Puppy Arrival
Take the time to prepare your home for the new arrival by puppy proofing the areas your puppy will be allowed. This will make the puppy’s transition easier if you are ready for him when he arrives so you can devote your time to loving, cuddling and playing and beginning the training process.
Following are some things you will need for your new puppy before bringing him/her home:
General information and care guidelines for your new puppy…
Your pup should be kept on a routine schedule with time allowed for exercise, napping, cuddling and petting to build a bond between you and your new family member. Crate training is recommended (check Crate Training tab), your pup will bond more readily to you if allowed to sleep in a crate in your bedroom at night. The sound of your breathing and your scent will become reassuring to the puppy in its strange new surroundings. Remember that puppies are babies too and easily injured, especially around small children or other animals. Most of all give your puppy lots of love, gentle petting and attention and remember not to allow your puppy to do anything you wouldn't want a big dog to do. Bad habits are easier to prevent than correct.!
Feed a food approved for each stage of its life, feeding twice daily. If using a puppy food formula, feed twice daily until six months to one year old before transitioning to an adult food. There is no need to supplement this food with canned food. Use a good quality food with a 25% protein/15% fat - 26% protein/14% fat; minimize table scraps and treats. Puppies should not be overly fat or overly thin so adjust the amount of food as needed to maintain a healthy weight as the dog grows. General rule is you should be able to easily feel the ribs beneath the skin, not visibly see them. A fresh water supply should be available at all times. If stomach upset occurs a tablespoon of yogurt will help. You are encouraged to teach your puppy to sit before his/her food is put down.
If you decide to change the food/water you are giving your dog, ALWAYS transition the dog over time, never suddenly switch as this can cause upset stomach or bowels. When traveling always take an ample supply of water along with you and an extra day’s supply of food just in case your trip is delayed. Should you run short of water on your trip purchase bottled spring water. Be sure to keep your dog’s feeding and rest schedule as normal as possible when traveling.
See your vet within 3 days to set up a vaccination schedule and ask your vet for heartworm preventative medication and follow his or her recommendation to maintain the health of your dog.
Your puppy should adapt easily to his/her name if it used consistently and coupled with something pleasant, like a treat or toy.
Socializing is a must with a Chessie; so exposing your puppy to new people of all sizes and new surroundings is highly recommended, such as family, friends and neighbors. Please keep in mind that until your pup has been fully vaccinated it is at risk of exposure to disease so please take care and caution while socializing prior to completing the vaccination schedule. Always remember that your dog will be maturing over the next three to four years and as a baby, child, or teen they need you to protect them from harmful situations and to teach them the meaning of words, body language and right from wrong.
Puppy obedience training in a class room with a qualified trainer is strongly advised to help socialize and train your puppy. Be cautious of trainers who rely on leash corrections, aversive or heavy handed corrections for training of pups or young dogs. Positive reinforcement produces a much more pleasant response and a willingness to learn and earn rewards. Trained in this way your dog will learn to look forward to new activities as an opportunity to earn rewards.
Puppies will chew on anything as they explore their world, so watch them closely to avoid them eating plants, as some are poisonous to dogs. Have several chewable toys, and teach the pup what is OK and not OK to chew on. When caught chewing on something inappropriate a sharp “NO” will usually shock them out of the behavior and then offer an appropriate item to chew and praise them for accepting it. Never leave your dog unattended while chewing on bones or their toys, as the bones can become too small or break apart and they may de-stuff the toys all of which can become a choking hazard.
Puppies should have their nails trimmed regularly, with care taken to avoid cutting the nail to close and causing bleeding and pain. Ears and teeth should be checked on a regular basis. You can brush your dogs teeth to prevent tartar build up, if you do this regularly they will become accustomed to this just being part of the grooming routine. Around 4 months of age the deciduous (puppy teeth) will start to fall out so the adult teeth can come in . If it appears the puppy teeth are not pushed out properly to make room for the adult teeth, see your veterinarian for advice.
Chessie’s have a double coat, a thick dense wooly undercoat and coarser outer coat (topcoat). Care of a Chesapeake coat consists primarily of regular brushing once a week with a natural bristle brush. Do not use metal wire brushes as this will damage the coat by removing the undercoat. The only time to use a metal wire brush or rake is in the spring when the dog is shedding its thick winter coat. A bath will help loosen dead coat to make it easier to brush out. Chessie’s typically do not require frequent bathing. Freshening up can be done with a damp towel rubbed all over the body, if they require a bath I use Dawn original formula, wet your dog down and use a small amount in your hands, rub together and then rub it into your dogs coat, rinse well, allow them to shake and then you can towel off. Do not give too many baths as this can strip the natural oils from their coat that aid in repelling water when they swim.
