CURRENT PUPPY DAILY DIET AND ROUTINE
Currently these puppies are just being puppies, with just a little structure added to the daily doggie life. At 8 weeks your puppy will be well started on crate/house training, the basic steps are part of the daily routine that will at least help them acclimate and make your first days together more enjoyable with much less stress.
FOOD: Eukanuba Puppy for small, medium and large breeds (I normally start with small due to the bite size and graduate up feeding 3 times a day)!
I use this brand because each of you can obtain it nationwide, it supplies the important nutrients puppies need. Abrupt changes in diet can be hard and possibly harmful to any animal, so I recommend that if you choose to change or even if your vet suggest change.. Please do this gradually.. Start with a 75-25 mix for three days, then a 50-50 mix for the same time, then 25-75 for the same time then you can switch to 100% of the new. This gives the digestive system time to adjust. For feeding amounts follow the bag guidelines for the breed size and age, it will tell you how often and the amounts your puppy will need daily and when to change the times and amounts.
ROUTINE: As a Registered Respiratory Therapist, I took leave and this is my passion:
BREAKFAST: 8am Play Encourage to go potty , some hands on and then they nap in their crates. YEAH!! FREE TIME, NOT! I get to clean up the puppy pooh! LUNCH: 1pm Play Encourage to potty and then we go for flight training on loud, bumpy roads in the truck. When that is complete they are all snoozing in their crates on the ride back to the house. Then they are ready to play more in the puppy yard, it’s tug a war with toys of all kinds, doggie ropes, tennis balls, old towels tied with knots etc. These are puppy proof toys!!! A little hands on and then more naps and more puppy pooh! They are on their own until dinner. I try to take one or two into the house, the yard, the car where ever I am working to follow along. I switch them out every chance I get. Others spend that time playing more tug a war and napping.
DINNER: 6pm Play, Encourage to potty and then around 9p I will spend the next hour holding, cuddling, singing and checking each one over, grooming, cleaning ears and brushing teeth. They need oral hygiene twice daily but time does not allow for that, they will at least be used to the tooth brush, and a soft grooming brush. After about 10 minutes each, it’s the potty time again. Each only get a small amount of my time then, but you will make up for it and the basics will be there. I do have those that come for seconds and I try to teach them patients in having them to wait for the second round, they usually just crawl up in my lap and go to sleep. When all done there is lights out!!! At 7 weeks, they are crated from 12am until 2am until 6 am, this is all a part of helping them train their bowel and bladder, going beyond 4 hrs would not be good at just a young age as well as be very uncomfortable for them.
There is a radio on 24/7 in the puppy condo, we listen to a variety, some rock, country or oldies during the day and at night it’s easy listening. I have found that this helps drowned out howling of the near by coyotes and barking from the adults responding to the coyotes, and they are less apt. to respond by joining in.
SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS: The litter mates all share the same room and I have found that because of this I cannot put in doggie beds, but they do share a mat and I notice the smaller ones dog pile on the others. It is a cute site.
POTTY TRAINING: They all go out of the puppy house to take care of business when they are about 4 weeks old they start, they have a doggie door that allows them to come and go as they need. I do put them in crates for short periods during the day, a week after weaning as not to stress them we start the full force crating. This is an excellent aid in helping to house break them and it gets them used to the crate for shipping. There are many good books on training, you should research and find the one right for you. If you are able to install a doggie door that is one of the best and invest in a crate that has a divider so that it will last for years to come and the puppy will grow into it. Wal-Mart and Petsmart have some nice ones under $75, I have learned that the solid crates like the ones they ship in work best, giving them more privacy and security (DEN LIKE) most do not come with dividers, but finding ways to block off the back portion can be easy, allowing you to get a crate large enough that will last.
AS A GENERAL GUIDE, Your puppy can stay in his crate comfortably for several hours depending on his age. Take his age in months, add 1, and that’s how many hours he should be able to stay in his crate (up to 8 hours max) For Example: a 2 month old pup should be comfortable in his crate for about 3 hours.
Things you may want to have on hand before your puppy comes home:
1. PUPPY FOOD 2. CRATE 3. SOFT BRUSH OR GROOMING MITTEN 4. TOOTH BRUSH AND PASTE..NO! NOT CREST…GET DOGGIE DENT! 5. BED, JUST LOOK AROUND AND FIND ONE YOU LIKE, PLAN FOR GROWTH SO IT WILL LAST. 6. GOOD PUPPY TUFF TOYS, CHEW TOYS ARE A GOOD THING.. There are things I am sure I have forgotten to include in our DAILY ROUTINE, but as I said THE BASICS are there and I am sure you and family members will enhance this routine and work it all out with your schedule. Thank you all so much… Sharon “DAWGMA”
THIS IS THE CRATE YOUR NEW BABY HAS BEEN TRAINING IN: Since age 4 weeks these babies have been going out their doggie door to take care of business, rain or shine. Indoor accidents are rare and when they do occur it’s my fault, so when bringing them into my home I try to do it two at a time, max three so that I can pay close attention to their normal need to go signs. Since age 4 weeks we have been crate training two times during the day after breakfast and lunch for up to 1 hr, feeding schedule 6a, 12p and 6p Full force at age 7 weeks and by shipping time we switch to our nights crating from 12am to 6am w/o a break. This crate contains his/her stinky blankie and personal scent a very important piece of security that will help a great deal during his/her acclimation. Paying attention to their potty routine after meals is an important part of crating. Crate training is one of the best aids in house breaking I have ever used, the last place they want to soil is their bedding area, it teaches them bowel and bladder control. We rarely have an accident in the crate, but need to go right out to our chosen spot for relief when crate time is up, it is best to carry us out for the first few days so that we do not have an accident on our way. Please understand that your new babies world has just completely changed, new voices, new smells, new sounds all around and nothing looks familiar. At this time your baby is up to _6_hrs at a time, needing only one hopefully quick night potty break and I recommend that you start at square one for the first week with very strict crating and 100% supervision when your baby is not in his/her crate. Like children they will try your patience and cry to get you to give in and let them out. If you have an area where he/she can be that will not allow you to hear as much and give in to their sweet little faces, you and your baby will be better off in the long run. Your baby will fall into your schedule in a very short time with your help. Good luck and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.
Sharon “Dawgma”