Taking Your Puppy Home.
First few days of puppyhood. What should I expect when my puppy gets home?
It’s usually a big day for your new furbaby and you need to take into consideration that they are used to sleeping a lot of the day. So, puppy will need to rest and settle into their new home as best as possible, with you at their side.
Feeding
Your puppy has been eating Royal Canin mini puppy biscuits. With most puppies, it's fine to just leave these biscuits out so they can graze as they wish. However, is you wish to change them to a 2 or 3 dinners per day regime this may assist with toilet training.
If you are worried about your puppy not eating when you first take it home (this is quite normal), consider giving it some Lactose free or puppy milk with a Weetbix crushed in it or some BBQ chicken as they always tend to love the chicken. Other things to try are Royal Canin sustained growth moose/sardines in tomato sauce (a fav), / soaking biscuits in lactose free milk or broth or just warm water.
We recommend dry food should be given to them for at least the first 6 months as it contains all the vitamins and nutrients growing puppies require. You are more than welcome to change their diet but just do it gradually to avoid tummy upsets with a 25/75, 50/50, 75/25 ratio over a period of 3-4 weeks.
Drinking
Ensure you always have fresh water available NOT MILK as dogs are lactose intolerant. They also like a little honey in their water which also encourages them to drink.
What to look out for on a newly arrived home puppy
One thing we find with these smaller breeds of puppies is that when they leave to go to their new home, they can become a little stressed which in turn can cause them to get diarrhea. If this occurs with your puppy and is bad enough that you are worried about it, just take them off the biscuits and feed them only a small amount of chicken or cottage cheese and plain boiled rice. They are just like us (if we get an upset tummy, the best thing to do is have a little or no food till it settled down). Just make sure they are still drinking water (this is very important).
Seek advice from your Vet if puppy continues to have diarrhoea or you are worried. Please note that no vet costs/fees will be paid for unless you have called us prior to your vet visit and we have agreed to cover the costs and is subject to results of consultation. If you need to call us on this basis; please call 0493 135 429 (please do not text or email under these circumstances). Please look for the orange page in our care pack for further details.
Please seek Vet advice if you feel your puppy is unwell and it is an emergency.
Microchip registration
On collecting Puppy, we will ask you to complete a Microchip registration form. You can change puppies name at this point if you care to. We will then register puppy with Global Micro Animal Registry (www.globalmicro.com.au) Once we have processed the microchip into your name you will receive an email direct from Global Micro with a link to setup your account with them so you can log in at any time and view or change details. Your puppy will be registered with Global Micro 7 business days after collection.
If you wish to add your details to any other microchip search engine that is applicable to your local area this is your responsibility and cost.
Important Note: You will require your microchip number to log on to Global Micro when you click on the link that is emailed to you. The microchip number can be found on your vaccination certificate.
Vaccinations
Your puppy would have received their first Vaccination and Microchip before sale. If you choose a puppy from us that is a little older than 8 weeks old and their second vaccination is due before the sale and collection date, we will complete this before you take puppy home.
Puppies require vaccination at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks and 16 weeks and they should be given a booster annually.
Puppies will need to have their 12-week vaccination (2nd) or even 3rd vaccination prior to being taken out for walks to parks, beaches, shopping centre or schools. Discuss with your vet when they recommend that it will be safe to venture outside with your new baby. This assists in the prevention of your puppy contracting a disease from dogs that may not have been vaccinated.
Important Note: Your puppies next vaccination due date can be found on your vaccination certificate.
Intestinal worming
We recommend worming with Drontal Puppy Wormer.
Pups are started on Drontal from 2 weeks of age, you need to continue worming doses as follows:
- Fortnightly until 12 weeks, then
- Monthly until 6 months, then
- Every 3 months for the rest of pup’s life
Important Note: The date that your puppy will be due their next worming treatment will be written within our customer information and care pack.
Flea treatment & heart worm prevention
We use Advocate flea treatment which covers for Fleas, heartworm and worms, which is a once a month treatment.
Puppies must be started on heartworm prevention by 12 weeks of age. When your puppy returns to the vet for the second vaccination, please speak to them about what heartworm prevention they recommend and start them on it during this visit if not already protected.
Important Note: The date that your puppy will be due their next worming treatment will be written within our customer information and care pack.
Teething
Puppies start teething from a few weeks old and continue until around 8 months of age. With this in mind they need to chew on raw chicken neck bones, Rawhides, Pig Ears, Jerky and Dentabones.
Washing your puppy
You can wash your puppy at any time with a mild shampoo and conditioner. We prefer to use a natural shampoo and conditioner. These products are great for puppies or adults and are gentle on the skin. They will also help to ease any inflammations that may occur. We also use Fidos Herbal Rinse to make your puppy small amazing. These are available from either your vet or produce store.
DISCLAIMERThe directors, officers, breeders and staff of Rovers Run Puppies are not liable for anything deriving from this document arising from any dietary issues with your puppy in regard to the recommendations outlined above. These recommendations are merely derived from our experience with the puppies we breed and sell in order to assist you in caring for your puppy once you take possession of your puppy. Rovers Run Puppies has used its best endeavours to assist you, the buyer of a puppy from Rovers Run Puppies, with the recommendations herein. We recommend you conduct your own research in this matter and consult a registered veterinarian for dietary advice for your puppy if you so desire. Rovers Run Puppies will take no responsibility for any vet bills incurred once the puppy has left our care unless previously approved by the Director.