The choice to purchase a new puppy is a huge commitment that should not be taken lightly. It is very much like bringing home a new baby. That puppy will depend on you for everything and God willing will be with you for many years to come. You will need to learn all you can about caring for the puppy before you bring him or her home. I hope that this page will help with that.

1. Feeding your new puppy.

Your puppy should be fed a good quality food. Look for a food that is high in protein and made especially for puppies. If you purchase your puppy from us you will receive a sample of the food he or she has been eating. You will need to keep your puppy on this food for at least a week after you take him home. If you decide to use a different food. Mix a small amount of the new food in with the food your puppy is used to eating. Example: ¾ regular food ¼ new food. If after a few days your puppy isn’t showing any signs of stomach upset mix ½ regular food and ½ new food. If after a few days your puppy still seems to be eating good and showing no sign of stomach upset mix ¼ regular food with ¾ new food. If after a few days your puppy is still doing good start feeding only the new food. A sudden change in food can upset your puppy’s tummy and cause digestive problems.

I keep food and fresh water available at all times. A small puppy can not eat much at a time so it is important that the puppy be able to eat often in order to keep his or her blood sugar and energy supply up. If you can't keep food available at all times make sure the puppy eats at least every two hours.

2. Where will your new puppy sleep?

Your puppy will be very small when you get him. He will need a warm place that is free from drafts. Sleeping in the bed with you is not really a good idea until he is older. He could be injured if someone rolls over on him or if he wakes up in the night and wanders off the side of the bed. It is a good idea to make him a bed of his very own. A carrier or an exercise pen works great for this. Make sure it is in a warm area of the house because small puppies get cold very easily and make sure that he has a bed and blanket available. Many puppies like to burrow under a blanket to sleep. A toy in his bed is nice too.

3. Leaving your new puppy alone.

Tiny puppies can not be left alone for long periods of time. If you work long hours you will need to arrange for a friend, neighbor, or family member to check on your puppy while you are gone. They will need to make sure he is eating enough while you are away. Also they will need to see that he has a place to go potty since he will not be able to hold it for very long until he is older. If your puppy must be left alone you will need to make sure that he is in a safe place. He should not be able to get to anything that could hurt him if he chews on or eats it. He should not be able to climb on anything because he could fall off and hurt himself. Using a carrier or an exercise pen when you are not able to watch your puppy is the safest thing.

4. House training your new puppy.

There are a variety of methods to train a puppy. Different methods work for different people. You will need to decide which method best fits your circumstances. If you have a nice fenced yard and live in a warm climate you may want to train your puppy to go potty outside. If you don’t have a yard or have a lot of cold weather in your area puppy pads or a litter box may be a better option for you.

I start my puppies on puppy pads but I teach my older dogs to use a doggy door. During bad weather my older dogs often opt to use the puppy pads rather than go outside. Several people that have bought puppies from me successfully trained their puppies to use a litter box.

I keep the puppies in an exercise pen. I make the pen just big enough for a bed, food and water dishes, and a puppy pad. There is no floor space showing. Most puppies will not go potty on their bed, food, or water so they are forced to use the puppy pad. When I take them out to play I make sure that I have a puppy pad near by. If one has an accident I pick her up, say no, and move her to the pad to finish her business. If the puppy does not finish I put her back in the exercise pen for a while then try again later. As they get better at using the puppy pad I make their exercise pen bigger so they have more room to run and play until they are fully trained and ready to have run of the house.

Never hit a puppy, yell, or rub his nose in it if he has an accident. This only confuses the puppy. Puppies want to make us happy. They can tell by the tone of our voice if we are happy or not without having to yell at them. Give them a stern no when they go where they shouldn’t but be sure to praise them in a happy voice when they go where you want them to go.

Consistency is very important when training a puppy. If you are using a puppy pad or litter box it should always be in the same place. If you are teaching the puppy to go outside you should always take the puppy out at the same time and often. Puppies can not hold it very long. It is a good idea to take them out when your first wake up, after they eat or drink, and at least every two hours through the day. Every hour is even better.

