Tons Of Questions!!

[JuBee_&_BoBa]

TODAY IS THE DAY!

I get my baby shih tzu today woOhOo! I'm so excited. With that in mind I have a few questions!!!

1) The trip to go home from the breeder's is approximately 15-20 minutes long. Should I put the dog on my lap? Should I bring the crate with me?

2) The Breeder had told me that she already brought the puppy for his 'second round' of shots. What do those usually include - what are the next shots I should get, and the time frame on when I should get those shots. I've asked the breeder for all copies of paperwork regarding vet visits, shots, etc.. so I'll be able to give you all more details.

3) This might be a dumb question but is it okay to have music played at the house, and have a lot of people socialize with the puppy? I don't know if loud music will be a problem for him or if he'll get shocked with the music and the people. I don't want him to get freaked out at his first day home.

4) About the food - I'm getting Innova for him, but will the change in his food be okay? He's so used to eating what the breeder's have given him so I am scared that he might not eat.

Thanks for everyone's times to answer these questions. Just want to make sure I am super perpared!

Thanks!

 

[bubbatd]

If you're driving ... no lap !!! If you're holding ... bring towels. Change food slowly !!! Breeder should give you health updates e.g. shots. Depending on age .... not too much LOUD music or people !!! Congrates and good luck !!

 

[oc_spirit]

1) That''s up to you. If you are the driver then you should deffinately not have the puppy in your lap however if you are a passenger then it is your choice whetehr to have the puppy in your lap or in the crate. I brought OC home in my lap since he was already feeling lonely from being seperated from his littermates. Just be watchful for car sickness. Luckily I didnt have to go through that but a lot of puppies get it.

2) That depends on who the vet is and what is required for your area. Sometimes a puppy shot is nothing more than rabies and heartworm, other time it includes distemper, leptospirosis and others. Once you have found out what your puppy has already recieved you can go to your vet and ask if your puppy requires anything else.

At 7 weeks OC got Distemper, Hepatitis (CAV-2), Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Coronavirus

At 11 weeks het got all the same minus the Coronavirus

At 15 weeks he got all the same as at 11 weeks plus Rabies and Bordetella

At 1 year he got all the same as at 15 weeks and that continues yearly.

3) It''s actually a good idea to have music playing if you are gone for the house because absolute silence can be deafening to a dog (just like it can for humans too and other animals) so your pup may start making noises just so it has something to hear (barking, howling, whining etc). Bu kep the volume down and the style of music to something soft and melodic. I would avoid anybody coming to the house for the first week. Keep things calm and just let your puppy adjust to his new home and bond to you. After the first week have people start coming over only 1-3 at a time in order to start your puppy''s socialization. You can have more people over when the puppy becomes used to just a few people being there (if he displays confidence and outgoingness then you know he''s ready for more people). Never let a whole bunch of people swamp him especially little kids. Everyone needs to stay calm and just let the puppy go up to them at his own pace. If they smother him he could become frightened and turn fear aggressive, timid, and shy around strangers.

4) I would get a small bag of whatever the breeder is currently feeding. Feed that for the first week while the puppy is him and then slowly over the course of the second week start mixing in the Innova, changing to rations to having more Innova each day. So the first day would be 1 part innova 6 parts old food then 2 parts innova and 5 parts old food then 3 parts innova and 4 parts old food then 4 parts innova and 3 parts old food then 5 parts innova and 2 parts old food then 6 parts innova and 1 part old food and finally all innova

Good luck with everything!! I''m sure you will do very well with your new puppy. If you have any questions feel free to ask!

 

[jdthepug]

Before and After Getting Your Puppy by Ian Dunbar is fantabulous, run out and buy it imo, EVERY puppy owner should have it or should have read it at least once.

It will have "guidelines" on socializing, teaching bite inhibition, etc. Dunbar is awesome Also good reads:
http://clickersolutions.com/articles/index.htm#puppy