When raising our puppies we follow... 6 Rule
By the time a puppy is 10 weeks old, it should have:
1. Been on 6 different surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel,
woodchips, etc…
2. Played with 6 different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard
items, metal items, wooden items, milk jugs, etc…
3. Been in 6 different locations: yard, house, car, garage, crate, kennel, barn, cottage, senior home, vet office, school, etc....
4. Met and played with 6 different people: include children and older adults.
5. Been exposed to 6 challenges: gone through a tunnel, been in a vehicle for a drive, climb steps, gone swimming, gone for a boat ride, climbed over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out a doorway with a step up or down, run around a fence...
6. Played or been exposed to 6 different animals: cats, horses, cows, chickens, other types of dogs both small and large, birds, fish, etc...
These are all things I believe create a well rounded puppy.
By the time a puppy is 10 weeks old, it should have:
1. Been on 6 different surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel,
woodchips, etc…
2. Played with 6 different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard
items, metal items, wooden items, milk jugs, etc…
3. Been in 6 different locations: yard, house, car, garage, crate, kennel, barn, cottage, senior home, vet office, school, etc....
4. Met and played with 6 different people: include children and older adults.
5. Been exposed to 6 challenges: gone through a tunnel, been in a vehicle for a drive, climb steps, gone swimming, gone for a boat ride, climbed over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out a doorway with a step up or down, run around a fence...
6. Played or been exposed to 6 different animals: cats, horses, cows, chickens, other types of dogs both small and large, birds, fish, etc...
These are all things I believe create a well rounded puppy.
Puppy Care Information
Finding a quality puppy can be a daunting task. To find the right dog from a reputable breeder will take time and homework on your part. Remember, you are purchasing a member of the family that will hopefully be with you for the next
15 years. If this is the first time you are buying a puppy or it has been a long time since you had a puppy – we are here to help. We would like to share helpful tips, tricks and information to assist you in raising your puppy.
Prior To Bringing Your New Puppy Home
PUPPY FEEDING SCHEDULE:
1/2 cup to 1 cup dry puppy food 2 to 4 times a day. Springer puppies usually eat small amounts during the day. The amount will vary as they adjust to your schedule and their new home. Don’t be alarmed if you find that your puppy isn’t eating for the first 24 hours, this is from our experience fairly common. If concerned, soak a bit of puppy food in water till it is soft and try feeding your puppy. At the next meal back to dry only. Remove food after a time (apprx. 20 minutes) if it hasn't been consumed.
Water should be available at all times, but removed 2 hours before bed time.
TYPES OF FOODS
When choosing your new puppy food, we recommend talking to your vet. Better quality, such as premium brands, have better digestibility, which translates to less waste. They will need to eat less and be fuller longer. Dry food will help with your puppy’s need to chew, as well as help control plaque. Please avoid giving table scraps or people food as this is not healthy for your new family member.
*Please note: We feed our puppies Kirkland Puppy, (Costco Brand) puppy food or Pro Plan Puppy. It is highly rated on nutritional value websites and the puppies like it.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS
Your puppy may experience some stress and behave differently than what you remembered in our home. The first few nights he may cry in the night when left alone. Give him a toy or treat, play the radio but it's best if you let him cry, after 10 minutes he will likely settle down and go to sleep. All Avonview Kennel puppies are crate trained once they are old enough. A crate is the safety place for a puppy to sleep in at night.
POTTY TRAINING
The training will go a lot quicker when you establish a routine for the puppy from the beginning. Take the puppy either outdoors or to a puppy pad immediately after they awake or come out of their crate. Allow them some time to go. After each feeding take the puppy to your desired location. Remember to give them time to get used to this. Puppies usually will eliminate within 20 minutes after a meal. Before bedtime or crating, remember to take the puppy to their pad or outdoors. If using the outdoors, try adding a bell, or something similar, to your door that the puppy can use to alert you to his needs. Again establish a routine, the stricter you are to that routine, the faster your puppy will be trained. If your puppy has an accident please do not rub their nose in it, as they do not understand your gesture, as many may believe. Please have patience with your puppy. Tip: To speed up the training process only use the front or back door (pick one) when letting the puppy out. Once he understands the routine, he will simply sit in front of that door to let you know he is ready to go out.
TEETHING
Every puppy will go through a teething stage, which means for a few weeks they will bite and chew on every thing that will make the uncomfortable feeling in their mouth go away. The best thing to get through this stage is to provide your puppy with lots of different chew toys. Soft toys and blankets will feel good on their gums, other times they love to chew on something hard like a rope or a squeaky toy. Dollar stores actually offer a wide variety of puppy toys.
