Now that you've taken that soft little bundle of furry joy home with you, the real work of dog ownership has just begun.
There IS more to it than just loving and cuddling and playing with your new pup, and if you don't start now with the training, this tiny sweet adorable pup, willbecome a tenacious, bad mannered, dangerous beast of a dog, that, worst case scenario, you will have to have put down at some point in the future. Yes, this can happen to you!

We offer training tips and lessons, don't hesitate to give us a call. We use much the same training techniques as Cesar Milan, and we recommend your purchasing his videos or dvd's or going to the library and looking for any books he has.
He has a great website - check it out. Remember, there are no bad dogs, just bad owners/trainers. (Well, ok, there may be bad dogs out there, but 99% of the time, it is due to owners who do not take dog ownership seriously, do not bother to properly train their dogs, or do not seek professional help before the dog is totally out of control.)

For all you Calgary Alberta purchasers, we did have one of our dogs (an Australian Shepherd) sold to dog trainers at Clever Canines, and the owners of Clever Canines have subsequently taken stock dog/herding lessons from us.
We highly recommend your giving them a call and getting set up with their lessons. They were recently featured in an article in the Calgary Herald, which I have copied onto a webpage for your enjoyment - give it a read - it is a prime example of just what we tell you about training your dog.
Clever Canine Article

Early Handling - Puppies that are stimulated and handled from birth to five weeks of age are more confident, social, exploratory, faster maturing and better able to handle stress as they develop. Puppies obtained from a reputable breeder or foster home where they have had frequent contact and interaction with people are likely to be more social and less fearful as they develop.

Primary Socialization - There is a sensitive period in the development of most species when they develop social attachments with their own and other species, independent of punishment and rewards. In fact, both positive and negative events seem to accelerate socialization. The events that occur during this socialization period determines the puppy’s future social partners, as well as to what species he feels he belongs. By recognizing the critical time frame in which canine socialization develops, you can help to ensure a healthy social attachment to people and other animals, including other dogs.

The primary socialization period for dogs begins at 3 weeks of age and is diminishing by 12 weeks. Peak sensitivity is at 6 to 8 weeks. Beyond 12 weeks there is a tendency to act fearfully towards new people, animals and situations. Many young dogs will regress or become fearful again if they do not receive continued social interaction as they grow and develop. The 6-8 month period is another important time for socialization.

To help a healthy social relationship with other dogs throughout life, dogs should maintain their social contacts with their mother and littermates until 6 to 8 weeks of age. They should continue to have regular social interaction and play sessions with other dogs after he is taken into a new home. The puppy would likely do best if there was another dog in the new home, or if he had playmates in the neighborhood that he could interact with on a daily basis.

What is the best age to obtain my new puppy? Since it is so important for the puppy to develop and maintain social attachments to their own kind, puppies ideally will remain with their mother and littermates until about 7 weeks of age. Then when placed in the new home they can expand their social contacts to new people and species while still in their primary socialization period. By this time puppies will begin to develop preferences for elimination sites, so that this timing can also be helpful for housetraining.

What can I do to assist my puppy in its social development?

There should be little problem with a puppy that is less than 12 weeks of age developing healthy and lasting attachments to the people, sights and sounds in his new home. Your puppy is most likely to become fearful of stimuli that are not found in his day-to-day routine. Make a conscious effort to identify those people and situations that the puppy is not regularly exposed to. For example, if there are no children in the home, you might arrange regular play sessions with children. If you live in the country, make a few trips into the city, so that the puppy can be taken for walks on city streets, or through neighborhood plazas. Conversely, a puppy that grows up in the city might become fearful or aggressive toward farm animals that he was not exposed to during his early development.

Introduce your puppy to as many new people and situations as possible, beginning in its first three months of development. People in uniforms, babies, toddlers, the elderly, the physically challenged are just a few examples that might lead to fear and anxiety, unless there is sufficient early exposure. Similarly, car rides, elevators, stairs, or the noises of cars, trains, airplanes, or hot air balloons are some examples of events and experiences to which the puppy might be usefully exposed.

