These are suggestions for bringing a puppy home, but things we have found to be great additions based on our own experiences and the experiences of our puppy families.
42” double door kennel - we like the wire ones Link
2 Rolled edge dog bed (washable) medium size 19”x 28” x 3”link
this will fit in half the kennel if you decide to use the divider, but also gives pup a place to lay off of the blanket- sometimes they just like to lay on the hard plastic because it is cooler
Puppies have accidents in their kennels - it happens - you need something that washes and dries quickly - we use these in our kennels with our puppies and they last and they are priced great
Food and water bowls that do not tip easily
we do not recommend gravity feeders until they are older- and have potty training down
You need to know when puppy eats and drinks to establish good potty habits and if they have all access to food and water potty training will be very difficult
Puppy Shampoo
whitening shampoo for the white pups
Puppy Conditioner optional
nice in case the puppy gets several baths in a short period of time
Puppy Food -All Stages/Puppy - We will update which food puppies are eating at time of pick up
Do not change puppy food for at least a month, moving to a new house is stressful and can bring on an upset stomach/diarrhea if you change food you do not know if it is the stress of a new house or the new food
If you switch to a new food after a month, please make sure it is listed as a quality food. Typically if you can buy it at a dog store it is a better quality versus Target, Wal-Mart etc. Skimping on quality dog food will lead to other health problems.
Leash and Collar thin 5/8” size Small 12-16” (with our 30-60 lb pups X-Small collars 8-11") with lightweight hook link
Lightweight thinner is better, you will most likely replace this in a few months when puppy is bigger - plus puppy will probably get a hold of the leash once or twice which will wreck the leash with those razor sharp teeth. Then when puppy is older you can replace with a thicker 1” collar and leash
Too heavy of a clip (thicker leashes) just distract puppy from going potty or from walking because it feels different and puppies are easily distracted and when trying to teach puppy to walk or go potty the last thing you want is puppy distracted by heavy clip
Puppies are used to sleeping with each other and being warm and hearing the heartbeat of their siblings, this has been very helpful in getting puppies to sleep in their kennels by themselves
Turn it on before puppy goes to bed- we typically only let puppy have it at kennel nap and sleep time (we just put it on top of kennel when puppy is not in kennel- turn heartbeat off)
Red or Black Kong and a variety of chew toys (soft, rubbery, hard)
We like to fill the Kongs for a mental activity or for when you kennel pup (non xylitol Peanut Butter is a favorite, I do not like giving food when not there to observe but smearing a little PB inside the Kong is a great distraction and positive reinforcement for being in kennel then hopefully pup gets tired and naps :)
Raincoat and or Sweater if you are going to walk dog in rain and snow it might be nice to not have a wet dog when you get home
Rug/Towels - we just towel our pups off after they come in, towel or rug by door for pup to wipe feet off on - some people use Mushers Secret on pups feet and a quick wipe on legs to keep snow from sticking… we never have done this but it is something to know about. If snow does get packed into fur - happens once a year for us - think snowman building snow… then we just pop pups in the bath and hose off legs - we find it is the fastest way to melt the snow- then just dry legs off.
Poop shovel - link I like the metal shovel with metal rake- plastic breaks
Poop Pail- link if picking up poop is easy it gets done! Pick up poop after every poop - except leave one pile there so they know where to go
Please do not make kids do this job- this is an adult job - that is really a punishment for kids and they might resent the puppy… just my two cents take them or leave them
Also line pail with a full size garbage bag 13 gallon and take out on trash days or when needed
Vet appointment within 72 hours of pick up
we do understand if it a few days beyond the 72 hour window, puppies will have been seen a few days before going home and have received their 8 week shots but we like to have a second set of eyes on pup and get you one a schedule for vet for next vaccination
Deworm Medicine we deworm puppies here but puppies should be dewormed regularly throughout their life depending on lifestyle. Talk to your vet for best recommendations - these could be monthly chewables or you could have a different schedule depending on where you live and what you do with your pup. Puppies and older dogs come across intestinal parasites (worms) when out in the yard from the feces of other animals such as birds, bunnies and other animals. Yes some of these can pass to humans.
