Safety tips for your new puppy

Puppy Proof the Home and Yard is one way to keep your puppy safe. Remember, once your puppy is weaned, they can’t mix with other dogs or play anywhere other dogs might have been until after their vaccinations. Also, get your puppy a collar and identification tags.

 

 

1. Protecting my puppy if he/she gets lost

Provide your puppy a collar with ID tags for your family member. Your puppy will be microchipping and you will want to register it. You can’t guarantee that your dog won’t ever get out of the house or yard, whether by accident, during a natural disaster, or by theft. His ID tags and microchip could be his only chance of returning home to you.

2. When can I take my puppy out?

This is important. You don’t want your puppy to catch anything. I would wait until after its last DHLPPC shot at 16-17 months to take it out of your house are yard. I would avoid places where other dogs congregate (dog parks, popular dog walks, dog relief areas at rest stops, etc.) but it should be safe walking a pup around the front of your house to let it explore a little after two vaccinations.

With that said, puppies need to be socialized in order to grow up friendly and confident. During your puppy’s first three months of life, he will experience a socialization period that will permanently shape his future personality and how he will react to his environment as an adult dog. Gently exposing him to a wide variety of people, places, and situations now makes a huge, permanent difference in his temperament.

When you buy a puppy from us, the socialization process has already started before you even bring your puppy home. Gentle handling in the first several weeks of your puppy’s life is helpful in the development of a friendly, confident dog. We encourage a positive experience with adults, children and other animals as well, safe inside and outside environments, car rides, crates, sounds, smells, and gentle handling.

3. When should your puppy get their first shots?

To provide your puppy with optimum protection, we give your puppy its first round of vaccinations between six to eight weeks old, as soon as they are weaned.

After the initial round of shots, your puppy should receive a series of vaccines every two to four weeks until they are about 16 weeks of age.

Some people and Vets have slightly different schedules and I wouldn’t let that worry you. Consult with your Vet to find the best vaccination schedule for you and your puppy.

DHLPPC: Protects your dog against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvo and corona.

First vaccination: 6 – 8 weeks

Second vaccination: 9 – 11 weeks

Third vaccination: 12 – 14 weeks

Fourth vaccination: 16 weeks

Booster shots: Every 12 months

 

Bordetella: Protection against kennel cough.

First vaccination: 14 weeks

Booster shots: Every 6 – 12 months

 

Rabies: Keeps your pet safe from the deadly rabies virus.

First vaccination: 16 weeks (varies by state)

Booster shots: Every 12 – 36 months

 

Lyme: Helps to prevent Lyme disease in pets.

First vaccination: 14 weeks

Second vaccination: 17 weeks

Booster shots: Every 12 months

4. Puppy proof your home and yard

  • Unplug electrical cords, move them out of reach, or string them through cord concealers. These chewing hazards can cause burns to the mouth or electrical shock.
  • Avoid feeding food from the table. Pups may look adorable as they beg for food, but many human foods are not good for them. Pay special attention to sugarless gum, chocolate, raisins, and other foods that are especially poisonous to dogs.
  • Keep cleaning supplies in high cabinets or secured behind doors with childproof latches. When using them, make sure that the puppy is kept out of the area, so he won’t be affected by the vapors given off by chemicals.
  • Put all medications away. Avoid keeping medications, even in pill bottles or dispensers, on low tables, bathroom counters, or night tables, where the puppy can easily get to them.
  • Keep toilet lids closed, so the puppy won’t drink out of the toilet or fall in.
  • Keep doors and windows closed at all times, so the puppy can’t escape or fall out, and secure the cords that raise blinds, so they won’t get caught around the puppy’s neck.
  • Put away small items that are choking hazards — such as coins, paper clips, rubber bands, and jewelry — to prevent the puppy from choking on them.
  • Keep all sharp objects out of your dog’s reach. This includes knives, scissors, razors, and tools.
  • Secure trashcans. Puppies are attracted to the smells coming from garbage, which can upset their tummies or even be poisonous and at least make a mess!
  • Move poisonous houseplants, so the puppy can’t eat them or eat dirt.
  • When you take your puppy outside, you need to take precautions there, too. Your backyard is going to be your puppy’s playground (and bathroom), so it’s important that it is also clear of all hazards.
  • Fence the yard, if possible. It’s best to have a fence that is high enough to prevent the puppy from jumping over it, with no holes to crawl through.
  • Remove toxic plants in your yard to prevent your pup from mistaking them for a snack.
  • Put a fence around in-ground pools. Pools are a big hazard for puppies. A fence surrounding the pool will prevent the puppy from accidentally falling in. You or a dog trainer can teach your pup pool safety, as well.
  • Keep your dog away from the yard if it has recently been treated with fertilizers, pesticides, or insecticides. Try to avoid using insecticides because the chemicals can be very harmful to your puppy.
  • Be wary of heat. Avoid keeping your dog outside when it is hot, and always have shade and cool water available
  • Supervise your puppy. Young puppies should not be left outside alone. This is the time to play with them and train them, and to protect them from predators, heatstroke, and other hazards.