Puppy Care For Sheet
Please note this care for sheet is giving to a puppies and cats sold though us. Some information below will note be benefit for you as is it for puppies sold though us.
In line with our "Pampered Petz Hornsby Health Guarantee & Sale Commitment", all new pets bought from us must be booked in & taken with all their paperwork, to one of the following vets within 72 hours for their health check (paid by us). At these vets only, free health cover is provided in case of emergency during working hours for the first ten days (see the below EMERGENCY PROCEDURE). Please take the time to go through this entire guide. There is some very important information for the wellbeing of your new pet, & please pay special attention to the Emergency Procedure.
Be prepared for your new pet to become a little stressed while it settles in to its new environment. It may be away from its friends & littermates for the first time, & will need uninterrupted sleep periods, for up to 80% of the day. If they do not get enough sleep, they can become ill. To avoid jealously if you have another older animal, you should: feed & sleep them apart, give your older pet more attention than normal, & introduce them slowly.
- Puppies will stress less if they know they have their own snug, insulated bed. Though it is debatable, we feel if you do not have an older dog, for the first few nights your new pet's bed should be kept right next to one of the family member's beds. Those that are locked away by themselves can fret, stress severely & whine. If your new pet does wake up during the night, a comforting pat is usually enough to get them back to sleep. If this does not work try popping them in your bed for a little while, until they fall asleep again. Do not worry, you can always move the new pet out to another room of the house after a few days, once they are fully used to their new surroundings. A heating pad or hot water bottle will make it much more bearable for your new pet's first night.
- A companion fluffy toy (ideally with your new pet's litter mates smell on it), put in your new pet's bed at night, is a very important component of avoiding separation stress.
- Vinyl toys (supervised & remove them if they get torn), latex toys, rope bones, Kongs, Treat Balls, are all excellent for keeping your new pet entertained, chewing & not destroying your house.
- You need a selection of suitable treats available as rewards for housebreaking, behavioral training, etc. Nathura biscuits (being made from fresh whole ingredients & naturally preserved) & Liver Treats are the best for training. Roo Chews, Pigs Ears, Pigs Trotters, Porky Chews & Lamb Chews are excellent, being natural, encourage good chewing habits & will keep them entertained for long periods.
- Stainless steel bowls are great as they are dishwasher safe & hygienic. Ceramic bowls should be used for water (or food), as they are hard to knock over, & keep water cool. Auto-feeders for food & water are great & only have to be filled every few days or weeks.
- Scented housebreaking pads are great when it comes to toilet training, & housebreaker drops can be placed directly on newspaper or outside. These aids should roughly be used for 3 weeks, & over week 4 the pads can be moved slowly towards the door, & then outside. Puppies are most likely to want to go to the toilet after eating, drinking, or waking, so take them to the pads as many times as possible during the day, & give lots of high-pitched praise & a suitable treat when they go. Just ignore it if they have gone in the wrong spot.
- Stain & odour removers are required if they do have accidents on the carpet, tiles or wood. If your new pet has gone on the carpet, pour on direct, leave for a few minutes, & then soak up with tissues (do not scrub). For solid floors, make up with water & mop. These products are essential while housebreaking, because unless the odour is removed, your new pet will return to where it has had previous accidents. Do not use normal ammonia smelling cleansers.
- Puppy shampoo & conditioners are gentle to sensitive skin & eyes (human shampoos have a different pH level). Only wash your new pet about monthly, otherwise you will strip the coat of natural oils, may increase itching problems & stimulate doggy smells.
- Ask us what is a Zoom Groom or a Slicker Brush, & what the most suitable comb is. Grooming should be started early, to get them used to it. All puppies & adult dogs require regular brushing, & long or medium haired puppies will also need regular clipping.
- Ear cleaner drops or wipes should be used as required, usually weekly or monthly. Applied sparingly with a cotton ball or tissue to the outer ear, will remove wax, ear mites, & dry the ear canal (especially important for long-haired or long-eared breeds). Ensure you use the cleaner to wipe away & out, do not drip cleaner in to the ear.
- Tear stain remover should be used on lighter coloured dogs as often as required.
- Nail clippers are used after bathing, because the claws soften up.
- A collar & id-tag should be left on your new pet at all times. Ask us which combination of lead, retractable lead or harnesses would be suited to your new pet.
- Carry crates are handy to transport your new pet home, to the vet or on vacation safely.
- For any puppies that are going to be outside a lot of the time, the ultimate in quality kennels is the Pet Barn: flea proof, hose-able, & nitrogen insulated (3 times better than wood).
- You can use bitter sprays & gels to discourage indiscriminate chewing.
- Pet Loos are fantastic for any indoor puppies/dogs which do not have ready access to grass.
