PUPPY and dog food
What we feed at this time -------
We feed our adults Diamond Naturals 40# sack of adult food It is also delivered to our home from Amazon. Our dogs are doing well on it. As a special "treat", We like to feed an egg and probiotics to my adults.
We feed our puppies Diamond Natural Small & Medium breed puppy. Picture of sack below
We also feed our puppies small & Medium breed Nutri Source . Picture of sack below.
I will have extra sacks of the puppy food for my puppy families to buy (at my cost), when they take their babies home at 8wks old. Will need to let me know at least 1 week prior to taking their puppies home, so I can order the sacks.
We feed our adults Diamond Naturals 40# sack of adult food It is also delivered to our home from Amazon. Our dogs are doing well on it. As a special "treat", We like to feed an egg and probiotics to my adults.
We feed our puppies Diamond Natural Small & Medium breed puppy. Picture of sack below
We also feed our puppies small & Medium breed Nutri Source . Picture of sack below.
I will have extra sacks of the puppy food for my puppy families to buy (at my cost), when they take their babies home at 8wks old. Will need to let me know at least 1 week prior to taking their puppies home, so I can order the sacks.
THIS IS WHAT I AM FEEDING, NOW
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this is a picture of the sack for Adult food we feed, starting at 1- 1 1/2 yrs. old. Always feed puppy food till I am satisfied that the puppy has stopped growing. Better nutrients for growing. I also feed Diamond Naturals chicken and Rice. the sack is Brown and white
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go home instructions
WHEN RAISING YOUR PUPPY, FOLLOW 6 RULES
1. Your puppy should be introduced to different surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips, etc...
2. Played with different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard items, metal items, wooden items, etc.
3. Be in different locations: yard, house, car, garage, crate, kennel, barn, cottage, senior home, vet, office, school, etc...
4. Meet and play with different people: include children and older adults
5. Exposed to challenges: go through a tunnel, in a vehicle for a drive, climb steps, go swimming, go for a boat ride, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out a doorway with a step--up and down, run around a fence....
6. Play with or been exposed to different animals: cats, horses, cows, chickens, other types of dogs, both small and large, birds, fish, etc...
THESE ARE ALL THINGS I BELIEVE MAKE A WELL ROUNDED PUPPY
PUPPY CARE INFORMATION
Finding a quality puppy can be a daunting task. To find the right dog from a reputable breeder will take time and homework on your part. Remember, you are purchasing a member of the family that will hopefully be with you for the next 15 years. If this is the first time you are buying a puppy or it has been a long time since you had a puppy- we are here to help. We like to share helpful tips, tricks and information to assist you in raising your puppy.
Prior to Bringing Your New Puppy Home
Puppy-proof your home and eliminate possible trouble spots.. Get down to their level so that you may see what and where their eyes and nose will draw them to investigate.
Discuss and define puppy rules that ultimately reflect how you want your dog to behave both in the home and when out in public. Good social skills and manners are learned NOT inherited.
Carefully consider how you are going to follow through on potty training your puppy. Don't forget to plan on how your puppy is going to relieve themselves when you are going to be away from home during the work day or for extended duties or appointments.
Create a Training Plan. Formal Obedience Classes are a great benefit to both owner and dog. Training methods have evolved and changed greatly in the last few years.
Research what dog related opportunities and activities are in your area. There is a whole new world to discover, with plenty of fun Dog Sports to consider joining. Agility Trials, Field Trials, Tracking Tests, Rally Obedience, Standard Obedience and all kinds of activities are available to all purebred dogs and their families
Puppy Feeding Schedule:
The amount will vary as they adjust to your schedule and their new home. Don't be alarmed if you find that your puppy isn't eating for the first 24 hours, this is from our experience fairly common. If concerned, soak a bit of puppy food in hot water till it is soft and try feeding your puppy. At the NEXT feeding, back to dry only. Start with 2 cups a day and increase as they are growing. If they finish all kibble at the end of the 3rd feeding, increase the amount for the morning feeding. May get up to as high as 7 cups per day (not the norm) but often 5 cups per day. This will subside to 2-3 cups a day as adults. Feed puppy food until they are through growing (approx. 1 to 1 1/2 years old. He/She "grazes" (has food to eat out of a feeder 24/7) at our kennel. Break this up into 3 feedings to start with, when you take them home. Last feeding is 4 hours prior to family retiring for the evening. You will have 1 potty break after last feeding and another potty break before bedtime. They will sleep through the night and not wake you up to have a potty break. Only put water down at feeding time until you are confident that they won't relieve themselves in the home. I always have the water dish outside.
