of praise, play time, then nap
12:00pm- Offer water, Potty break followed by lots of praise, play time, then nap
3:00pm- Offer water, Potty break followed by lots of praise, play time, then nap
6:00pm- Feed all puppies and offer water, potty break followed by lots of praise and play time
Before bed- Potty break at potty spot- light praise then place in crate
Middle of the night- Take puppy to potty spot- light praise then place back in crate.
Remember the first few days are going to be hard for your puppy as this is the first time they are away from their litter mates and mom. Give them time to adjust...patience :)
Leash and Collar. Your puppy will need a collar that can be adjusted easily. The collar should fit snuggly so it won’t slip off but not too tight; you should be able to fit two fingers between the collar and the pup’s neck. Make sure to check this frequently because your puppy will be growing quickly. A leash is needed for walks, potty break and training. I would recommend a short leash in the beginning so you are in control during the training process….you do not want a dog that is going to pull you around the neighborhood- you want one that will walk by your side.
Crate and playpen. We are big on crate training and playpens not only because it keeps your puppy safe when you are unable to watch them but it also helps with the potty training process. For those of you whose puppy is flying you can use the crate they arrive in for a while. It is the perfect size for when they are little. I would recommend a 36” crate for the females and 42” crate for the males. These crates will be too big for your puppy at first so make sure you use a divider to section the place off where your new puppy will sleep. You do not want them to have the whole crate because dogs do not like to go potty where they sleep….if they have the option to go to the other end of the crate to potty then come back to sleep that makes the potty training process a lot harder. Make sure your puppy is able to stand up, lie down, turn around and stretch inside the crate.
Food and Water bowls. There are many different types of doggy dishes to choose from. I would recommend using a stainless steel bowl because they are easy to clean and sanitize (unlike plastic bowls which can easily get scratched and hold bacteria and residue in these areas). They also cannot be chewed up by a new teething puppy.
Food. We feed Merrick Puppy Food. Check our blog for a visual of the bag.
Grooming. We use baby shampoo on all of our puppies and adult dogs. You will also need a brush, nail clippers (make sure to only cut the hook of the nail off. If you are uncertain have your vet show you the proper way) and tooth brush. Start a regular grooming routine as soon as your puppy joins you- this will make the process a lot easier when they are adults.
Toys. Puppies love toys. We recommend strong durable, well-made toys (like kong toys) that are sized appropriately for your dog. Cheaper is not always better- you do not want a toy that your dog can easily take apart and swallow small pieces. Rope toys are also good as they help floss teeth while the puppy plays. Also make sure to get fetching toys such as tennis balls.
These are just the basics that you will need for when your new puppy joins you. Happy Shopping :)
