Puppy Basics

Puppies are, without a doubt, some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park. Here’s a guide to help you care for the new addition to your family.

When the time comes to finally bring your new puppy home for the first time, you can pretty much count on three things: unbridled joy, cleaning up your puppy’s accidents, and a major lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll soon learn, a growing puppy needs much more than a food bowl and a doghouse to thrive. And while it may be a lot of work initially, it’s well worth the effort! Establishing good and healthy habits in those first few sleep-deprived weeks will lay the foundation for many dog-years of happiness for you and your puppy.

 

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Grooming

Schedule a Groom (trim or cut) Approx. Every Six Weeks (starting when your puppy is about four  months old.)Since our puppies are all crossed with poodles and have less shedding, their hair will continuously grow, which means they will need haircuts more often than most other dogs!

Self-Cleaning Slicker

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We love using slicker brushes on our doodles. (Brush every 1-3 days)

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Vet Basics ChlorConazole Ear Flush

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Vet Basics ChlorConazole Ear Flush is an antibacterial and antifungal medicated solution that promotes ear health and helps prevent ear disease and ear infections in dogs, cats and horses. Chlorhexidine gluconate and ketoconazole effectively work together against bacterial, yeast, and fungal infections. Also controls smells that can occur in the ears or skin. This solution acts as an ear cleanser and medication in one.

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Vet Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution with Aloe Vera

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Vet® Solutions Ear Cleansing Solution is specially formulated to deodorize, clean, dry and acidify your pet’s ears. This provides an ideal environment for healthy ears and helps prevent external ear infections. Removes ear wax and excess debris in the ear canal. This solution is gentle enough for routine use. Contains Aloe Vera for added soothing. Good for both daily use of excessively dirty ears or weekly maintenance of healthy ears. For dogs and cats.

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Find a Good Vet

We recommend that you bring your puppy to his first vet appointment between 10 and 12 weeks.  He will be due for a 5-way booster and a rabies vaccine (not recommended before 12 weeks).  If you don’t have a vet already, ask friends for recommendations. Local dog walkers and groomers are also a great source for ideas.

Make the Most of Your First Vet Visit

• Set up a vaccination plan with your vet.
• Discuss safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
• Learn which signs of illness to watch for during your puppy’s first few months.
• Ask about when you should spay or neuter your dog.

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Establish a Bathroom Routine

According to the experts, your most potent allies in the quest to house-train your puppy are patience, planning, and plenty of positive reinforcement. In addition, it’s probably not a bad idea to put a carpet-cleaning battle plan in place, because accidents will happen.

Until your puppy has had all of her vaccinations, you’ll want to find a place outdoors that’s inaccessible to other animals. This helps reduce the spread of viruses and disease. Make sure to give lots of positive reinforcement whenever your puppy has success eliminating outside and, almost equally important, refrain from punishing her when she has accidents indoors.

Knowing when to take your puppy out is almost as important as giving her praise whenever she does eliminate outdoors. Here’s a list of the most common times to take your puppy out to potty.

• When you wake up
• Right before bedtime
• Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water
• When your puppy wakes up from a nap.
• During and after physical activity.

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Watch For Early Signs of Illness

For the first few months, puppies are more susceptible to sudden bouts of illnesses that can be serious if not caught in the early stages. If you observe any of the following symptoms in your puppy, it’s time to contact the vet.

• Lack of appetite
• Poor weight gain
• Vomiting
• Swollen of painful abdomen
• Lethargy (tiredness)
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing or coughing
• Pale gums
• Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
• Nasal discharge
• Inability to pass urine or stool

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Teach Obedience

By teaching your puppy good manners, you’ll set your puppy up for a life of positive social interaction. In addition, obedience training will help forge a stronger bond between you and your puppy.

Teaching your pup to obey commands such as sit, stay, down, and come will not only impress your friends, but these commands will help keep your dog safe and under control in any potentially hazardous situations. Many puppy owners find that obedience classes are a great way to train both owner and dog. Classes typically begin accepting puppies at age 4 to 6 months.

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Keep it Positive

Positive reinforcement, such as small treats, has been proven to be vastly more effective than punishment. Introduce new food or treats gradually because he/she is not accustomed to them.  Cut treats into very small pieces, so they are less likely to upset his/her tummy.

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Be Sociable

Just like obedience training, proper socialization during puppyhood helps avoid behavioral problems down the road. Our puppies here at The Dazzling Doodles, are raised in our home, where they are socialized on a daily basis until they are ready to go to their new forever homes.