POST SIX WEEK VISIT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Now that you’ve chosen the puppy that will change both of your lives forever, let’s make sure you’re starting out on the right ‘paw’, for all of you!!

1. The all-important crate.  It will become your puppy’s haven, den, safe place, night time and nap apartment.  Their little place that they can call their own.  Chewy.com has a grand assortment and so you know, you’ll need an 18 X 24 crate, single or double door matters not.  Point is, don’t pay retail, going to one of the pet stores will cost you upwards of $80!!  Don’t do it, simply go to petflow.com and order the ‘Midwest Life Stages Double Door Dog Crate’, in the picture you’ll see it has a BLUE tag on the door, that’s the one, right now running $29.99.  Congratulations!  You just saved $50!!

2. Next, you may want to consider a playpen, perfect when puppies are small, you need a place to put them so they don’t get hurt, or underfoot, and I promise you, they will.  Same thing, go to chewy.com, order the ‘Frisco 4-Panel Exercise Plastic Pen, White.  They’re running $32.99 now, subject to change.  Congratulations!!!  You now have a place to safely keep your baby puppy while you take care of other things, simply put a blanket, and a toy or something, you may find them fast asleep while you’re doing other things and you’ve saved money, know how?  By ordering these two items, your bill is over $49, and qualifies for FREE SHIPPING!!!  Yippee Skippee!!!

Had you gone to the retail store, you’d have spent over $80, and no playpen.  Plus now, you can order it; and it is delivered to your door!!! 

But wait, there’s more!!  They’re used to eating and drinking out of a stainless steel bowl, guess what, they’re available from chewy.com, get the TWO CUP size, they wash up easily in the dishwasher and they have what they’re used to, not having to get used to a new bowl and such.  When they’re little and young like this, consistency is key, keep it simple, don’t change a lot and your little one is much happier.  Since you’re over the $49 order requirement for free shipping, order the dishes, some toys from NYLABONE or KONG, just make certain they have no stuffing or squeakers!!  They can and will get stuck in the little one’s throat, or worse, they’re gut.  Think safety first with these little guys, they’re depending on you!!  These toys that you get, go ahead get several, give them say two each day, the next day, give them two different one, you’ll wash the other ones in between times, and while wet, place them in the freezer, will feel great on their teething gums, and it offers them variety in play things.  One order, free shipping, how great is that? 

Puppy is going home with a 5 pound bag of the food they’re eating, made by FROMM.  You’ll be feeding this to them for their FIRST YEAR!!!  You’ll be transitioning them over to FROMM ADULT in the black bag with gold lettering.   FROMM is not available through chewy.

While you’re waiting for your little one to be able to go home, make a few preparations!!  Start puppy proofing your home, they can and will chew on ANYTHING!!!  Best to have something for them to chew on other than your $200 shoes, or expensive furniture, trust me, they won’t know the difference, ok? 

Get yourself a good veterinarian, one you either know now, or will learn to trust, remember that vet may one day save your little ones life!!  Go visit their office, ask if they’re familiar with Cavaliers, you’ll be surprised how many are NOT!!  Find one that is, simple as that.

Don’t just go to any groomer, check them out.  Find a good local and trusted groomer, weekly brushing helps to keep down on the shedding, (yes, they shed) also keeps down the knots in their fur.  Use a soft bristle slicker brush, also available on either chewy or petflow.com. 

Remember, they’ll have two sets of shots when they go home, they’ll be microchipped all you have to do is register the chip in your name, about $26, onetime fee.  

They’ll have a State of Florida health certificate going home. Most importantly, you have us.  Our numbers and emails are on the business card, USE THEM!!!  You may think your problem is too trivial, but understand that if it is a concern to you, it will be a concern for us as well, so call us, better safe than sorry.   

When they go home, they’ll eat 1/3 of a cup of kibble three times a day, when they reach 4 months of age, change to 2/3 cup of FROMM puppy kibble TWICE a day. 

