Hey Everybody!
We are QUICKLY approaching when the puppies start going home. I cannot thank you enough for trusting us to raise your new family member. We have enjoyed getting to spend the last 8 weeks with them and I cannot wait to watch them grow (meaning I want lots of pictures from you guys)!
Please make sure you scroll down on the blog and ready the Puppy 101 post. There is a lot of helpful information on there about your puppies first night, crate training and the do's and don'ts of having a new puppy.
Currently all puppies are eating 3/4 cup of puppy food at 7am; 1/2 cup at 12:30pm; and 3/4 cup at 6pm (TLC Puppy Food). We are currently still adding a little big of warm (make sure its not cold) water to their food. This just encourages them to eat it all and makes it a little easier for them. Over the next week you can transition to dry food.
For potty training purposes make sure to take your pup out right after they finish eating. Each puppy will grow at different paces so I cannot tell you exactly when to increase their food. If your puppy is finishing their food and searching for more then this will be a good indicator it's time to increase. If your puppy has soft stools after eating then this can be an indicator that they are getting too much food or their body is not having enough time to break it down before the next meal. If this is the case then you can go to larger meal for breakfast and dinner (and skip lunch). The main thing is that we do not want an obese dog so do not over feed. Also, the number 1 question I get asked is when should we transition to adult food. Some vets say 6 months and some say 12 months. This all depends on how quickly your puppy grows. We do not want them to grow too fast, so consult with your vet at each appointment as to when they think is a good time to transition.
Remember when your puppy arrives that this is all new to them. This is the first time they have been away from their siblings and us. Give them time to adjust and do not overwhelm them. If you have small children try to make this transition as calm as possible. Also, make sure your home is puppy proof. They are curious and also teething...so it is VERY important to make sure they are in a safe area.
Potty training: The fun fun part of a new baby puppy :)
Patience is key. Remember they have to learn it is not okay to go potty inside your house...they have no clue where their designated "potty spot" is at their new home. Do not give them free roam of the house as this will confuse them. As they get bigger and have learned where their "potty spot" is you can expand the amount of room inside your home that they can freely go to. Use your crate...I promise this helps a ton for potty training. They do not want to go potty where they have to sleep. Set your divider where they have enough room to stand up, turn around and lay back down. Let them nap in their crate and let them sleep there during the night. Take them out of the crate and immediately to their "potty spot"...make sure to give them lots of praise when they go outside.
Rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold their potty for 1 hour per month of age. Make sure you don't ask them to hold it too much past that. At night they can typically make it an additional hour but you will need to set an alarm to take them out. We don't want to wait until they cry out as this teaches them if I cry someone will let me out. If you have any questions about this just let me know and I am happy to help. If you make a plan and stick to it you will have a potty trained puppy in no time. At this point, you do not have to crate them ;)
Last but definitely not least is creating a well behaved puppy. Always ask yourself- I know this behavior may be cute now but will it be cute when they are 70 + pounds?!? For example, if a cute little puppy jumps up on your leg and your initial response is to pet them or pick them up then you are rewarding that behavior and they do not understand why they are no longer allowed to do that when they are 12 months old. So, no jumping or chewing....make sure to correct these behaviors from the beginning.
If you have any questions at any time please do not hesitate to ask....we are here to help in any way possible.
Enjoy your new puppy and please keep us posted on how they are doing!
Thank you,
Alyson Stuart
Southland Goldens