Puppy Care

 We are confident in our ability of sending you a puppy well adjusted for your home. From the time our puppies are born, they are handled daily and called by name, once we or you have appointed them one. Music is played for their pleasure and socialization. Our grandchildren also interact with them. It's been said puppies feet must touch at least 7 different textures by the age of 8 wks. We can guarantee ours have done over 20. We are very hands-on!
*To make the transition to your home the least amount of stress on everyone, please read and carefully follow our instructions below. We are not experts but having raised puppies for 24 years, have gained much needed knowledge.

 VETERINARIAN EXAMINATION:

My veterinarian with 30 years expertise does a very thorough examination at 6-7 wks. of age.  He is also a breeder and provides us with 5 days worth of Metronidazole (firms stools) to send home with new puppies.  Metron is for stress diarrhea which is very common in puppies.  Their whole world is about to change, new surroundings, voices, scents, excitement of meeting so many new people can be stressful for a 3# puppy.

 HANDLING SAFEGUARDS:

New puppies can be so full of life and excitement. It is best to remember that when picking them up. Be sure to have a secure grip on them when you hold them so they don't wiggle out of your grasp and fall. Never pick them up by their front legs, always under the belly & behind. *Children do well to sit down and hold the puppy on their lap.

***Miniature Dachshunds can wiggle like no other with their backs being so long.  We like to grasp a front leg securely when holding our little ones.

Call 800-474-7044

Order code:42348

Dear Puppy Buyer,

 I highly recommend NuVet Plus.

 More than a million dogs and cats are using NuVet to protect against most ailments (from back yard pesticides, pet food allergies and hormones, toxic formaldehyde in furniture and carpeting, ailments transmitted from dog parks and the vet’s office, etc), while maintaining a beautiful skin and coat.

NuVet Plus is not just a vitamin. It’s is an immune system builder with a precise balance of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, amino acids and high-potency antioxidants. That’s why it works so well through all three stages of a dog’s life.

 P For younger dogs (under 2 years old), it strengthens their immune system, while building and strengthening the cardiovascular, skeletal and nerve systems.

 P For dogs in their prime (age 2-8), it improves the luster of their skin and coat while protecting against allergies, skin and coat problems, staining from tears, digestive problems, etc.

 For older dogs (over 8 years old), it helps reduce and eliminate arthritis, tumors, premature aging, cataracts, heart conditions, diabetes and many types of cancer, while extending the life and improving the vitality of many dogs. 

We highly recommend NuVet Plus to keep your pet on the path to perfect health! It’s not available in stores, and is only available to the general public with an order code from an authorized pet professional.

 You may order directly from the manufacturer by calling 800-474-7044 and using Order Code: 42348, or order online at www.nuvet.com/42348. By using autoship you can save an additional 15%.   To the long life and health of your puppy!

Kriss & Kimberly Jones

Tug @ Yur Hart

 BATHING:

Baths are given at least twice by the age of 8 wks. and sometimes many sponge baths depending on how well Mother does her job.  Nails are trimmed continuely so as not to harm Mom. We use human toenail clippers on our puppies. In continuing these efforts, bathing should always be a bonding time rather than a battle.

***Australian Shepherd puppies will do well with a weekly brushing.  We find that twice a year, once they've reached adulthood, a very thorough brushing needs to be done on them to remove large clumps of excess hair. 

***Miniature Dachshund puppies that are smooth coated need little grooming, longhaired need weekly brushing behind the ears, top of their legs and around the tail (the areas of friction and constant rubbing).  The wires vary from puppy to puppy, some have little wire, almost a smooth coat with wisps, these require little grooming.  Then the other extreme would be the soft wires which look like Teddy Bears.  These require the most brushing, twice a week over their entire body would be sufficient, most attention given to the areas of friction.

*Oatmeal shampoo is excellent for conditioning your puppies skin & coat.  Also adding Omega 3 over their kibble can help.