dewormed at 2 and 4 weeks of age with Pyrantel Pamoate and
Dewormed at 6 and 8 with Fenbendazole
Heartworm a worm that is passed from mosquitoes effects the heart is also preventable from a monthly pill - ask your vet about it, there are certain times you can do treatment if you live in a low area or you can treat all year long
Training ClassesWe strongly recommend training classes for you and pup. There are several options out there. Baxter and Bella are online but we love a local trainer who has had several of our pups go through her classes and these pups are amazingly well behaved.
The last thing on our list you need a lot of is patience. Puppies never do anything intentionally bad. They just have accidents. Please remember this when you get frustrated! They are not trying to be naughty. So please remember do not hit or spank or just redirect, love and teach with equal parts love and patience.
Love
Patience
Puppy Schedule and Potty Training
Feeding: 2-3 Times a day when you bring your puppy home but can be transitioned to twice a day after a month or so depending on each pup and how they are sleeping through the night.
Breakfast Meal 7 am
Dinner Meal 7 pm
You should always read the label on any food you will see how much to give your pup.
Potty TrainingWe raise pups to have separate areas for potty, sleep and play. This will help make potty training easier but pup will still have accidents! They need to learn where these areas are in your house. Small spaces help puppies be more successful, as in gating off certain areas especially carpeted areas for the first few weeks. I would also roll up area rugs for a little while but that is just me ( I do not want to shampoo a carpet).
Puppies can only make it a few steps for each month old they are before pottying (sometimes they don’t even know they are peeing)
Feeding and Potty Schedule
(If it is morning) Take pup out of kennel calmly - take outside directly - say “go potty” reward with positive praise or treats after potty - immediately outside right there not when you get in
Feed and water puppy - 10 - 15 mins - take up food and water
Go directly outside - stay outside until puppy goes potty- positive reinforcement treat and praise outside
Repeat at each meal.
If you think your pup needs a drink - that is fine - just remember outside after
Take puppy to the same place to go potty - leave one pile of poop out there so they know where to go- pick up the rest of the poop regularly see poop pail and poop shovel above
Puppies poop a lot - after every meal they usually poop- that is a lot of poop
Many people use the umbilical method- this is basically after you have done the feeding and pottying you keep pup attached to you with a leash attached to you or near you and that way you are always watching for signs for potty behavior, but it also teaches pup to stay near you.
Kennel/Crate Training this keeps puppy safe and gives everyone a break
We have exposed them to kennels- so they are comfortable in kennels and seek kennels to have quiet time
Kennels should be a happy, safe place never, never, never a place for punishment
Short breaks during the day with an extra special treat 5-10 mins reinforces this happy space and gives puppy a break! They need it and so do you!
Most people put kennels in their bedrooms for the first few weeks or sleep on couch next to kennel
Please do not let puppy cry it out… puppy is scared like a baby and needs reassurance, take puppy out (after they are calm by door- very important!- calm puppy - even for a split second = open door)
Before bed or nap time make sure puppy has done the basics
Been feed recently
Had a chance to pee and or poop
Had a drink
Had exercise, love and mental stimulation (new experience)
Heartbeat pup, sometimes cover kennel with blanket and pup should be in a warm area that does not have any drafts this will help puppy sleep longer (our house is 68* all the time) if they get cold they might wake up
Training after potty every time (trust me this is the perfect time because you will remember to do it!)
After pups go potty outside do a few mins of training no more
Work on one thing- sit then after a few days move to lay down etc
Positive reinforcement with praise and treats work the best to build trust and to remind pups that they need to learn things and listen to you and bonus it is fun because I get love, attention, and a treat!
