Common things to know about Your New Puppy:


"When you first get your pup, if you find yourself exhausted, sometimes a bit frazzled,
chances are, you are doing everything right". - Laurie R.

BE CAREFUL !!

.........
Guinness (Sophie x Beau) came home today and is recuperating nicely.
I wanted to forward the pictures of exactly what was removed.
Who would think a "Kinder Egg" could cause so much emotional and physical pain.
The vet bills added up to approximately 1,500.00 with the x-rays, surgery and hospital stay.
Hope you can post them on your website so that other puppy owners are aware of just how dangerous one of these can be if your pup gets hold of one.
Thank goodness it turned out alright because if a blockage had occurred (which was inevitable)
or if he had choked on it, then I might not have my little guy resting beside me today.
Thanks for all your help and advice during this ordeal. Your support has been much appreciated.
Denise T. - Ontario

 

SPAY

Swelling at surgical site. Internal sutures take up to 6 weeks to dissolve and there may be some swelling from the heeling process up to the size of a golf ball (worse case scenario). We have had a puppy have a hard marble like area that eventually went away with no treatment. We have also had pups have bladder infections so keep your eye out for any frequency and small amounts of peeing. If you see this consult your Vet for Treatment. Your FEMALE puppy was on Clavomox (amoxicillin trihydrate/clavulanate potassium) Broad spectrum antibiotic for 7 days after surgery as a preventative measure only.  People worry that this early procedure might stunt growth. In fact, research shows that the dogs will actually get a little larger. The reason for this is that the long bones tend to grow for a slightly longer period.  Since this extra growth is not caused by more rapid growth, but instead by prolonged growth, the implication is that this might be a good thing in our breed.  It is known that when growth proceeds slowly over a longer period, the bone density (strength) increases. Check out our updated site: http://www.bijoupoodles.com/Spay.html

 

Microchip ID

Bijou Standard Poodle’s use FDX B ISO chips which are approved by The National Companion Animal Coalition and meet the new World Standard.
Your puppy's microchip ID number will appear on their registration papers and you will receive microchip bar code stickers in your puppy package.
Your puppy's microchip number is not registered with a Recovery Data base. That is up to the new Owner's to do if they wish.
For more information about Microchip ID and Recovery Registration please refer to our web page: http://www.bijoupoodles.com/MicrochipID.html

EYES

........
"Sophie" Puppy Eye Color is green ...................................................... "Sophie's" Adult Eye Color ~ Correctly ~ Dark Brown

Every morning you will have to remove a bit of a crust just like humans get in the corner of her eyes with your finger nail, or you can use a warm moist face cloth.
It is important to make sure to remove that eye gunk so the tear duct does not get blocked and cause infection.
Your Poodle puppy may also get discharge from their eyes that is clear or thick and gunky even greenish
this is "usually" an allergic reaction to rag weed pollen and grass pollen.
You can clean daily with warm damp faceclothing making sure to gently get all that discharge out of their eye before it dries.
You can avoid this reaction by NOT going in long grassy areas or bushes where pollen is more active.
If your puppy does end up with a blocked tear duct your Vet should easily be able to flush for around $75.00
Colour of the Puppy's eyes may be blue, green, yellow when young (just like human baby's change)
They will change to Amber, light brown or dark brown colour and could even be a pumpkin colour.
AKC Poodle Breed standard states:
Brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes.
In the apricots while the foregoing coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted but are not desirable.
Darker brown eye colour is the preferred colour for the Poodle breed standard.
You can read more about Colour breeding here: Colour

 

NOSES

....... ...
Pink nose........................................... Winter nose.............................................Liver Nose.............................. Correct Black nose

When Poodle pups are born they may have no pigmentation (pink noses).
Red Poodles are born with pink noses (no color or pigmentation).
Shortly after being born their nose colour can fill in with color.
Sometimes it can take up to 7 days for the color to come in "if" the noses are going to be black or liver colour.
Ocassionally Reds may have pink noses or "winter" noses, which are noses not "completely" filled in with color
which you can read more about on this web page we have on Colour Breeding
AKC Breed Standard states:
Brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes.
Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white Poodles have black noses, eye-rims and lips, black or self colored toenails and very dark eyes.
In the apricots/red while the black coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted
but are not desirable. Major fault: color of nose, lips and eye-rims incomplete, or of wrong color for color of dog.

