29/09/2023
A few notes I wrote for my puppy families. 🙂
*Start crate training for potty! They can usually hold it for about 3 hours at the age of 8 weeks.
Take puppy out at least every 3 hours
Try and use a leash as much as possible to get them used to it.
As soon as they wake up. Take puppy outside to eliminate !
*Remember their crate is NOT a punishment, it's a safe place for puppy and they should love it! ( I give them a little treat when I tell them "crate" and they go in there on their own 🙂 I also keep a good safe toy in there for them and blanket or comfy bed!
* Very important!!! DO NOT ALLOW YOUR PUPPY TO JUMP FROM HIGH PLACES OR ROUGH HOUSE TOO MUCH! puppies bones are still very fragile at this point. They can break something easily or Hurt them self's.
Hips and elbows could be damaged from jumping and landing hard. The development of Hip and Elbow Dysplasia is determined both by genetics and environment. All puppies bred by us parents are hips and elbows ofa or FCI or SV clear and have come from backgrounds clear of Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia. Getting a puppy who has an excellent pedigree with regard to hips and elbows is important. This start will give you the best chances to prevent hip and elbow dysplasia. But you can take that a lot further. Provide your puppy with an environment that is conducive to the development of healthy joints to give your puppy the best shot at avoiding hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip and elbow dysplasia much of the time is cause by environmental factors. For puppies, you can’t depend on the adult guidelines for feeding. Puppies, unlike people, will grow too fast before they get fat. Research has shown that puppies that grow SLOW have much less incidence of problems with joints (even as adults). Your puppy will grow quickly and if fed by our guidelines and will look thin. Even if you are overfeeding, your puppy will still look thin as a 4 month old unless you are grossly overfeeding. An overfed puppy will grow too fast. He will reach his full height sooner than a puppy that is fed the optimum amount of food. Feeding less will not affect the size that a dog will ultimately grow to. It affects only the time that he reaches that size.
*** NO forced running, no jumping, no ball chansing for long periods and no jumping up to catch toy or ball! No jumping on or off furniture or up and down too many stairs. And definitely no jumping off stairs.
Til are least 9 to 12 months of age!
Fetch is okay. In short distance and only like 7 to 10 times. Good Genetics + Good Environment = Good Hips and Elbows
We also start everyone on good vitamins early on! For growth and good health!
*Maintain a housetraining schedule. Puppies at this age have a short attention span. Keep training sessions to no more than 10 minutes at a time. After that they go " squirl " on you. 🤣
I do like 4 to 5 sessions a day ( but I also stay at home with them ) Your puppy already knows how to do all of the important stuff: eat, drink, p**p, sleep and, of course, play. This time is definitely defined by play. Puppies are well socialized at my home from babies.
*Be patient... 8 to 12 week old puppies are becoming increasingly curious and interested in the environment. Although capable of learning, they have a very short attention span. Keep a variety of simple toys for your puppy to play with. Puppy will also play rough at times. ( remember they have very sharp teeth ) It is extremely important that puppies socialize with people at this age. Include lots of people of varying ages, sizes and shapes to interact positively with your pup. Some puppies have a brief phase of “fear” at this time as they may respond to noises or new objects. Keep their environment calm and away from loud noises. Expose your puppy to new objects and allow them to investigate on their own terms until they are comfortable with the new situation.
*Get your puppy used to grooming and being touched. Clipping nails weekly or biweekly also is a good thing Get them used to it and that it's not a scary thing.
*Feed 3 to 4 times per day. Keep fresh water for them at all times. ( I take away about 2 hours prior to bed time)
*Never hit your puppy. They don't learn that way, instead Give positive reinforcement for work well done. And if they are doing something wrong. Redirect them to something else.
*Socialize! But do not take your puppy out in public until after all shots are up to date and finished. Specially don't walk them out to PetSmart or dog parks! ( I never take mine to parks )
*Puppy proof your home.
They will try and get into what they can ( they are puppies ) and very curious
Make sure cleaning supplies and dangerous chemicals are not within their reach. Also electrical cables and anything you dont want chewed on 🤣
*Make sure puppy has an ID tag and microchip
*late spaying and neutering is best. I say after 18 months of age. For many many reasons. 1. Cancer, 2. Growth 3. Dysplacia and more!
( I will sit here and write for days if I get into it all ) lol
*Provide good chew toys. They will have all 28 of their baby teeth but some will be lost and come back in.
* Sleep.. Puppies that are 8 weeks old sleep approximately 18 to 22 hours per day. The rest is spent eating, playing and p**ping and peeing !!! 💩
*Their ears will stand up and down and so forth til about 4 to 5 months of age.
DON'T play or touch their ears much and do not let other animals rough house with their ears either. If they are not up by 6 months old. We can talk about posting and taping up. Give toys and hard chew bones ( no rawhide )
*Food they are NOT allowed to have:
Apple seeds, chocolate, avocado, candy, toothpaste, coffee, caffeine, *cooked bones*, corn on cob, garlic, grapes, raisins, alchohol, macadamia nuts, cows milk, onions, yeast, garlic, mushrooms, rhubarb,
Plums and peaches.
*Play with Your Puppy lots. 🙂 enjoy your new puppy! And remember all my puppies come with lifetime breeder support! So you can contact us anytime with any questions or concerns.
Thank you
Von Reich Haus German Shepherds & Tibetan Mastiffs