your first days with a new puppy... and beyond!

Thank you for letting us provide you with your new family member. The pleasure was all ours in being a part in your little one's life!

We hope that he/she brings you as much happiness as they did us, in the past 8 weeks! We wish you a long and happy life together. Please don't forget to send us photos and updates often!

I hope you find this page helpful and informative. 

Please remember to register your puppy, their microchip (if applicable) and order your NUVET vitamins. 

TRUPANION:

Your puppy comes home with an invaluable perk! We partner with Trupanion Pet Insurance Company to make sure that your little one is covered for accidents and illness. Unlike most insurance companies, Trupanion does not require you to give your payment information to activate a 30 day trial of insurance. You are not required to call and cancel it either. You actually have to let them know you want to keep it after the 30 day trial and give payment info then. You are welcome to sign up for it at the trial activation (usually cost about $30 per month for 80% coverage) but it is not required. 

When you consider this trial, please remember that puppies tend to chew, eat just about anything, and are very clumsy to begin with. Trupanion covers your baby from the moment it leaves my arms, to yours, and even covers them for the ride home should a car accident occur! TOTALLY worth the call! 

Please continue to feed your puppy the food that we have been feeding them thru their weaning process. Changing food abruptly can cause GI upset, and stress your puppy into a coccidia infection in his new surroundings. 

Now that you have received your new addition, we are sure that you want that baby to grow up to be a healthy, playful little bundle of joy. BUT there are certain things that you need to know and do to make this happen. 

In the following paragraphs, I have tried to cover the basics of how to care for a new puppy and some information that may save your baby's life in an emergency situation. I will also try to educate you to be observant so you may meet the needs of even the tiniest of our little ones. 

One of the biggest mistakes I have observed when some people purchase a new puppy, is they immediately have to take it visiting to show it off. This is a terrible idea. Take your puppy straight home and try your very best to keep it there until it has adjusted to its new surroundings and new family. Don't do anything that will stress your little one. If your puppy is put into some sort of pen and allowed to "cry it out" you could wake up to a dead puppy the next morning. Your puppy is coming home with a blanket with the scent of his or her litter on it. Please use that for the transition phase. (first 3 days) It will help him to settle in with a familiar item from its former setting. It may not smell freshly washed to you, but that is GOOD. Usually, placing this blanket with your baby to sleep with can help with the crying that comes the first few nights. 

VET VISIT:

You are required to take your puppy for a well visit within a certain time frame of coming home. Where do people take their sick animals? TO THE VET! So, with that in mind, please be sure to keep your new baby off the floor, and do not allow it to interact with other animals during her visit. Your baby has had his first vaccination but is not completely covered from life-threatening illnesses until she has had all of their series.

Also, all vets are not created equal. Should your vet suggest to restart the vaccine series your puppy has already started, RUN. You wouldn't do that with your newborn child, so please do not allow over-vaccination of your pet. 

If in doubt, please ask around with friends and family, to see what Vet they use, or suggest. Please make sure you are completely comfortable with your Vet. REMEMBER: you are paying them to provide a service, you are not required to use that Vet if you are not comfortable. 

You have the right to interview a few, see how big their customer base is, and if they are patient with you and answer any questions you may have. You have to trust your vet with the life of your puppy. Please don't settle!

HEIGHTS:

Puppies have to go potty often. So please, do not put small puppies in bed with you or your children. That time will come, but it is unsafe to begin with. Puppies attempt to move as far as they can away from their bed area to potty and could fall off and break bones, or even cause irreparable head trauma. Puppies have no conception of heights. They will walk right off the edge of any furniture if left unattended. Please warn your children not to play with them on the sofa or bed. Floor activities are perfect for the little one to enjoy. 

DIET:

Your puppy is eating a specific food that we started them on when we began weaning them from their mother. We try to use a cost efficient but quality food, so please do not take our recommendation lightly.  

Changing your puppy's food suddenly is dangerous to adolescent GI tracts. Any changes to food should be done with Vet supervision, and within a time frame that doesn't shock the system. Mixing the old food with the new over a period days to weeks is the best method of change for a gentle transition.  

HYPERGLYCEMIA:

In the first couple of days, your puppy may not be interested in food, as new surroundings and stress from being away from siblings and mom are confusing. This is especially true if the baby had to travel a long distance from breeder to new home. The most important thing during this time is to make sure your puppy is getting nourishment and not becoming lethargic. Plain greek yogurt is a healthy treat that contains more calories than a bowl of food. Please give your little one at least 10ml per day during transition. PLEASE NOTE: Your puppy will choose yogurt over hard food EVERY TIME. Be sure to try the hard food FIRST and then offer yogurt a little while later if they choose not to eat.