EARS

Poodle's ear infections can be triggered by several different elements.
Ears that remain wet after bathing or swimming can serve as a host for bacteria.
An excess of wax build up may plug the ear and cause infection, foreign objects caught inside of the dog's ear,
untreated ear mites or cleaning too deeply can all be causes.
Poodles are really prone to ear infections. Reason is because it is a warm dark and often "moist" area
condusive to bacteria growth. Air needs to get in those ears and moisture needs to stay out.
Hound breeders will often fasten their dogs ears back to allow air circulation for an hour a day to prevent infections or an hour a day.
I was once told "do not pluck hair" as it creates a mode for infection.
Today I pluck hair as some of my poodles have REALLY hairy ears and it can create a plug.
When grooming I reach in with my fingers and feel for any major clumps of hair and use a
Hemostat to grab only where my fingers are and pull out.
Then I then take special ear cleaner All Systems- EAR SO FRESH
or simular product from the Vet or some people use a Mix one part vinegar, one part warm water to clean entry of the ear
What ever liquid goes in the ear must be removed...so massage well and wipe away any liquid that comes up with a cotton swab or
with a thin facecloth. You can also flush out the ear, but that takes more detail which I will video tape later.
You can also use this "blue ear treatment" commonly used by Poodle Breeders: http://www.bijoupoodles.com/poodleear.html
We did have one Puppy Person that said her puppies ear infection (she felt from food allergy) that cleared up after switching to a diet of Taste of the Wild food.
If the infection keeps happening or doesn't clear up then you should put the ears open to the air.
I have braided my dog's ears so they were open to the air and I know other breeders do shave the ears to the skin so they get more air in there.
You can also use sugical tape to tape the ears open. At least 1 hour a day is needed open to the air to allow the ears to dry out.
One other breeder I know uses hydrogen peroxide a 3% solution weekly.
Peroxide only hurts the dog's ears when it is cold. Humans with wax build up use Peroxide so it is safe when used correctly.
To warm the peroxide, pour a little bit into the lid of the peroxide container. Allow it to sit out a few minutes to warm to room temperature.
Using a dropper, drop 3-6 drops of the peroxide into the ear without putting in the ear canal. Fold the ear over and massage.
Use a cotton puff or a soft dry face cloth to mop up the dirty peroxide and clean outer parts of the ear. Do NOT allow the dog to shake until all done.

 

Walking

Puppys have what I call a poopy diaper walk just like human babies until the mature and their legs come more underneath of them.
Puppies may also lay like frogs with their legs out underneath of them and this is natural.
Puppies have never worn a collar before the day you get them because we do not wish for them to get injured by their siblings pulling on the collar.
You may notice them scratching at their necks because of this. It is not from fleas because our dogs and pups do not have parasites.
If you wish to test this, just remove the collar and you will see the scratching stop.
Pups have also not been leash broke and will buck like a bronco should you try to walk them for the first time.
Collar and leash have been provided just to assist you in safely controlling your puppy when you toilet them,
as they will run like a bolt of lightening when you least expect it.
NEVER EVER use a harness to walk your Poodle on. Harnesses are made for pulling.
We have great videos for training located on our obedience web page: OBEDIENCE
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to our OBEDIENCEPage and view the provided videos and tips that will help you.
However until puppy as had at least 3 vaccinations you should not take puppy to dog parks or areas of grass
where there could be stool holding Parvo virus to name one disease.
So make sure you take puppy to your coffee shop, pet stores, Home Depot.
You can also walk puppy on leash on any sidewalks where there is no feces for them to get into.
If you have friends that have dogs and they are up todate in their vaccinations, you can also go visit there.
You can also attend a Puppy Kindergarden class ~IF~ the trainer allows it. Again though keep away from grassy areas
and feces (poop) and do not let them drink out of Communal Water or stranger's treats (bring your own for people to hand puppy).
We use no-name chicken weiners cut length wise and then diced kept in a baggy.
Small enough to not be a meal and tasty enough to hold and get the attention of puppy.
OF COURSE... once PUPPY knows the commands the treats MUST GO... Training with treats causes HUGE problems
such as jumping, nipping and puppy walking in front of you. Puppy's mom and also Leaders of a Pack do not bribe their pack
to respect them or listen to them, they enforce behaviour physically by pinning or pushing
same as you are able to accomplish with a collar and a leash.
I often get asked about jogging with your puppy. As with humans you have to build up to distance.
Young pups should not be pushed or expected to run until they are fully developed.
The rule of thumb is five minutes per month of life, so if your puppy is 5 months old then 25 mins per day.
Walking is good exercise but you can do damage and cause problems to their joints which in later life
can mean arthritis if you over do it, and that's the same with any breed.
As with humans ligament and bone injuries can occur if you over do it.
The SPCA put together a brochure on running with your dog:
http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalissues/running%20with%20dogs.pdf

 

TEETH

Pups teeth a TON and that is why you will need to provide toys and substitute slippers and hands for appropriate toys.
We have great videos on our Obedience web page to better illustrate training not to bite.
Baby teeth fall out at 3-4 months of age all on their own. You may not notice this or you may notice some bleeding which is ok.
Ocassionally pups might have missing teeth
Baby teeth may be misaligned but generally adult teeth will come in perfectly so don't panic.
AND do NOT have a Vet pull baby teeth out, do surgery or worse... recommend braces on puppy teeth !
I personally would find a different Vet if my Vet suggested surgery or braces on puppy teeth. RED FLAG.

