Your puppy’s nutrition and training are 2 KEY pillars that his or her lifelong health and happiness will depend on!
Because of that, our family at Pinewood Pups wants to give you the best head start with your new puppy in both of these areas.
We feed all of our dogs, including the puppies in our litters, the highest quality dog food we have found that fully supports their daily nutritional requirements without fillers, artificial ingredients and questionable by-products, and yet is reasonably affordable. The brand we are using right now is:
Taste of the Wild – High Prairie Puppy Formula with Roasted Bison and Venison
Taste of the Wild – Sierra Mountain Formula with Roasted Lamb
Product website: https://www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com/
We will send a starter pack home with you when you pick up your pup. This ensures that their first week of two of transition into your home will not be plagued by digestive upset due to unfamiliar food.
Of course, if you or your veterinarian prefer(s) a different product, you can use the starter pack as a way to transition your pup gradually from the food they’ve been getting to the brand you are switching to.
We have found it best for our dogs to avoid dry foods and treats that contain a significant amount of the following ingredients: wheat, soy, corn, chicken meal or chicken by-products.
We have found that the limited ingredient products, while more expensive, DO indeed support better overall health and immune system functioning in our dogs.
In order to know how to function in their pack, all canines accept and respond to training / conditioning from either their dog or human family. So, whether you are intentional about it or not, your dog will learn from your cues and how you respond to and interact with her or him, learning either good or bad behaviors from these interactions. Because of that, we want you to be prepared to teach your dog the behaviors you want him or her to have. This is not as hard as it sounds, but it does require some preparation and a plan on your part.
Whether your plan includes signing up for some training classes with your new pup, reading a book and/or watching some videos or getting help from a trusted resource, we are here to support you and help you live in harmony with your pet.
You will get a puppy training booklet from us in your New Puppy Kit, and if you live in our area, we can connect you with some excellent training centers that offer obedience classes from puppy age (usually 10 weeks old or so) up through whatever you may want to do with your dog: obedience, agility, tracking, hunting trials, etc.
We recommend crate training for your pup, both for her/his safety and for your peace of mind, and using a sturdy collar and leash that fits well when you are out and about together. With consistency over time, your pup will be a joy to have with you on walks or outings and will bring a smile to those you encounter along the way.
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have related to the health and care of your pup, no matter how long ago you got your dog from us!
One more important thing to mention:
The 2 national organizations that our dogs are registered with, the American Kennel Club and the Continental Kennel Club, also have excellent articles and resources on their web sites, and when you send in your pup’s registration papers, you can sign up for their Email newsletters.