Caring For Our Puppies
After an early retirement due to health hiccups, I’ve become a full-time “pawent” to our adorable fur babies. The human kiddos have spread their wings to forge their own path in the world, allowing me the time to enjoy my passions: dogs, gardening, and photography, all from the comfort of my home. Full-time home life means I can love and care for our dogs and their pups, day or night, but truth be known, they are really looking after me! They are my inspiration to get up on the bad days but are also happy to snuggle up on my duvet days.
Whelping
Whelping is such a beautiful experience! Our ladies give birth in our bedroom and remain there until their pups are ready to face the world. The first few days are critical, as their lives hang in the balance. We keep a watchful eye around the clock to ensure that mom doesn’t accidentally lie on top of her precious puppies whilst they are so fragile.
Primary Socialisation
Once the pups’ peepers pop open, it’s time for mom to take a breather, so off to the nursery they go.
As the puppies start to frolic, requiring more stimulation than a few toys in a play pen they’re free to mingle with our extended four legged family. As we much prefer to be outdoors than in, our puppies are given the opportunity to explore the outside world in our gardens when the weather’s a thumbs-up, with mom and siblings as their adventure buddies.
We let mom decide when to wean her puppies. They nibble on dry kibble as their needle sharp baby teeth emerge, but they’re mama’s milk fans till about ten weeks or more. When mom’s had enough of baby fangs, she swaps her nurse maid hat for a playmate cap, schooling her pups in the fine art of playful self-defense—a puppy’s crash course in social skills.
Health Check & Vaccinations
As the pups bid farewell to milk and hello to kibble, they’re still shielded by mom’s antibodies. But as they hit the 10-week mark, it’s showtime for their first health check, microchip, and the mighty DHP vaccine, guarding them against the troublesome trio: Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvo. They’ll also brave their first Leptospirosis shot.
Opting for a 10-week vaccination rendezvous instead of 8 weeks means just one primary DHP jab is enough, sparing them the extra poke and stress. They’ll circle back for their second Leptospirosis shot within a month. The DHP booster? They can skip that for three whole years, while the Lepto booster becomes an annual affair.
Puppy Adoption
I play matchmaker with the pups and their new families, judging if they’re ready to spread their paws on a case-by-case basis. Our pint-sized mimi puppies hang with us for a full twelve3 to sixteen weeks, but the bigger furballs can trot off to their new families just 48 hours post-second Lepto vaccination twelve weeks. We’re all for family visits – the more, the merrier, before the big puppy move-in day!
Puppy Collection Day
When you come to pick up your new furry friend, remember to pack clean towels, wet wipes, and kitchen roll – car rides can be a messy adventure for a first-time puppy traveler!
You’ll receive a Eukanuba Puppy pack which includes their puppy food, a cosy blanket or basket infused with the comforting scent of their mum and siblings, their vaccination history, pedigree copy, and details about your complimentary four-week insurance with Pet Plan and five weeks with Agria.
To our eager “Pawents,” please stick to the agreed pick-up time. Your excitement is contagious, but we’ve got to spruce up your pup, sort out the paperwork, and juggle our daily tasks before you arrive. If you’re early, Crieff boasts plenty of cafes perfect for a pre-puppy caffeine & cake fix!
Deworming
We keep our puppies worm-free with Drontal Puppy Suspension every two weeks. After they hit the twelve-week mark, we mix up their munchies with some natural goodies that double as parasite bouncers. Pumpkin seeds pack a punch with cucurbitacin, an amino acid that tells worms to ‘bug off’. Carrots aren’t just for seeing in the dark; they also do a great tummy scrub, clearing out unwanted squatters. And let’s not forget the rest of the anti-parasite squad: turmeric, coconut in all its forms, and more.
Parasite Prevention
Yorkshire Terriers are known for their sensitive skin, so we bathe our puppies with an organic medicated flea shampoo and coat spray to guard against biting parasites. Prescribed chemical ingestible chews containing pesticides are avoided due to the potential for medication intolerance, which may lead to severe side effects such as seizures, vomiting, and even death.
Grooming & Daily Care
From the get-go, our puppies are well-acquainted with the spa treatment. Yorkshire Terrier coats are more hair than fur, much like our own locks, and they gracefully lose strands without a seasonal fur-storm.
To keep your pup’s coat shiny and chic, a daily ten-minute brushing session to detangle is a must. Add a weekly bubble bath to the mix to tackle grease, grime, and the occasional ‘oops’ moment, ensuring your furry friend stays dapper and itch-free.
Period Of Adjustment
Introducing a puppy to your home is like a furry little whirlwind of change that usually settles down after a few days.
It’s wise to pick a sleeping spot for your pup and stick to it. If you’re cool with a bed buddy, throw down a waterproof blanket. If you’re more the ‘my space, your crate’ type, set up their den in your bedroom or elsewhere. To ease their solo slumber, try an old-school ticking clock for a heartbeat lullaby, the snuggle blanket we gave you, or a piece of clothing that smells like you—it’s like a cuddle in fabric form.
Toilet Training
After a cozy night in the crate, your puppy and their siblings are let out first thing in the morning for a potty break, with the last outing around 11pm.
Remember, your puppy is like a furry alarm clock that goes off with a tinkle—always ready to pee right after waking up! It’s best to scoop them up as soon as they stir; otherwise, they might just christen your carpet on their way to the door.
Skip the puppy pads—indoor potty breaks can turn into a stubborn habit, especially for small breeds who’ve unfairly gained a rep for being potty training rebels. Their bladders are just fine, size-wise, compared to larger breeds.
Post-mealtime is prime poop time for your pup, so be ready for a quick dash outside. Shower them with praise and a cheerful “potty” to celebrate their success. Spot your pup doing the sniff-and-circle dance? A loud clap can snap them out of it, giving you time to whisk them outside. Your unwavering commitment is the secret recipe to potty training triumph.
Harness & Exercise
We recommend you take your puppy with you to choose and fit a harness that is well adjusted to your puppy. We do not recommend collars and leads as the neck of the puppy is very small and vulnerable.
Your garden will provide more than sufficient space to exercise your puppy for the first few days or weeks, however they can go out for walks as soon as you take them home as they are fully vaccinated.
Small breeds are an ideal choice for people with restricted mobility like myself as they adapt very well to life at home with a garden, it’s also ideal when weather is wet, frozen and hazardous.
Feeding
Our puppies enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet with constant access to food and water, which is crucial for the tiny ones to avoid hypoglycemia. If you can’t let them graze due to another dog’s schedule, hand-feed them snacks between meals. Fresh cooked chicken is great for protein and calcium, but skip the salty store-bought kind.
For their delicate tummies, stick with the dry food we’ve given you. Thinking of switching brands? Check out www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk first and switch slowly to avoid tummy troubles. Dry food is the way to go to keep those puppy teeth decay-free.
Feel free to jazz up their meals with cooked chicken, rice, sweet potatoes, and veggies, but one at a time, please. Raw bones are the toothbrushes of the dog world, keeping those pearly whites clean. But remember, cooked bones are a no-no—they’re like edible splinters waiting to wreak havoc inside.
Support
Should you ever need advice, no query is too small, feel free to reach out. We are always here to lend an ear and tackle any questions that come our way.