If your puppy seems to panic, back off a little and try again later, rather than aggravating the fear. Never reassure the fearful dog as this might serve to reward the fearful behavior.

Is it healthy to take my puppy out in public at such a young age?

Vaccinations    There is always a concern about the risks of taking the puppy out of his home before he is fully vaccinated because he may be exposed to infection before the vaccines have had time to become protective. If you take precautions, taking your new puppy out in public will be fine - just use caution when going to places that frequent other dogs as their imune system is not yet ready to combat possible viruses.

One solution is to have people and healthy vaccinated animals visit the puppy in his own home, until he is sufficiently vaccinated.

Allergies

Allergies    Information for those of you who have allergies.

Feeding your dog

We always get asked - "is it ok to give my new puppy treats?"   Pay attention now - NO!
A 7 week old pup, is a baby and just like a human baby, they do not need treats.
Their little tummies just get so upset when you introduce new foods, treats etc. to them and you end up with a very unhappy pup with diahrea and even throwing up.
If you are changing their food, we will give you a small bag of the food we are feeding so that the process is gradual.
So, please, you are not doing your pup any favors by giving them a 'puppy treat' to chew on. Pups are considered 'Pups' until they are 6 - 8 months of age, so something that says it is for puppies, is not for the 7 week old you just brought home.

Dog Food    We feed Costco Brand Kirkland Signature Puppy Chow to all of our pups and breeding females.
For more information on what to feed your dog:

Cute Puppy Things

You don't have to spend a ton of money on purchasing things for your dog.
Of course, IF that is what you want to do, and you have the money to do so, then hey, go crazy.
Myself, with so many dogs, so many pups, and a love to pamper and spoil them, I just can't afford those pet store prices.
I go to second hand stores - Value Village, Sally Ann, and head straight to their baby department. There I find the cutest little blankets and towels, baby approved toys etc. all at a fraction of the cost of pet blankets and toys. If a toy is good for a human infant, it will be good for a pup. No little things to pull or bite off and choke on.
Think of it as recycling - you are helping to save the planet.
Also look for child gates, play pens, and used doggie items. Be very careful in washing everything you bring home for your dog though, especially if it is a dog specific item. That other dog might have been sick.

There are also many stores - dollar stores or liquidation stores, that have great pet supplies at a fraction of the cost - check them out!
You probably already know that I love Costco - well their prices on pet beds and blankets can't be beat. I just wish they had a larger line of pet related products - kennels, crates, X-Pens etc. Usualy in the spring they do bring in large chain link outside dog pens. With those, you must compare the quality of the chain link and poles used. All are NOT created equal.
Be careful in high wind areas, for adding a tarp roof to keep out the sun - they can catch the wind, and completely destroy your kennel.

WallMart also has an excellent pet department - well most of them. Not all have the same things. They have great prices on dog travel kennels, and lovely paw print dog blankets and towels.

Picking Up Your Pup

Ok, so you've purchased your new pup, and it's time to come and pick it up.

You should by now have purchased a travel kennel for your dog. Buy one that he or she will grow into, so not one of the teeny tiny ones, even though your pup is very little. What we suggest, is you have a couple of toss pillows that you can fill 3/4 of the kennel with, so that your pup will not soil in the large space. As your pup grows, remove the pillows.

Bring along your kennel, have a couple of old towels in case he or she throws up and bring your leash.
In case it is a long drive you might need or want to make a pit stop.
Never let your little pup out in a parking lot or anywhere's without being on a leash.
Not until it is old enough for you to train it to come to it's name - Every Time.
Plus, such a little thing looks like a meal to a larger dog. You can't be quick enough, and the leash will be a life saver.

Please, no parking lots - you never know when a vehicle is leaking antifreeze. That is a killer, and at home - please do not leave AntiFreeze out, clean up all spills immediately - the taste is sweet and dogs and cats will lick it. It is a killer!