If they go where they shouldn’t always tell them no and move them to the proper place whether it be a puppy pad, litter box, or outside. When they are little they only make little messes and they are so cute that we hate to scold them. Don’t give in to the temptation to just clean up the mess and let it go. When they are big it won’t be a tiny mess and it won’t be cute. Consistency now will pay off in the future.

When they do have an accident be sure to get ALL the smell up. Even if you can’t smell sometimes they can and if they can smell it they will return to that same spot again and again when they need to potty.

Patience is also important. It takes time for them to learn. Going to a new home can confuse them and make them have accidents for a while. Be patient and be consistent and they will be back on track before you know it.

5. Signs of illness in your new puppy.

Any diarrhea should be taken very seriously. Many things can cause diarrhea. Stress, coccidiosis, guardia, parasites, something they ate just to name a few. These are discussed more thoroughly on my health page. Puppies can become dehydrated from diarrhea very quickly and can even die if they become too dehydrated so it is important to find out what is causing the diarrhea and get it treated as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to determine the cause and the best course of action.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is another major concern in small puppies. It can be caused by playing too hard, not eating enough, parasites, or other health issues. Signs of hypoglycemia include being overly tired, listless, staggering, disorientation, and in the later stages seizures, unconsciousness, and even death. If you see any of these signs you should immediately give your puppy nutra cal or karo syrup to help bring his blood sugar up. If his symptoms are only mild and clear up after the nutra cal or karo make sure he eats something with lot’s of protein like his dog food, or Gerber baby food chicken sticks (for human babies). If his symptoms are severe or if it happens more than once you should immediately take him to your vet. There could be an underlying cause of the hypoglycemia that needs to be treated by your vet. If your puppy is unconscious do not try to give him anything by mouth. Go immediately to your vet.

6. Stress

Stress can be brought on by many things including going to a new home. I send a blanket home with all of my puppies. The blanket has the scent of their mother and siblings on it and should be kept with the puppy for the first week or so to help reduce the stress of going to a new home.

A puppy can actually become ill from stress. Coccidiosis is the most common puppy illness brought on by stress. The first symptom of coccidiosis is usually diarrhea. Sometimes the diarrhea will be bloody or have mucus in it. You can find more information about coccidiosis on my health page. You should always take your puppy to the vet if he or she has diarrhea.

7. Things to purchase before your puppy arrives.

a. Puppy food (be sure to ask the breeder what the puppy is used to eating so you can keep him or her on that food in the beginning)

b. food and water dishes (should be small dishes that a tiny puppy can easily reach)

c. an exercise pen or carrier for your puppy to sleep in. If you are having your puppy shipped he will come with a carrier that can be used for sleeping and training.

d. Puppy bed.

e. puppy blanket

f. Nutra Cal or Karo syrup. (a must to have on hand in case of hypoglycemia)

g. Gerber baby food chicken or chicken sticks for human babies (these are great to have on hand in case the puppy doesn’t want to eat)

h. A chew toy or two is always nice too.

8. Preventative care and regular vet visits.

Regular vet visits are important to the health and well being of your new puppy. If you purchased your puppy from us you received a record of all shots and preventative medicines your puppy has received since birth. Please take that with you when you take your puppy for his first vet visit. It will let your vet know what your puppy has already had and help him to better determine what your puppy still needs. Your puppy should go for his or her first vet visit as soon after coming home as possible. Please do not give any shots during the first week that the puppy is in your home. Your puppy will already be stressed from going to a new home and a shot would stress him even more. Always ask what is in the shots your puppy is being given. Your puppy should not be given a shot containing Lepto.

If you purchase a puppy from us he will have had at least one dose of heartworm preventative. This should be given monthly for the puppy’s entire life, especially if you live in an area with lot’s of mosquitoes. There are many kinds of heart worm preventatives on the market. Ask your vet what type you should use and follow his recommendation.

If you live in an area where fleas and ticks are a problem you will want to be sure your puppy is protected during flea and tick season. There are many products available. Ask your vet which product would be best for your puppy and always follow your vets recommendation.