Caring for Your Puppy

Caring for Your New Puppy

We always make sure our new -- and often nervous -- puppy families go home with as much advice and information on training and behaviour as they need to feel confident with their new puppy. Many of our families have never lived with a dog before so it's important to start them off on the right path while they're waiting to start puppy classes. And you can always call or e-mail with any concerns or questions you may have.

So much to do before bringing home your new puppy! Here's what we recommend you have on hand before the Big Day!
Shopping List
* Carrier or Kennel Cab              * Brushes, combs & nail clippers                       * Chewing deterrents
* Baby gate or playpen                * Toys                                                                   * Crate & Bedding
* Collar, leash, harness              * Food & water dish                                             * Odour neutralizers and cleaners

Carrier or Kennel Cab
How are you planning to bring the puppy home? Take her to the vet? A carrier will come in handy and is recommended as a safe way to travel. Don’t forget to secure the carrier with a seat belt. Be sure to line the bottom with a bath towel or thin pet bed designed for crates & carriers in case the puppy has an accident or gets car sick.
Baby Gate or Playpen
The puppy will need a safe, secure fenced off area or pen to play in. A typical fenced off area of the house is the kitchen: the floor is easier to clean and family members tend to spend lots of time in the kitchen. Playpens are usually about 3x3 feet and are easy to set up & dismantle.
Crate & Bedding
Crates provide a safe, secure place to eat, rest or play when no one is home to supervise. Having a dog in a crate is not cruel; in fact, the dog will consider the crate its den and will prefer to have a private, comfortable place to call home. It also prevents unwanted behaviours when you are not able to keep a watchful eye. When you are not there to supervise, put the puppy in his crate and give him a chew toy or stuffed animal to play with. Make sure that he has access to water while in his crate. Crates are also invaluable for potty training and for this reason we recommend giving the puppy enough space for only a litter box and a bed. You can buy a larger crate and partition it to make a small enough space for a puppy and then remove the partition as the puppy grows if you like. A 30” crate can still accommodate a smaller litter box and bed -- this is also the size we use for our adult dogs.
There are many different types of bedding. Keep in mind puppies love to chew and choose bedding that is durable and unlikely to have the stuffing chewed out of it.

Feeding Bowl & Water Dish
We recommend stainless steel. It won’t break and will last the dog’s lifetime. It is also easiest to sanitize. A rubber bottom on the feed bowl will prevent it from sliding around the floor. If you're keeping the water dish inside a crate, we recommend keeping it off the ground where the puppy will certainly overturn it and spill water on the floor. Buy a “coop cup” that hangs from the crate. There are 3 kinds: the ones with the hook are easy to knock off the cage wall; another variety with one steel clamp is a better choice - a wingnut holds it in place. This type usually has a ring into which the bowl fits but the bowl can be pushed up from below, spilling the water. They can also be twisted sideways & upside down. The best choice is the coop cup with 2 steel clamps. With this type, the bowl snaps into place and cannot be dislodged by your pet.
Food
A 5 pound bag of Fromm’s Gold puppy food is sent home with your puppy. This food is wheat- and corn-free, which has been shown cause food allergies in dogs (skin problems, digestive problems, etc.) If you plan to change your dog’s food, please do so gradually ie. 75%-25%, 50- 50, etc. and gradually increase the ratio of the new food to the old food over several days. However, we’ve found Fromm’s to be a safe and healthy food for our dogs.

Brushes, Combs, Nail Clippers
If you only get one brush, it should be a slicker brush appropriate to your puppy’s size. After that, a pin brush and/or comb would be handy. Your puppy won’t need grooming very often but it is good to start early so he gets used to it -- and it will be very enjoyable for him. Puppy nails are small but sharp and and need regular trimming.

Collar, Leash & Harness
We recommend collars that don’t have dangling decorations that can detach and be swallowed. I've had many dogs that I could walk perfectly well with a collar and leash, but every one of my Bichons and Cavachons has managed to escape the collar with remarkable ease and now I only walk them using a harness. Cavachons, like Bichons and Cavaliers, should never be allowed to run freely in an unfenced area. These dogs have poor recall: They’re not territorial and won’t stay on the property. They’re always at risk of running into traffic so be careful when opening doors to avoid tragedy.

Odour neutralizers & cleaners/Chewing deterrents
Look for products that clean and eliminate urine odours from floors & carpets. Dogs will go to the bathroom where they can smell has been used for that purpose in the past. There are also attractants that encourage the puppy to eliiminate where you want him to. A chewing deterrant can be applied if the puppy suddenly takes a liking to the leg of your favourite chair. The most common is Bitter Apple.

Toys
Chew toys are great for puppies, especially when they're teething but they are also important for oral hygiene. Vets don't recommend rawhide bones because they wear teeth down. Choose something thin and light, or a chewable treat like Greenies. Plush toys and rope toys should be used with supervision and checked regularly for rips and tears. A swallowed squeaker can cause a fatal blockage and an unravelled rope can get trapped in the intestines.