There are two types of registration: full and limited. The AKC limited registration is intended for pet buyers who are not expected to compete in dog shows or breed their dogs. The limited registration means that your dog is AKC registered, but no offspring of the dog are eligible for registration. The limited registration is reversible to a full registration by authorization of the breeders once the dog has been evaluated by the breeders and determined to be of sound breeding stock. A dog with a Limited registration cannot be entered in breed shows, but can be entered in AKC licensed or member events such as: Obedience, Tracking, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Herding, Lure Coursing, Agility, Rally and Earthdog. The full registration is required to enter dog shows, plus the dog must NOT have been spayed or neutered to compete for a show champion title.
Enjoy and love your new family member when treated well these pups grow into beautiful, loving, loyal and trusted friends that create memories you will cherish for a lifetime!
Following are some things you will need for your new puppy before bringing him/her home:
- Dog crate large enough for your Chessie to stand up and turn around freely. I crate train all of my dogs so you should continue this process. You will need two crates, one for the house and one for your vehicle. Never let a dog ride freely in a moving vehicle, it could be injured or cause you to have an accident.
- Newspapers for bottom of the crate in the beginning in case your puppy has an accident.
- Food dish and water bowl, I use stainless steel as they are much easier to clean and safer for your dog. Make sure your dog always has fresh clean water.
- Puppy food, I send home enough food to get you started so if you decide you are going to feed something other than what I recommend I suggest you slowly switch your puppy's food so you do not cause stomach upset and or diarrhea. Allow at least one week for transition. Start out slowly adding a small amount of the new food to the current food and slowly decrease the current food each day adding more of the new food until you have completely transitioned over.
- Lightweight collar and leash. I use collars on all pups prior to going to their new homes and they have had some exposure to a leash. Lightweight is good for small pups until they get used to wearing their collars and have become accustomed to the leash. (See Leash Training)
- Toys, for example Kong, Frisbee, Tennis Balls, stuffed toys with non-removable eyes or noses (anything you can toss they will like to retrieve) REMEMBER YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SUPERVISE YOUR DOG WHEN PLAYING WITH TOYS AS THEY MAY START TO SHRED AND INGEST THEM.
- Knuckle and or shank bones (fresh raw beef, as others may splinter). Toss out bones that have become jagged or broken. I use fresh bones not cooked. If you use shank bones make sure they are at least 6 inches long so as the pup grows the bone can not get lodged in its mouth. Once all the marrow has been chewed out of a shank bone you can fill it with a yogurt/pumpkin mixture and freeze them. These are a great treat for teething puppies.
- Dog Bed, I don't buy expensive beds while pups are young as they may have an accident on them and also chew on them. I wash them frequently which cause them to wear out quicker than normal.
- Small puppy training biscuits will help in the training process. Puppies learn quickly with rewards and praise.
- Veterinarian, You will also need to find a qualified Vet if you don't already have one. Your puppy will be current on vaccines and dewormings upon arrival and your vet will be able to continue and keep your pup on schedule. It is a good idea to have a backup Vet just in case you are unable to see your regular Vet. Make sure both are aware of all treatments and or medications your pup is on. (Remember your puppy must be seen by your veterinarian within the first 72 hours (3 days) per my contract).
General information and care guidelines for your new puppy…
Your pup should be kept on a routine schedule with time allowed for exercise, napping, cuddling and petting to build a bond between you and your new family member. Crate training is recommended (check Crate Training tab), your pup will bond more readily to you if allowed to sleep in a crate in your bedroom at night. The sound of your breathing and your scent will become reassuring to the puppy in its strange new surroundings. Remember that puppies are babies too and easily injured, especially around small children or other animals. Most of all give your puppy lots of love, gentle petting and attention and remember not to allow your puppy to do anything you wouldn't want a big dog to do. Bad habits are easier to prevent than correct.!
