New Puppy Checklist

I know that waiting for your new puppy is hard but rest assured that they are with their mom during these crucial weeks learning from her.  While you are waiting for the big arrival, here are few things you may want to know.

You will receive:

1. leash and collar

2. nyla bone

3. blanket that is familiar

4. enough familiar food for a few days (Eagle Pack Original Small Breed)

Your puppy has had:

1. microchip

2. spay/neuter or a separate contract  will be signed agreeing that you will have the puppy spayed/neutered at 6-9 months.

3. up to date shots and dewormed.

At the time of delivery you will get the following paperwork:

1. copy of the signed contract

2. payment receipt

3. litter registration and application to register with the ALCA if you choose to

4. information on how to register their microchip

5. shot record

Things you will need for your puppy:

  1. name tag with your dog’s name and your phone number

  2. ceramic food and water dishes that can go into the dishwasher regularly

  3. bedding that doesn't have stuffing (towels or blankets work best)

  4. chewy ropes, nyla bones, use tennis balls only with supervision (no toys with stuffing, rawhide bones, squeakers, or plastic)

  5. treats (tiny pieces of cheese or chicken, unfamiliar dog food)

  6. Eagle Pack Original for Small Breeds or a good quality dog food

  7. Kennel: hard plastic crate Adult Size or a wire Adult size crate with dividers for puppy stage

  8. slicker brush

  9. pet shampoo and conditioner

Extras:

  1. potty bells

  2. chew deterrent spray or apple cider vinegar works in a pinch for leashes

  3. training book: “The Art of Raising a Puppy” Monks of New Skete

  4. Scotch Pines dog training classes in the Idaho Falls area, or the Twin Falls area.

Things to know:

Food:

I leave food out all day until 5 pm for older puppies. They can decide how much their growing bodies need without overeating. It’s fine to feed your puppy on a schedule as well. One reason to feed a puppy on schedule is if you have other dogs with different dog food. In that case, you can separate the puppy from the other dogs, put down more food than your puppy can eat so he/she can decide how much to eat. After 10 or 15 minutes, put the food away and repeat for your other dogs.

Make sure the food you feed your puppy is highly rated by an independent study. Price does not determine good quality or safety.

Give your dog fresh water every day. Water dishes should go into the dishwasher regularly. With just one puppy, you could rinse it every day and dishwasher it every few days. With multiple dogs, wash the dish every day in the dishwasher.

Crate Training
Crate training is important in making the transition from our home to yours as easy as possible.. It is a vital first step to house training, protects your home from messes while you can’t watch the puppy, and helps them sleep through the night. Eventually, the crate will be the comfy safe place your dog loves to hang out in, even with the door open.

If you decide to continue keeping your puppy in a crate at night and short periods during the day, here are a few things to remember.

Schedule:

It is better to continue the schedule they are used to but you can always adjust it according to your schedule. Just choose a schedule that works and try to stick to it until the puppies are a little older.

930 or 10 pm: put puppies in their crate with a towel and a tiny treat

1 or 2 am: get the puppies out to go potty if necessary

6 or 630 am: Let the puppies out to play, eat, and drink.

10-11:30 am: nap time in their crates

3-4:30 pm: nap time in their crates

We get up once a night to let them out to go potty but by the time they go home, they probably will not need to get up at night.

If they are having accidents in the night but are quiet all night, set an alarm and let them out to go potty at 1 or 2 am for a few nights. Try not to talk, cuddle or let your puppy play. They will quickly learn that if they get out at night it’s to go outside to go potty and that’s all.

If they are going to sleep at night and then waking up in the middle of the night crying, take them outside to go potty immediately. Again, don’t talk, cuddle or play. This teaches them that they can tell you when they need to go potty but not when they want to play.

You can use the crate for nap time a few times during the day as well. Young puppies are a little like toddlers and need a nap to be their best selves. Every time you take them out of their crate, immediately take them to the place they go potty. Once they go, give them lots of praise and cuddles.

Crates are a great place for your puppy for short periods of time when you are away from home or busy. It is really important to remember that leaving your dog in their crate for extended periods can really harm their socializational development and health so avoid it as much as possible. Puppies that are 8-12 weeks old cannot stay in their crate for more than 2 hours. They just cannot hold it for much longer yet. When they get older, they can stay in their crate for up to 3-4 hours at a time. If you have to be away from home for longer than that what is approprate, plan on having someone come over to let your puppy out to go potty, eat and drink, and play.

Use the right crate:

The crates for puppies need to be just barely big enough for them to stand up completely with a little head room and they can turn around. A crate that is too large will allow the puppy to use one side as a potty and the other to sleep on. I have listed recommended crates in the checklist above. If you decide to get the adult size crate, try to block off the back half of the crate to make the area for the puppy the right size. The adult size crate should be big enough that their head does not touch the top of the crate when they stand naturally and that they can easily turn around.

You can purchase the wire crate they are used to for $50 and should be large enough until they are 5 or 6 months old. They are OxGord 30” double door crate with wire divider.

Use the right bedding

When you take the puppy home they will be ready for bedding but not for any sort of dog beds with stuffing no matter how durable the manufacturer says they are. The stuffing can be very dangerous for your puppy. While the puppies are in the chewing stage, they will sleep better on towels or fleece blankets.