How to care for your new puppy

For the first 72 hours plan to get acquainted; you and your new baby need time. Keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. Limit taking them around other dogs (outside your home) until their vaccinations are complete.

Your puppy has been on a strict vaccination and worming program. You will be given a record of this and instructions on further health needs. Give the copy of the Medical Record (sent with your puppy) to your vet when you go for your first visit. They will put you on a plan that works best for you and your pet.

We recommend feeding your new pup puppy food, because they need the extra protein and vitamins. Any quality puppy food of your choice is fine. We use Purina Puppy Chow Large Breed Puppy Food.

If your puppy doesn't eat the food dry, add a couple spoons full of canned puppy food to the dry food. You may also try adding water to soak the food and make it soft and easier to eat. This also helps with puppies that like to make a mess with their dry food.  They are less likely to play with it. We recommend Pedigree puppy or any canned Iams canned food. Your vet may recommend another quality food.

Remember that your puppy is a baby. They need to be warm and may get sick if chilled. Great Pyrenees were bred to be livestock protectors. (But we all love a good fluffy hug and lots of cuddles from our Pyres!) If you have your pup outside give it something to snuggle in, like straw, cedar wood chips and/or an old blanket with the wood chips.

When it is really cold you could put up a heat lamp over his/her bed where your pup cannot reach it to make you feel better about the weather, however, I have made warm places for my Pyres to snuggle in when it is cold, only to find they were more comfortable out in the cold with their thick fur as a 'wool' coat! As they grow, these dogs will pace back and forth on long winter's nights protecting the yard from predators; they thrive in cold weather! (But I make a warm place for them anyway on the off chance they change their mind!)

If you have your pup indoors and use a crate, you can put a blanket or heating pad under half of his/her crate on low, if chilly. You can also buy a pet heating pad that adjusts to your puppy's body temperature. Remember that a cold draft can be puppy's worst enemy. Please be mindful of the temperature in your home, or the conditions outside in your pups surroundings. Just be sure to not let your pup get overheated!!!

It is very important that your puppy get fresh water and food at least twice a day, 4 smaller meals until 6 months of age. It is crucial to note if your puppy doesn't eat and drink enough, you need to consult your veterinarian, as waiting even 1 day can be fatal with puppies. 

Some puppies need more or less, so you will have to be the judge of that. However, overfeeding is just as bad as underfeeding your puppy. If unsure, ask your vet. If your puppy is small for her breed and he/she becomes a picky eater after arriving home, you can try, temporarily, the following foods to encourage them to eat:

• Gerber baby meat sticks
• Lunchmeat such as Braunschweiger, turkey, roast beef, etc.
• Chicken cooked (remove the skin first)
• Any meat baby food
• Any canned puppy food

 Think of how much growing a child does in the first 15 years of life.  That's how much growth a puppy will experience in her first year! The puppy needs a "complete and balanced" diet.  Puppies require higher percents of protein and a tighter calcium-phosphorus ratio.  Usually a commercial dog food labeled for puppies gives the puppy the best shot at the right diet.  Look for a brand that is listed for either puppies or "all life stages", which includes puppies.

MEALTIME: Your puppy is ready for dry food. You may choose to soften with milk or water.  You may also choose canned food.  We have been feeding your puppy a 27% Protein Puppy food, mixed with milk or water to soften, from about 4 weeks until about 7 weeks, then we serve dry puppy food.  The mother starts weening her puppies herself, which we prefer, so that around 7 weeks the puppy is weaned. 

Feeding Schedule: Scheduled Meals vs. Free-choice  

Scheduled meals: means feeding your puppy meals, and removing the bowl after about 15 minutes.

Advantages- Scheduled eliminating and weight control.

Disadvantages- can predispose to food and air gulping and bloat in some dogs.

Feed 3 to 4 times daily until puppy is 6 months old, then twice daily until puppy is a year old.  Young puppies need food every 8 hours.

Free choice feeding: means always keeping food in the bowl. It's best to wait till after puppies first year for this type of feeding. This works with a dry food diet.

Advantages- puppy paces herself; may decrease gulping; no schedule to maintain. Disadvantages- excessive weight gain in some dogs.

Large dogs have big appetites.  Feed puppy according to package directions.  We feed our dogs twice daily, morning and evening, dividing the daily ration. Puppies until 6 months of age, should eat 3 or 4 times daily.

TABOO FOODS

Don't feed to dogs: chocolate, grapes and raisins, coffee, tea, alcohol, onions, garlic, bird and fish bones, macadamia nuts, xylitol: in many sugar free foods, raw eggs: the whites may decrease absorption of B vitamin Biotin.

HOUSE TRAINING:  If you want you Pyr in the house the crate tops the list.  It is an indispensable housebreaking tool that will save your floors and carpets.  You might try newspaper or kitty litter and box for starters.  We use both from about 7 weeks on.  Around 8 weeks puppy starts forming location preferences for elimination. The maximum time between eliminations is give-or-take one hour for each month of age: Example, 3 mon-3 hours.  At 8 weeks- puppies urinate hourly, and defecate 4 times daily.  At 6 months-puppies urinate 3 or 4 times daily, defecate 1 or 2 times daily.  At 8 or 9 months-puppies can go 8 to 10 hours without soiling.

