NEW PUPPY INFORMATION

Hi everyone, you might want to print this so you can refer back to it in the future when the pups are ready to go.

Dog/Puppy proof the area: Walk about house and yard and pick up things you do not want your puppy to get hold of, or can harm him. I would also buy outlet protectors and tie up any power cords so they cannot chew on them.

FOOD- the pups are currently eating Royal Canin Labrador puppy. I keep them on puppy food until they are 2 years of age and then change them to adult food. This is a good quality food and the pups will get all they need in terms of calories. You can go from puppy food to regular food without worrying about transition as long as you stay on the same brand. When the pup comes home, they will be eating approximately 3/4 cup a day of dry food mixed with some water three times daily. I usually add some water to slow them down from “inhaling” their food. It also will help them with digestion. As the pup grows you will need to increase his amount so refer to the bag and monitor yourself in terms of exercise and his/her particular needs. I am currently feeding them three times a day but as they grow you need to increase the amount of food and decrease the feedings to twice a day. The smallest meal should be at night so it will be easier to hold its bowels throughout the night. Decrease water after 7 pm. The best way to monitor if your puppy is growing is 20 lbs at 2 months, 30 lbs at 3 months, 40 lbs at 4 months…then finally 60 lbs at 6 months. Labradors are a Sporting breed and they should be fit and not fat. However, some vets don’t really know how an English well built Labrador is supposed to look like and they want them too thin. Be sure the pup eats ell so he/she grows correctly.

Stainless steel water and food bowls – stainless steel bowls cannot be chewed

CRATES- I would purchase a large or extra-large crate. You will be surprised but they grow quickly. I find it foolish to buy more than one crate. You have two options: You can either divide the crate with the divider that usually comes with the crate, or take the easy way out and put an old towel on one end of the crate so it he urinates you can take the towel and wash it and use it again. I can’t see getting up all hours of the night to put the dog outside in the zero-degree weather or during a thunderstorm when he/she doesn’t have control over her bladder anyway. Sleep! After 12 weeks take the towel away and you will notice that they will have very few accidents. Don’t waste money on a nice dog
bed; they will only pee on it and tear it up. Wait until they are older, you can put a carpet or a crate liner on the bottom of the crate. The best buy for crates is Ocean State Job Lot, they have very affordable crates.

Puppies do not have full bowel or bladder control until 12 weeks of age.

Exercise- a proper diet and plenty of exercise is the key to a healthy, well behaved dog. The pup should have several walks a day and run around the back yard. They will be much better behaved, sleep better and develop good muscle tone by being active.

Collars- I do not recommend collars to be on puppies or dogs if they are in a crate. When a dog is crated and you are out of the house, they can get the collar stuck on the crate, panic and choke to death. The only time they need a collar is when you are walking or training them. I do recommend puppy classes, check with you vet for locations. It socializes the dog and helps you with the training process. Consistency among family members is very important. Everyone should follow the same set of rules or the puppy will get very confused and not follow any of them. A puppy out of control is bad enough; an 80 lb dog out of control and jumping all over you is a disaster.

SOCIALIZATION- it is important for you to take the pup with you in the car and expose him/ her to different areas and things. Drive in windows at a bank or for coffee, parks where there are children and people in hats, school baseball games, walking on the rails to trails where they will see people with carriages and bikes. I would however not have other dogs around your puppy when he/she is small. You will run into people that will say, “oh my dog is so gentle, he just wants to say hi”. I know it sounds rude, but say no he’s too young. You never know if that dog is carrying a virus or if their dog might not like the puppy and bite him/her. It’s much better to have the pup around other puppies at puppy kindergarten classes. Once the pup has had all set of vaccinations at 16 weeks you can increase their exposure around older dogs.

CHEWINGS- the pup will chew everything. He/she will nip and bite not because it’s mean but because it’s teething. Between 10-14 weeks tends to be the worse. They will start to lose their baby teeth and their secondary teeth will start coming in. You cannot allow the dog to ever chew on you. You must be firm and let them know that chewing on you or your children is not permitted. Give them something that they can chew. If they are driving you crazy, it’s time out in the crate with a marrow bone or something that they can chew. Marrow bones are found in the meat department of most grocery stores. Buy the larger size as they grow so it doesn’t get stuck around their jaw. They
can have stuffed animals to play with but if there is a squeaky toy inside, I would remove it so if they tear up the stuffed animal, they won’t choke on the squeaky part inside, therefore be careful about putting stuffed animals in their crate.

TOYS- plastic bottle, a simple plastic bottle with the cap off provides the pup with a lot of entertainment. They love chasing it around the house and it makes nose which makes then even happier. It’s the cheapest toy going and there is usually an ample supply of them around. There are a variety of puppy toys and the ones that they can chew on are the best. Kong toys and nylabones .

DISCIPLINE- Be sure to start with simple commands and don’t let the pup get into bad habits when they are young. If you allow the puppy upstairs or in your bed then they will learn that it’s ok and will continue to do that when they are older. Reward good behavior! Take some special treats with you when you take your puppy outside. I usually use cheese, but you can use something special. When they poop or pee outside, make a big deal out of it and give them a treat. When you call their name and they come, give them a small treat. They will learn quickly. I would take them outside every 20 minutes to prevent accidents in the house and don’t play with them when you let them out. Let them do what they have to do. If they get playing, they sometimes forget to urinate then will do it when they come back inside.

NO RUNNING OR LONG WALKS ON PAVEMENT- Do not run your puppy on pavement, especially for the first year. While the dog is growing the constant trauma to their joints can cause elbow or hip problems. If you are a jogger/runner do it on paths that are not paved.

DO NOT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN OR THEIR FRIENDS
CARRY AROUND THE PUPPY. There is no need to carry a puppy when they can walk. Often times the puppy can wiggle out of the child’s hand fall and be injured. Sometimes the injuries are not apparent until later. They can also get small fractures just like babies can. If they are lifted incorrectly, they can have shoulder issues. Puppies are not a toy. Children should not run and scream around a puppy even if the puppy is chasing them or nipping at them. The pup can be stepped on and severely injured.
When the dog is older and stronger than they can play harder with it but not as a pup. Please be sure that anything that can be ingested, small toys, socks, medication on coffee tables, chocolate etc. can and have been ingested by puppies/dogs and have gotten very ill and some even have died. As the puppy gets older adding little pure salmon oil which you can purchase from a health food store or from your vet help will help their coats and the Omega’s are very good for them.

Vaccine- pups will have had their first set of shots and seen by my vet when you get them. All the pups have also been wormed; however, worms have never been an issue at my house but puppies can get them from their mother’s intestinal tract. I suggest that all pups are seen within the first 24-48 hours after you bring them home. They should be seen by your vet so if there are any issues your vet already has met them. Taking in a stool sample at that time and their vaccine record that you will get from me is recommended. Their next set of vaccines will be 4 weeks after that.

It is best NOT to neuter your male dogs until they are a year old and if possible, to let the female pup go through their first heat. If you neuter/spay them too young you are not allowing the hormones to complete the bone density in your pups. For example, look at the body of a 10-year-old child verses an 18-year-old young adult who has gone through puberty. If you don’t want to deal with a heat then spay them as close to 9- 10 months as possible.

All pups are sold on limited registration which means they can NOT be bred.

My address is 155 Beaumont Hwy, Lebanon, Ct 06249

Beaumont Hwy is also known as route 289. I live in a red brick ranch with an attached garage.

If you get lost it’s best to call 860 859 7680

I hope you will find this information helpful and you can refer back to it when needed.