Congratulations! You're a new pet owner. Obtaining a puppy can be an overwhelming event, just like getting a new baby. Your home should be puppy proofed, he/she needs special food, and then there's house breaking. We're enclosing a dog care guide in the packet of materials being shipped with the puppy. There are several good suggestions on caring for your new pet. There are also numerous puppy care articles on our Pet Connect web page under the link "Free Puppy Care Information." Your vet or pet groomer is another good source of information. Please don't hesitate to call or email us if you have questions.
Your puppy will be bathed prior to shipping; however, we can't guarantee what condition he or she will be after traveling in a travel crate. I use baby shampoo because it's gentle on puppy's eyes and skin. Make sure to blow dry its hair immediately so puppy won't chill. If you brush the hair forward and up, it will be extra fluffy. Your puppy's nails will also be clipped with a pet nail trimmer. You can use toe nail clippers in the future.
We're including a sample of puppy food, which he/she should be eating well. Small breeds like Shih Tzus and Yorkies may take longer to get their teeth all the way in. If the puppy has any trouble, add a little bit of warm water to soften it, or you can grind some in the blender. We'll include a sample of ground food only if necessary. We personally use Iams Eukanuba puppy food in our kennel. Switching to any high quality puppy food should not affect your puppy's health, but you should be consistent with your puppy's diet. The puppy care guide you'll receive from us with the puppy includes nutritional information.
Your puppy will soon be teething, so make sure to provide teething toys with the puppy's play things. We're providing a milk bone and/or jerky strip and play toy in the travel crate. As with any play toy, please check to make sure it is still safe for puppy after it's been chewed on awhile. Remove items that can be a choking hazard.
You should call your vet to schedule an appointment for within one week of your puppy's arrival. The puppy papers you'll receive indicate his medical record: vaccinations, dewormer, preventative medicines, etc. The vet visit is necessary to validate your health guarantee and should also roughly correspond with the puppy's vaccination update. Your puppy has already been checked by a vet at least twice. The health certificate indicates that we are sending a healthy puppy. However, be prepared for your puppy to possibly show signs of stress upon arrival. It is normal for a puppy to react to a change of environment and routine. In addition, some dogs, just like people, do not travel well. All these stress factors may cause the following: motion sickness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy (tired), and other symptoms. If puppy is not better within 24hrs please call us.
In fact, please call us (417-592-3318) if you have questions about your puppy's health prior to your first scheduled vet visit. Our guarantee does not cover vet fees or medications, but we may be able to recommend home remedies based on years of experience and consultation with our vet.
I hope you enjoy this new member of the family and that the puppy is happy in his new home.
Kind regards,
Pet Connect Online
For in-depth articles for potential new dog breeders, click here:
For more information about puppy and dog care, see these links from the IAMS dog food company:
Bringing Your Puppy Home
Fencing Options
Children and Pets
Feeding Your Puppy
Understanding Labels
What Premium Foods Provide
Grooming Basics
Tips for Housetraining Puppies
Crate Training
Taking Care of Your Puppy's Health
Spaying and Neutering
Chewing: Puppies and Dogs
Puppy Nutrition for Small Breeds
Puppy Nutrition for Medium Breeds
Large-Breeds
Practical Nutrition for Large-Breed Puppies
Puppies: Basic Obedience
Puppies: Teaching Good Manners
Lawn Alert
Our Large Breed Puppy Formulas
Pets and Weather
Printable vaccination record