Types of Foods
Better quality , such as premium brands, have better digestibility, which translates to less waste. They will need to eat less and be fuller longer. Dry food will help with your puppy's need to chew, as well as help control plaque. AVOID giving table scraps, or people food as this is not healthy for your new family member. The problem with people food is the spices--- without spices it is okay.
*Please note:
Treats and Chews
I DO NOT recommend beef, pork or chicken bones, leather rawhide bones, pigs ears or anything rawhide. They can not digest the rawhide and it settles in the intestines and causes problems down the road. This includes NO Greenies.
I DO recommend all antlers. If you have friends that hunt deer, elk or other animals with horns or antlers, ask them if they need to get rid of them. They are all calcium and the dogs love them. It keeps their teeth free of tarter.
What to expect in the first few days
Your puppy may experience some stress and behave differently than what you remembered in our home. The first few days and nights, keep them in close to you. Because you are replacing ALL familiar surroundings, siblings and US, they will look to you to make them feel secure with their new home. Get a blanket and let them sleep with you. Put their crate by the bed and when they go to sleep, put them in the crate to sleep. If you adhere to the no water and food after the 4 hours before bedtime, He/She will sleep through the night. VERY GOOD BONDING TIME
Potty Training
The training will go a lot quicker when you establish a routine for the puppy from the beginning. Take the puppy either outdoors or to a puppy pad immediately after they awake or come out of their crate. Allow them some time to go. After each feeding, take the puppy to your desired location. Remember to give them time to get used to this. Puppies usually will eliminate within 20 minutes after a meal. Before bedtime or crating, remember to take the puppy to their pad or outdoors. If using the outdoors, try adding a bell, or something similar, to your door that the puppy can use to alert you to their needs. All our puppies are "doggy-door" trained. If your puppy has an accident please do not rub their nose in it, as they do not understand your gesture, as many may believe. Please have patience with your puppy. Tip: To speed up the training process only use the front or back door (pick one) when letting the puppy out. Once they understand the routine, they will simply sit in front of the door to let you know they are ready to go out. Again, a "doggy-door" is great. Reward them with a treat. Lots of "good boy" and "good girl" is highly recommended.
Teething
Every puppy will go through a teething stage, which means for a few weeks they will bite and chew on everything that will make the uncomfortable feeling in their mouth go away. The best way to get through this stage is to provide your puppy with lots of different chew toys. Soft toys and blankets will feel good on their gums, other times they love to chew on something hard like a rope or squeaky toy. Dollar stores actually offer a wide variety of puppy toys. Good time to introduce them to "antlers".
Bathing
The skin of a puppy is different than our skin. That is the reason why you shouldn't bathe your puppy often. Usually ONCE A MONTH is enough. If you bathe your puppy too often its skin may dry out. We recommend you use either puppy/dog shampoo or tear free baby shampoo. Our shampoo is TOO harsh. Try to keep the inside of the ears dry as well as its face (eyes/nose/mouth). If your puppy gets wet/dirty due to wet weather, you don't necessarily have to bathe them. Towel dry your pup first. Especially the paws and if you have a crate or use a laundry room, you can put them there for a bit till they are dry. Brush them up a bit afterwards --- they will look good as new.
Brushing and Grooming
All puppies and dogs need to be brushed. Take your puppy to a pet store and they will tell you what is best for your dog. Regular brushing is great and most puppies and dogs love it. Your dog will need to be taken to a groomer at least every 3 months. Regular clipping the nails and upper 1/2 of the ear hair short, will need to be more often.
Parasite, Worms, Fleas, Ticks, Mites.....
Even in the best of conditions, most puppies will have intestinal parasites. That is why all our puppies have had 2 different dewormers at 2, 4, 6, & 8 wks old. Please understand that your puppy can pick up any of them by just walking once around the block When you are at the vet, talk to them about these critters and they will give you lots of options to choose from to eliminate any problems that could arise.
Keep The Ears Clean
Springers have long beautiful ears, that if not taken care of, can get infected. Clean your puppies ears, every week or more often if the dog is in the water a lot. Keeping their ears clean will prevent ear infections, ear mites and a host of other potential problems. An average vet bill for treating ears can run up to $120. You can avoid that all together by keeping the ears clean and cutting the hair short on the upper 1/2 of the ear, inside and out.
Something to Consider
Choose your vet carefully. Vet costs will vary depending on your location. Ask other family members or friends about their vets, call around and do your research. A quality vet does not need to cost you a fortune !!!
