Puppy Care

YOU AND YOUR PUPPY

GETTING READY FOR YOUR MEADOW PARK LABRADOODLE PUPPY

Puppy Proofing

Puppies are curious and they are teething. This can get them into serious trouble. It is a good idea to prepare your home or at least the rooms your puppy will be in so there is minimal chances of an accident. Here is a list of possible safety issues: Remove poisonous house plants. Visit this site for a list http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/
Secure cleaning products where puppies can't get to them, (do not use Swiffer floor cleaner), paint and paint thinner, fertilizer, disinfectants, mothballs, insect and rodent poisons, antifreeze, medications (prescribed and over the counter), sewing supplies such as buttons, pins, yarn, ribbons, etc., hardware like nails, screws, paper clips, etc., plastic bags, six-pack holders. Keep electric cords out of chewing reach.
Put lid down on the toilet. It could fall on their head and toilet cleansers can be harmful if swallowed. Always check when leaving puppy at home to make sure he is in a safe area. Look at a room from the viewpoint of a puppy. Clean up car leaks. Anti-freeze is deadly to dogs and it is appealing to them.

Things to Have Before the Big Arrival

When you pick your puppy up, whether it is here or from a flight, your puppy will be wearing a collar. You will need to bring a leash. Your puppy will also have:
• Blanket and favorite toys (to help with the transition from our home to yours)
• tag with his microchip information
• bag of dry food of Life’s Abundance Puppy and Dog Food that he has been eating
•folder with all of his papers.
In addition to these things you will want have other essentials ready before your puppy comes home.
Food- The puppies and their mother eat Life’s Abundance Premium Health Food for Puppies and Adult Dogs. I only
trust this food and their treats and supplements for my dogs. The bag that you will get from me will last a few days. You will want to keep your puppy on Life’s Abundance and the Healthy Pet Net treats and supplements for the best nutrition and health of your puppy. I suggest ordering the large Nutritional System before you pick up your puppy in order to have it already on hand. The nutritional system also includes the Wellness Supplements that I also give all of my dogs for optimum wellness. Sign up for the auto-shipping that is a 20% off the retail price and don’t worry about ever forgetting to buy dog food again. It is not sold in stores and is guaranteed to be fresh since it is delivered straight to your door from the manufacture.
Order on line at Meadow Park Healthy Pet Nutrition or contact me and I can help you with your order.
Make sure to order at least 1 week before your puppy is due to arive so you have the food delivered before the puppy comes home.

-For the large nutritional system that includes a 20 pound bag of food and 60 tablets of supplements, you will want to start with a 14 week auto-ship schedule.

-The Medium and Large Breed Puppy Pak is an excellent way to get started with your new puppy. It is a great value which combines the large nutritional system with a variety of healthy treats, pork hide bones, natural ear cleaner, shampoo and body mist.

Meadow Park Healthy Pet Nutrition has more details on these and other products.

Life's Abundance 40 lb Dog Food (just divide the days by 2 if you are getting the 20 lb bag)
Suggested Daily Feeding / Daily Servings Per Bag
Weight Cups Daily Servings
3to 10 lb 1/4 cup to 2/3 cup 219 - 584
10 to 20 lb 2/3 cup to 1 cup 146 - 219
20 to 30 lb 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups 97 - 146
30 to 40 lb 1 1/2 cups to 1 3/4 cups 83 - 97
40 to 60 lb 1 3/4 cups to 2 1/2 cups 58 - 83
60 to 80 lb 2 1/2 cups to 3 cups 49 - 58
80 to 100 lb 3 cups to 3 1/2 cups 42 - 49
over 100 lb 3 1/2 cups to * < 42

*3 3/4 cups + 1/4 cups for each 10 lbs. of body weight over 100 lbs.
**Will vary by weight of dog

Deodorizer- There will be accidents and when they happen it is good to have a pet safe cleaner that will totally take the smell from the site. A product that uses a digest to eliminate the source of the oder is important so your puppy will not have an impulse to “go” there again. Healthy Pet Net also makes a great pet safe, biodegradable, non-toxic, cleaner called Bio Deodorizer that I use to help teach the puppies where not to “go.”
Bowls- You need one for water and one for food. Stainless and crockery or ceramic are the best. I use a heavy, large ceramic bowl for water and a medium stainless steal one with rubber on the bottom for food. The stainless is easy to clean and the rubber keeps it from sliding. As they get bigger, I raise the bowls up so they are level to the dog’s front chest using an ordinary wood box. You can also get commercial bowl stands at pet stores. This makes it easier for them to eat and drink.
Crate and bedding- I like crate training. It gives a puppy their own place to be and feel safe. If you are going to crate train you will want one the first night you bring puppy home or even for the car ride home. I prefer the wire crates that fold down for storing. You will want to buy one that is the size your adult dog will fit in. You can get a pad that is made for the dimensions of the crate. I just use use old blankets or bed covers. They are easy to wash if there is an accident.
Grooming tools- Puppy hair is almost worry free. Until their adult hair grows in, the coat does not take much maintenance. However, you will want to get your puppy used to being handled and groomed. A small soft bristle brush is fine or a small pin bush is good.
Veterinarian- You definitely want to find a good vet before you need one. Plus, for the Health Guarantee, you need to have the puppy seen by a vet in the first 3 days you have him. Ask family and friends who they would recommend. You can also find vets close to you and set up a time to visit them and see for yourself if they are someone you can talk easily with and can trust to care for your puppy. Once you find your vet, keep their phone number and on call number in a easy to fine place, in case of an emergency.
Toys- Toys are not just to spoil your puppy. They are good for exercise, give an alternative to chewing your things, and provide mental stimulation. Make sure the toys you choose cannot splinter, be torn apart or swallowed. Old clothes such as socks and shoes are not good to use since it tells your puppy that is okay to chew your things.
Make a schedule- Figure out a game plan or make a schedule of who is going to be doing what and when with the puppy before he arrives. There is a lot to do to take care of a young puppy. If you already have the family prepared for their part that they are expected to help with and the time they need to do it in, the easier your new addition to the family will be.
Read up- For more detailed information on caring for a puppy and bringing up a great dog, read some books on the subject. Some good ones are:

“The Art of Raising a Puppy” by The Monks of New Skete

“How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With” by Clarice Rutherford and David H Neil

“The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Raising a Puppy” by Liz Palika ( I like this one to start off with)

When the Big Day Comes

You might want to pack the car the day before you come to pick up your new puppy. With the excitement of the day you can easily forget some things that will make the trip a bit smoother.
Towels- Bring some old towels for accidents and for your puppy to cuddle on if he is riding on the passengers lap or
in a crate. Paper towels can also be nice to have for clean up.
Empty Container and Bowl for Water- If you have a long drive, over an hour, you might need to stop for a pee break and to let you puppy have some water. I will fill your container with our water which your puppy is use to drinking. Sometimes even a change in water can upset a dogs digestive system, especially on a car ride.
Crate- If there will be only on person picking the puppy up, the puppy will be safest in a crate. Some owners prefer the puppy be in a crate when traveling in the car. In these situations you will definitely what to put the crate in the car.

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