Questions to ask yourself

1.  Why do you want a dog?

2. Why have you chosen this breed?

3. Who is responsible for the dog's care?

4. Do you have the time to meet the demanding needs of the puppy/dog for feeding, training, and exercise?

5. Are there any children? If so, how old are they? How would they be instructed in the care of the dog?

6. How many household members? Is everyone committed to a dog joining your household?

7. What is your attitude toward training and obedience?

8. Does anyone in the household have allergies?

9. Are you committed to the grooming and health maintenance?

10. How often is someone at home? How long would a dog spend time alone?

11. Will you have time to walk and play with the dog? Daily?

12. Are you aware of the costs involved in veterinary care, dog health insurance, buying quality dog food, boarding the dog when away,  etc?

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When taking your puppy home, remember to bring for the journey:

• a comfortable dog carrier or large cat carrier.

• a cosy blanket

• Puppy training pads

• water for longer journeys

Your new puppy will probably be nervous being taken away from their litter and environment for the first time. Here are some tips to help them relax: 

• Try to keep them in a quiet environment

• Settle your puppy in a carrier

• If the puppy is nervous, don't let children or adults handle the puppy too much

• Make sure they have enough space and fresh air

• If the puppy shows signs of distress, sit quietly and comfort them

• Make sure you give your puppy comfort breaks and take spare bedding - puppies are inclined to wee when nervous or excited

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The first day with your new puppy

To begin with, your puppy will sleep lots during the day - interspersed with eating, going to the toilet, playtime and cuddles. Make sure your puppy has a nice, warm bed in a quiet space to sleep.
 

The first night with your puppy

This will be the first time your puppy has been away from their mum and siblings, so they may feel a bit anxious when the lights go out and the house becomes quiet at bedtime. Your puppy will sleep better if they know you are close by, so it may be better to have your puppy sleep in your room to begin with in a crate or pen. 
 

What to expect with your new puppy

Here’s three things that often take new puppy owners by surprise:

• Toilet training takes time. Most puppies won’t be fully toilet trained until they are about six months old. Be prepared for lots of accidents. 

• Puppies don’t sleep through the night. Puppies need to be trained to sleep at night. Be prepared for a period of sleep deprivation with your new puppy.

• All puppies bite. Biting is normal puppy behaviour during teething, play, exploration and even to soothe themselves to sleep. Your job will be to teach them how to be gentle with their mouth. 

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Annual Vaccinations

Vaccination is the quickest and best way to protect your dog from preventable diseases. Most of these diseases are caused by viruses, and unfortunately, there is no direct treatment for most viruses that affect dogs today. We all know that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Some of the diseases mentioned below are treatable with supportive medication, but others can be fatal. these diseases can be prevented, or the clinical signs minimized, by a simple vaccination.

1. Distemper: a viral infection that has symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory and neurological disease. It can be fatal.

2. Infectious canine hepatitis: causes severe damage to the liver and kidneys. It can be fatal, however it is now rare due to vaccinations.

3. Parvovirus: a viral infection that causes painful and severe diarrhea and vomiting leading to dehydration, with over 25% of cases proving fatal. It mostly affects puppies although adult dogs can be infected. It is highly contagious.

4. Para-Influenza: a respiratory virus that is a component of kennel cough. Vaccination reduces the likelihood of contracting this infection, and reduces the severity of the illness.

5. Leptospirosis: the canine equivalent of Weil’s Disease. A bacterial infection that can cause liver and kidney failure. It can be caught from swimming in or drinking from water exposed to rat’s urine e.g. canals, puddles and stagnant water.