Food-I feed NUTRO MAX  PUPPY and NUTRO MAX ADULT. I feed them 3x a day 1 cup per feeding. I do NOT have food out all day because this will encourage them to over eat. Over eating will cause over weight and being over weight will cause health problems,which this breed has enough of so why create more when not needed...Also I would keep them on the food I feed them or if you want to change I would over a week period. As fast changes will cause diarrhea.

 

Water-Water is different too. I would buy a gallon of distilled bottle water and mix it in with your tap water over the week period too. This will avoid a belly ache too. You can NOT limit water thinking they will potty train easier. It  is true less that goes in is less that comes out BUT it is NOT the correct way to train a dog or puppy. Would you like to go without water???? Lack of water can lead to constipation which can also lead to a puppy having a prolaps rectum. Is there any need of that? NO

 

 

Bath Time- You will want a gentle shampoo,so read the labels. Also you do not want to give them a bath more then 1x per week as they do not have oil glands like us. Over bathing and harsh shampoos WILL dry the skin out and cause more problems. As far as flee shampoos they do NOT prevent fleas. For a prevention you must see your vet and get Frontline or Advantage.

 

Play Time- NO  rawhide! and NO pig ears! Chewable toys and bones are fine such as hooves. The rawhide and ears get soft as they chew on them and a piece breaks off they swallow it and it will cause a blockage in their belly. Stuffed animals with no bug eyes or buttons are good too.

 

Spay or Neutering- Ask your vet when the soonest he will do it is. Normally its 4 to 6 months. The sooner the better in the long run. This will stop the messes by the females and the lifting of the leg by the males.

 

Deworming- ALL puppies have worms when they are born. It is a good idea to deworm them a few times. This does NOT take care of heart worms. They will need a pill from your vet for that which you can give monthly.

 

Coccidia- This is a 1 cell parasite that lives in the intestines which can be cured by 2 ways 1 is just to let it run its coarse or 2 treat with ALBON a sulfa based med. Coccidia is transmitted though the fecal and ALSO from the mother. The adult animals can be a CARRIER of these protozoans and not show any signs of having it. Also it can be dormant in the puppies and not brought out till the puppy is under stress such from shipping,weaning or being brought into a new enviroment,at which time it just flares up. One sign for this is diarrhea or a bloody mucousy stool. I personally treat my puppies as a preventive for 7 to 10 days with ALBON and I will also send you home with some if you ask.

 

Shots- There is a series of puppy shots they need. Some do them at 6-10-14 weeks and some do at 8-12-16 weeks. There is a 4 week span no matter how you look at it. These will HELP them be immuned to diseases but NOT guarentee against them. You really should keep your puppy out of high traffic places till they are COMPLETLY inoculated.When you go to the vets hold the puppy on your lap do not let him/her get on the floor. ALSO keep him AWAY from all the other people in there AND the other animals. REMEMBER that is the doctor for the sick 4 legged kids and you dont want yours to get sick from them. I always try to get the FIRST appointment of the day to limit the illnesses in the air that they may catch from being in the office.

 

Diseases that puppies are vaccinated against are:

 

Distemper can  be caught from an ill dog with a dicharge from the eyes and/or nose,air borne,urine or feces from the infected dog. This is VERY highly contagious.

Parainfluenza-This is a respiratory Infection.This can  also be transmitted from a sick dogs nose.

Hepatitas-This attacks the Liver of the dog and Humans can also be infected by this.

Kennel Cough- This is a upper respiratory Infection. The infected puppy will also have a dry hacky cough. This will last anywhere from 7 to 21 days. This will run its coarse with or without medications. Remember me telling you about stressing your puppy? Well stressed puppies can come down with this and also may get pneumonia. This is very possiable for a breeder /and or importer not to see it but for you to see it after a day or so of  having the puppy in its new home. The stress  attivated the protozoans and they became active. Kennel cough or upper respiratory illness have an incubation of  2 to10 days not 14 as most vets will say. Please remember that puppies can catch  many other bacterias as well as viruses threw out their whole life.

 

Sleep- Puppies do sleep alot. This is ok,they are JUST like BABIES. Bringing them home with  you will want a calm quiet enviroment for them to settle into if not this can stress them out. (Stress can bring on ALOT of problems)

 

Potty training- Crate training is the best in my eyes. However please remember these little guys can only hold it for about 4 hours if you keep him in any longer he will go in his crate.

 

Wrinkles- This breed has many of them and they ALL need to be cleaned DAILY.  This can be done with baby wipes . After that you can powder them.

Nails-You can use a nail clipper or even buy the doggie clippers. They are very easy to use you just need to know not to cut them to short or they will bleed. White nails are VERY easy to do since you can see the blood line in the nail. The darker nails you will need to learn how to do.

 

Going for a walk- I would NOT use a collar. Harnesses ONLY. If you NEED a collar on for a tag I would get the rolled leather as that can hide in a wrinkle rather then dig them or cut them. On your walk if there are stairs you need to go up or down pick up your puppy rather then make them climb them. It is not good for young puppies to climb or jump as their bones are not developed completely