to download our puppy care leaflet - Pets at Home

836 Puppy CS.qxp:520 Puppy CS 24/11/09 09:54 Page 2
Congratulations!
If you’re reading this, then chances are
you’ve just welcomed a new bundle of
fun into your home. We know there’s a
lot to learn with any new pet so we’ve
put together this handy guide to give you
some advice on everything your puppy
might need for a happy, healthy start.
This is just a small selection of what we
have to offer for you and your new
puppy. To see our complete range, pop
into your local Pets at Home store and
our expert team members will be on
hand to give you help and advice. If you
would like to shop from the comfort of
your home why not visit our website,
petsathome.com
Settling in
Settling your puppy into his new home will be much easier
for both you and your puppy if you prepare in advance.
Here are a few basic essentials that will make your puppy
feel at ease in their new home.
An indoor crate or puppy pen is a great way to help
your puppy feel safe and secure in their new
environment. Your puppy may have been kept in a crate
before you brought him home, so it might feel familiar.
When choosing a crate it’s important to consider how big your
puppy will be when he’s fully grown. Always place your puppy’s
bed or crate somewhere away from draughts with some privacy.
If your new puppy is anxious about their new
home, you may want to try a natural calming
remedy such as Serene-UM drops. These help
to relieve any stress your puppy may feel when
settling into a new home. These drops are only
suitable for puppies over 6 weeks old.
Our micropillows are a great way to keep your
puppy warm during the winter months, simply
pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds
and your new arrival will be snug for hours.
Puppies are naturally inquisitive and love to explore. Dog
safety gates are a great way to introduce them into your
home slowly and safely, especially if you have other pets.
They also love to chew and pick things up with their mouths so
make sure that you move anything valuable or dangerous out
of their reach.
Diet
Your puppy’s first few meals at home are very important. To
ensure they do not get an upset stomach it is best to find out
what your puppy was being fed and continue to feed them on
the same food for a day or two. If they’ve not been eating an
Advanced Nutrition brand, then we recommend you change
their diet. This will need to be done gradually over a few days,
mixing equal amounts of old and new food into their bowl.
A puppy’s nutritional needs vary
significantly from that of an adult dog
and they require a unique and balanced
diet to help them grow into healthy
adults. Pets at Home Puppy Complete
has been specially formulated to meet
the unique nutritional needs at this
critical stage of your puppy’s
development. We have carefully
blended protein and fibre in an easy to
digest formula. This ensures your
puppy has all the essential nutrients
for growth and stamina, for the very
best start in life.
We only use quality ingredients to help keep your puppy in the
best possible condition. Every meal contains a high meat
content which is sourced from UK farms. It is also non GM
and contains no added colourants, flavourings or
preservatives.
It’s vital that your puppy always has access to a
clean, fresh supply of water. You may want to
treat him to puppy milk every now and again. Our
puppy milk is enriched with Omega 3 and infused
with vitamins and minerals.
When you wash his bowls, only use water as
washing up liquid can harm his delicate stomach.
It’s also advisable to wash them separately from
your own. For more advice on what to feed your
puppy, ask a member of our store team, they will
be more than happy to help.
Training and behaviour
Training is an important part of your puppy’s development. It
is most effective if you praise and reward your puppy
immediately after they have responded to a command. You
can reward him with a nutritionally balanced treat, some of
your puppy’s usual food or a toy. Even just praising your dog
can be effective. Training is most successful when your puppy
is between 12 and 18 weeks old as this is when they form
most of their habits.
If you are rewarding your
puppy with treats then it is
important that they are
healthy. Our Pets at Home
puppy treats are great for
your puppy’s digestion and
some even have added
calcium to help their teeth
and bones grow stronger.
Toilet training
When toilet training, it is vital that you give your puppy regular
toilet breaks, key times are morning, night and after meals.
Accidents will happen, so don’t be too hard on your puppy.
If you see them going to the toilet indoors
then a firm ‘no’ and a trip to their outdoor
toilet area will suffice. If you’re too tough
then your puppy will become afraid to go to
the toilet in front of you and this could lead
to more accidents. Our stain and odour
remover will not only remove all pet stains,
but it removes the scent of pet urine
ensuring your puppy doesn’t foul in the
same place twice.
If you are training your puppy to go
outside, it’s best to select an area in your
garden that you want to become your
puppy’s toilet area. You can help them to
distinguish this area by using a Pee Post.
If you take your puppy to this post
whenever he needs the toilet, he will soon
associate the post with the toilet.
When you’re out and about it’s your
responsibility to clean up after your pup.
Poop bags are a quick and convenient
way to help you clean up after your
pup. Don’t forget to clean your hands
afterwards with our handy foam hand
wash which requires no water and is
proven to kill germs.
For indoor training try using puppy pads,
as they release a scent which will attract
your puppy to wherever it is placed. This
will encourage him to relieve himself on
the super-absorbant pad and not your
floor. It’s important to place the pads
away from where he eats and sleeps.
Playtime
Now that you have got all the basics it’s time to start
having fun with your new puppy. It is very important that
your puppy socialises with other dogs from an early age. To
avoid them being scared when they are older the more they
see, hear and do in the first few weeks the better. Ask a
member of our store team about our puppy events. Help
strengthen the bond between you and your new puppy with
lots of playtime every day. We have a wide range of toys
designed specifically for puppies for you to choose from.