New Pup Welcome

Welcoming Your Puppy Home

"All men by nature desire knowledge."
Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC), Metaphysics

Anticipation builds as the time draws nearer for your new puppy to come home. During the weeks of puppy visits, I advise my clients to plan ahead which helps the new puppy to adapt quicker and easier. If you have all the pets’ basic needs in place you can focus on his/her training and help him/her become more accustomed to his/her new surroundings.

THE THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO BUY BEFORE YOUR PUPPY COMES HOME:

Canine Caviar puppy can food - one case for starters
- Canine Caviar dry puppy food
Isbolac cans (mothers replacement milk, for puppies) about 6 cans, ASK ME WHY
Nutrical, tube of vitamins.
One small crate.
- Exercise pen, 36 x 48 in size (Plastic or metal.)
- Crate liners ( They look like cat beds.)
A ton of wee-wee pads, (Prefer the ones that smell like grass for training purposes.) Natures Own Way
- Newspapers for under lining the pads.
Toys and Chewies, ask Heidi for advise on this one.
Towels
Stainless steel bowls

Do your shopping in advance, at Exotic Paws. You'll need our full-blown puppy package, including a harness and a leash. (The earlier they get used to it the better.) You'll need an exercise pen, and a small crate, Canine Caviar puppy food, Nutrical and Isbolac powdered milk. Your puppy needs a fuzzy brush, a metal comb and a slicker brush. It’s important for your puppy to begin early grooming habits, so I begin training them with daily brushing. Exotic Paws will see that you get everything you need. Grooming is an important daily part of their care. Choosing the best time that is not stressful, but calm and fun helps both you and the puppy. I usually choose a time when I am sitting and watching TV after the puppy has had playtime and is pooped out! It helps to relax him/her.

My daughter Christina has worked in a grooming shop for the last two years. Christina is "Simply the Best", at handling your puppy! She will be working with our new groomer in our new venture "Exotic Paws". Chrissy loves what she does and you will feel secure knowing that your breeder and family is also handling your grooming, and boarding of your new baby!

No appointment is necessary just call Heidi for more information. 516-456-2290. We always go out of our way to accommodate our clients!

And Exotic Paws will make a difference, in your grooming, and shopping experience.

Helpful Hints

Be aware of "Hotspots" (Acute Moist Dermatitis).
Use stainless steel, non-tip food bowls, which won't break or absorb odors.
Toys with parts that squeak or whistle can be dangerous if swallowed.
For a comfortable collar fit, allow for two-fingers of space between the collar and your dog's neck; consider using an an adjustable collar.

You will need easy to clean food and water bowls. I prefer the stainless steel or ceramic as the hard plastic or rubber bowls are more prevalent for germs and bacteria. It’s important to wash the bowls daily with bleach. Your puppy will be water bottle trained also. I find that with the Shih Tzu and their beards it is much easier to bottle train. I use the gerbil water bottles that hang on the side of the crates. This ensures that the water is always clean and that their faces stay cleaner and dryer (helps prevent parasites).

Your puppy will need his own doggie bed and his own small crate. A crate is not only a haven to the little guy/girl but also a wonderful aid in house breaking. You will find that even though a Shih Tzu is a sturdy little dog, he/she is small and there will be a time that he will need to be out of your family traffic. The crate attached to the exercise pen provides this security. All of my Shih-Tzu’s know which crate is theirs at night. When I use the term, “Good Night” they all go to their beds (doors are left open in my house) I hate crate’s but they are necessary …..and wait for their night time treat. I always give treats and you will be surprised how fast this will work for you! Of course I will teach/advise you how to train your new puppy!

Shih Tzu love toys! I have found the small fuzzy one are their favorites. Please remember that the Shih-Tzu are inside house pets. Extreme heat or cold is dangerous to them. You will want the proper diet on hand to meet the nutritional needs of your rapidly growing puppy! I send a care package home with your baby to help you out the first few days and get your on the right road.

No need to buy a sweater or t-shirts, My exotic Shih-Tzu puppies are always sent home designer dressed! There is a great store in Garden City’s Roosevelt Field Mall for dog clothes/dog strollers… ask me about it!

Puppy proofing your home is important. Follow the rule; if it is not safe for small children, then it is not safe for my Shih-Tzu puppies.

HOUSE TRAINING and your new PUPPY!!!! The one thing to remember is that shih-Tzu pups do not have much control until they are 3-4 months old. My puppies are we-we pad trained/paper when they come home to you. When you bring your pup home, if you are going to use paper, show pup where the paper is. When pup just wets on paper, leave it down so pup can find the scent, and go back to the same place. You can not supervise the pup 24/7 and if you are busy, put the pup in the recommended exercise pen or a gated off area.

TRAINING FOR OUTDOORS: Immediately when your pup gets home bring him/her outside. A pup will have to pee or pooh-pooh when first waking up in the morning, so make sure you take him/her outside immediately after waking, don't wait till you've had your coffee or in my case my Coke! Take pup out immediately after eating, also you can tell when a pup has to go as they will stop playing and start looking around. Pups go frequently, (alota pooh-pooh) when they are this young. This will decrease after a time. This training process takes patience and time! If you find a mess on the floor, don't go get the pup and tell pup how bad he/she is! Pup does NOT know what the he/she did wrong! You MUST catch them in the act! When you catch your pup in the "act" a sharp NO, and take immediately outside is sufficient. Never, never, slap your pup nor stick its nose in the "accident"! Or hit with papers…..OMG NOOOOOOO! When your pup has done his/her business where he/she was supposed to, please by all means make a big deal out of it! Praise, Praise, Praise!

Most important is choosing a veterinarian for your new family member before you even bring him home. He will be checked by my vet and also given his first shots and worm medications but I will advise you to take him to the vet within a two day period to insure his health. You can check with me to help you find a very good veterinarian. For my local south shore clients please follow up with East Bay Vet Hospital in Merrick, 516-623-6226. All of my North Shore Clients use Veterinary Center of East Northport - Dr. Kennith Gantt -631-266-6600. Both Veterinarians’ are Simply the Best!

If at all possible, try to pick your puppy up when you will have a long weekend or a few vacation days to spend with him/her. This will give you the time you need to continue to bond and also to acquaint your puppy with their new home and to begin housebreaking and other training. Last but not least please feel free to call me 24/7 as needed to insure your confidence as a new parent! Thanks for trusting me to raise your new child... Heidi.