Veterinarian Appointment - Prior to receiving your puppy, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.  This appointment must be within 72 hours of the time that you receive your puppy as stated in the Sales Contract.  Any health concerns must be reported back to the breeder within 72 hours.  Your puppy will have been checked by our veterinarian, but this appointment is very important for you and your puppy to establish a relationship with your veterinarian.  Bring a fresh stool sample along for this first appointment.  At this time your veterinarian will evaluate the puppy's health and schedule all follow-up vaccinations, de-wormings and provide flea, tick and heartworm preventives and control. Do not allow your puppy on the floor at the veterinarian's office to avoid contracting puppy viruses prior to further vaccination. 

 

 

Do not bring your puppy to public places until ALL puppy vaccinations are complete.  If you stay on schedule with your puppy's vaccines, they will be completed by 4 months of age.  Serious life threatening puppy viruses can be contracted by walking in an area where an infected pet has been.  Life threatening Parvo and Distemper can live in an environment for many months and still be highly contagious.  Please limit your puppy to your house and yard.  Avoid walking your puppy on leash through your neighborhood or in pet stores until all vaccines are complete.

 

 

Feed the same puppy food as we fed for 1 week.  We feed premium quality puppy food and will include a small bag with your puppy.  If you would like to change to a different food, please make this transition over a 1 week period by replacing a small amount of our food with the new food to each feeding until completely transitioned.  This will help avoid diarrhea and upset stomach.  Some puppies will over eat.  It is not recommended to free feed.  It is recommended to set a feeding time each morning and evening and also allow approximately 20 minutes for the puppy to eat.  If the food in not finished within 20 minutes, remove the food.  Refer to the feeding chart on the bag of food to determine the portion.  Your puppy's weight and body appearance will also be a factor, more or less food may be needed. You may switch from puppy food to adult food between 6 - 10 months to slow growth and eliminate stress on the joints.

 

 

Do not run with your puppy on a lead until 18 months old.  Repetitive motion on the joints prior to full growth can cause stress on the joints.  This can cause or contribute to joint problems that could affect your dog for a lifetime.  Free play, exercise off lead, short walks and training walks on lead are recommended.

 

 

Ear maintenance and grooming are needed.  It is important to keep your puppy's ears clean and dry to prevent ear infections.  There are cleaning and drying products available at the pet stores or at your veterinarian's office.