AKC Champion
AKC Champion
​Dogue de Bordeaux Breeder
Your New Puppy
Unless I have already mailed your Puppy Pack - all of your paperwork will arrive With your puppy - be sure and ask your driver for if they don't give it to you! This is your Important paperwork - including your pups Shot Record and AKC Application for Registration. (Unless you are purchasing a "pet" puppy on a spay/neuter contract - in which case your AKC paperwork will be mailed to you after your puppy has been spayed/neutered and we receive documentation from your vet stating this).
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Please don't take your new puppy to the park or any other high dog traffic places until after he/she has had three shots. Even though he/she has had a shot it may not keep him/her form getting some puppy disease....don't let him play in any high risk places (like the rest area on the way home!) or ANY PET STORES! If you are going to attend puppy classes ask and make sure (see proof!) that the other puppies have had their shots.
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Chances are good that the first night your puppy is in his new home, both of you will get little sleep. You can hardly blame your puppy for having difficulty sleeping. Dogs are creatures of habit and routine. Your puppy will miss his mother and litter-mates and will feel uncomfortable in his new surroundings until he forms a bond with you. Like a young child, your puppy has little control over his emotions and even though he may cry, scolding him will do nothing but cause him to fear you. If your puppy cries for you to come to him for the first few nights, your constant appearance, whether to comfort or scold, will only serve to reinforce the fact that he can make you appear with his cries.
It is important that your pup has a safe place to sleep, free from drafts and harm. Many owners have their puppy sleep in an exercise pen, and although this can be a good choice, many puppies settle down quicker and sleep more soundly when they are snug and warm in a crate. Crate training you puppy is the best thing you will ever do for your new dog! Once they get bigger you can even remove the door…they love their space and will happily go there on their own.
If you can't bear to hear your puppy cry throughout the night place his crate next to your bed. There, he will know that you are near, and you can place your fingers into the crate and soothe him if he whines during the night. Most puppies will quickly go to sleep; however, some determined pups might refuse to settle down. If you become very irritated with your pup, place the crate in a separate room in your home and leave the puppy there for the night with a small amount of food and a little water. Never hit your puppy for crying.
Some people choose to allow their pups to sleep in bed with them. Remember that this will quickly become a habit that will be difficult to break later. If you allow you puppy to sleep in bed with you, make sure that this is something you want to continue when the pup is fully-grown. It is easier to train a young pup, than to retrain a grown adult dog. We do NOT recommend allowing this behavior!!
Puppies will get into as much mischief as you allow. They are inherently curious and extremely determined once they have put their mind to something. Your puppy will need a safe place of his own to explore and play during the day when he is not with you. This area should be in a location that is near you so the puppy can observe the household activities going on around him. An easy-to-clean flooring such as vinyl or ceramic tile is a must until he is fully housebroken.
Just as a human child will pick up objects and put them in his mouth, so will a puppy. Be sure that any item that is small enough to choke on, or can be chewed into smaller pieces and swallowed, is out of the puppy's reach. Electrical wires, curtain cords and poisonous houseplants are tempting to little puppies as well. Watch your pup carefully - he's depending on you!
When your pup is outside, he will need a securely fenced yard, shade, and ample water down in a clean contain AT ALL TIMES. Never leave your pup alone outside for long periods of time. He may become too hot or cold, or he may find a way to escape out of the yard. He will also learn bad habits such as barking and digging, and will become lonely and more difficult to train. Your puppy wants to be a member of your family, and the more time you spend with him, the quicker he will become trained. Responsible puppy care begins with you!