Watch a Zak George video he does a great job of teaching these basic skills- he also has a free App called Pupford with videos of lessons to work on- with reminders lol we all need those!
General Info
Poop is soft- add canned pumpkin (no spices) poop is hard - more water
Nipping
Puppies need naps especially if they get nippy they get over stimulated and often melt down like toddlers
This is a herding breed- they may try to herd running screaming things like children because they historically herd cows by barking and nipping ankles of cows- stop this in its tracks by
Having kids stop running and say “No” to pup
Biting
Never let puppies chew on fingers… redirect with chew toys because when those razor sharp teeth come in with strong jaws you will not think those puppy nibbles are cute anymore
Jumping
redirect, ignore, turn back on pup
Can also step on leach - then pup can not physically jump up
Fussing/Whining
Try not to respond unless it is to go potty!
If puppy does this do not give attention but rather figure out why and remedy the situation.
Some pups fuss when hungry or tired etc
Barking
Remember puppy will get much bigger and that bark might be cute now but will not be so cute when they get older- Australian Shepherds move cows by barking and it is a high pitched bark… nobody wants that, do not reward barking or give into what they are barking about - this will just affirm that barking gets me what I want- and you do not want that!
Puppy moves away from you- this is puppies way of saying I need a break, give puppy a break, remind children to give puppy a break, when people do not pay attention to the signs their puppy is telling them this is when we put dogs in situations where they bite, pay attention to puppies behavior and signals
Behaviors that look cute now… will they be cute when pup is 40-65 lbs? Hmm maybe not so remember to reinforce calm and polite behavior.
We reinforce this by picking up and loving on puppies who are sitting and looking at us
We reinforce this by treating the pup that is sitting and looking at us
We reinforce this by taking the quiet sitting nicely pup out of the bath tub first
They learn that when I am quiet, calm and sitting nicely my humans do something for me- so reward this behavior not the crazy run around bark at stuff behavior, when you see the undesired behavior redirect (unless puppy really has to go potty well then in that moment just go potty but next time try to catch pup before they get to that excited state)
Puppy House Extended Crate/Kennel Area
Some of our puppy parents choose to use a kennel with an added fence space area with a potty area- this is nice if your pup will be kenneled without a lunch break but also overnight pup could get up go potty and go back to bed without waking you :) they do this now at our house
This is similar to the space they are used to here
Potty Pad holder with grade link (grate is needed for potty pad holder or potty pads will get eaten and that is dangerous)
Metal clips or bungees to hold fencing to kennel
You want to have a small area for potty, play and sleeping
You could replicate this in a different area but if you are going to be gone to work for the day this might me a great place for puppy that is more spacious than their kennel and offers a place to go potty
This is also an option but please use a potty pad holder with a grate as linked above - so check your dimensions- puppies will not just leave potty pad alone - they will chew it up! Notice this one has a sleep space and a potty space (with doors closed this is where pup would be during day at work)
You have to decide which set up is best for you
Remember Puppies need Love, Attention, Guidance and Patience Puppies learn the most in the first 4 weeks that you have them! This is a magical and exhausting time but stick to a schedule, take turns in your family so one person gets overwhelmed and do your best to reinforce all the good behaviors that you want. Hard Work in these first four weeks will pay off big time!
We always ask our puppies to do things. We never force them to do things. They trust us to take care of them and we need to respect them. Respect comes from a place of love. We know puppies can be frustrating but remember they just need love and to be reassured about the behavior we are asking of them. Repetition, Patience and Reinforcement.
Puppies can not speak please pay attention to non verbal cues see image below, most of our puppies leave with these commands
"Puppy, Puppy, Puppy" or "Puppy Come" (high pitched voice)
"Leave it" (sharp low pitched voice)
"Sit" (calm voice)
"Yes" (high pitched voice) for affirmation to mark good behavior
You will create the kind of dog you want to remember that when you are reinforcing behaviors in the first four weeks. Do you want a loving and calm dog? Then those are the behaviors to reinforce.