Often in the confusion and excitement of picking up your new pup, some details are forgotten.  We want to give you some important information ahead of time.  This will probably answer some of the questions that you have.  Please feel free to ask anything that you want either before you come to pick up the pup, during the visit, or anytime after the pick up.  We make a lifetime commitment to our pups, so please let us know how to help you.

Vaccination/Health Information:

You will receive a document a couple of weeks before you pick up your pup that will give you specific vaccination information about your pup´s litter

Parasites & Deworming:

Details of each individual pup´s deworming schedule will be in the brochure. Don’t forget to take a fecal sample with you to your pup’s 9 week appointment. A fecal test will be performed when the pups are approximately 6 weeks of age.  If any parasites are detected, the pup will be appropriately dewormed before you pick it up.  There are some parasites that do not show up in a fecal exam.  There are a few parasites that do not present themselves until a pup is placed in a stressful situation like leaving his/her home and moving to a new environment.  If a pup displays diarrhea in the first few days of being in his/her new environment, it probably has one of these hidden parasites.  Take a fecal sample to your vet for the appropriate dewormer. 

Heartworm Preventative:

You will receive a free heartworm pill to be given on the next 1st of the month after you pick up your pup.  Most people give the HW pills on the 1st of the month so that it is easy to remember.

Fleas

Pups can receive Frontline for fleas after 8 weeks of age.  You can use Adams Fleas spray (can be bought from Walmart) for fleas until you begin Frontline.   Use sparingly and only spot spray when you see a flea.

Bathing:

Plan to give your pup a bath using a mild dishwashing detergent soon after you pick up the pup.  Lather pup well and leave on for 5 minutes.  This will drown any fleas that the pup may have and not infect your living area.  We give the pups a bath when the weather permits each week, but it is hard to kill all of the fleas when the pups cannot have a flea preventative application. If you give frequent baths to your pup, use conditioner on the pup as a rinse to keep it´s hair and skin from drying out.

Microchip information:

You will receive a microchip document that will contain information for you to register your pup´s microchip with the national database. Go online and complete the registration as soon as possible.  If you need help with this process, please let me know and I can walk you through it.

Feeding Instructions:

We feed our pups twice a day, in the mornings between 5:30 and 6:00am and in the evenings between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.  Pups are very adaptable.  They will be happy with any schedule that is CONSISTENT.  Decide on morning and evening times that will work for you and BE CONSISTENT.   
Purina Puppy Chow is a very good food for pups.  They will be eating the Purina Puppy Chow Healthy Morsel Formulawhen you pick them up. 
For pups 7-8 weeks of age:  Feed approximately ¾ to 1 cup of Purina Puppy Chow (Healthy Morsels Formula.
If you want to use a different brand of puppy food later, that is fine.  You will want to buy one small bag of the Purina Puppy Chow to begin with and gradually change over to the food you prefer by mixing the 2 together.

Preventative Healthy Maintenance:

The pups have been on the NuVet Plus vitamin in-vitro, thru their mother´s milk, and sprinkled on their food since birth.  South Haven Farm is a firm believer in preventative maintenance for a long and healthy life of a pet.
Go online to purchase NuVet Plus vitamins so that your pup continues the great start on the path to perfect health.  They have a great auto-replenish plan. You should purchase the wafer type and plan to break these into quarters to make the size manageable for the pup´s small mouth.
www.nuvet.com  Order code:  85945

Training Tips:

When you first pick up your pup, it is so hard to get away from the mind-set that the pup is so adorable and it is okay to let the pup do whatever it wants because it is so cute and innocent.  AND…the pup will love us more if we let it do whatever it wants.
My advice is for the new owners to have the mind-set:  "We are adding a new member to our household for the next 15 years.  There are rules in our household and any new member MUST adhere to those rules.  A new member must "gain" his/her membership into the PACK."  

RECOMMENDATION:

  Check into your local pet store for availability of Puppy Obedience Classes.  This is a great opportunity for your pup to gain social skills and for you to learn training tips.

NOTHING IN LIFE IS FREE

Your house is YOURS!  Training MUST begin from the time the pup walks through your door for the first time.  Rules must be decided upon before the pup makes his arrival in your home.  All members of the family must understand and be ready to reinforce the training/rules.

SUBMISSIVE TRAINING

 

Recommended for ALL Breeds. This is important to teach your pup his place in your "pack" and can come in handy if you have an emergency and need your dog to lay still while you are performing some procedure on him.  It is a great "time-out" technique for those times when your pup may get too wound up and need to calm down for a while. See Training Tips for more information.

Housebreaking Tip:

Our pups learn to eliminate in pine shavings that are in a portion of their pen.  If you would like to continue this housebreaking method, purchase a "bale" of PINE shavings from a store like Walmart.  For inside training, use a waterproof box with sides that are short enough for the pup to get into.  Place it where you would like the pup to eliminate and fill the bottom with the shavings.  For outside training, sprinkle a noticeable pile of shavings in a spot close to the door outside and take the pup outside to that spot each time that he/she needs to eliminate.

Crate Training:

We highly recommend crate training. The best size is a medium size crate. (Walmart has this size for around $37 LXWXH = 28X20.5X21.5). ).  Here is a link for some basic crate training.  http://www.perfectpaws.com/crt.html

Other Supplies: (Suggestions, not all required)

Food/Water bowls– We use the metal ones with the no-tip feature.  Click on link for example.   http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=140156%20116
Bedding – We use old towels in the beginning of a pup´s life.  Keep in mind that your pup will want to chew on everything at first.  Let the pup get past it´s chewing stage before you buy an expensive bed.  Also, towels are easier to wash if the pup has an accident on a towel.
Collars – Size: small with lots of adjustments.  Some people like the body harnesses.  We prefer the regular collars when training since the pup will be more uncomfortable when trying to strain against a regular collar.  The idea is to have a pup respect the "tug" on the collar and not pull against it.
Toys – The Kong brand toys are pretty indestructible.  The pups also like the rope toys.
Treats – This ends up being a preference of the individual pups.  We use treats for training only and break off small pieces at a time.
Grooming Supplies– (Suggestions – see links….)
Brush - http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=190656%203M
Nail clippers - http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=190806
Grooming spray - http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=101561
Adams Flea Spray - http://www.dog.com/ItemDetail.aspx?ItemNo=151201%20116

Summary:

1. Make an appointment with South Haven Farm to pick up your pup.  Bring balance due.  CASH PLEASE ! For Shipping, plan on sending balance 2 weeks before shipping date.
2. Make an appointment with your vet for the pup´s 9 week vaccination.
3. Order NuVet Plus vitamins online. Order the wafers not the powder.
4. Purchase feed and shavings. 
5. Decide on feeding schedule.
6. Have a meeting with family members to discuss rules/training.
7. Print out directions to our farm from the Contact button.
8. Check local pet stores for availability of Puppy Obedience Classes
9. Bring crate, towels, paper towels, wet ones and a bottle of water with bowl for pick up.  You shouldn´t feed the pup during transit unless you will be traveling overnight.