- Worm your puppy with Topitran or Drontal (1 tablet/10kg) for roundworm, tapeworm, hookworm, etc, regularly at around eight weeks, ten weeks, twelve weeks, then at four months, five months & six months, & then once every three months after that. Expect loose droppings for 24 hours, & if you see worms in droppings do not panic, but worm again in 2 days.
- Unless you are using Advocate or Revolution, we recommend Pro-Heart or Heartguard monthly heartworm prevention.
- Your new pet should be vaccinated at around 8 weeks (we have done at least this one for all our puppies), 12 weeks & 16 weeks (depending which vaccination schedule you dog has received - you must ask the vet), & then annually. Puppies should not be allowed near unknown dogs until at least after the 12 weeks (unfortunately this means no trips to the park). You should definitely de-sex your new pet at around 6 months to avoid unwanted litters for females, & behavioral issues for males.
- Advantage (fleas), Advantix (fleas & ticks), Advocate (fleas, heartworm, some intestinal worms), Frontline (fleas & ticks - if used fortnightly), Revolution (fleas, heartworm, ear mites) or Sentinel (depending on the new pet's age - fleas, heartworm, ear mites, ticks, some intestinal worms), which are squirted on the back of the neck monthly. Do not use these products for at least 48 hours after washing the puppy, & then do not wash them for another 3 days after using product. It is much easier to prevent fleas & parasites at the puppy stage, than to try & remove infestations on your puppy (& in your house), later on.
- Earthborn, Evo, Innova Puppy, Science Diet & California Natural are what we use & highly recommend diet wise. These premium foods: are completely balanced, lead to less doggy smells & much smaller droppings, are loaded with vitamins & calcium, are preserved naturally, & are ideal for all puppies. For feeding tips see the "Puppy Feeding Guide." Calcium is not required these days, if kept on these premium foods.
- Puppy classes are an extremely good idea, & the earlier they start, the better. If you want a puppy that does not bark, growl, bite, jump up, & is house broken, you must get them trained. It is very simple & will make you & your new puppy's life, much easier. We highly recommend our vet's puppy classes or "Dog Tech" (1300-650739).
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE:
PLEASE READ VERY CLOSELY & FOLLOW EXACTLY:
If within the ten days of the health guarantee your new pet has a medical emergency in normal working hours, please ring immediately the above working hours phone numbers & describe the situation to one of our vets.
If the medical emergency is outside normal working hours, please ring immediately on the above emergency phone numbers only. You will be charged a nominal $88 after-hours fee (only), so we very much encourage you to react quickly within working hours, if your puppy shows any signs of ill health.
IF OUT OF NORMAL WORKING HOURS, ONLY RING THE ABOVE EMERGENCY NUMBERS. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE INSTRUCTIONS DESIGNED FOR OUR VET'S GENERAL (NON-PAMPERED PETZ HORNSBY) CUSTOMERS ON THEIR AFTER-HOURS MESSAGES. THE ONES THEY RECOMMEND ARE NOT "OUR" VETS.
EVEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, WE WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY VETS USED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, OTHER THAN OURS. EVEN IF YOU LIVE A LONG DISTANCE FROM OUR VETS, OR IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AFTER HOURS, WE STILL DO NOT COVER TREATMENT AT ANY OTHERS.
IF YOU DO GO TO ANOTHER VET AT ANY TIME, PLEASE UNDERSTAND YOU WILL HAVE TO COVER THE FULL BILL YOURSELF.
Ring our store immediately if you have any questions. If something happens out of working hours, get in contact with our vets, but please ring us first thing when we open the next day.
FEEDING GUIDE:
VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY.
It is important you feed your new pet exactly what it has been eating in our shop. Either (cans or dry) EARTHBORN PUPPY VANTAGE is completely balanced foods. We feed all our animals these because being the best quality on the market, they: lead to less smells (at both ends), result in less clean up being necessary (smaller droppings), are made from human quality ingredients, are loaded with vitamins & calcium, are preserved naturally, & are ideal for all kittens & puppies. Puppy dry foods are literally the best in the world, & it is worth a little effort at this stage to introduce good eating habits, which are going to hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives.
As these premium quality foods are so high in calories, over-feeding can cause diarrhea. IT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN FEEDING THAT ANY FOOD NOT EATEN AFTER THIRTY MINUTES ALWAYS BE REMOVED. If you leave food down for long periods, your new pet will become forever fussy (not something you want). Most should be fed for 30 minutes 3-4 times daily until at least 6 months, then for 30 minutes 2-3 times daily until a year, & then for 30 minutes once or twice daily.
If your new pet is eating the dry food adequately by itself, leave them simply on this premium dry food forever.
ARE THEY NOT EATING ENOUGH?
