WELCOME HOME 🐾 NEW PUPPY INTRODUCTION

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Bringing home a new puppy is exciting - but can become a bit overwhelming, especially if this is your first time (or a long while since) having a puppy! Advanced preparation is key to success for a smooth transition into each other’s lives. We are here to help you gather the essentials and make this experience as easy as possible. 

At Big Cypress Golden Retrievers, our culture is to maintain a healthy legacy in our dogs and puppies. We are committed to delivering this  to you and will provide necessary tools and support to gear you for success. Our ask of you in return is that you continue to support your new family member by maintaining their health and well-being throughout the entirety of their life. A limited 2 year warranty is included in the purchase of your puppy given they are evaluated by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours from pick-up. Please have your appointment scheduled prior to your pick-up date to ensure access to an appointment in this timeframe. Your puppy will have received his/her first set of vaccination in a series of vaccines that occur every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. Additionally, your puppy has received his/her first dose of heartworm and flea prevention. Heartworm prevention should be administered monthly, year-round, to protect him/her from a potentially fatal virus that causes heart failure. Your veterinarian will connect with you to choose the best option for this as well as schedule the necessary booster vaccines. After your puppy has completed the puppy booster series, annual boosters are generally recommended and advised. 

Just like any other insurance company - your coverage/premium/payment will vary on your location, age of the insured and history of the insured. That means the earlier you secure pet insurance, the better! Be sure to obtain quotes from multiple companies and inquire about deductibles, exclusions and reimbursement procedure. There are many insurance competitors out there, so catering to your needs and expectations is possible! 

Puppies are extremely energetic and curious, so when puppy-proofing your home, you must be thorough. It’s amazing what one little puppy can get into. By puppy-proofing, you’re trying to keep the him/her safe and prevent them from getting access to anything dangerous. Here are a few things to help puppy proof your home:

• Unplug electrical cords, move them out of reach, or string them through cord concealers. These chewing hazards can cause burns to the mouth or electrical shock.
• Avoid feeding food from the table. Pups may look adorable as they beg for food, but many human foods are not good for them. Pay special attention to sugarless gum with xylitol, chocolate, raisins, and other foods that are especially poisonous to dogs.
• Keep cleaning supplies in high cabinets or secured behind doors with childproof latches. When using them, make sure that the puppy is kept out of the area, so they won’t be affected by the vapors given off by chemicals.
• Put all medications away. Avoid keeping medications, even in pill bottles or dispensers, on low tables, bathroom counters, or night tables, where the puppy can easily get to them.
• Keep toilet lids closed, so the puppy won’t drink out of the toilet or fall in.
• Keep doors and windows closed at all times, so the puppy can’t escape or fall out, and secure the cords that raise blinds, so they won’t get caught around the puppy’s neck.
• Put away small items that are choking hazards — such as coins, paper clips, rubber bands, and jewelry — to prevent the puppy from choking on them.
• Keep all sharp objects out of your dog’s reach. This includes knives, scissors, razors, and tools.
• Secure trash cans. Puppies are attracted to the smells coming from garbage, which can upset their stomachs or even be poisonous.
• Move poisonous houseplants, so the puppy can’t eat them. (See Poisonous Plants List)

Crate training a puppy takes advantage of the dog’s natural instincts to seek out a comfortable, quiet and safe place when the environment around them becomes too loud or overwhelming. They are pertinent to your puppy’s safety, routine, and structure. A common misconception is that these secure places must be large to be effective, but your pup’s crate only needs to be big enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. Some crates come with a divider so you can adjust the size of their space, so that you can buy the size they're likely to need when they're an adult, and then move the divider as they grow.

While crates can be used to manage a behavior, they should never be used for punishment. For example, putting your dog in a crate with an interactive toy when guests come over to avoid mishaps with food or jumping is more effective than waiting for misbehavior and then putting your dog away. Regardless of the timing, using treats to entice your dog into the crate until they love going in on their own will ensure a positive association with it. Don't leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog who’s crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. You may have to change your schedule, hire a pet sitter or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in the crate each day. Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders or bowels for that long, even during potty training. The same goes for adult dogs being housetrained. A crate may be your dog’s den, but just as you would not spend your entire life in one room of your home, your dog should not spend most of their time in a crate. Connect with a trainer if you experience difficulties with crate training. The earlier they have access to a healthy mindset, the better opportunity you both have in this success. 

Your puppy will need a soft/comfortable place to rest (aside from your couch or bed if you allow this). The resting place can be in a crate (if your puppy is potty trained) or anywhere he/she seems comfortable in your home. Placing the bed in the crate is not recommended prior to crate training. This is because the urine can easily soak into the bed, which is convenient for your puppy and does not pose any sort of discomfort when they have an accident. This may delay your crate-training process. Additionally, beds aren’t the easiest to wash! Even when they can be disassembled/washed, they maintain an enzyme from that urine that only your pet can detect - and this can inhibit them to utilize that area as an acceptable environment for elimination in the future. If your puppy/dog continues to urinate on his/her bed, it’s best to discard that bed and start with a fresh one. If your puppy/dog is still in a phase of chewing, a bed can become an easy target with lots of interior stuffing/foam that can cause a blockage in your pet. If your pet is a chronic chewer, a bed may not be recommended at all until that is resolved. Connect with a reputable trainer for advice in resolving chewing!

