PUPPY CARE

Before you bring your puppy home, Rose Cottage would have your pup at 6 weeks C3 vaccinated wormed from 2 ,4,6,8 weeks fully vet checked from my long time vet who does a thorough health check of pup checking teeth skin bones body muscles ears and eyes and heart we will provide a puppy go home pack with a few familiar toys, a blanket and puppy biscuits to make the transition into the pup’s new home more comfortable. Additionally, you’ll need to:

• Create a play space for your puppy and buy them toys to keep them occupied.

• Provide somewhere for them to rest. This could be a cosy bed and/or a crate in a draught-free place where your puppy can rest undisturbed.

• Provide a blanket from the pup’s first home so they have something familiar to snuggle, we will provide you with this. Remove anything poisonous or anything you don’t want them chewing.

• Find a good local vet clinic.

• Organise puppy classes, these can get booked out quickly so find a class and sign up once you know you’re getting a puppy.

• Get some pet insurance.

*All our puppies are raised on Blackhawk lamb and rice and Royale K9 mini breed puppy biscuits and raw chicken mince we will inform you what biscuit puppy is on

This is an important time for your puppy as what they learn and experience now will shape their future behaviour. Your puppy isn't fully vaccinated yet, so it is important not to go into public parks and spaces till 12 weeks of age when puppy can be fully vaccinated but it's important to continue socialisation by giving your puppy positive experiences like:

• Introducing them to other pets, let them meet other healthy, fully vaccinated dogs and cats at your home

• Carrying them around outside to introduce them to new people, sights and sounds.around your home

• Gradually introducing them to other experiences, such as the car, grooming, being handled and having their ears, eyes and other body parts checked.

You should also:

• Begin to leave them alone for short periods to prevent separation-related behaviours.

• Establish a consistent routine and rules. Reward good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour.

• Feed them the same puppy food as they had before and keep the same routine with small, regular meals.

• Continue puppy toilet training by rewarding them when they go outside.

Your puppy can have their second vaccinations around now. While you're at the vet, ask them about worming, flea treatment and neutering. Around this age, you can also:

• Socialise your pup outside once they're fully vaccinated.

• Take them to puppy classes - good puppy classes are a great way to boost their confidence and learn basic training.

• Understand what they like - knowing what your puppy likes (such as their favourite food or toys) can motivate them during training.

• Let them rest regularly - growing and learning is tiring, so let them rest regularly and keep training sessions short and fun. If your puppy is crate trained, them use it as a safe haven.

Puppies are still learning at this age, so continue reward-based training and keep all experiences positive. Remember:

• Speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your puppy and ask them about neutering if you haven't already.

• Move onto more advanced dog training classes if your puppy is ready to progress.

• Move them onto adult dog food around 12 months of age as they get bigger and their dietary needs change.

By keeping experiences positive from day one, you'll help your puppy grow into a confident adult dog, making life more enjoyable for you both.

With a wide range of types and sizes of crates to choose from, it is important to know your purpose and choose a crate that suits your needs. Based on our experience, we have some tips to help you choosing the right crate.

Consideration #1: Where will you use the crate

Where and how you will use your crate will generally dictate what type of material the crate should be made of. If you will need to use the crate at different locations and move your crate around quite a lot, you should be looking for something that is both light-weighted and collapsible.

Soft crates made out of a metal frame and water resistant canvas are light in weight and folds almost completely flat, but they can be damaged easily by puppies so we normally recommend them after a dog is already crate trained.

Plastic crates (or sometimes called airline crates) are slightly heavier and does not fold fully flat, but they are relatively chew and scratch proof so they are good for puppies that are not yet crate trained.

If you mainly use your crate at one location but may bring it to a holiday home or road trip just a few times a year, you could consider using a slightly heavier metal wire crate. They weight a bit more but since you only do a few trips a year, weight is not really a huge concern as they fold very flat.

If your crate is going to be used solely at one location and you have no plans to travel with it on a regular basis, you can consider heavier and sturdier metal crates that come with wheels. Some of them require assembly using screws so they are not designed to be collapsed, but they often offer handy features such as self latching locks, floor mesh and wheels.

Consideration #2: How big is your dog

Obviously the bigger your dog is, the larger the crate needs to be. But you would also need to consider that with a bigger dog, you would also need a stronger crate. If your dog is not fully grown yet, you will also need to think about how big it will grow into so your dog doesn't outgrow the crate.

