Puppy Love Family Pets
FAQ

We love to talk puppies... so feel free to ask! But here are some
frequently asked questions to get you started!

Q: What type of food do you feed?
A: Your puppy is eating Royal Canin Mini Puppy 33. It is available at
Pet Co and PetSmart. You will receive a sample bag with your puppy
that includes a $2 off coupon for your next purchase. Large breed
puppies are eating Royal Canin Maxi Puppy 32.

Q: How old do puppies need to be to go to their new homes?
A: PA Law and USDA says 8 weeks. We do not sell puppies that are
less than 8 weeks of age. If someone is offering to sell you a puppy
that is less than 8 weeks of age, ask more questions!

Q: What immunizations has my puppy had?
A: Your puppy will have had 2 rounds of Galaxy 5 and Neopar. Those
immunizations will need boostered, typically at 10-12 weeks of age.
You will be given a immunization record showing all the vacinnations
given to take to your vet as a part of your puppies health record. In
addition to vacinnations the puppies have been dewormed using two
different types of wormers, beginning at 3 weeks of age. All puppies
have had a preventative treatment against ear mites as well.

Q: What type of socialization has my puppy had?
A: The puppies are handled as little as possible during the first few
weeks of life. Their mother cares for their every need and other than
cleaning the whelping boxes daily, the puppies are not handled. As
they get older, starting at 3 weeks of age, the spend more and more
time with people. By the time they are ready to be weaned (5-6 weeks
of age) they are beginning to see people as caregivers more than
Mom. Once the puppies are no longer with their Moms they get daily
play time outside (weather permitting) or inside on cold or wet days.
They play with litter mates, puppies of a similar size from other litters,
children from 3-15 and adults. Once they are 8 weeks old they even
get to meet the other adult dogs, so that if you have an older dog in
your home, your puppy will see him/her as a friend! Our daughter,
Carrie, spends many hours a day taking care of the puppies and dogs
and talking to them. When we are not with the puppies/dogs they are
in our new state of the art heated/air conditioned kennel. Each litter or
dog has their own pen and we play the radio around the clock for
them. As a result, our puppies love people and are generally very well
adjusted little dogs that are ready to explore and experience lots of
new things in their life with their new families!

Q: Where do the puppies sleep now?
A: The puppies are sleeping in our heated/air conditioned kennel in a
crate. They are with siblings, so even though they are used to a crate,
they will probably cry/bark some the first night or two at home. It may
be hard to listen to, but just remember, whatever you start will be what
your puppy expects. If you want to sleep with your dog, that is OK...
but if not, don't start in the those first days!

Q: What do you recommend for housetraining?
A: Several things: first, keep your puppy on a consistent feeding
schedule. We recommend 7 am, 12 noon, 7 pm. Take your puppy
outside about 30 mins after eating. Do not leave food and water out all
the time. Once your puppy is getting on the potty schedule (around
12-16 weeks) you can go to twice a day feeding. After 6-8 months of
age, puppies can be feed once a day.

Second, supervise your puppy at all times when in the house during
the early days of house training. Bad habits are harder to break.
Consistency will go a long way toward quick success! Take the puppy
out every 1-2 hrs in the first couple of weeks. You will know when
he/she is ready to go longer periods of time. Your puppy should be
able to go through the night from about 8-10 weeks of age (11 pm to 5
or 6 am).

When you need to be away from your puppy during the day, you can
use a gated area in your home instead of the crate. A bathroom,
laundry room or kitchen area (easy to clean floor) works well for this.
Just be sure to puppy-proof the area-- no wires to chew or choking
hazards. We like the Mid-West LifeStages Crates, here's a link to site
that sells them and other reasonably priced puppy gear.
http://www.jbpet.com/Midwest-Lifestages-Folding-Crate,1493.html

In winter months many young, small breeds (like the shichons) dislike
going outside because of the cold and wet. Paper training is an
excellent tool for these times. There are many absorbent training pads
on the market or old fashioned newspaper will work as well. Just be
sure not to use colored paper as the dyes can bleed through and
irritate some dogs skin. Once the weather improves you can move the
paper outside, training your dog to use God's giant bathroom, instead
of the paper in your home!

Q: What kinds of treats and toys do you recommend?
A: Dogs are social animals. They LOVE humans. YOU will be your
dogs favorite toy. A simple ball, braided rope and a soft, squeaky toy
are more than enough toys. Your time, love and interaction will be the
highlight of your puppy's life. Treats are fine for training, but be careful
not to overuse them. Puppies are smart-- and a little sly-- and treats
can ruin a puppy's appetite and nutrition balance. Soft treats are best
for puppies.

Q: How often should I take my puppy to the groomer?
A: Most puppies will need the hair around their eyes/face trimmed
regularly. You can do this at home with a small pair of scissors. For
more professional care, we recommend puppies visit the groomer
every four months for long coats and twice a year for shorter haired
dogs. Your groomer will trim nails, clean ears and teeth and
cut/trim/clip hair. How you wear your puppies hair is up to you. All
puppies should be brushed at least weekly and should not be bathed
more than every two weeks. Spot wash those dirty feet, but try not to
dry out your puppies delicate "baby skin" with too many baths. Be sure
to use a gentle soap-- a baby body wash or puppy shampoo to protect
sensitive eyes and baby, your new baby!