11 Puppy Steps, You Need To Know, For Your New Puppy
- Feeding
- Toys and Treats
- Socialization
- Housebreaking
- Flea and Tick Control
- Heartworm
- Shinny Coat
- Strong Joints and Bones
- Collars
- Bathing and Grooming
- Training
Congratulations on the purchase of your Walters K9 Kennels New Puppy! The information provided is to be used strictly as a guideline for your puppy.
Water is given throughout the day however you will need to monitor the water given during housebreaking. I do not give water after six to seven pm for puppies being house broken
FEEDING
Your New Puppy is being fed IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH SMART PUPPY 1-12 MONTHS, FEED 1 AND HALF CUP TWO TIMES DAILY. Daily, increase the food as your puppy grows according to their weight, age and activity level. If your puppy eats there food quickly and appears to still be hungry then increase the food intake gradually. The food bowl should be given and removed after 15-20 minutes.
It is not uncommon for the puppies to not eat very well for the first few days due to stress. If your puppy is not eating, then you can add cooked boneless skinless chicken. This usually gets the puppy to eat. If you change your puppy’s diet abruptly or during the adjustment period, you will likely cause stool issues that could take some time to resolve. Change of diets must be done gradually over a period of at least 7-10 days. No table food should be fed to any puppy. All our adult dogs are fed IAMS Large Breed. Feeding should be done in a quiet place. Plain yogurt is good for puppies during their growth period. Feed 1 teaspoon per feeding, increasing it gradually up to 1 tablespoon. Do not introduce the yogurt unless you’re sure your puppy has completely firm stools.
TOYS & TREATS
The first ten days do not give treats to your New Puppy. After 10 days, introduce treats one at a time only thrown in the crate or food bowl to make sure that it agrees with the puppy’s digestion. I like feeding natural treats like soup bones, liver bites and grain free treats.
SOCIALIZATION
It is very important that your New Puppy gets plenty of socialization. Our puppies are very use to human and another animal interaction.
Also, do to your puppy at 8 weeks, what you want to be able to do to him at 8 months or 2 years of age. Get to have his/her mouth and ears looked into and their nails trimmed etc. Take caution when trimming nails as you do not want to cut to short and cause bleeding and infection. Doing all this gets your puppy ready for their visits to the vets, groomer etc.
Take your New Puppy to as many places as possible. Let them hear and see new things. From age 4 weeks to 14 weeks this is crucial. We do NOT recommend dog parks as these are a haven for disease/infection not to mention the exposure of your pet to rude dogs that can forever impact your pet. Your puppy should be socialized with other friendly dogs that you know in your neighborhood, family, and local park etc. Remember that until your puppy is vaccinated twice, they are not immune to many life-threatening diseases.
Also, if you have no children in your home it is a good idea to take your puppy to a playground and have children gently play / pet your puppy. Your puppy was raised with children. We have found that the best place for puppy and dog socialization is outlets and outdoor malls. There you pet will see people, baby carriages, hear noises and be around a face pace environment and lots of people. You cannot generate this exposure from your home.
HOUSEBREAKING
Your New Puppy is going to take time and patience. We start to teach our puppies at 4 weeks. You should begin to housebreak as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies need to relieve themselves approximately six times a day. Your puppy should be taken out 10-20 minutes after each meal since a full stomach puts pressure on the bladder and colon. Also, after napping, and exiting the crate.
A puppy is not physically able to control the muscle that allows them to hold it until they are about 12 weeks of age. Before this time, good housebreaking routines should be practiced avoiding your puppy urinates and defecates all over your home. Watch for signs, such as turning in circles and sniffing. Take your puppy out often. Using a crate or confining your puppy to a small part of the home that has easy to clean up floors is some ways to ensure your puppy does not urinate all over your home. It is much harder to housebreak a puppy if he smells his urine in places you do not wish them to relieve there self.
If your puppy begins to soil firmly say “NO” and immediately take your puppy outside to the designated area. When they soil the designated area tell your New Puppy with excitement positive reinforcements. Consistency is the key to housebreaking and training. Never hit your puppy when he soils in the wrong area for any reason.
FLEA & TICK CONTROL
We do not like using any chemical on puppies until they are at least 8-12 weeks old. We recommend the following- Advantix Topical, Frontline, and Advantage. Diatomaceous Earth, (food Grade) is totally organic and sage work well also. This is excellent for yard control. We have used this in conjunction with topical products with excellent results. Tea tree oil and Neem oil is also excellent for control of bugs.
Heartworm
Preventative normally starts at 2-3 months of age. Talk to your vet for further instructions. Revolution takes care of both fleas and heartworms for your New Puppy.
SHINNY COAT
Salmon Oil can be given daily beginning at 4 months for the coat and skin. You can use human grade, we prefer the grizzly brand which is for pets. We buy it in quarts size with a pump. The oil is put on the dry food and will give your New Puppy and beautiful coat.
Strong Joints and Bones
Glucosamine given for joints and bones starting at 4 months. We recommend Vertis-Science. Stage Flex 1for puppies and stage 2 for adults over the age of 18-24 months. Avoid pet shop brands.
COLLARS
Your New Puppy will grow rapidly between 8 weeks and 1 year of age. We recommend not spending a lot of money on puppy collars. A puppy will outgrow their collar in 5-7 weeks even with adjustments. I use nylon adjustable collars until 6 months then leather.
BATHING & GROOMING
Puppies should be wiped down with wipes if they soil. If you bathe your puppy make sure they are bathed with oatmeal shampoo and warm water. Make bathing a relaxing and enjoyable event. Your New Puppy should be towel dried and not allowed to go outside if the weather is cold. Adult German shepherds should not be bathed any more than every 4-10 weeks depending on the climate. Get you puppy used to cleaning his ears, clipping his nails looking into his mouth. Do to your puppy at 8 weeks what you want to be able to do when they are a adult. Brush your puppy every few days. Use a brush with soft bristles. Be gentle brushing your puppy to avoid irritating there skin. Brushing stimulates the skin and brings out beautiful natural shine.
Exercise and steps- Puppies should be walked short distances until they are 1 year old. The growth plates must grow equally. There can’t be undue stress on the joints and ligaments. Please exercise them with caution and limited until after the joints are fully developed. Don’t let them go up and down the steps since that causes many issues including falling or jumping from high steps that could injure the puppies. Please don’t let them jump from big SUV and trucks until they are 1 year old, please pick them up or provide steps. Monitor growth, if they are growing too fast reduced puppy food and adult food of the same kind. If they grow to fast that could cause uneven growth in the plates and sometimes getting Pano.
TRAINING
We recommend, starting training no sooner than at the age of 4-5 months. Private trainers are the more effective choice. There are also private schools with puppy/semi private classes. These are very effective. Before you start any training, you should consider what you expect out of your training. If you have a companion pup, please make sure that he is being trained without treats and with praise-based training. If you are considering Schutzhund it is very important that you find a trainer that specializes in the sport. If you apply to much or incorrect discipline to your puppy at a young age this can adversely affect his ability to be titled when he is older. The only training, we do with puppies is basic manners, building of confidence. We allow our puppies to mature before applying discipline & training.
Spay and neuter your dog after 12 months old so they are fully grown. We recommend you do not do so before this age.
This is our advice for your new puppy, we also suggest staying close in contact with a good vet whenever a puppy is having any type of trouble.
Have fun with your new puppy,
With thanks and appreciation,
WALTERS K9 KENNELS