Consideration #3: How long you intend to keep your dog in the crate

In addition to a physical size limit, how long you intend to keep your dog in a crate should affect the size of the crate required. As a general rule of thumb, your dog should be able to lie flat, turn around and sit up straight in the crate.

It generally does not hurt to get the next size up, especially if you intend to contain your dog for longer periods. Unless you don’t mind your dog urinating inside the crate, try not to get a cage that is too large where you dog can go to the toilet on one side and sleep comfortably on the other side (e.g. putting a Maltese in a German shepherd’s crate).

Rose cottage uses these crates for travelling in vehicles and teaching pups crate training as they have two door access easy to wash and clean:

Features To Consider Before Buying an Indoor Pet Playpen

Dog and puppy indoor playpens come in all shapes and sizes, constructed with different materials and in different designs–so there is plenty to choose from. However, how is anyone supposed to know what they really need and what are some bells and whistles that just increase the number on the price tag but don’t really add any actual value to the playpen? Your requirements will vary, depending on your pet’s age, size, activity levels, as well as your living space. You don’t want something that will take up half of your dining room or stick out like a sore thumb against your decor. A perfect dog and puppy indoor playpen will be suitable for your pet’s needs and yours, too, so make sure it ticks all of the boxes before you settle on buying it.

Size

The first factor to consider is if the playpen you’re getting is the right size for your pet. To feel comfy while playing and to have enough room to do so, a dog will need an indoor playpen that is not cramped or tiny. As a rule of thumb, indoor dog playpen should be big enough for your pet to run around, lie down if he wants and have some spare room for his food and water bowls, especially if he’s going to be playing in there for a few hours. Needless to say, you can’t expect a Lab to feel comfy in the same pen a Maltese puppy would. Luckily, most manufacturers state the size of the dog their playpen is intended for, so you won’t have to figure it out yourself. Just look at it this way- the more panels an indoor dog playpen has, the better fit it is for a large breed dog!

Materials/Toughness

The dimensions of dog and puppy indoor playpens are not the only feature that will indicate if they’re a good match for a certain breed size or dog age. A playpen can be twice the size your dog needs, but if it’s made from lightweight materials that your pooch can take down with one jump, it will all be for naught. So, when choosing an indoor playpen, be sure to choose the materials by their toughness. Puppies do well in fabric playpens and wire playpens alike, while bigger adult dogs usually go for plastic and metal, as it is more durable and heavier. Of course, if your dog is well-behaved and not overly energetic, it will be all the same to them, as they won’t be mischievous or try to get out in the first place.

Versatility

Sometimes, all you need is an indoor playpen that will act as a barrier for your curious puppy. And that’s OK! But, at other times, you’ll want to get more value for your money and get a dog indoor playpen that will be large and well made so it grows with your pet and can, later on, be used as a dog gate, too, when the need arises. (And unless you plan on crate training your puppy, you’ll certainly need a gate or a playpen throughout your pet’s life.) You might also want an indoor dog playpen that doubles as an outdoor one so you can use it both inside the home and in the backyard. Also, if you travel with your dog, it would be smart to choose one of the dog and puppy indoor playpens that are collapsible and easily portable- so your pet will always have a safe space of his own, even when away from home.

Ease of Storage

In most cases, pet parents use dog and puppy indoor playpens occasionally, and they don’t need them to be mounted full time. That’s why it’s great when a playpen is easy to assembly and disassembly for storage, so you can have your pet’s playing corner up and running in a matter of minutes, rather than losing the whole afternoon trying to put it all up. Also, unless you live in a mansion, you probably appreciate it when your pet’s stuff doesn’t take up all of your precious storage space, so having a collapsible indoor playpen that can be put under the bed can definitely be a plus.

How long can you leave a puppy in a playpen?

Puppies shouldn’t be left alone for a long period of time, even when in a playpen. A good rule of thumb is to make sure they are not on their own for more than two hours at a time, and that during those short periods they have food and water readily available. If your puppy is over 6 months of age, then they can probably tolerate more alone time, for up to 4-6 hours provided that they are trained and have a pee pad nearby in addition to food and water.

Rose cottage uses these 8 panel steel dog play pens:

Because Borderdoodles are so people oriented and become very attached to their family, they may not fare well when frequently left alone for long periods. However, when crate trained properly and gradually accustomed to alone time, some Borderdoodles may adjust to working schedules if given the chance to exercise in the morning and after you return. Having a friend, family member, or dog walker stop in at least once during the day can help dramatically. As these dogs have a loving gentle spirit they thrive on human companionship