Questions
At what age can my puppy come home with me? TOP
Your puppy can come home
with you at no fewer than nine (9) weeks of age.
This is not a set age and exact age cannot be predicted. We encourage you to visit
us and play with your puppy from as young as
four weeks, but we will not send a puppy home
until they have had a chance to grow, to adjust
to life away from mom and to build up immunities. We provide
their first two (2) immunization shots.
What shots does my puppy need? TOP
Your puppy
needs 4 sets of DA2PP puppy shots. The first set are usually given at
approx. 6 - 8 weeks of age, and there is a 3 weeks period between each
set.
The DA2PP puppy shot is a combination vaccine that protects against 5 separate diseases :
- Distemper
- Adenovirus type 1
- Adenovirus type 2
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
At 16 weeks of age he will be given his Rabies shot.
After that he will need annual boosters in order to maintain his
immunity.
What is the best dog food for my puppy? TOP
In
general the best food to feed a puppy is going to be a premium brand
dry food. A puppy would need to eat a one and a half times semi-moist
food, or even twice as much can food to get the same nutritional value
as in dry food.
Dry dog food will, also, help a puppy's teeth. Where can and moist food can soften the teeth.
Your puppy will be eating Diamond Naturals Puppy when he comes home
to you. When chosing a new dog food brand, make sure to gradually
change
your dog, or puppy, over to the new brand by adding it to the previous
brand, It should take about a week, give or take, to fully graduate
your canine to the new premium dog food brand of your choice.
By purchasing a premium dog food, your dog will get less fillers and more nutrition
from each and every bite. Less fillers, also, means that the dog will
not need to eat as much to get the same nutrition, meaning less goes
in, so less comes out.
Premium dog foods ensure that your dog is getting the best foods that you can afford. But many premium brands can be pricey.
How often should I feed my puppy? TOP
Because Shih Tzu puppies are so small, I recommend leaving food out all day until your puppy is at least 4-5 months old. Once you have learned your puppy's eating schedule, most people feed young puppies small meals three times per day. As the
puppies age, two meals per day is sufficient. Most people feed adult
dogs once or twice each day. You can always ask your veterinarian for specific instructions
about feeding your puppy.
When should I take my puppy to the groomer? TOP
It's best not to take your puppy to the groomer or any other facility where multiple dogs are until after he has received all of his puppy shots.
Puppies have weak immune systems and they are not completely protected against diseases until they have been fully vaccinated.
When you take your puppy home, it has had a bath, ears cleaned, and nails trimmed several times. If you really need to have your puppy groomed before your puppy has been fully vaccinated, try looking for a groomer that will come to your house to do the grooming!
What is crate training? TOP
Like babies, puppies cannot control their bladders
until they mature (usually between 3 and 6 months). Dogs have a natural
instinct to avoid eliminating in their dens. Therefore, confining your
puppy in his crate for the proper amount of time encourages him to "hold
it" until you take him outside for a walk.
How do I stop my puppy from eating feces? TOP
Coprophagia is normal canine behavior. Moms eat their puppies'
stools when their pups are still nursing and unable to leave their den.
Although there are many theories about why pups eat feces, there is no
definitive scientific evidence to indicate that lack of nutrition is
the primary cause. There are some products touted to make stools
unappetizing to dogs, but the best method to stop coprophagia is to
clean up the feces before your puppy eats it.