A lot of things are toxic and deadly to dogs. Wouldn't think that air fresheners are on the list. Go online and check it out. CHECK THE LABELS. Some air fresheners are pet friendly.
PUPPY STARTER CHECKLIST
( ) Food/water dishes ----included with purchase
( ) Puppy Food ------------quart container included with purchase
( ) Leash and collar ------included with purchase
( ) Blanket and? or Puppy Pillow
( ) Various chew toys such as ropes, soft safe plush dog toys, etc.
( ) Crate (optional, but definitely recommended) buy a large one that has dividers.
( ) Puppy Pee Pads (if you want your puppy to end up eliminating outside, do not use pee pads)
WE WILL TRY TO UPDATE THIS SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, AS WE ACQUIRE NEW INFORMATION.
1. Your puppy should be introduced to different surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips, etc...
2. Played with different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard items, metal items, wooden items, etc.
3. Be in different locations: yard, house, car, garage, crate, kennel, barn, cottage, senior home, vet, office, school, etc...
4. Meet and play with different people: include children and older adults
5. Exposed to challenges: go through a tunnel, in a vehicle for a drive, climb steps, go swimming, go for a boat ride, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out a doorway with a step--up and down, run around a fence....
6. Play with or been exposed to different animals: cats, horses, cows, chickens, other types of dogs, both small and large, birds, fish, etc...
THESE ARE ALL THINGS I BELIEVE MAKE A WELL ROUNDED PUPPY
PUPPY CARE INFORMATION
Finding a quality puppy can be a daunting task. To find the right dog from a reputable breeder will take time and homework on your part. Remember, you are purchasing a member of the family that will hopefully be with you for the next 15 years. If this is the first time you are buying a puppy or it has been a long time since you had a puppy- we are here to help. We like to share helpful tips, tricks and information to assist you in raising your puppy.
Prior to Bringing Your New Puppy Home
Puppy-proof your home and eliminate possible trouble spots.. Get down to their level so that you may see what and where their eyes and nose will draw them to investigate.
Discuss and define puppy rules that ultimately reflect how you want your dog to behave both in the home and when out in public. Good social skills and manners are learned NOT inherited.
Carefully consider how you are going to follow through on potty training your puppy. Don't forget to plan on how your puppy is going to relieve themselves when you are going to be away from home during the work day or for extended duties or appointments.
Create a Training Plan. Formal Obedience Classes are a great benefit to both owner and dog. Training methods have evolved and changed greatly in the last few years.
Research what dog related opportunities and activities are in your area. There is a whole new world to discover, with plenty of fun Dog Sports to consider joining. Agility Trials, Field Trials, Tracking Tests, Rally Obedience, Standard Obedience and all kinds of activities are available to all purebred dogs and their families
Puppy Feeding Schedule:
The amount will vary as they adjust to your schedule and their new home. Don't be alarmed if you find that your puppy isn't eating for the first 24 hours, this is from our experience fairly common. If concerned, soak a bit of puppy food in hot water till it is soft and try feeding your puppy. At the NEXT feeding, back to dry only. Start with 2 cups a day and increase as they are growing. If they finish all kibble at the end of the 3rd feeding, increase the amount for the morning feeding. May get up to as high as 7 cups per day (not the norm) but often 5 cups per day. This will subside to 2-3 cups a day as adults. Feed puppy food until they are through growing (approx. 1 to 1 1/2 years old. He/She "grazes" (has food to eat out of a feeder 24/7) at our kennel. Break this up into 3 feedings to start with, when you take them home. Last feeding is 4 hours prior to family retiring for the evening. You will have 1 potty break after last feeding and another potty break before bedtime. They will sleep through the night and not wake you up to have a potty break. Only put water down at feeding time until you are confident that they won't relieve themselves in the home. I always have the water dish outside.
Types of Foods
Better quality , such as premium brands, have better digestibility, which translates to less waste. They will need to eat less and be fuller longer. Dry food will help with your puppy's need to chew, as well as help control plaque. AVOID giving table scraps, or people food as this is not healthy for your new family member. The problem with people food is the spices--- without spices it is okay.
*Please note:
Treats and Chews
I DO NOT recommend beef, pork or chicken bones, leather rawhide bones, pigs ears or anything rawhide. They can not digest the rawhide and it settles in the intestines and causes problems down the road. This includes NO Greenies.
I DO recommend all antlers. If you have friends that hunt deer, elk or other animals with horns or antlers, ask them if they need to get rid of them. They are all calcium and the dogs love them. It keeps their teeth free of tarter.
