Congratulations on your new puppy! The wait is over and it's finally time to bring your new Cavalier puppy home. But before that happens , there are a few preparations you need to undertake in order to provide a safe and secure invironment for your new puppy. Make sure you take care of the following: Bringing home a puppy can be a stressfull time for your Cavalier puppy. He/she will be in a strange invironment away from littermates and mom. There will be new people and new expectations. That is why it is important to take some time to prepare for your puppy. You will need to make your home and yard safe and set rules for yourself and your family about how to care for your puppy. You will also need to pick up any last- minute items on your puppy supply list. You will find a list of our recommended puppy supplies here. The more structured you can make this transition, the easier it will be for your puppy to adapt. Make sure all poisonus household items such as cleaning supplies, pesticides, fertilizers, medication, vitamins, or herbal supplements are securely stored out of the puppy's reach Keep all shoes and kid's toys off the floor until your puppy in done teething. If not, your puppy will be happy to gnaw them as chew toys. This could get pretty expensive for you as well as cause digestive problems for your puppy. Taking the time to puppy proof your home and yard is a simple way to create a safe, friendly envioronment for the newest member of your family. The big day
All of your research and planning have come down to this moment. It is time to bring home your new Cavalier puppy! Your puppy may not be excited about going home with you. You are taking him away from his family and all he has ever known, which can be a very stressfull situation. If you make a few arrangements before bringing your puppy home it will be less stressful for your puppy. Plan to bring your puppy home during a vacation or long weekend. Avoid bringing a puppy home during holidays when quests and festivities make it difficult to give the puppy the attention he/she needs. Proper introductions, socializations, and house training takes time. The car ride home
Your puppy will go home with a small crate and bedding he/she is accustomed to sleeping in. It is safer for your puppy to travel home in his crate but if your puppy is frightened and you prefer to hold your new puppy on the trip home you will find a blanket with mom and littermates scent in your going home package. Your puppy will be comforted by the scent of home and should settle down for a nice nap for the ride home
Introducing a puppy to your home
Once you have survived the car ride home, it is time to introduce your puppy to his/her new surroundings. Try to keep visitors to a minimum until your puppy is settled in. You want to make your home as relaxed and stress free as possible. As soon as you arrive home take your puppy to the area you have established for his potty breaks. Your puppy will probably need to go after the car ride. If he does go potty, praise him to start the housetraing process on a good note.
If you have other pets, it is best to introduce them in a place new to both of them, perhaps a neighbors yard or your front yard. Because dogs are territorial by nature you want them to meet on equal footing rather than your original dog's turf. If you have more than one dog, they should meet your puppy one at a time. Always be present to supervise your dog when it is with your new puppy. When you bring your puppy indoors, let him explore on his own for awhile. If you have taken the time to puppy proof your home he should be safe but do keep an eye on him. If your puppy gets into something he shouldn't or chews on an object that is off-limits, do not punish him. Simply exchange the object for a nylabone or other safe chew toy. One of the most important things to remember is do not punish your puppy. It is too soon to discipline for any behavior. Your puppy has no idea what you expect from him and punishing him will only create confusion and stress. Feeding your puppy
An hour or so after arriving home after introducing your puppy to your home he should be hungry. Offer him food and water. We have sent several days supply of the food your puppy has been eating along with feeding instructions with your puppy. If your puppy does not eat well do not be overly concerned. It may take a day or two for your puppy to settle into his new home. Leave the food down for about 20 minutes. When he has finished eating take him outside to the same potty area and wait for him to elimiate. If nothing happens in 10 minutes or so take him inside. If he does go, give him lots of praise and a small treat. Generally you should take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after each meal, after he wakes up from a nap, after a long play sesson, and before you go to bed. A simple rule to remember is to take your puppy's age in months and add one to get the number of hours a puppy should be able to wait before going out. So a 3 month old puppy can wait 4 hours before he has to go potty. Use the same area each time and be patient.
First night home
The first night home with your puppy can be a trying experience for both of you. It is the first time your puppy has spent the night away from it's mom and littermates. With a little preparation and patience, you can make the most of the first night with your puppy. Before you go to bed spend some time playing with your puppy. You want him to be tired enough to sleep soundly. Definitely don't let him nap an hour or two before bedtime or your puppy will be ready to play when you are ready for bed.
Just before bed, take your puppy outsite to his potty area and wait for him to go potty. Bring him inside and place him inside his crate. Place his crate next to your bed so you will be able to hear him should he need to go outside during the night. Puppy's first trip to the vet
Within a few days after bringing your new puppy home you will need to set up an appointment for a visit with your veterinarian. Your puppy is going to require regular visits to the veterinarian so you want this first visit to be a pleasant one for your puppy. Schedule your puppy's first visit as early in the morning as possible, preferabbly when the clinic opens and there will be fewer people and their pets. Since your puppy has not completed his puppy vaccinations he is susceptable to diseases. You don't want to expose him to other pets in the waiting area. Scheduling an appointment when the clinis is less active will also help ease the anxiety your puppy will feel in a strange invironment. Use the crate sent home with your puppy to transport your puppy to and from the vet. Take a fresh stool sample and have the vet check for parasites. Use a small baggie and turn it inside out and scoop up the stooland then turn turn the bag right side out and then zip it up. Your puppy has been wormed several times but it is not uncommon that your puppy may require additional treatment for worms or coccidia which are common puppy ailments. If this occures your vet will prescribe medication for your puppy. Don't forget to take you puppy's health certificate, and shot record showing when and what shots have been given to your vet. We do NOT give our puppies Leptospirosis' which is found in many of the shots used by vets. Cavaliers are prone to having an allergic reaction to this vaccine. When you go for your shots please ask the vet NOT to give a shot that includes the Leptospirosis. Don't forget to ask your vet about starting your puppy on heartworm prevention.
During the veterinarian's exam keep your puppy calm and relaxed. Praise him softly during and after the exam. You may wish to give your puppy a small treat after the exam. You want to make sure this first visit to the vet is a pleasant one. By taking the time to make the first visit to the vet as calm and relaxing as possible you will be on the path to making every trip to the vet stress free for you and your puppy. Remember, your puppy has not received all of it's vaccinations and the immunization process is not complete until the age of 16 weeks. Until that time, you will need to stay away from public locations where other dogs may have been. Always carry your puppy when you do go to such locations, especially when going to your veterinarian's office. We wish you much joy and happiness with your new Cavalier! We are always here to answer any questions or concerns that may come up. Please feel welcome to contact us by e-mail or phone anytime. Bred with care
Raised with love Shown with pride Family pets for a lifetime "Proud to be a breeder you can trust!" |