You have a three day ‘window of opportunity’ with TRUPANION pet insurance.  The day before, the day of and the day after you take your puppy home, you can sign up for a 30 day complimentary pet insurance coverage, NO CHARGE, comes with a $500 deductible, premiums are very reasonable and you can decide your deductible, which determines your premium.  We’ll send you home with a certificate authorizing your complimentary 30 days, keeping it after the complimentary 30 days is entirely up to you, the first year of a puppy’s life is critical, they’re still growing and developing and prone to illnesses and injuries and those vet bills add up. Nuff said, right?  

We were honored to be interviewed for this book.  This is a very well written book by Jordan Honeycutt and is available through AMAZON.  A kindle edition is also available.  As breeders, experiencing the various aspects of raising Cavaliers,  experience with the breed, conferring with our breeder friends, and of course, trial and error is part of the experience.  Cavaliers are a wonderful breed for young and old alike, they are gentle, smart, and seem to have the soul of a child.   We were honored to be a small contributor to this book and encourage all of our Cavalier parents to acquire a copy of this book for yourselves.  As always, not every instance is covered, but we leave ourselves always open for a phone call or email with a concern about your little one, no matter the age, no matter if you adopted from us or someone else.  Enjoy the read, we did.  

Not All Veterinarians are Created Equal

Veterinarians, like doctors, should be a good fit for both doctor and (four-legged) patient. If your puppy is scared of your veterinarian before his first shot, you might consider trying a different vet for your puppy. Before choosing a veterinarian, it is always a good idea to check reviews and references of the hospital, be sure to verify that the veterinarian can meet the needs of your dog. Additionally, you should make sure that the vet you choose provides all the services you want from them or can provide a reference for things like rehabilitative care, nail trims or dental services, and alternative care. It’s important to know what your vet will provide.

WARNING!!!  DO NOT GIVE THE LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE TO YOUR CAVALIER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.  IT IS DANGEROUS.  IT CAN CAUSE SEIZURES.  IT CAN CAUSE INCREDIBLE PAIN.  IT CAN KILL YOUR CAVALIER.  PLEASE HEED THIS WARNING!!!  DO NOT GIVE THE LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE TO YOUR CAVALIER!!!  LOOK UP THE LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE, ALSO KNOW AS LD4, SEE SOME OF THE VIDEOS AND READ ABOUT THE RESULTS OF GIVING A DOG THE LEPTO VACCINE.   CALL US IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE.  TOO MANY DOGS OF ALL TYPES HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE VACCINE.  INTENSE PAIN, VOCALIZATION OF PAIN, SIEZURES, AND SADLY, IN SOME CASES DEATH.  DO NOT GIVE THIS VACCINE.  BE AWARE, THE 'L' IN THE DHLPP COMBINATION BOOSTER, STANDS FOR LEPTO VACCINE, OPT FOR THE VACCINE WITH THE 'L'.  

Consider Pet Health Insurance

Pet health insurance is a growing norm among pet owners- and it’s one that can potentially save you from financial ruin and provide a comforting peace of mind. Before committing to a specific policy, be sure to do your research and make sure the one you select covers the anticipated needs of your dog. Research common health problems for your dog’s breed. Try to find a policy that will cover those conditions and understand anything pre-existing cannot be covered. Additionally, be sure you pay attention to deductibles and caps. A good pet insurance policy will protect you in the long run, as long as it fits the needs of your puppy and budget. You can’t anticipate everything that your puppy will get into, but you can bet that at some point an emergency vet visit may be necessary— that’s when pet health insurance will come in handy.

Riding safely in a car can be a great way, not only for you and your dog to get from Point A to Point B, but to bond and partake in fun adventures together. Let’s talk about safe ways to teach your puppy to ride in a car.

