For the Love Of Dachies
Are you Ready for your
Pup?
Just a few more days and your puppy 🐶 is home 🏠
Here is some helpful information and common answers to questions you may have!
Food 🦴
Do not switch foods for at least 2 weeks. This is all their tummy’s know, any alteration in diets can cause them to have an upset stomach and their tummy’s will already be more sensitive due to stress of going to a new home. Please stick to this food and if you decide to change it, do it after 2 weeks and always gradually.
I feed only dry , I do not feed wet at all by now to make it easier on new homes plus you want to keep on them on this because these guys teeth get dirty quickly. You can get 2 cans to offer the first night in case the puppy is not eating as it can happen they get too distracted in new home.
I recommend Royal canin mousse puppy or the one with slices in gravy puppy same brand.
Or you can get a chicken broth for dogs to add a little and make it more appealing.
Use it only if pup doesn’t eat by 9 pm.
Petco and petsmart have them along with the dry food . Pet supermarket does not have a good selection for this brand so I dont recommend going there as I don’t shop there due to limited things I like.
If the pups have looser stools the first days, I recommend this as it works wonders and Amazon tends to delivery pretty quick, most will pass in a few days.
Treats 🍖
Stick to one. Getting multiple flavors or treats can be temping but they are not kids that need different flavors of candy, different ones can cause an upset stomach.
I like these treats because are soft and not a little ball, some pups can get a little ball stuck if not swallowed right or too fast.
Also start slow, not 15 a day. Pups have not had them yet so gradually and use for training/ rewards.
Set up for puppy/ apartment
I don’t like crates. A crate is a tiny space that will get messy ( unless you get a cage big enough) and they also have never been in a tiny enclosed area. Also people tend to use a crate at night with no water. Pups need access to water at all times including the night. And trust me, pups go multiple times a day, a cage will be a mess quick.
The best set up for them will be something similar to what they used at home and I’ll explain why.
Setting up a playpen is good since they’ll have access to to the bed, a wee wee pad / potty area and can walk around for exercise/ play and food- water so it works as a little apartment for them. They know where everything they need is, it’s a safe place for them to be if you need to go outside or quick errand and leave them unsupervised. This is a quiet place for them to eat too which is important, you want an area where they eat not 5 kibbles here or there or on the go, it creates a routine and pups need this.
Puppies are very small, giving them the run to the house is never good at this age.
1. they can get lost and easily get into things like pulling a cable from a lamp in a quick second.
2. They forget where water or pads are , they are so small in a huge house. I would too!
3. There’s too much exercise involved- puppies joints are still not fused and if you have a big house and a pup is following you around or learning to use stairs at this age is extremely damaging for its joints if it’s all day every hour.
4. Pups will be harder to potty train when they have so much space. Their bladders are tiny they will go when they want.
Playpen ideas
I like this one, but it may be small quick so I’d buy 2 and gradually give more space adding panels
Another one that’s bigger
You get the idea, they have some wire ones too for dogs or playpen for kids can be searched for other options .
Bowls- bowls should be stainless steel to not keep bacteria and easily washed , plastic ones are not good.
Wee wee pads
If the regular paper ones work and puppy does not try to play or chew them, use them. At first sign of shredding or eating, stop use.
I use washable ones only, I like them a lot.
You can buy one big one to put in the playpen area and protect your floor and smaller ones for potty area.
Big one 72x72
And same link can be used for smaller ones
Toys 🧸
Anything you like is good but:
NO ROPE TOYS
NO RAWHIDE
Rope toys disintegrate and can slowly be eaten and get stuck on intestines. Rawhides get soft too quick and pups can choke on them while greenies can give them looser stools and poop green, no fun.
Bones that are edible are a no as well, no need to let them eat whatever they are made of, I just can’t image that being great for them.
Regular nylabones are ok, remove at first sign of pieces breaking as they can eat them without realizing it.
I like deer antlers for chewing too and some others stuff they sell can be good as they grow to help try to keep teeth cleaner.
Do not buy anything used for your new puppy, you don’t know who used it and pups need to be fully vaccinated before interacting with others dogs, so used dog stuff could have something you don’t want the pups to pick up.
About potty
Puppies should not go out outside on walks or any public space/ area/ communal dog relief areas/ dog parks/puppy supply floors / vet floors ETC YET
Puppies can go outside your own yard dog with moderation. Until the 3rd vaccine is in their system, then they will be almost fully protected ( after 4th is ideal).
When possible keep indoors, potty indoors and gradually move pads closer to door, or patio area for when the times comes the potty can be taken outside .
Pet insurance
We will offer Trupanion go home offer that gives you 30 days of free pet insurance.
We require this to be activated the day before they go so they are protected in case of an unfortunate event.
Please if you have any other pet insurance let us know they have been signed up for.
Pups are like babies and since it’s free why not get it. There is no obligation to use it after trial, we only recommend it since we used them and I can vouch they are great .