What to expect in the first few days
Your puppy may experience some stress and behave differently than what you remembered in our home. The first few days and nights, keep them in close to you. Because you are replacing ALL familiar surroundings, siblings and US, they will look to you to make them feel secure with their new home. Get a blanket and let them sleep with you. Put their crate by the bed and when they go to sleep, put them in the crate to sleep. If you adhere to the no water and food after the 4 hours before bedtime, He/She will sleep through the night. VERY GOOD BONDING TIME
Potty Training
The training will go a lot quicker when you establish a routine for the puppy from the beginning. Take the puppy either outdoors or to a puppy pad immediately after they awake or come out of their crate. Allow them some time to go. After each feeding, take the puppy to your desired location. Remember to give them time to get used to this. Puppies usually will eliminate within 20 minutes after a meal. Before bedtime or crating, remember to take the puppy to their pad or outdoors. If using the outdoors, try adding a bell, or something similar, to your door that the puppy can use to alert you to their needs. All our puppies are "doggy-door" trained. If your puppy has an accident please do not rub their nose in it, as they do not understand your gesture, as many may believe. Please have patience with your puppy. Tip: To speed up the training process only use the front or back door (pick one) when letting the puppy out. Once they understand the routine, they will simply sit in front of the door to let you know they are ready to go out. Again, a "doggy-door" is great. Reward them with a treat. Lots of "good boy" and "good girl" is highly recommended.
Teething
Every puppy will go through a teething stage, which means for a few weeks they will bite and chew on everything that will make the uncomfortable feeling in their mouth go away. The best way to get through this stage is to provide your puppy with lots of different chew toys. Soft toys and blankets will feel good on their gums, other times they love to chew on something hard like a rope or squeaky toy. Dollar stores actually offer a wide variety of puppy toys. Good time to introduce them to "antlers".
Bathing
The skin of a puppy is different than our skin. That is the reason why you shouldn't bathe your puppy often. Usually ONCE A MONTH is enough. If you bathe your puppy too often its skin may dry out. We recommend you use either puppy/dog shampoo or tear free baby shampoo. Our shampoo is TOO harsh. Try to keep the inside of the ears dry as well as its face (eyes/nose/mouth). If your puppy gets wet/dirty due to wet weather, you don't necessarily have to bathe them. Towel dry your pup first. Especially the paws and if you have a crate or use a laundry room, you can put them there for a bit till they are dry. Brush them up a bit afterwards --- they will look good as new.
Brushing and Grooming
All puppies and dogs need to be brushed. Take your puppy to a pet store and they will tell you what is best for your dog. Regular brushing is great and most puppies and dogs love it. Your dog will need to be taken to a groomer at least every 3 months. Regular clipping the nails and upper 1/2 of the ear hair short, will need to be more often.
Parasite, Worms, Fleas, Ticks, Mites.....
Even in the best of conditions, most puppies will have intestinal parasites. That is why all our puppies have had 2 different dewormers at 2, 4, 6, & 8 wks old. Please understand that your puppy can pick up any of them by just walking once around the block When you are at the vet, talk to them about these critters and they will give you lots of options to choose from to eliminate any problems that could arise.
Keep The Ears Clean
Springers have long beautiful ears, that if not taken care of, can get infected. Clean your puppies ears, every week or more often if the dog is in the water a lot. Keeping their ears clean will prevent ear infections, ear mites and a host of other potential problems. An average vet bill for treating ears can run up to $120. You can avoid that all together by keeping the ears clean and cutting the hair short on the upper 1/2 of the ear, inside and out.
Something to Consider
Choose your vet carefully. Vet costs will vary depending on your location. Ask other family members or friends about their vets, call around and do your research. A quality vet does not need to cost you a fortune !!!
A lot of things are toxic and deadly to dogs. Wouldn't think that air fresheners are on the list. Go online and check it out. CHECK THE LABELS. Some air fresheners are pet friendly.
PUPPY STARTER CHECKLIST
( ) Food/water dishes ----included with purchase
( ) Puppy Food ------------quart container included with purchase
( ) Leash and collar ------included with purchase
( ) Blanket and? or Puppy Pillow
( ) Various chew toys such as ropes, soft safe plush dog toys, etc.
( ) Crate (optional, but definitely recommended) buy a large one that has dividers.
( ) Puppy Pee Pads (if you want your puppy to end up eliminating outside, do not use pee pads)
WE WILL TRY TO UPDATE THIS SECTION FOR FUTURE REFERENCE, AS WE ACQUIRE NEW INFORMATION.