There's more to choosing the right dog food than randomly picking up a bag of kibble at the supermarket. Dog nutrition is at least as complex as human nutrition and the spectrum of choices is huge. Because every dog has unique needs, ask your veterinarian for recommendations that cater best to you and your puppy.

No matter which food you choose, make sure you're feeding the correct amount. Puppies usually need at least three meals a day, decreasing to once or twice daily as they mature. It's a good idea to have treats on hand, too, to help with training (and just to show your pup a little love every so often). Remember to factor treats into their nutritional plan, too. Treats are much higher in calories and can oftentimes lead to overweight/obesity in pets. Partner with your veterinarian to ensure you are choosing a quality treat that doesn’t conflict with their balanced daily nutrition. 

Choosing your new buddy’s food and water bowl is an exciting adventure for you as their parent, but remember that this decision should include more than just an aesthetic consideration. Bacteria in the water sources your pet drinks regularly can lead to urinary tract infections and other gastrointestinal infections. It’s important to maintain a clean feeding and watering environment. Stainless-steel is a long-lasting material and has no porous surface where bacteria can collect. This is typically what’s utilized in many boarding facilities and vet hospitals due to the ability to properly sanitize them, as well as durability in the event of impact. There are many stainless steel bowl options that include fun exterior design as well as customizable options. Ceramic is also a great option if you are looking for a heavier dish, and to still maintain the non-porous surface. Ceramic can however be a dangerous dish to leave in the kennel with your pet unsupervised, since the broken pieces can become very sharp if the bowl is mistakenly broken. This can happen simply from your puppy/dog pawing at the bowl out of boredom.

Oftentimes, refillable water stations are utilized for large breed dogs in order to provide a constant source of water.  Your pet should have access to water at all times, however the refillable stations are generally plastic-based and can easily harbor bacteria, algae, debris etc. They are typically not recommended but if you choose to use this it should be thoroughly washed and filled with fresh water every other day, and replaced monthly to avoid deterioration of the surface sealant and exposure to bacteria-contaminated water source. There are excellent YouTube video ideas for solutions to constantly refilling your dog’s water bowl. One of my personal favorites is using a toilet float valve/direct water line to a watering station. This way the water automatically fills with fresh water from your home into thier bowl! Visit our resourceful links tab for a youtube link to this idea! 

https://youtu.be/mWKBrXALQcY?si=gkNnH1G_msWAytLS

There is no limit to the number of collars and leashes you can have for your furry friend! These are some of the most fun ways to characterize, accessorize and match your pal!  When choosing your leashes and collars, consider the purpose for them in the first place! They should be durable, easy to release by you in the event of emergency, but impossible to release by your dog in the event of an attempted escape. Collars should fit snug, but not tight. You should be able to slip at least two fingers easily between the collar and neck, and the collar should never be able to slip over the ears. A martingale collar used properly is Big Cypress Golden Retriever’s recommended choice for training/walking. These collars come with or without prongs depending on the level of training needed for your pet. A harness provides no training/walking assistance to you and should be used for car/travel and seatbelt systems only. Your leash should have a trusty clip, with no play in the clasp. It should be 2-4 ft in length for walking/travel. Anything over 2-4ft is considered a long lead and should be used in controlled low-risk environments only. Retractable leashes are NOT recommended at any time,provide absolutely no control over your pet and pose significant risk to death/loss/injury. The mechanism inside of a retractable leash is made of rotating parts, (often plastic) and frequently becomes locked when it’s pulled or tugged on - which is typically the moment you need to RETRACT your pet from a situation. The mechanism can also very easily break inside, allowing your pet to run to the extent of the leash with no ability to apply a brake. They also pose a risk of injury to yourself such as joint injury or rope burn/cuts.

All adult dogs vary by personality type to how they will play with a toy. Some dogs will throw, nurse, carry, sleep with their toys - where some hold the deepest desire to extract the fun, squeaky monster inside, ripping apart their fluffy toy in an instant. The gentle caretaker personality can generally be trusted to have a collection of plush, squeaky stuffies. This will be determined in age/behavior as your puppy ages. A puppy that “wakes up and chooses violence” as they say, should be offered more durable toys, such as stuffingless, KONG, Antlers, and other non-destructible toys. Starmark and KONG both make Bento-style toys that are fillable with long-lasting treats that can be fun for your pet, without being harmful! Stuffing-filled and cloth or plush toys can be a risk to your pet if they happen to swallow any pieces. This can lead to them becoming very ill, and possible death if not treated. Treatments can be as severe as a surgical removal, which is a high-risk procedure and is extremely expensive. Avoiding this scenario entirely is best for everyone!