BATHING
The skin of a puppy is different than our skin. That is the reason why you shouldn’t bathe your puppy too often. Usually ONCE A MONTH is enough. If you bathe your puppy too often its skin may dry out. We recommend you use either puppy/dog shampoo or tear free baby shampoo. Try to keep the inside of the ears dry as well as its face (eyes/nose/mouth). If your puppy gets wet/dirty due to wet weather you don’t necessarily have to bathe them. Towel dry your pup first, especially the paws and if you have a crate or use a laundry room, you can put them there for a bit till they are dry. Brush them up a bit afterwards they will look good as new.
BRUSHING & GROOMING
All puppies and dogs need to be brushed. Bring your puppy to a pet store and they will tell you what type of brush to use. We recommend you brush your puppy every day. That way you don’t have to spend so much time on brushing and it will keep a lot of hair off the floor.
PARASITES, WORMS, FLEAS, TICKS, MITES…
Even in the best of conditions, most puppies will have intestinal parasites. That is why all our puppies have had two different dewormers. Please understand that your puppy can pick up any of them by just walking once around the block. When you are at the vet talk to them about these critters and they will give you lots of options to choice from to eliminate any problems that could arise.
KEEP THE EARS CLEAN
Springers have long beautiful ears, that if not taken care of can get infected. Clean your puppies ears ever week or more often if the dog is in the water alot. Keeping his/her ears clean will prevent ear infections, ear mites, and a host of other potential problems. An average vet bill for treating ears runs between $60 - $120, you can avoid that all together by keeping the ears clean.
Some Things to Consider
Most cities require dogs to be registered by 4 months of age, but may vary. Please check out your city licensing information for exact ages. You may be able to register your dog at various pet stores, as well as online.
Choose your vet carefully. Vet costs will vary depending on your location. Ask other family members or friends about their vets, call around, and do your research. A quality vet does not need to cost you a fortune!
Your first vet visit: bring a stool sample from your puppy to your vet.
Your puppy’s next vaccination will generally be due about 4 weeks after the last one on the record. **There are 3 needles due before you puppy is fully vaccinated. Please keep your puppy off public grass and park areas until they are fully vaccinated! This is extremely important for young puppies. Once they are fully vaccinated, they will have booster shots due once a year. Please contact your vet for full details.
PUPPY STARTER CHECKLIST
[ ] Food/water dishes
[ ] Puppy Food (ask your vet what is recommended)
[ ] Leash and Collar
[ ] Blanket and/or Puppy Pillow
[ ] Various chew toys such as ropes, soft safe plush, plastic dog toys, etc.
[ ] Crate (optional, but definitely recommended)
[ ] Puppy Pee Pads (if you want your puppy to end up eliminating outside, do not use pee pads)
Finding a quality puppy can be a daunting task. To find the right dog from a reputable breeder will take time and homework on your part. Remember, you are purchasing a member of the family that will hopefully be with you for the next
15 years. If this is the first time you are buying a puppy or it has been a long time since you had a puppy – we are here to help. We would like to share helpful tips, tricks and information to assist you in raising your puppy.
Prior To Bringing Your New Puppy Home
- Puppy-proofed your home and eliminate possible trouble spots. Get down to his eye level so that you may see what and where his eyes and nose will draw him to investigate.
- Discuss and define puppy rules that ultimately reflect how you want your dog to behave both in the home and when out in public. Good social skills and manners are learned not inherited.
- Carefully consider how you are going to follow through on potty training your puppy. Don't forget to plan on how your puppy is going to relieve himself when you are going to be away from home during the work day or for extended duties or appointments.
- Create a Training Plan. Formal Obedience Classes are of great benefit to both owner and dog. Training methods have evolved and changed greatly in the last few years.
- Research what dog related opportunities and activities are in your area. There is a whole new world to discover with plenty of fun Dog Sports to consider joining. Agility Trials, Field Trials, Tracking Tests, Rally Obedience, Standard Obedience and Conformation Showing are just a few of the activities available to all purebred dogs and their families
PUPPY FEEDING SCHEDULE:
1/2 cup to 1 cup dry puppy food 2 to 4 times a day. Springer puppies usually eat small amounts during the day. The amount will vary as they adjust to your schedule and their new home. Don’t be alarmed if you find that your puppy isn’t eating for the first 24 hours, this is from our experience fairly common. If concerned, soak a bit of puppy food in water till it is soft and try feeding your puppy. At the next meal back to dry only. Remove food after a time (apprx. 20 minutes) if it hasn't been consumed.
Water should be available at all times, but removed 2 hours before bed time.
