Congratulations on your Promise Hills puppy!

Here is a bit of info for you! Your puppy has been started on canned puppy food in the mornings. He/she is use to getting 2 rounded tablespoons every morning. This amount can be increased, but do this gradually as to not cause upset. Dry puppy kibble is offered at all times, as well as water. Puppies are very active and still growing so I do not limit the amount of kibble. If not giving free choice kibble, it is best to feed 3 small meals over the day, then cut down to 2 when they are older. How much kibble to feed will vary depending on the size of your puppy, energy level and the amount of canned you are feeding. At the time puppies go home, around 9 weeks of age, they will be eating about 1/2 -3/4 cup kibble and 2 rounded tablespoons canned per day. Your puppy should stay on puppy food for at least the first 8 months. After that, they may be switched to an adult food. If you find your dog is gaining too much weight on their adult food, you may have to change food to one that is higher in protein and lower in fat and carbs than the one you are currently feeding. It is not always a good idea to just feed less than the recommended amount listed on the bag as then they won’t be getting all the important daily nutrients they need.

In your puppy pack is a small Bully Stick or Beef Tendon, and a Himalayan Yak Chew. (also known as cheese bone) It is OK to offer your puppy the Bully Stick or Beef Tendon at this age, under supervision. These are softer than the Yak Chews, all natural, and good for their teeth. It may be a good idea to take away the remaining when the piece gets very small if worried about your puppy swallowing whole and being a potential choking hazard. The Yak Chew is a hard, all natural chew made of Yak and cows milk. They are also good to help clean teeth. You may not want to offer this chew to your puppy until he/she is 6 months old and up. They are much harder and there is a possibility of your puppy chipping a tooth as their baby teeth are not as hard as their adult teeth. When there is just a little piece of this chew left, and worried about a potential choking hazard, just microwave the remaining piece until it puffs up(usually just under a minute) and once cooled, feed as a crunchy treat. I find these are a good, natural chew that lasts a very long time. DO NOT give your puppy rawhide chews, string/rope toys, or plastic toys that are easily torn apart. Pieces of these these can be torn apart and swallowed, causing intestinal blockage and requiring surgery to remove. When giving puppies any toys, be sure to throw away parts that have been ripped out. If they rip out a squeaker or stuffing from a toy, throw out as they can cause blockage.

By 9 weeks of age, your puppy has spent an hour or 2 each day, in a crate, for a few days to a week before pickup so he /she at least has some concept to being locked in a crate which may help a little if crate training. In crate training, do not let puppy out when he/she is loudly crying or barking. Wait until they settle down and are fairly quiet, This will teach them they have to be quiet while in the crate. In the set up here, while pups are young, their main living area is surrounded by an exercise pen, floor is covered with newspaper(for accidents) and they have a potty box(low boot tray with thin layer of wood pellets and while young, a plastic grate over top for less mess.) A plastic crate is placed in the pen as well. The crate in this pen is left open, with the door off so they don’t get hurt in the door. At the point of ‘take home’ they are not yet use to being locked in the crate overnight. If locking your puppy in the crate overnight, make sure he/she has gone potty beforehand, as late as possible before going to bed. Take food away in late afternoon/early evening and water shortly after so puppy has time to “empty out” before bed. If still too full, they may mess the crate at night as a young pup can not hold it that long through the night. As soon as you wake up, take puppy immediately outside to potty, or to pee pad, paper, potty box, if choosing that option. Keep in mind, that it is harder to outside train a puppy once they have learned to potty in the house, but sometimes there isn’t an option of outside training, or the weather is not suitable for a young puppy. Timing and Repetition is very important in potty training. When puppy is young, within 5 minutes of him/her eating, drinking, or immediately upon waking from a nap, or if playing and suddenly stop and start sniffing around, take outside. Make sure there are no outside distractions, do not play with them or allow dogs trying to play or distract them from doing their business. Once they go, then play can begin. If you take them out and they they do not go after some time, just crate puppy for ten minutes or so, then take outside and try again. Do not punish your puppy for pooping in the house. They will not understand what they are getting punished for and you will create a puppy that may become afraid. If you catch a puppy in ‘the act’ you may firmly scold with your voice so puppy knows you are not pleased, pick up puppy and take outside. If done quick enough, he may finish his business outside, but if not, don’t worry over it. Puppies will not be trained in a week. They take time and patience, but with both, they will eventually get it.

Your puppy has been given his/her first set of core vaccinations. Second shots are due 4 weeks after the first. Third shots are due 4 weeks after the second. Booster shots are due 1 year after the 3rd shots. Once they have the last booster shot, I strongly recommend additional boosters NOT to be given any sooner than 3 year intervals. Rabies vaccination is mandatory in cities and towns and will need to be done once puppy is old enough. I believe that yearly booster vaccinations can damage a dogs own natural immune system. Vaccinations have been proven to last at least a few years, possibly a lifetime, but please do your own research on this subject.

Your puppy has been micro-chipped with an EIDAP micro-chip, located between the front shoulders. If you pinch their skin, you might be able to feel this chip just under the skin, It is the size of a small grain of rice. Over time, sometimes these chips can move so if scanning at the vets, they could be located on the side of or under the shoulder, or near the chest as well. Within 3 months from you taking your puppy home, the chip will be changed over to the new owners name and contact info that was listed on the contract. If you need to change any contact info before the 3 months, please contact Promise Hills at 1-204-730-3290. If and changes need to be made after the 3 months, please contact EIDAP registry at 1-888-346-8899 or email at www.eidap.com