Puppy FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about your new puppy.  If you have a question that is not listed here, please email us at willowcreekkennels@hotmail.com

What should I bring when picking up my new puppy?

A crate is a good idea to bring with you.  Face the crate forward when taking them home.  You can also let the pup ride on your lap with a blanket in case there are any messes.  Most of the time the puppy will just sleep, but these young pups can get car sick.  They may throw up so you should have some type of rags or towels with just in case.  If you are driving a long distance we recommend stopping every few hours for a potty break.  If you are on the road for more than four hours you could also offer a little food and water.  Just remember that anything in the puppy’s stomach may come out either end.

What kinds of puppy supplies do you recommend purchasing prior to getting our puppy?

Get a small collar that can grow with the pup, a lead, a light check cord, a small canvas dummy for retrieving, string toys, and something they can chew on (kong or something similar, where you can put a treat inside).  Having some proper puppy toys around will prevent the pup from chewing on things that they shouldn’t be chewing on.

Is there a puppy training class on puppy pick up day?

Puppy pick out day has a lot going on and puppies will get worn out quickly so it is difficult to complete too much training.  We do some clicker training to get you started with basic commands, but we also recommend viewing our puppy training videos.

What kind of food should we feed our new puppy at its new home?

We feed the puppies either Native brand dog food or American Natural Premium.  Using a blender, we add 2/3rds water and 1/3rd puppy food.  We also add milk replacer, but it is not necessary for you to continue to add this after taking them home (although the puppies do like the taste!).  The puppy mash is great because it allows for proper hydration and prevents choking on kibble.  Be very careful if you are soaking dog food in water.  If the kibble is not fully hydrated it can swell and get lodged in the puppy’s throat.  You can probably safely feed dry, puppy (small) kibble when taking your puppy home, but you can continue to use the mash until you are comfortable that your puppy will not choke (9-12 weeks).  Be sure to offer plenty of water with dry dog food to help wash the food down and rinse out the mouth.

How do you transition your puppy from the kennel to your home?

Puppies are like infants. For the first few nights you can’t leave them unattended and they need constant supervision. You should puppy proof your house by putting away items and closing doors and blocking areas where the puppy shouldn’t go. You can also buy mousetraps and set them over cords or by the garbage can to deter the puppy from those areas. The puppy may whine at night because they don’t want to be alone. You will need to find a solution that works for your pup and build on it. Find a location where the dog succeeds (if the location is in your bed with you, that’s okay). Eventually you can transition the puppy to any room by taking small steps to their final location. Putting the puppy somewhere like the garage where it will be alone will mentally stress them out.

Puppies are highly susceptible to disease. Keep them out of areas where there are other dogs and keep them in clean areas. Don’t take your puppy to petsmart until they have had their 3rd set of vaccinations.

When the puppy is weaned he isn’t getting antibodies from his dam any more. He might get sick right away, usually with intestinal issues. Some diseases that your puppy could get easily are coxi, giardia, other protozoa, parasites, roundworms. If your puppy has blood or mucous in their stool chances are they have giardia. This disease is huge in hunting dogs and is often found in many ponds, lakes or even puddles.

At 10-12 weeks we suggest you feed a diet with less protein than the puppy formulas. Large breed dogs shouldn’t grow too fast and a diet that is too high in protein can cause joint health issues. Don’t exercise them too intensely.