What to pickup before the new puppy comes home

I recommend that you start the puppy eating Eagle Original in the blue bag, Diamond Lamb and Rice, Diamond Small Breed puppy or a food of comparative ingredients. Do not feed Iams, Eukanuba, Science Diet or any food that contains within the first couple of ingredients of corn or corn meal; so pick up a bag to have on hand by the time the puppy comes home. The puppy can be very boned and needs to be kept on 24-26% protein food, no higher.  Most puppy foods are a higher protein and push the bone growth too quickly and can cause bowing in the legs sometimes.

The puppy should have all the fresh water he/she wants, and available all the time. Have lots of toys available for them to play with.  Kong toys are great and all the large Nyla Bones as they can chew on these and they don’t splinter or chew up quickly. I do not recommend rawhides after the puppy starts teething. They can chew off large pieces and can lodge in his intestinal tract causing serious medical problems.

When you come to pickup the puppy, if you don’t have a long ride, he can ride home on your lap or in a crate.  I prefer that the puppy ride in a crate. A crate is great for normal transportation and helping to housebreak. Bring an old towel that I can rub on the other puppies or the mother to take home some scent so he can feel comfortable the first few nights by himself.  Also bring along one soda bottle to take home a little of my water.  You can mix this half and half with your water for the first few days.  If they get upset or nervous, bark or cry the first few days, they can get a loose stool from this and a change in food or water.  You can give a small amount of Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate several times a day to help. Keep a radio on at night by the puppy if he/she is not kept close to you. More questions ask your breeder for help.