DO'S & DON'TS
NO "NATURAL" SNACKS MADE IN CHINA
-Natural snacks are always best
Oranges, bananas, apples, most any fruit in small amounts. (see
“don’ts”)
-Raw bones (never cooked as they will splinter)
Broccoli, carrots, green beans
-Chew hooves (in moderation), but they can splinter with
age so never give them to your dog when you are not there. They are also rich in protein so too much can upset your puppy's tummy. They smell like a barnyard, but will keep your dog’s teeth clean.
DON’TS
NO CHEW TOYS MADE IN CHINA
-No Rawhide * No Budda Bones * No Velvet Bones * No Greenies
-No chewies from the pet store is safest. The above toys can swell in the stomach and kill your dog.
-No grapes or raisins; they are toxic to dogs
*NEVER*NEVER*NEVER* take your dog outside without a leash. Another dog could harm your dog. Or something could frighten it and it could run into traffic. It is always best to slip the leash over your wrist so it is easily grabbed in an emergency. If using a flexi lead, keep your attention on your dog and be ready to push the button or reel him in to you. Practice using your flexi at home before using it on a walk. Always reel your dog in when approaching another dog. Even better, pick your dog up. You never know what the other dog may do even if it is wagging its tail. Ask the owner, if present, if the dog is friendly with other dogs.
WARNING: It has come to my attention that some Chins may have a penchant for metal objects. Pennies are especially poisonous if made in 1982 and thereafter. Zinc was added to the copper at that time and will lead to zinc poinsoning causing liver failure and death.
*Feed 1/4 C puppy food – 3 times daily. Add a small amount of warm water to make the food more easily digested. When puppy is about 6 mo. it will lose interest in that mid-day meal so start feeding morning and night 1/4C ea. time. Keep feeding the same amount throughout the lifetime of the dog. As your dog ages or is spuetered switch to a "light" food or senior food. Feed puppy food until 7 months of age then go to adult small bites. Feeding a high quality food will keep your dog from shedding other than seasonally. A quality food has the proper amount of Omegas to keep the skin from getting dry. Some foods I recommend are Nature's Recipe, Blue Wolf, Innova, Cannidae or Biljac foods. The best I have found, however is Taste Of The Wild. Neither company imports any of the ingredients so have never been part of a recall. These foods can be found in a pet store or feed store.
*Please have your pet spayed or neutered around 7 mo. This should not make the puppy gain weight if it continues to get exercise and eat the proper amount I recommended. IF this should happen, feed just a little less dry food and add raw green beans to the diet. This is a roughage food and will fill the dog up without making her/him overweight. Use it as a snack or mixed in with the food. Dogs love green beans. You may want to start now using green beans as a snack for the puppy in case it does become necessary later on. If you don’t start giving your dog fattening snacks they will never crave them. Use raw veggies and most fruits instead of doggie cookies.
FIRST NIGHT AT HOME
*When you get your puppy home do not allow him free run of the house right away. This is too overwhelming for a young puppy. Confine him to a kitchen with his wee wee pad so he learns where to eliminate. Once he is comfortable and using it all the time then give him more roaming space. It’s okay to take him into the living room or family room for play time, but keep a wee wee pad close by at all times.
If you are training your puppy to eliminate outside, make sure to CARRY him out, wait until he goes potty, then CARRY him back in. Carrying him lets him know what he went out for. If you allow him to play after he eliminates he will not get the idea that “outside” is where he goes potty. Take him from his crate right to the yard and keep repeating “go potty” every few minutes so he learns the command. This is very convenient when traveling and you need to stop for a potty break. He will learn to potty on command.
At bedtime the first night, put his crate beside your bed so he knows he is not alone. I give you a stuffed toy with the scent of his mother and siblings on it. Please put this in his crate so he feels at home. If he whines during the night put your hand at the door of the crate and try shushing him. If he persists he has to go potty. Take him to his pad or outside right away. Then back into the crate. My puppies sleep in a crate in their play pen with their mom and siblings so they are not opposed to being confined. It’s just that first night alone they may whine a little. Just make soothing sounds and the pup will go to sleep knowing you are there and smelling his toy.
I am happy to help with anything I can so you and your new puppy have a happy experience. The whole purpose of buying from a breeder is so you have guidance when needed. Don’t be a stranger. I love hearing about my kids and seeing pictures too.