Feed a food approved for each stage of its life, feeding twice daily. If using a puppy food formula, feed twice daily until six months to one year old before transitioning to an adult food. There is no need to supplement this food with canned food. Use a good quality food with a 25% protein/15% fat - 26% protein/14% fat; minimize table scraps and treats. Puppies should not be overly fat or overly thin so adjust the amount of food as needed to maintain a healthy weight as the dog grows. General rule is you should be able to easily feel the ribs beneath the skin, not visibly see them. A fresh water supply should be available at all times. If stomach upset occurs a tablespoon of yogurt will help. You are encouraged to teach your puppy to sit before his/her food is put down.
If you decide to change the food/water you are giving your dog, ALWAYS transition the dog over time, never suddenly switch as this can cause upset stomach or bowels. When traveling always take an ample supply of water along with you and an extra day’s supply of food just in case your trip is delayed. Should you run short of water on your trip purchase bottled spring water. Be sure to keep your dog’s feeding and rest schedule as normal as possible when traveling.
See your vet within 3 days to set up a vaccination schedule and ask your vet for heartworm preventative medication and follow his or her recommendation to maintain the health of your dog.
Your puppy should adapt easily to his/her name if it used consistently and coupled with something pleasant, like a treat or toy.
Socializing is a must with a Chessie; so exposing your puppy to new people of all sizes and new surroundings is highly recommended, such as family, friends and neighbors. Please keep in mind that until your pup has been fully vaccinated it is at risk of exposure to disease so please take care and caution while socializing prior to completing the vaccination schedule. Always remember that your dog will be maturing over the next three to four years and as a baby, child, or teen they need you to protect them from harmful situations and to teach them the meaning of words, body language and right from wrong.
Puppy obedience training in a class room with a qualified trainer is strongly advised to help socialize and train your puppy. Be cautious of trainers who rely on leash corrections, aversive or heavy handed corrections for training of pups or young dogs. Positive reinforcement produces a much more pleasant response and a willingness to learn and earn rewards. Trained in this way your dog will learn to look forward to new activities as an opportunity to earn rewards.
Puppies will chew on anything as they explore their world, so watch them closely to avoid them eating plants, as some are poisonous to dogs. Have several chewable toys, and teach the pup what is OK and not OK to chew on. When caught chewing on something inappropriate a sharp “NO” will usually shock them out of the behavior and then offer an appropriate item to chew and praise them for accepting it. Never leave your dog unattended while chewing on bones or their toys, as the bones can become too small or break apart and they may de-stuff the toys all of which can become a choking hazard.
Puppies should have their nails trimmed regularly, with care taken to avoid cutting the nail to close and causing bleeding and pain. Ears and teeth should be checked on a regular basis. You can brush your dogs teeth to prevent tartar build up, if you do this regularly they will become accustomed to this just being part of the grooming routine. Around 4 months of age the deciduous (puppy teeth) will start to fall out so the adult teeth can come in . If it appears the puppy teeth are not pushed out properly to make room for the adult teeth, see your veterinarian for advice.
Chessie’s have a double coat, a thick dense wooly undercoat and coarser outer coat (topcoat). Care of a Chesapeake coat consists primarily of regular brushing once a week with a natural bristle brush. Do not use metal wire brushes as this will damage the coat by removing the undercoat. The only time to use a metal wire brush or rake is in the spring when the dog is shedding its thick winter coat. A bath will help loosen dead coat to make it easier to brush out. Chessie’s typically do not require frequent bathing. Freshening up can be done with a damp towel rubbed all over the body, if they require a bath I use Dawn original formula, wet your dog down and use a small amount in your hands, rub together and then rub it into your dogs coat, rinse well, allow them to shake and then you can towel off. Do not give too many baths as this can strip the natural oils from their coat that aid in repelling water when they swim.
There are two types of registration: full and limited. The AKC limited registration is intended for pet buyers who are not expected to compete in dog shows or breed their dogs. The limited registration means that your dog is AKC registered, but no offspring of the dog are eligible for registration. The limited registration is reversible to a full registration by authorization of the breeders once the dog has been evaluated by the breeders and determined to be of sound breeding stock. A dog with a Limited registration cannot be entered in breed shows, but can be entered in AKC licensed or member events such as: Obedience, Tracking, Field Trials, Hunting Tests, Herding, Lure Coursing, Agility, Rally and Earthdog. The full registration is required to enter dog shows, plus the dog must NOT have been spayed or neutered to compete for a show champion title.
Enjoy and love your new family member when treated well these pups grow into beautiful, loving, loyal and trusted friends that create memories you will cherish for a lifetime!
