NEW PUP/DOG INSTRUCTIONS

Don’t take a new puppy home and plunk it in the middle of the living room as it’s nervous in a new place and is liable to wet! Let the pup/dog out the first thing in the morning, as they have to go as soon as they wake up. In the house, have papers right at the back door where it leaves to go out. If you want, put a small piece of urine soaked paper on top of the newspaper, so when he smells it, he will go there. I put these newspapers on a boot tray, to save the flooring. They go by smell and look for a former place to urinate. Take the pup/dog to a place at the back of the yard that you want it to go. Take him there every time. Put a former stool there and he will soon get the idea. They usually want to go when they wake up and after they have eaten. Usually at 7-11-2-5 etc for pups, and 7-12-4-8-bedtime for adults.

I feed my pups all they can eat two or three times a day, depending on their size. Never leave food down more than 15 minutes. If they don’t eat it all this time, they will the next time. Only free feed when they are completely house broken. I start with ¼ cup of dry food for Min Pins, 2 cups for GSD's, moistened with a small amount of hot water, add 1 tsp. of yogurt, cottage cheese or canned dog food. He can use a vitamin, especially through winter, and both min pins & GSD's need 100 to 400 IU of VIT C a day until their ears are standing correctly, either cropped or uncropped. As the pup gets older, he won’t want lunch, and by 6 months he’s usually on one meal a day, either early morning or 5 PM at night. Which ever you choose, be sure to give a doggie cookie at the opposite time of day that you feed him, so that they don’t go a full 12 to 18 hours without any food in their stomach. As an adult, shepherds should only get 4-6 cups, min pins 1/2 - 2/3  cup of dry food a day with the meat, and a tsp. of oil and a tsp. of cider vinegar. The oil (VIT. E) is for the coat, and the vinegar acidifies the urine so that you won’t get burned grass. (It also keeps fleas at bay in the summer). Don’t ever give milk, raw egg whites, chocolate, raisins or onions to your dog, sometimes the chocolate or onions can be fatal. If diarrhea occurs, he’s eaten something other than his usual diet, you can give Kaopectate - 1 Tbsp. every 3 hours. Always have water available.

The more you take your pup in the car when he’s a baby, the less trouble you’ll have later on. On long journeys, it is better not to feed them until they get where you are going. For your safety and that of your dog, USE a crate when traveling.

Dogs have a great desire to please their owners. Teach them in one word orders, and you can start as early as 6 or 7 weeks. As you have to feed them every day, use a few pieces of kibble and say ‘sit’, make him sit and give him a piece of kibble “ do this only 2-3 times, then feed him his meal. He will probably learn to sit in one day. Next day, do the same thing but say ‘shake’, pick up his foot and shake it, then give a piece of kibble and PRAISE. Do this a few times and finish feeding him. Alternate between both and he will usually do it before you ask him to by the third day.

Most important, is to acquaint them with lots of strangers, everywhere, and lots of noise as when they grow, they tend to shy away from these and get too close to their family. Outdoor flea markets or obedience classes do wonders for socializing a puppy. Give him his own toys to chew and rawhide bones or a carrot. Tie a sock in a knot, tennis balls, an empty paper roll or even a necktie can be used to play tug of war. These items also help the baby teeth to come out.

Vaccinations should be done at 8 - 12 - 16 weeks, 1 & 2 years old, and then every three years after. Bring a stool sample to the vet’s when you go. Keep teeth scaled, ears cleaned, nails trimmed short. Trim nails every week for young pups, and every 3-4 weeks for adults. Brush their coats every week, so that they become used to a brush. Bristle brush for Min Pins and a pin or slicker brush and rake for shepherds, followed by a combing. Spray a shepherd coat with water, rub it in, and then proceed to brush. Train the shepherd to lie quietly on his side for the brushing. Never bath more than once a week or less than once a month. Spraying is an alternative to monthly baths. Brushing allows you to see what the coat has picked up in a week ie burrs, fleas etc.

FOOD: Pedigree Pro Plan Growth OR Eukanuba small bite for puppies.

TREATS: Milk Bones or raw knuckle bones, never any other meat bones !

ADDITIVES: yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, grated carrots, apples, try other grated veggies to see what they like, Vitamin E (400 IU) daily.