VERY IMPORTANT! WILL VOID YOUR HEALTH GUARANTEE IF NOT FOLLOWED EXACTLY:
If your new pet is not eating the dry/can mix well, you can substitute a higher number of smaller meals of (try them in this order): cooked white chicken meat, cooked or raw beef or chicken mince, common canned foods, or rice & mashed vegetables. Because they (especially little breeds) do not have any fat reserves, their sugar levels can drop very quickly & very dangerously, if they do not eat regularly. The first few days in a new home can be very stressful for them, & the first thing a stressed puppy or kitten does is stop eating. Contact the shop if your new pet is not eating well. Give no milk at all, it will cause diarrhea.
De-Sexing:
Deciding whether or not to desex your puppy can be a difficult decision. Desexing your dog can help to prevent the increasing number of unwanted dogs put down every year in Australia.
- Can lead to better overall health and a longer life. Unless there is a specific reason otherwise, it's always the responsible choice to desex your pet.
- Spaying females reduces the chances of developing breast cancer, as well as helping to eliminate the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, all of which are common in females that are not desexed.
- Neutering a male dog will prevent testicular tumours and may reduce the risk of prostate problems. It decreases the possibility of perianal tumours and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unneutered dogs. Also reduces the aggressive impulses of your dog, removing the likelihood of injury due to fighting. Neutered males are also less likely to mark their territory or try to "mate"with objects or people.
For male dogs, the operation involves removal of both testicles. For Female, the removal of the womb and ovaries.
For more information consult your vet.
NOTIFICATION FROM LOCAL COUNCIL:
If within 8 weeks of purchase, you have not received a confirmation from your local council of the ownership of your new pet being transferred from our name to yours, you must ring them immediately with your microchip number. Otherwise your new pet is still officially owned by us.
"COOLING OFF" PERIOD:
Under NSW law, puppies can be returned within 3 days (strictly 3 only), please acknowledge the following conditions:
- Option 1 - 50% of the puppies purchase price is refunded (by direct debit – we do not refund products).
- Option 2 - 100% of the puppies purchase price (no products) is transferred to an in-store credit note.
- Any unopened or un-used products can be returned for an in-store credit note (but not a refund).
IMPORTANT BENEFITS OF BUYING YOUR NEW PET FROM Pampered Petz Hornsby:
- As middle-men between breeders and our customers, we can offer what most breeders cannot. All our puppies and kittens: pass a vet check before sale, and a free documented vet check after sale, are wormed, are vaccinated, are micro-chipped (so they can never be anonymously "dumped"), come with a written health guarantee (you should never buy without one), receive free vet coverage, and most importantly come with a cooling-off period.
- Our store is a great interim period between leaving a breeder, & going to a new home. Allowing them to socialise with others, get used to being handled by different adults and kids, & get over any separation anxiety.
- You can leave the dealing with breeders to us, as unlike most of our customers, we: can assess for health, are aware of breed characteristics, and can negotiate fair prices. Also, because we have a wide range of pure breeds and designer crosses, we can match your situation with the correct type of puppy, never having to promote one particular breed.
- People who have chosen to work in pet stores are true animal lovers, as they have forgone other opportunities to work with animals. You can have unlimited access to these highly trained, animal obsessed staff (and our vets) during the settling in period. We aim to educate our customers on all the good and bad aspects and the enormous obligation involved, in buying a pet. As leaders in the pet industry, our store is very much in the public eye, allowing scrutiny of our animals and our procedures. We strongly encourage you bring children in as often as you like to get them used to animals and check for any aversions or allergies, before you consider committing to one.
- Breeders often have to get you to choose their puppies at 3-6 weeks of age, and leave a deposit. In our stores the puppies are older (normally 8-16 weeks), so the personality can be assessed to a much greater degree and matched to your families particular requirements.
DO NOT LET YOUR PUPPY GET FAT:
It is very important you do not let your new pet get too fat while it is growing, or later in life. This however, is especially important: (1) If you have chosen a larger breed of dog, many of which are much more prone to hip dysplasia problems. Especially: Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, Malamutes & Pointers. (2) If the new pet you have chosen has been diagnosed with a "luxating patella" (slightly loose knee cap - this is very common in smaller breeds). To help decrease the risk of any problems, you should not overfeed or over-exercise your new pet when he or she is still growing. Also keep them on a quality, high calcium "puppy diet" . Any questions you have about the kneecap(s) or hips, feel free to run past our vet when you go for your free vet check.
One further point to please understand when buying one of our puppies is that we only sell pets, without any pedigree or registration papers, & we were not in attendance at the time this pet's parents were mated. As a result, although we buy & sell them from our breeders in good faith, we cannot genetically guarantee the breeding (or cross breeding) & they may not grow true to form.
The above information is only meant as a guide, and you should not hesitate to contact our helpful staff if you have any concerns. Info above does not replace your vet advice.