Teaching Your Puppy To Ride In A Car

Safety first. Do not let your dog ride on your lap while you’re driving. If there is an accident, you will not be able to hold onto your dog. And keep your pet away from the airbags. This will likely mean not letting your dog ride on your lap in the front seat. When an airbag deploys many people get injured and that is the same for your dog.

Decide how you want your dog or puppy to travel with you: in a sherpa pet carrier,car seat, crate, or in a safety harness or dog-specific seatbelt. Whatever type of restraint you choose, your pup will need to become familiar with it. Let him investigate it in his own time—don’t rush the process. You don’t want to inadvertently cause him to become fearful of the safety devices.

Start car rides when your dog is a puppy. The sooner you get your puppy accustomed to the car and to riding in it, the better chance you have of your puppy finding it an enjoyable adventure. To begin this process, let puppy explore it while it’s sitting in the driveway. Let puppy sit in the seats, explore the floors, see what the carpet in the hatchback feels like before turning on the car.

Tips: Bring a favorite toy or blanket in the car with you so your dog feels safe and comfortable. Give your puppy a special treat, toy or dog bone that puppy only gets in the car.

Once your puppy has played around inside it a bit, close the doors, turn the radio on a low volume and turn on the vehicle. Let puppy experience what it feels like when the engine is running. If puppy seems okay with that, move back and forth in the driveway to acquaint puppy with the movement of the car before you take a practice trip.

Take frequent trips. If the only trip your dog takes in the vehicle is to the veterinarian’s office, they may equate “car ride” with “scary, loud, other-dog-smelly place” and become nervous.

Get in the habit of taking your dog for a car ride weekly, if possible. Take a quick drive to  a different part of town, where you can explore and take a walk. Take your puppy with you when you go visit friends and family (with ample warning ahead of time). If you don’t have a set location in mind, simply take a drive around the block or go see the sights!

Important Pet Safety Reminders

Make sure your puppy is microchipped and/or wearing a collar. If there is an accident or if you open the door and your puppy somehow escapes from his/her harness and dashes off into unfamiliar terrain, you will want to make certain they are microchipped to help you get them back. If your puppy isn’t microchipped they needs to wear a collar and tags with your contact information.

Carry your pet’s vet records with you. If you’re traveling and are away from your usual veterinarian and your pet needs medical attention you need to have access to his vet records. Ask your vet for a copy of all of your pet’s medical records and keep them with you – in your vehicle or attached to the puppy's crate or carrier. When you’re mapping out your route, make certain you know where the local veterinarian’s offices are in the event of an emergency.

Bring food and water. Traveling can be stressful for your pet no matter how much he likes riding in a car. To alleviate any potential for tummy issues when you arrive at your destination, plan ahead: Pack enough food and water from home. (Even a change in their drinking water can lead to stomach upset.) Don’t forget to bring collapsible bowls! You may not be able to pack enough water for your entire trip, but ease your pets into drinking the water at the new place. Offer him frequent water and potty breaks. Avoid feeding them during the trip, if possible, especially if they’re prone to car sickness.

Prevent sunburn. Just as humans can suffer sunburn while driving in a car, so too, can your pets. Shade your puppy from the rays of the sun as much as possible. Keep the vehicle cool enough, so your puppy doesn’t get overheated. If they’re going to be in the sun, you may want to put sunblock on their skin so they don’t get a sunburn, this is especially necessary for short-haired and white dogs (and cats).

Never leave your puppy alone in the car. In many states, it is illegal to leave a pet alone in a vehicle. In the summer, it can quickly heat up to dangerous levels. Within a matter of minutes, the temperature inside the car can reach levels that are dangerous or even fatal for pets. In the winter, leaving a puppy alone in the car can lead to hypothermia. A puppy left alone in the car could be stolen.

Bottom Line On Driving With Your Dog

Since so many of us consider our pets to be members of the family, we want to include them in our plans—whether it’s a vacation or a trip to the park with the children. With planning, training, and patience, you and your dogs can enjoy road trips cross-country or just across town!