We ask all of our new owners to bring your puppy to a licensed veterinarian of your choosing within 72 hours of taking ownership. We recommend making the appointment in advance of pick up and bringing the records we provide for your vet to review. Your vet should do a thorough exam as well as start them on a de-wormer and flea & tick prevention program.
Puppy Proofing Your Home
Much like children, puppies can get into everything. Make sure that any cords, outlets, and chemicals are out of reach. It's a good idea to make sure that things you don't want chewed, like shoes, are not readily available to them. If they do get ahold of an item that's off limits, re-direct their attention to something that they are allowed to have.
Food & Feeding Supplies
Providing a high quality puppy food will ensure that your new family member gets the nutrition they need while rapidly growing. Our puppies are fed Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Puppy Chicken and Rice formula. They love it! Always keep fresh water available to them. Be sure to select an appropriately sized food and water bowl that are easy to clean, not too big, and are resistant to breaking. We recommend food and water bowls that have a wide base or attach to the side of a crate so that they're more difficult to turn over. We recommend feeding three times daily until at least 6 months of age, then reducing feedings to twice daily. This will help prevent over eating and assist with house training.
Crate training from the day to bring your puppy home is a great way to establish a safe space for your puppy. It is also an effective housebreaking and behavioral training tool. The crate should be large enough that they can stand and turn around when the door is closed. However, providing too much space may hamper the effectiveness of the crate as a training tool. Providing a crate cover makes the space more den-like and more comfortable.
There are many methods of potty training using many tools or a combination of them. Potty pads, bells, crates, and timed feedings are all great tools. We like to use a combination of crates and timed feedings, however, feel free to research and use the methods that fit your lifestyle.
Have fun choosing toys for your new puppy. All kinds of toys can be found - squeakers, balls, chew toys... the list goes on and on! We do caution against 2 types of toys unless being closely supervised: rope toys and rawhide. Rope toys can shred and rawhides are difficult to digest. Both can be swallowed and may cause internal blockages. We love deer antlers for teething. Puppies love the taste, they last a long time, and are safe for chewing.