TYPES OF FOODS
When choosing your new puppy food, we recommend talking to your vet. Better quality, such as premium brands, have better digestibility, which translates to less waste. They will need to eat less and be fuller longer. Dry food will help with your puppy’s need to chew, as well as help control plaque. Please avoid giving table scraps or people food as this is not healthy for your new family member.
*Please note: We feed our puppies Kirkland Puppy, (Costco Brand) puppy food or Pro Plan Puppy. It is highly rated on nutritional value websites and the puppies like it.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS
Your puppy may experience some stress and behave differently than what you remembered in our home. The first few nights he may cry in the night when left alone. Give him a toy or treat, play the radio but it's best if you let him cry, after 10 minutes he will likely settle down and go to sleep. All Avonview Kennel puppies are crate trained once they are old enough. A crate is the safety place for a puppy to sleep in at night.
POTTY TRAINING
The training will go a lot quicker when you establish a routine for the puppy from the beginning. Take the puppy either outdoors or to a puppy pad immediately after they awake or come out of their crate. Allow them some time to go. After each feeding take the puppy to your desired location. Remember to give them time to get used to this. Puppies usually will eliminate within 20 minutes after a meal. Before bedtime or crating, remember to take the puppy to their pad or outdoors. If using the outdoors, try adding a bell, or something similar, to your door that the puppy can use to alert you to his needs. Again establish a routine, the stricter you are to that routine, the faster your puppy will be trained. If your puppy has an accident please do not rub their nose in it, as they do not understand your gesture, as many may believe. Please have patience with your puppy. Tip: To speed up the training process only use the front or back door (pick one) when letting the puppy out. Once he understands the routine, he will simply sit in front of that door to let you know he is ready to go out.
TEETHING
Every puppy will go through a teething stage, which means for a few weeks they will bite and chew on every thing that will make the uncomfortable feeling in their mouth go away. The best thing to get through this stage is to provide your puppy with lots of different chew toys. Soft toys and blankets will feel good on their gums, other times they love to chew on something hard like a rope or a squeaky toy. Dollar stores actually offer a wide variety of puppy toys.
BATHING
The skin of a puppy is different than our skin. That is the reason why you shouldn’t bathe your puppy too often. Usually ONCE A MONTH is enough. If you bathe your puppy too often its skin may dry out. We recommend you use either puppy/dog shampoo or tear free baby shampoo. Try to keep the inside of the ears dry as well as its face (eyes/nose/mouth). If your puppy gets wet/dirty due to wet weather you don’t necessarily have to bathe them. Towel dry your pup first, especially the paws and if you have a crate or use a laundry room, you can put them there for a bit till they are dry. Brush them up a bit afterwards they will look good as new.
BRUSHING & GROOMING
All puppies and dogs need to be brushed. Bring your puppy to a pet store and they will tell you what type of brush to use. We recommend you brush your puppy every day. That way you don’t have to spend so much time on brushing and it will keep a lot of hair off the floor.
PARASITES, WORMS, FLEAS, TICKS, MITES…
Even in the best of conditions, most puppies will have intestinal parasites. That is why all our puppies have had two different dewormers. Please understand that your puppy can pick up any of them by just walking once around the block. When you are at the vet talk to them about these critters and they will give you lots of options to choice from to eliminate any problems that could arise.
KEEP THE EARS CLEAN
Springers have long beautiful ears, that if not taken care of can get infected. Clean your puppies ears ever week or more often if the dog is in the water alot. Keeping his/her ears clean will prevent ear infections, ear mites, and a host of other potential problems. An average vet bill for treating ears runs between $60 - $120, you can avoid that all together by keeping the ears clean.
Some Things to Consider
Most cities require dogs to be registered by 4 months of age, but may vary. Please check out your city licensing information for exact ages. You may be able to register your dog at various pet stores, as well as online.
Choose your vet carefully. Vet costs will vary depending on your location. Ask other family members or friends about their vets, call around, and do your research. A quality vet does not need to cost you a fortune!
Your first vet visit: bring a stool sample from your puppy to your vet.
Your puppy’s next vaccination will generally be due about 4 weeks after the last one on the record. **There are 3 needles due before you puppy is fully vaccinated. Please keep your puppy off public grass and park areas until they are fully vaccinated! This is extremely important for young puppies. Once they are fully vaccinated, they will have booster shots due once a year. Please contact your vet for full details.
PUPPY STARTER CHECKLIST
[ ] Food/water dishes
[ ] Puppy Food (ask your vet what is recommended)
[ ] Leash and Collar
[ ] Blanket and/or Puppy Pillow
[ ] Various chew toys such as ropes, soft safe plush, plastic dog toys, etc.
[ ] Crate (optional, but definitely recommended)
[ ] Puppy Pee Pads (if you want your puppy to end up eliminating outside, do not use pee pads)