YOUR NEW PUPPY
Usually the purchase of a new puppy is -or at least should be - well planned. So it is important to be ready to welcome the new member of the family in the right way and with the correct tools. Stores are packed with tons of cute and fun gadgets, cages, bowls and leashes of all colors and shapes but watch out or you will end up buying lots of useless or -even worse- dangerous instruments.
Here you can find a few useful tips.
A 10 weeks old puppy has three basic needs: food, warmth and coccole
The food must be studied upon the single subject to avoid to exceed with quantity and balance of nutrition facts causing digestion problems. The breeder should give you the eating schedule and a table with all he needs and also, if possible, a sample of the food that the puppy is used to. Avoid home cooking iniziatives. A subject that is not used to milk, raw meet or else could have a bad reaction to this kind of food even if of high quality.
Is is always suggested to keep the same eating schedule and kind of food that the puppy is used to especially in the beginning. Your little new friend is already going through a psychological stress due to the new home, environment and separation from the mother and the other puppies so make sure that at least th food keeps a failiar taste.
It is important for the puppy to live in a warm enviroment however don't forget other important conditions such as a too dry or humid air. The best couch for him is a travelling cage located far from the heating or doors that are often open and closed. Th dog will learn to know his new bed since the first trip to the new home and at least at the bginning the cage will be a perfect little home for him. Make sure that the puppy has all he needs in the cage (bowls for food and water,an old magazine as toilette and a towel to sleep). It is always safer to keep the cage closed at night to avoid the puppy from going around causing or ending up in troubles. His curiosity is in fact particularly active at night. You can give him a carrot or a cardboard roll to avoid him boredom. Beware all plastic toys or other tools that might be chewen up and swallowed , they should be given to the dog only when he is a bit older and able to distinguere in between what can be eaten and what cannot.
The very first impact and relations with the new puppy and the other members of the family are very important. In the dog hierarchy there is always a leader whom the whole pack refers and subjected to. The family is the new "pack" of the puppy and he will probably recognize the person that is dedicated to his first needs (food, daily toilette ect.) as the new leader. He will be fond especially of this person
Since the very beginning have him to get to know and respect everyone: family members, kids, friends but also your other pets. Don't let him dominate too much even if he will probably do that by using amusing behaviors. Although so small an ill-bred pet can create problems with the neighboors and even inside the house. So the main rule when educating your new friends is to be loving but severe and especially coherent at the same time.
BASIC EQUIPMENT
1. Travelling cage (since now choose the size that will fit him when is grown up)
2. Two steel bowls (make sure the on for the water has a large base to avoid it from upset)
3. One nylon leash like those used for expositions (avoid those in leather or the chest-leashes)
4. A steel comb with double teeth (the teeth should be closer on one side than the other)
5. A package of the food suggested by the vet or the breeder