GROOMING

 

Your puppy will have had 2-3 baths and been blown dried during their stay with us.
Your puppy has had their paws underpads and anus area clipped and are used to the clipper.
You may clip them any time you feel it is needed after you receive them.
Your puppy is VERY used to being groomed.
Your Puppy's nails have been clipped weekly.
To learn how to clip nails or dremmel nails please view our instructional videos on our Grooming Page
When grooming be very "matter of fact" do not baby talk to them or comfort them as this will
create behaviour problems for you and your groomer down the road.
Your puppy will have had their anal gland excreted (yes this should be done and no it will not create problems later in life)
and toe nails dremmeled short weekly
and on the day you got your puppy.
I know that your puppy will probably have peed in their cage and of course will have that newspaper smell, if puppy was shipped to you.
We use newspapers in their carrier during shipping,
as it is very absorbent and will wick away moister better than material or blankets would.
You can bath your puppy when you get home although the following day would be better for the puppy.
You can use Johnsons Baby Shampoo or other human shampoo but make sure 100%
you rinse it all out or will cause skin problems and make sure 100% you do not get water in the ears
and after you take cloth and dry the ears out well.
Refer to our Grooming web page for more details: http://www.bijoupoodles.com/Grooming.html
If you wish for your red and brown pups to keep their vibrant red coats then use a colour enhancing
Shampoo or conditioner. I now use 1-All Systems - RED/BROWN and what a HUGE difference and improvement (make sure you leave on for 20 minutes).
In the summer you can also apply sun screen (spray) to prevent your brown coats from getting red highlights
and your reds from fading.
Interesting to note that diet has an effect on coat colour and pigmentation (nose colour).
Diets containing Iodine (found in kelp or other sea vegetation sources) is said to darken coats as well.
Your puppy should not go to the Professional Groomers until they have had their 3rd set of vaccinations
UNLESS you are going to stand there and make sure puppy doesn't come in contact with other
dog's feces or use a communal water dish.

 

FEEDING

...

Your puppy has been eating ADULT Kirkland Chicken and rice from Costco (burgandy bag)
which is the food that mom has been on and she has weaned the puppies to.
When you get home puppy is going to be VERY hungry.
So I would advise the first meal to consist of either tin food or Kibble that you soak
with warm water until it is soft and cooled down.
This softening will prevent stomach upset.
Your puppy will be adjusting with the new environment and new water and general stressors.
Please read the Owners Manual that was included in your puppy package when you got your puppy.
We also put together a web page for food alternatives.

SOCIALIZING

Socializing puppy is paramount. However until puppy as had at least 3 vaccinations you should not
take puppy to dog parks or areas of grass where there could be stool holding Parvo virus to name one disease.
You can ALWAYS invite people over to meet your new puppy and socialise your puppy from home.
Our mail carrier is often one of our best puppy Socialisers, as is all delivery people, meter readers and friends I invite over.
We have a dog walker for when we are working our long shifts and I invite her over with her kids to also socialise the pups.
Well worth the small fee ($) to safely introduce strangers that I know are dog friendly.
If you wish to go out in public you can safely take puppy to your coffee shop, pet stores, Home Depot where there is no grass.
You can also walk puppy on leash on any sidewalks where there is no feces for them to get into.
If you have friends that have dogs and they are up to date in their vaccinations, you can also go visit them, or have them over.
Many of our "dog friends" have puppy parties or play dates that rotate homes and is fun for humans and puppies.
You can also attend a Puppy Kindergarden class ~IF~ the trainer allows it. Again though keep away from grassy
areas and feces (poop) and do not let them drink out of Communal Water or stranger's treats (bring your own for people to hand puppy).
We use no-name chicken weiners cut length wise and then diced kept in a baggy. Small enough to not be a meal
and tasty enough to hold and get the attention of puppy.
OF COURSE... once PUPPY knows the commands or goes eagerly to meet people
the treats MUST GO... Training with treats or using treats for reward causes HUGE problems
such as jumping, nipping and puppy walking in front of you.
Puppy's mom and also Leaders of a Pack do not bribe their pack
to respect them or listen to them, they enforce behaviour physically by pinning or pushing
same as you are able to accomplish with a collar and a leash.

