Going Home

The day you collect your puppy from the breeder is an exciting one for you but for them it is an anxious time facing a strange new world without the company of their litter mates and the comforting presence of their mother.  It is now that the all important bond between both you and your pup should be forged.  Their future well being depends largely upon the measure of your reassurance to them.  They are still very young and it should be remembered that they need good nourishing food, plenty of sleep, they have little control of their bodily functions, and during the wakeful hours, they need companionship.

Feeding

This is perhaps the most important aspect of care for your puppy and the key to their future health.  A good balanced diet is essential to provide the necessary vitamins, minerals and a balance of carbohydrate, protein and fat required for growth.

A puppy up to 12 weeks of age should receive 4 small meals a day (rather than 1-2 large ones).  As they get older you can start reducing the number of feeds, especially if they are getting too heavy or they don’t want to eat as much.

The easiest way to ensure your pup is getting the best diet possible is to feed a commercially designed ‘complete and balanced’ puppy ration (these have been specially designed for growing puppies as they have different dietary requirements than adults and consequently they have a lot of trouble efficiently digesting and utilising adult food).

Supplementing the diet with calcium/phosphorus etc. is not necessary as long as a complete and balanced ration is used in the recommended amounts.  In fact too much calcium can do just as much harm as too little.

Table scraps should not make up more than 30% of the diet eg. gravy, vegetables, rice, etc.

Bones should form part of the diet as they provide good dental exercise, however take them away once they start to chew them up - this will help avoid splinters and internal blockages.  Brisket bones are food for small dogs.  Large canon bones are best fed to medium - large dogs.  NEVER feed cooked bones.

Milk is not necessary if a balanced ration is fed.  It can cause diarrhoea in some individuals.  It is important, however, that there is ad lib water available at all times.

Accommodation

Your puppy should have a place of it’s own and a cardboard box, with one side cut out for easy access, is quite adequate.  Remember that it may be all very well for a young puppy to cuddle up beside you on the couch or on your bed but this is not so acceptable in a large muddy dog and rule changes are hard for them to understand.  START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON.