| SHOPPING LIST For puppies under 2 pounds, you will need an opaque bin, to be had at most dollar stores as well as WalMart, etc. They measure about 17" by 30". Older puppies can be crated in a LARGE crate, regular baby playpen or puppy playpen. A baby gate can also be used across the door to a small utility room. All puppies must have Nutrical, Nutristat, or Nutripuppy available until they are 4 months of age, as a preventative for hypoglycemia: available at PetsMart, Petco, or online. In an emergency Karo syrup can be used, but only as an emergency. NO HONEY, just like human babies under one year--bad for puppies bad for babies. A small can of good quality dog food. I recommend science diet puppy, or natural choice puppy, OR, if you are pretty rural, a small pouch of Pedigree that has the gravy in it. FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS Correct feeding is most important for your new puppy. First, your puppy will be sent home on Diamond Puppy or Royal Canin Puppy. These are both good puppy foods; Royal Canin is available online, at PetsMart and at PetCo. For those of you that live in rural areas, Diamond Puppy is available at many feed stores. If you purchase food different than what I send with baby, mix the old and new together for two weeks at least, gradually decreasing the old food. Leave food and water down all the time. Proper hydration prevents stress and dehydration and feeding around the clock prevents stress and hypoglycemia. Usually dry kibble and water are sufficient, but there are puppies that become distracted or stressed in their new environment. This is when you haul out the canned food. NEVER give a lot of this, as it is rich and can cause diarrhea. Add only 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon to the dry kibble and stir it in. Usually this will smell good to baby and he will begin to eat. It is okay to use this feeding method till over 4 months of age. (Canned food is not recommended after this point as it is bad for teeth.) You should also be giving Nutrical, at least 1/4 to 1/2 ml every twelve hours. ( A syringe is sent in the puppy pack. Just open Nutrical lid, put the syringe in the hole and squeeze on the tube, pulling back on the plunger as you squeeze.) Be sure baby is eating after the first few hours in your home. If not, you need to be concerned, as lack of eating due to stress can lead to other problems. You can either call me, or take baby to the vet. THE FIRST FEW WEEKS The first few weeks in your home are a huge transition for your new baby. A few simple rule and a lot of love will make the transition much easier for your him. If your baby is under two pounds, use the opaque bin in the shopping list. Put newspapers in one end, food dish and water and a blanket or bed. You can carry your baby from room to room as you go about your home. Also, this is great for nighttime. Baby can sleep next to the bed. Once baby is about 12 weeks, or can get out of the bin, or is a large puppy, you can transition to either the playpen or use a baby gate across the utility room or bathroom door. The routine is the same, newspapers down, food and water, and bedding. A large dog crate will work well also. Be sure your puppy or adult dog has food and water down all the time, 24/7. Dogs that are allowed to snack throughout the day have steadier blood sugar levels. Do not give puppy the run of the house-it is too stressful, and they may become disoriented and forget to eat. Keep your home temperature about 75 degrees for the first few weeks. Be sure your puppy is eating. Watch him eat. If he is not eating, get a small can of puppy food and spike the dry food with just a teaspoon of it. They can easily be weaned from the caned food after the age of 4 months. If possible leave baby where they can watch TV. If not, leave the radio or TV on for noise. DO NOT take baby outside or let them touch the grass until all vaccinations have been given. Animals and small birds carry parvovirus on their feet, and get it in the grass. No bathing until baby is 3 months of age. Just use a washcloth, or dry shampoo or baby wipes. No groomer until all vaccines have been given. A clean puppy is not worth the risk of pneumonia from bathing. These puppies are inside dogs. Outside only to potty or play. Never leave outside unattended. No smoking around babies. The Merck Veterinary Manual documents deaths in toy breed puppies from cigarette smoke. Paper Training Your New Puppy Potty training has already begun on your new baby long before he comes to your home. The rest of the work is up to you. Remember, scolding and punishment does not work with animals. Training, positive encouragement, and lots of love is exactly what puppies need. HOUSE TRAINING IS A PROCESS!!! It does not happen overnight. With a little work, your baby is sure to be successful in his new home. Do not let baby have the run of the house. His home has been a stall 2x5 feet. Having the run of the house will cause confusion, stress and the breaking of the potty training routine. So, you may use a playpen, baby gate across a utility room door, a playpen or a large crate. Put papers in one end, then food, water and bedding and toys, at the other. Make the paper area pretty large to start with. Baby will automatically use the papers. Puppy can certainly come out to play. But they can hold their urine one hour for every month of age. Once he has his vaccinations, if you want him to go outside, just take papers outside with you. Be sure to praise baby when he does well. Once this procedure is established, then at about the age of 4 months, begin opening up the home to him whenever you are home, one room at a time. If he doesn't make it back to the papers, close up that room and start over in a week. Gradually open up the house to him in this manner. Also, I never recommend letting puppies or dogs have the run of the house while you are away. I do recommend leaving papers down for your puppy or dog when away. If we cannot hold our urine for 8 hours, why should we expect a dog to? HYPOGLYCEMIA Many toy breeds have a tendency towards transient juvenile hypoglycemia. This includes the Chinese Imperial, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Pomeranian, Shiranian and Chihuahua. Toy breeds have small fat stores around their livers. If they become stressed, they burn these fat stores causing the liver and pancreas to malfunction. EVERYONE with a puppy should keep Nutrical, Nutristat, or Nutripuppy on hand. Puppies should be given about 1 ml, or 1/4 tsp twice daily and before trips. Symptoms include a vague stare, stumbling, appearing uncoordinated, drooling, and sometimes unconsciousness and seizures. Should your baby have any of these symptoms, give LOTS of Nutrical (etc.) immediately and rush him to the nearest vet or animal emergency center. (You cannot hurt a puppy by giving too much Nutrical). Be sure to also give Nutrical prior to any car trip, as this can also cause stress. I recommend continuing this regimen until 4 months and the last vaccination has been given. DO NOT give honey- bad for babies, bad for puppies. Karo syrup is a suitable replacement until you can get more Nutrical if you run out. Remember, it is vital to avoid severe hypoglycemic episodes as they can cause permanent damage to liver, pancreas and other organs. STRESS Stress is the number one cause of death for puppies during the first few weeks. Causes of stress for toy breeds can be something as simple as going to a new home, a trip to the vet, or anenvironment cooler than usual. Symptoms of stress can be not eating, lethargy, diarrhea,vomiting, hypoglycemia, and ultimately seizures and death. In order to avoid stress I recommend the following measures. Keeping your puppy from being stressed is a good way also to avoid hypoglycemic episodes. Puppies are not play toys for small children; always supervise play times. Keep you home at an even temperature. Be sure puppy rests 60%of the day. Free feed his entire life, food and water down 24/7. Health Guarantee This puppy is guaranteed to be in good health to the best of our knowledge. All puppies MUST be checked by a licensed veterinarian with in 24 hours of purchase. (Weekends are no exception--many vets are open on the weekend). All vet bills are the responsibility of the new owner. If your vet finds a life threatening deformity at the initial visit, these terms must be met. 1. Notify Puppy Love (Karen Cox) upon the first sign of a problem. 2. Puppy must be returned immediately to Puppy Love Farms same day of discovery of problem. 3. Must have a signed letter from your vet stating the diagnosis. All replacements will be made based on puppy availability and for same value. Puppy Love will guarantee this puppy against genetic diseases diagnosed by genetic marker for 5 years. Puppy must be kept on NuVet for the duration of the 5 year period, or this contract is null and void. A sample of NuVet is included in your care package. This contract will also be null and void if puppy is not spayed or neutered 6 months from date of birth by a licensed vet. No guarantee on size or color. When changing puppy's food, do so by gradually adding new to old over a period of 2 weeks. If your puppy shows any signs of illness: vomiting, lethargy, refusal to eat, diarrhea with blood or mucous in the stools, take him immediately to the vet or nearest animal emergency hospital. DO NOT HESITATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The new owner is solely responsible for the care and well being of this puppy after it leaves our hands, as Puppy Love Farms is no longer in control. Remember, these are just babies and should be treated accordingly. They should not be chilled, over handled or exposed to extremes. Do not give your new puppy the run of the house as this is too stressful. Follow the guidelines on the Puppy Facts page of our web site, or purchase a book on puppies for further assistance. New Owner_________________________________-Address____________________ City, State, ZIP______________________________-Phone _____________________ Signature______________________________________________________________ |
| NOTICE A puppy is not considered reserved until I receive the deposit. Puppies will not be placed on hold until I receive the deposit. Puppies not paid for by the time they are nine weeks of age will be placed back on the web site for sale. For those of you who have babies on hold until they are ready for your home-- updated pics are a courtesy and will be sent as time permits-- otherwise, please send $10.00 via PayPal for each picture requested to cover additional time spent in an already very busy day. Thanks. Karen |