| Question | Answer | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| What kind of food/water bowls should I use? | Stainless steel is non-porous, which means it won’t hold onto bad bacteria, plus it is super easy to clean which keeps it sanitary for your pup. – And, not incidentally, also the safest bowl for your dog to eat and drink from – is stainless steel. This material will not leach potentially dangerous chemicals into your dog’s food and water, like some plastics, aluminum, poorly glazed pottery, or old ceramic dishes | 1. Lixit Quick-Lock Stainless Steel Cage bowl for Dogs. Attaches to side of crate. 2. Pioneer Pet Stainless Steel Dog & Cat Fountain Raindrop Design. 3. Prospect Stainless Flat Sided Pail, 32 Oz (Hooks to side of crate). 4- Prospect Buster Bowls (rubber bottom, non-slip stainless steel). |
| What kind of water should I give my puppy? | Filtered , and or bottled, not tap water. It’s safer for your dog to drink filtered tap water over direct tap water. If you won’t drink that water then don’t give it to your dog. Filtered water will reduce the high mineral content often present in tap water, which will help reduce staining. Bottled water is also free of chlorine. | |
| When should I do about eye stains? | Cleaning the stained area with warm water or saline solution can help remove them. Regular grooming and keeping the eye area dry are the best prevention methods. | |
| What kind of shampoo should I use? | We use shampoo from Chris Christensen. | 1. Chris Christensen Day to Day Shampoo 2. Chris Christensen Happy Eyes Tearless Shampoo |
| What about fleas and ticks? | Do not use oral flea medication. It can cause seizures and symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction | 1. Adams Topical Flea and Tick shampoo or spray for puppies ten weeks or older). 2. Dawn dish soap is a good option. |
| What about heartworms and other parasites? | We recommend Heartgard monthly to prevent heartworm disease and to treat and control ascarid and hookworm infections. | |
| How do I keep my puppy’s ears clean after a bubble ? | You can use either an ear cleaner or an ear flush. | 1. Vet Basics ear cleaner (Salicylic Acid) 2. Davis EarMed Boracetic Dog & Cat Flush (For odorous or crusty ears). |
| Food | ||
| Where can I go to find information about the many kinds of dog food? | For dog food reviews, alerts and recalls, visit The Dog Food Advisor. | |
| What do we feed our dogs? | We are feed our dogs Natural Balance, Limited Ingredient, Salmon and Brown Rice (WITH GRAIN). This is dog food for all stages of a dog’s life from puppy to senior. We feed them a limited ingredient diet that is not grain free and contains limited fillers. | Where to buy. |
| What other foods have we fed our dogs? | Life’s Abundance, Nutro, Acana and Core. | |
| What kind of treats should I give my dog? | Fromm Crunchy Os Flavor Treats. Portland Pet Foods Sweet potatoes, carrots, blueberries, raspberries (NO GRAPES OR RAISINS). | |
| What about my puppy’s/Dog’s teeth? | Daily brushing and annual teeth cleaning by a veterinarian. Avoid feed your puppy/dog human food, particularly soft food. | Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Poultry Flavor Dog Dental Kit |
| Should I keep my puppy in a play pen or a crate? | Potty training: Appropriate-sized dog crates are recommended for potty training your puppy because of their limited space — a dog is not going to want to soil his own bed! A pen, by comparison, leaves more than enough room for a dog to relieve himself in one corner and play in another Emotional support: There’s also an emotional benefit to using a crate. Dogs tend to have a natural affinity for enclosed spaces, or dens, where they know they’re protected from everything outside. In the same way many people feel cozy and relaxed in bed, dogs enjoy having a safe space like a crate to retreat to. With a little training, this can easily become a favorite napping place for your pup as well — especially if you make her crate a little homier with a soft bed and even a cover. Is a playpen better than a crate? Ideally, neither the crate nor the playpen is better than the other — they just have different purposes. A crate should be your dog’s designated space to relax and sleep (never a punishment!), while a playpen keeps her secure in a smaller area of your home. | 1. IRIS 4-Panel Plastic Exercise Dog Playpen with Door 2. Tespo Pet Playpen, Portable 3. NATRKE Pet Playpen for Small Animals, Portable Plastic Translucent 4. Crate metal brand of choice. We like KONG brand. Always find one with two doors. 22 inches wide by 36 inches is the size we use for one dog. 5. Ruff ‘n Ruffus Portable Foldable Pet Playpen + Free Carrying Case |
| What about microchips? | Highly recommended. The peace of mind is well worth the investment. | Consult with your veterinarian. |
| What kind of harness do you suggest? | We recomend using a mesh/netting style harness. They are cooler and work well at the beach. | 1. DOGGIE DESIGN Cool Mesh Dog Harness with Leash 2. Living World Small Animal Harness & Lead |
| How do I comfort my dog when he/she is feeling anxious or scared? Like during a thunderstorm or fireworks. | Smart Pet Love Snuggle Puppy Behavioral Aid Dog Toy This comforting toy recreates the intimacy and physical warmth that your nervous pup craves in times of stress due to loneliness, fear and separation anxieties. This stuffed animal behavioral aid also features a real-feel, pulsing heartbeat and heat source that works to calm your pup and reduce negative behaviors such as barking and whining. You can switch the heartbeat function on and off as desired. Added bonus: batteries are included. | Where to buy. |
| What if I don’t want to use pee pads? | Transitional Training If your ultimate goal is to wean your pup from pee pads to full outdoor elimination, make a gradual transition. If your indoor bathroom area is located far away from a door, slowly move the pee pads closer to the door week by week. Do this until your pup reaches an age when he can be expected to hold his bladder and bowels for several hours, or when an adult dog is in a regular habit of using his designated spots. Eventually you’ll move the pee pad right next to the door, and then outside the door to his outdoor elimination spot. You can then be done with the pee pads. A good resource to more information may be found here. | 1. Pet Loo Indoor Yard Training System for Dogs, Small 2. Wee Pads 3. |
| Useful Links | https://www.revivalanimal.com/ www.smileypetshop.com https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ www.chewy.com https://www.petsuppliesplus.com/ |