Bringing your Kalina puppy home>>    

 

Dogs are extraordinary animals, in just 18months your cute little puppy will have grown into a healthy adult dog - a feat that takes humans 18 years.   Dogs have a an uncanny ability to love unconditionally, a natural instinct to protect us and a willingness to be our loyal companion, no wonder they say that dogs are "man's best friend". 

 

When your puppy first comes home it will be at least 8 weeks old.  With the help of Kalina Labradoodles and the puppy's mother, it would have already gone through 4 stages from being completely dependent on its mother to having a basic grounding in canine socialisation.  

 

 

A little background on our puppy's early development>>

 

Birth - 2 Weeks:  During this time your puppy is entirely dependent on mum for feeding

and keeping him warm.  We will handle the puppy very gently for weighing and health checks,

introducing him to human contact.

 

2-4 Weeks:  Physical changes enable your puppy to hear, see, smell and touch his new world.   Starting with crawling and alot of wobbling he will start the transition to walking.  At 2 weeks we start initial worming which continues every 2 weeks.  First milk teeth will start developing towards the end of this stage.  Being a little more mobile and robust there is a little more human handling and contact.

 

4-8 Weeks:  By 4 weeks we have started to introduce puppy food as mum becomes more comfortable to spend

some time away from her pups and we are readying them to be eating a healthy diet by the time they come

home with you.  We focus on providing lots of positive, social experiences for the puppies during this time

and they have a safe, enclosed environment to sleep and play in.  Lots of access to grass enables a start to

good toilet training.  Your puppy will be weaned by 8 weeks and self-sufficient in feeding and drinking. 

With their rapidly developing sensory capabilities there will be much to learn from their siblings, mother and

through experiences with our other pets and family members.  They will have had a trip in the car for

vaccinations, health check, micro-chipping and de-sexing at around 7 weeks. 

                                                     

                                                             

 

Homecoming>>

 

A much anticipated day, filled with joy, excitement and a good dose of nerves

(for you and your puppy).  Before your puppy arrives at your home, please take the time to do

basic puppy proofing and planning.   

 

• Check your fence for gaps on the bottom, sturdiness and height.  Some pool fences will still let little puppies squeeze through and may need some extra protection for a short period of time. 

• Store all your chemicals out of pup's reach. 

• Hide or cover electrical cords as puppies love to chew them.

• If your pup is to come inside - keep the kid's toys off the floor - especially small ones like Lego that can be a choking hazard.   Your puppy should be encouraged to play with their own toys, not your childrens'.

• You may wish to restrict access to some areas of the house or yard - so ensure you have planned this before his/her arrival.

• Choose wisely where your new puppy sleeps and ensure you have suitable dog bedding to sleep in.   A pup is unlikely to go to the toilet in its own bed or crate (the small confines of the crate teaches a pup to hold on).  You can also consider a restricted space such as a laundry or bathroom.  Your pup has been sleeping outside with its litter mates before going home with you, so if your sleeping choice is outside, make sure the bed has lots of blankets and is placed in a draught free area. 

• Be prepared for your puppy to cry for 20 plus minutes when you put it to bed the first few nights.  If you know it has been fed, and been to the toilet, then be strong and resist going to your puppy while it is crying or you quickly teach your puppy that crying will get attention.  

• Non-tipping food and water bowls - we will provide you with puppy's food for their first few days. 

• Chew toys - great for a good play/game before rest or bed time.  A tired puppy should fall asleep quickly.

• If you have children in your family, make sure they are aware of your boundaries and rules relating to the puppy. 

 

 

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains un-awakened". 

- Anatole France