Training New Puppy

I get emails all the time with questions of "how do I stop puppy from biting, jumping, barking"
While these are normal puppy behaviours that you will have to experience there are
techniques for dealing with unwanted behaviour. You will have to invest some time
into training the puppy what is desired behavior through verbal praise "good puppy" or physical praise - a pat
and what is undesired through a growl like "NO", a scream, or physically through a firm restrain.
A person only has to see how mom disiplines her puppies, to get a good idea of the extreme force and firmness you need to apply.
All our training methods we impliment are listed on our web page so PLEASE PLEASE view all the videos
and read what I have taken hours to write, based on my years of learning and lessons which are outlined here:

Obedience and What to do with New Puppy next ?

Diarrhea

:

One of the most common causes of diarrhea is intestinal upset.
A sudden change in the type of food, giving an unfamiliar treat, or feeding table scraps can cause a bout of diarrhea.
Diarrhea caused by food changes or water changes (ie to well) can often be resolved at home,
so long as the diarrhea is not severe, and the dog continues to act and feel normally.
Withholding food for 24 hours will allow the dogs digestive system to settle down
(while continuing to encourage water consumption).
After 24 hours, small amounts of a bland diet, such as white rice and chicken, can be offered.
If the diarrhea subsides, you can gradually place the dog back on their original diet,
and transition slowly to the new diet. If the diarrhea does not improve, or gets worse,
veterinary treatment may be required.
With the stress over change in environment and if the parents
are doing any field training or there are birds near a food source or ponds the puppy is playing in there are
a number of bacteria illnesses that could also be the cause. Generally Coccidiosis is a huge cause.
Coccidiosis can easily be treated in 3 days by using Safe-Guard mixed with tin food and is available through Walmart or online at Jeffers Pet
Another illness is rare and Vets often don't think about is Campylobacter which is a litter more difficult to treat.
When speaking about water, it is important to know the water that your puppy is playing in.
Blue-Green Algae which kills dogs that drink or contact the algae (Cyanobacteria).
It is found in stagnant water and there is no cure.
Symptoms of Blue Green Algae Toxicity include: nausea, bloody diarrhea, pale gums, skin or eye irritations,
convulsions and, in severe cases, even death within minutes.
When the nervous system is involved, dogs will develop muscle tremors,
labored breathing and difficulty moving. Blue Green Algae toxicity is often misdiagnosed as heart problems or heat stroke.
There are lots of photos and videos online so make sure to learn about this deadly toxin.



...

How to Clean up Dog Urine...........How to clean up Dog Poop

Products for cleaning Feces and Urine:
~ Complete Stain and Odor Remover from Home Depot
~ OUT! Oxy Stain & Odor Remover Spray
~ Odoban Pet from Walmart

Health Care

Your puppy should have had one vaccination prior to leaving our home.
This vaccination would be Vanguard® DA2MP containing:
Canine Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus Vaccine
Ask your vet about the hazards of vaccinating against Lepto and Corona BEFORE you do it.
*Make sure to vaccinate on Monday - Thursday morning incase your puppy has an allergic reaction and you need a vet.
Vaccinations are spaced 3 weeks apart and never give rabies during the same time as a vaccination.
Click here to read more about Vaccinating and Flea Products
Rabies is now a 3 year protection. This means after a rabies and then a booster the following year (2 shots) your puppy/dog
will not need another booster for 3 years, so make sure your vet marks that on your Rabies Certificate.
If you are unsure about this just ask to read the manufacturers literature that accompanies the Rabies Vaccine.
For more information on Emergency Medical Care Click here: Poodle Health

BLOAT

We have never had any of our Poodles that live with us, have Bloat and or Torsion.
That means in over 20 years of owning a high risk breed that this fact is pretty impressive.
Some reasons may be that we "free feed" so our dogs never gorge when eating, we have water available 24/7
and we keep a routine of same time let outside to play and to retire.
Narrow Deep chested dogs are more physically prone to incidence of bloat and perhaps because
our poodles are wider more shallow chested might be part of the reason we have not experienced it.
A Great Dane breeder that doesn't have any bloat issues (hard to imagine) suggested that Rouine in feeding and
excersise times has aided her in not experiencing bloat. She suggested those that don't keep routines on holidays or weekends are risking it.
When I mentioned her theory to my Vet he did confirm that he sees cases of bloat (all variety of dogs)
on weekends and holidays for the most part and thinks she might be onto something.
We also "free feed" our adults (meaning we leave food down all day long and water)
and I do maintain a routine every day. My vet also suggested that anyone worried about bloat issues could feed
softened kibble to avoid any problems.
Someone that lost a Borzoi due to bloat recently sent me these links to share with anyone worried about bloat:
Bloat Kit
Acupuncture to relieve Bloat



~ Click here ~ to read "what do I do next with my new Puppy"?





Return to Bijou Home Page