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What
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What a Poodle Needs |
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Getting a new puppy
is SO fun and exciting! Once you have made the decision and picked out
your puppy, there are preparations to be made before you bring your
little one home. I have created a list of suggested items and where
you might want to shop:
What a Poodle Needs FOOD: Of course you will need food, but which kind? Our puppies are started out on Science Diet Puppy Food canned and by the time they are ready to be taken home, are eating the dry small bites Science Diet Puppy Chow. I recommend they continue to eat dry food throughout their lifetime for the dental benefits it provides. Science Diet is a good product that is not the most expensive nor the cheapest brand on the market. There are other exceptional brands and it is OK to change brands as long as you do so by adding a small amount of the new food to their existing brand, gradually increasing new to old over the course of a week to 10 days. PUPPY BISCUITS: These are great for a treat or a reward for training and also for teething. BONES: Rawhide bones are great for teething, but pay attention to any small pieces they might get chewed off and choked on. I recommend the knotted bones over the sticks. Although the sticks might be easier for the little ones to chew, there is a greater chance of getting the stick stuck in the roof of their mouth or throat. Flavored Nylabones are great too. EXERCISE PEN: These portable and very convenient pens may seem like an added expense you can do without, but how did I ever do without! They come in different heights (I recommend the 36" as some puppies quickly learn to climb out of the shorter ones, trust me I know), fold flat, set up anywhere, and create a safe confinement area inside or outside for your puppy when you are not at home, for overnight, or playing in the yard. I place a carrier/bed inside the pen with a puppy pad on one side and the food and water on the opposite side, and of course lots of toys. DISHES: You will need a dish for food and a dish for water. There are plenty to choose from but I recommend a non-tipping and sliding style. CRATE or CARRIER: I love the convenience of the plastic carriers also referred to as crates, that come in two pieces. Together it is a safe easy way to transport your puppy and a great aid in housebreaking, and apart the bottom becomes a bed that is chew resistant (although baskets are cute I do not recommend them as beds). FLEECE BED: To add to the convenience of the carrier/bed they make a fleecy cozy pad with rolled edges that fits perfectly in the bottom of the carriers and can be used with or without the carrier. These pads are machine washable and can be dried in the dryer. COLLAR AND LEASH: These are a must and what a fun item to shop for with so many choices. If you are getting a tiny puppy I recommend a small harness as well for those first lessons in walking on a leash to avoid pressure on such a little neck. PUPPY PADS: There is some controversy about the use of these plastic backed, absorbent pads for housebreaking if you wish for your puppy to do his "business" outside, and my own dogs are trained to go outdoors, but what a help they are if your puppy needs to be kept in a confined area when you are not around. Puppies really seem to learn quickly to "go" on the pads and they can still learn to go outside as well. I keep several pads in the pen after they are weaned and gradually narrow it down to one. Puppies, like dogs, instinctively go to the perimeter of their confinement to relieve themselves so I recommend you do not place the pads in the middle of the pen. If you are using a "too large" crate as the confining area, place the pad to the back and the bed to the front as the puppy will want to spend most of the time by the door he can see out. Also I recommend the pad holder that keeps the pad in place. My puppies and I go 'round and 'round aver their delight in grabbing their pad and running off with it. TOYS: Another fun necessity with so many choices. Just watch for plastic or thin rubber that can be chewed into little pieces and swallowed. They love toys with dangly legs or ropey parts that they can play tug o war with and balls they can chase. GROOMING NEEDS: Puppies can be bathed as needed, however unless they have gotten themselves in a mess I recommend no more than once a week and with a mild puppy shampoo. A slicker brush and dog comb will keep their coat free of tangles if used once or twice a week. Poodle puppies are easy to keep brushed as their coats are soft and wavy. As they mature and get their curl, they will get more tangles and mats if not frequently combed or brushed unless you keep them clipped short. Most poodles have some tearing under their eyes but if you wipe them clean as you notice the start of any build up it can be kept to a minimum. There are products to clean tear stains and a couple of mornings a week Layla shares the bathroom counter with me to get her "face done" with warm water and her cleaner or sometimes her shampoo on a Q tip. DENTAL CARE: Toy poodles also tend to have tartar build up on their teeth and care should be taken to keep teeth clean. Dry food, dental chews such as Greenies and Dental Rings help prevent this build up which in turn leads to bad breath. There are different products for brushing your dogs teeth, but a moistened gauze pad with baking soda rubbed on the teeth does a good job and is just as easy as trying to get cooperation with a tooth brush. Wiping the teeth with just a dry cloth or gauze should be introduced at an early age so that it will not be a battle when it becomes necessary. A good time to do this is when your puppy is cuddling in your lap and not during frisky play time. |
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What
A Poodle Wants?? For a list of recommended products
and vendors visit Le'
Pet Mall |