Puppy planning

  1. Puppy plan - What is your overall puppy plan during the week and what is the plan for the weekend?
  2. Health - Who is your veterinarian? Do you already have an appointment?
  3. Shots - Puppies need at least three rounds of shots before having a lot of interaction with other dogs (ask vet for specifics - usually completed by 12-14 weeks). How does this effect your puppy plan?
  4. Crating - Crate puppies for no longer than 3-4 hours at a time after exercising them. What is your puppy plan for crating? Do you have one crate upstairs and one downstairs? Where will you put your crate?
  5. Exercise -
    1. Dog walker/sitter - Do you have a dog walker or dog sitter scheduled? If so, did you know that small puppies will not take long walks so you need to ask the dog walker if they can just spend one-on-one time with the puppy outside of the crate.
    2. Socialization - Is your puppy enrolled in puppy socialization classes/ puppy daycare? Do you know what vaccinations are needed to enroll? This is an excellent idea for those who work away from the home all day however, puppies, between the ages of 10 to 16 weeks, must have age appropriate vaccines to enter puppy socialization classes.
  6. Feeding - Did you know that puppies need to be fed 3 times a day? What is your feeding plan?
  7.  Puppy proofing - Is your puppy allowed in all areas of your home? Have you already purchased puppy pens or baby gates to corner off rooms/areas of the house?
  8.  Potty training - Who is in charge of waking up in the middle of the night to take the puppy outside to go potty?

CRATING

Learn the basics of crate training.

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CRATING & POTTY TIME

An interesting article about how long your puppy can "hold" it and crate time guidelines.

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guide to vaccinations

AKC gives in detail information of all the shots that puppies require up to one year.

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Shot schedule

PetSmart gives a nice easy to view schedule of a puppies needed shots.

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Potty training

A great article by the Humane Society about potty training.

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Favorite Things

  1. Deer antler chews splits - lasts forever
  2. OurPets IQ Treat ball - just put dog food in the them
  3. Wooden Dog puzzles - occupying the pups brain can really tire them out!
  4. Chuck it balls - make sure you buy the orange rubber ones
  5. Hide a Squirrel - once your pup takes the squirrel out of the tree, have her drop and then put the squirrel back in. You can buy extra squirrels
  6. Kongs - freeze with pb or other ingredients…look online for ideas
  7. Petsafe Easy walk harness - this harness is great for large and small pups and you never have to worry about the collar slipping over their head