For a 2 or 3 month puppy, offer meals at least 3 times a day and take bowl away after about 15 minutes.  Puppy's gastrocolic reflex, will stimulate defecation within 15 or 20 minutes after its meal.  So be ready to take puppy out.  Each day bring puppy outside to potty, 6 to 8 times.  Consistency is the key to housebreaking. When to take puppy out: first thing in the morning, after naps, 15 to 20 minutes after eating, after drinking a lot, following play or exercise, right before your bedtime, puppies under 10 weeks: once at night, and anytime the puppy indicates the need.

** Make sure you keep potty time positive with praise and treats. When your pup goes potty outside immediately give praise followed by a treat!  

POTTYPADS OR PAPER OR LITTER TRAINING:  Puppy learns to potty on paper each day, reduce the size of covered area, and overtime move towards door, then outside if you wish.  The advantage of this type of training is it takes less pressure. Same concept, if your pup goes potty on the paper or in the litter give immediate praise and a treat!  

VACCINATIONS:  The core vaccines that every puppy should have are: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus. The last 3 are usually given in a shot combo that also includes parainfluenza. The rabies vaccine is administered between 3-6 months of age, then boosted one year later and every 1-3 years after that. You will need to see your vet for this shot. 

The DA-2PPV is given every 2-4 weeks, from 8-16 weeks of age. Your puppy will be current on all vaccinations, its medical record will indicate to you and your vet, what shots he has had and what shots he may need, depending on age.  Keep puppies away from other dogs until a few weeks after administration of first 2 DA-2PPV boosters, around 12 weeks.  The puppy gets its first vaccination at 8 weeks, then 12 weeks, and then 16 weeks.  Make sure your puppy gets all its vaccinations, so it will be fully protected from these diseases.

WORMING: Your puppy comes to you with all its worming information.  We worm puppies at 2 weeks with Duravet for 2 days, at 4 weeks with Panacure for 3 days, and at 6 weeks with Duravet for 2 days. Then at 9 and 12 weeks if it is still with us.  Please see your vet for further worming information after you receive your new puppy. Worming is very important for puppies!!!

Poison Control for Dogs: 24 hr. hotline 888-426-4435

Things you will need for your new puppy

1. Food and water bowls

2. Puppy food

3. Collar and leash

4. Bedding or straw for sleep area

5. Grooming tools

6. Toys of all kinds

7. Raw hides and/or Pig ears

8. Dog shampoo- Do not use flea shampoo on puppies under 12 weeks old.



Tips for a happy puppy

1. Set your puppy up on a schedule

Choose a time for feeding, potty training and play that best fits your family. Your puppy may whimper or cry at night at first. Provide him/her with a warm blanket, soft toy and a dim light. Remember, don't let your puppy do things now that you don't want him/her to do later.

2. Puppy proof your home or outdoor pen

Check around your home or outdoor pen for dangerous things your puppy could get into. Electric wires, loose fence wire, open doors or gates, choking hazards such as bones smaller than a walnut, balconies, medicines etc.

3. Prepare your family by explaining the schedule and rules for the puppy

Having the families help will make training your new puppy easier. If everyone works together your new puppy will be trained well for life! Also doing things different each time a different family member takes care of your new puppy will be VERY confusing.

4. Make your puppy feel at home

Allow your puppy to sleep with an article of your clothing, preferably something you've worn and that smells like you. This way, your puppy will become familiar with your scent and will feel more comfortable in his/her new environment. Spend lots of time with your pup so he/she gets used to you.

5. Groom your puppy once a week

Good grooming habits start early. Regular brushing and bathing will keep your puppy feeling clean and fresh. Great Pyrenees have long thick fur. A strong durable brush will work fine for grooming your pup. I also use a large comb to keep our Pyrs tails in check. Great Pyrenees have two layers of fur; the bottom layer is thick and wooly and the top is long and wirey. The wirey hair is actually self cleaning and doesn't require much work, just a weekly brush. They also have soft fur on their feet, behind their ears and on the backs of their thighs. That needs most of the attention when you groom your pup as it does have the tendency to get knotty!  

6. Checklist for Feeding

Provide food for his/her stage of life. Have fresh water available. Serve the food at room temperature. Watch your puppy's weight. Feed nutritious snacks. Do not allow the children to tease the puppy while eating. Never give stale food to your puppy. Don't change your puppy's diet suddenly. Don't allow your puppy to have brittle bones like chicken and pork. Follow the food label for increasing/decreasing the amount of food needed. If you change you Puppies food brand, mix a little bit of the old food with the new food for about a week so she gets used to the new food. If you just go into the new brand of food and stop the old brand cold turkey, your pup will end up with a messed up stomach which could lead to vomit or diarrhea. 

We hope this information helps!

God Bless!!