 POTTY TRAINING:

Our puppies 1st begin eliminating on pee pads/newspaper and very quickly pick up how to use a puppy-door (pet door) for their duties thereafter. Upon coming home to you & their "new" surroundings, they will need to learn your accomadations. Give them a small washable area (laundry room, kitchen or bathroom) of confinement 1st, when you are unable to watch them. Nearly every 2 hours you will need to take your puppy outdoors. Winter can be a bit tricky especially with tiny puppies and the smooth coated Miniature Dachshunds (dogs who prefer 70 degree temperatures). Continuing to eliminate on pee pads/newspaper will assure they don't get chilled from the low temperatures. If you do take them to the great outdoors, dress them accordingly, just as we people do. Puppies easily get sick when their core dips in temperature. Go with them so they don't feel as if they're in trouble. Remind him or her to "Potty". Shortly after waking, eating or playing are also critical times. Using a crate beside your bed can be very helpful as well. The crate also doubles as a safe haven for trips to the vet.

**Our puppies do get extensive outdoor time when weather permits.  We have playpens set up on pea gravel to keep them tidy.  Pet stores aren't able to do this so often times their puppies are afraid of eliminating outside.  Dachshunds can be a bit more stubborn in this area so they generally need more coaxing.

***A newer trend in potty training is hanging a bell of the door handle you use to take your new puppy outside.  Initially you ring it to show them how to notify you, they soon begin ringing it on their own :)

 Naps:

Remember, a new puppy will need many little naps throughout the day. This would be a good time to introduce him or her to it's crate. If you have multiple floors in your home, a crate with a comfy bed is nice for your pet on each floor. When he/she is tired they can curl up securely at any time and nap.

 PUPPY FOOD:

We begin feeding Proplan All Stages by Purina dogfood to our puppies at 5 1/2 weeks of age (quart size bag given with your puppy).  We free feed our puppies, for optimal growth and to prevent hypo-glysemia. 

*Less stress is put on a puppy when they continue with the same puppy food they are accustomed to. 

To encourage your new puppy to eat for the first few days until they feel more comfortable you can smear cottage cheese, plain yougurt, canned Proplan puppyfood etc. on their kibble.  Puppies are often enticed by a fried egg slightly salted and left somewhat runny.

*Puppies oftentimes have diarrhea from dewormings, new vaccinations, stress etc.  You can either mix prepared instant rice into their hard puppyfood or canned pumpkin.  Both these help firm their stools again.

*Karo syrup or honey can be smeared on the roof of their mouth to energize them to eat.  Veterinarians sell Nutrical.   

*Hypo-glycemia can be brought on by your puppy becoming chilled (ours are raised in a 75 degree environment), stressed from many different things such as more commotion then he or she is used to, children playing too hard, other household pets, too many new people being introduced.  Not unlike human children, these Toy puppies especially, need to eat proper (3 x a day works best until they are more accustomed to their new home), and sleep several times throughout the day.

***Australian Shepherd puppies are generally eating 1/2 to 1 cup per day at 8 wks. of age.  By adult age, 2-3 cups if living a moderately active lifestyle.

If you choose to change dogfood brands, wean them out gently. It is a 6 day process of adding a little more each day of the new variety. By day 7, your puppy will be strictly on the new.  

DENTAL CARE:
80% of puppies have bad teeth by the age of 3. We recommend you buy healthy treats such as: Greenies, Milkbones or rawhides which help eliminate the tartar and bad breath. Rawhides need to be supervised so that your dogs doesn't choke.  A good quality food can also do much good in this area.

Toys of all kinds, soft to tough, help eliminate the different types of plaques with accumulate on their teeth.

*February is Pet Dental Month, meaning less expensive rates.

***Excellent idea from Dachshund customers!  Lint brush your dog daily.  So easy and they love it!!!

 IDENTITY:

 We recommend micro-chipping as well as a collar with your name & phone # on it for your new puppy. Many people will return a pet whose tagged but keep a pet who is not.

 TOYS:

 Having a variety of different toys will help to entertain your puppy when you can't be present.  Once toys have been damaged from extensive chewing dispose of them before they become ingested by your dog.

***Toy/Miniature Austalian Shepherds do well with all toys, fetching ones especially.

***Miniature Dachshunds seem to adore stuffed toys.

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