Tashi Tibetan Terriers

BRINGING PUPPY HOME

Supplies and Equipment

Dog crate

Bed

Tip-proof stainless steel or hard plastic food and water dishes.
(Stainless steel water buckets and food dished with crate hooks work well.)

Puppy collar and lead. I use the soft, braided nylon kind

Grooming supplies

Dry puppy food

Bitter Apple, a safe spray-on product used to discourage chewing

Baby gates

Newpapers or puppy training pads

A book on puppy care and training

Puppy proof the area where the puppy will be kept. Pay particular attention to plants that could be poisonous and electrical cords. Puppy needs to be restricted to one area until he has been trained.

Keep puppy on a schedule. It makes housetraining easier when meals, exercise and playtime are on a regular schedule.

Make sure his crate is not isolated from the rest of the family. He is going to want to be near his family.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian for a complete checkup within 72 hours of purchasing your puppy.

BATHING AND GROOMING

Your puppy will need little grooming until he is about 6 months of age, but during those first few months you will need to get him used to being bathed, brushed and having his nails trimmed. Bathe every week or two with puppy shampoo or baby shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and apply conditioner. Cure Care is good and is sold by the gallon at Sally’s Beauty Supply. Rinse thoroughly again. A shower head with a hose is a big help when washing puppy in the tub. Let him shake and dry his face and then wrap him in a towel. Take him to the place you will use for drying and brushing him. Any place is fine as long as you put a non-slip material on it.. You will need a hair dryer and a good pin brush without little knobs on the ends. Brush as you dry and make sure he is totally dry. Mats will form in a damp coat. Never dry without brushing and never brush a dry coat. For brushing between baths, use a spray bottle filled with a mixture of conditioner in water. I find a grinder like a Dremel Tool works much better on the nails than a clipper. The puppy doesn’t mind quite so much and you rarely have a nail bleed. When puppy reaches around 9 months he will “blow” his puppy coat and his adult coat will start coming in. During this time you will need to groom much more often as mats seem to reappear as soon as you’ve brushed them out.

PICKING UP YOUR NEW PUPPY

Bring a carrier with a blanket and towels. Puppy will probably not ride in the carrier, however. It works best to have someone along who can cuddle the puppy on the ride home. You will receive some water and food that the puppy is used to. Gradually introduce your water and food to avoid upsets. After a potty stop, allow the puppy to explore his new home and show him his food and water dishes.

Never pick up your puppy by the scruff of the neck and do not allow children to play rough with him. Also, remember puppy teeth are like needles and they use their mouth to learn about things, just like babies. Be careful when playing with him and teach him he’s not allowed to grab you with his teeth. Carry your puppy from his crate to the place you want him to potty and keep him away from stairs until he has learned how to go up and down. Always treat your puppy with kindness and give him all your love and as much attention as possible. He will need it, especially in the beginning, and he will return it with interest.

35 Chili Ave., Scottsville, NY 14546