Recommended Items for Your New Puppy

Food & Water Bowls

Ensure your puppy stays hydrated and well-fed with the right food and water bowls. Opt for durable, non-tip bowls that are easy to clean and refill. Stainless steel bowls are a great choice for maintaining cleanliness and avoiding the buildup of bacteria. Remember, a clean bowl promotes healthy eating and drinking habits.
 

Collars & Harness

We strongly recommend Lupine products from New Hampshire for your collar and leash needs. Not only are they gorgeous, but you can also buy matching ID tags! Love it! Also, they have a lifetime guarantee, even if the collar gets chewed! I can personally say they stand behind their word. My Molly has almost put them out of business…LOL! I can’t say enough: AWESOME product!

For Harnesses, we have two favorites that fit Doxies quite nicely. RUFFWEAR can be found here, and VOYAGER.

Hygiene Prodcuts

Your puppy can be bathed as often as you feel necessary, keeping in mind that over-bathing can disrupt the natural oils in the skin. We recommend a puppy or no-tear baby shampoo, which works for now. Unlike other breeds, dachshunds are “no body odor” dogs and only need bathing when they have gotten into something. In addition to regular baths, brushing your dachshund with a soft-bristle brush or a rubber grooming mitt once a week can help remove loose hair and keep their coat shiny. Your puppy is used to having his/her toenails clipped every two weeks since birth. If you continue the schedule, the likelihood of having a dog that hates having its nails trimmed is reduced dramatically.

 

Shots

Your puppy will have had Bordetella at three weeks of age and DHPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza) at 7- 8 weeks of age. A Health Record will be included in the take-home packet. I am a firm believer in vaccinations and the use of flea, tick, and heartworm control. At Daisy-Hill, we use Credelio or Bravecto, which protects against fleas and ticks. We also use Interceptor Plus monthly, which protects against heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Heartworm and Lyme disease can be Prevented!! If not vaccinated and given preventatives, your puppy/dog may suffer lifelong health issues or even death, not to mention the cost of an ailing animal. We insure our homes, cars, and other items we care for. WHY NOT take every precaution with your new family member who is dependent on you? VACCINATE!!!
 

Worming

Your puppy was wormed with Pyrantel at 2 and 6 weeks of age. Panacur at 4 and 8 weeks of age. Even though all my dogs are wormed monthly, Mothers may not “have” worms or parasites but “carry” certain worms and parasites and pass them on when they have their babies.

Loose Stools…. May be brought on by many different things, but STRESS starts the process

  • Stress, changing homes, and leaving family behind
  • Changing food too quickly
  • Coccidiosis is a parasite that resides in a dog’s intestine. Stress may cause a flare and is treated by Albon
  • Giardia is a parasite found in many animals. Veterinary research suggests that 50% of all puppies and well-cared-for dogs carry giardia. It is treated with Metronidazole or Panacur.

Honestly, this is the most frustrating part of breeding. The cleaning, bleaching, preventatives, and TLC don’t prevent some of these parasites from showing up when a dog or puppy is under stress after leaving here. This is why I highly recommend taking a stool sample to your first puppy visit and having it tested. better to be proactive

We also STRONGLY recommend, in the first four months of your puppy’s life and/or until fully immunized, to avoid public parks, unvaccinated animals, and rest areas-anywhere your puppy may encounter other dog feces. This is the primary way for your puppy to contract worms/parasites or even the life-threatening Parvovirus disease.

Toys

We LOVE BarkBox, this is a monthly subscription, and your baby gets new toys and treats monthly. Well worth the money!! I have set up the link to go to their SUPER CHEWER products. You’ll want to pick the weight class for your puppy full grown, Small and Mighty 0-20lbs. I find this is the right size toys, they work perfectly.

Your puppy will need an assortment of toys to play with and CHEW! We do not recommend the rag or braided toys that are sold. There have been reports of intestinal distress in some dogs. We do recommend nylabones, squeaky toys and hard rubber toys. Your puppy will need a “toy box” or a place where he or she knows where to find them. Toys are used for entertainment, teething, and training. Whenever your puppy is chewing or biting something he or she is not supposed to, a sharp NO is given, and you replace the object or person with a toy. A puppy is never allowed to bite or chew on hands or clothing! This will only lead to discipline problems in the future and a dislike for the puppy for those of you with children. Teach children that when the puppy is excited and too rough, they should seek higher ground (like the couch) and use dog toys instead of their hands or clothing to play with the puppy.

Crate / Kennel

The goal of kennel training is for a dog to willingly go into the crate or any other enclosure (e.g., cage at the veterinary office) for any reasonable period of time. A properly kennel-trained dog will perceive the crate as his “den” or “bedroom.”

​Crate training is an excellent thing to do for any dog. Since dogs are den animals by instinct, it creates a “Safe Place” for the dog. The crate should NEVER be used as a punishment and should be introduced to the dog as young as possible.

​I use crate training to assist in potty training and keep the house from being chewed to pieces when the puppy cannot be supervised. If this is going to be the principal place where the puppy will reside because of work schedules, kid schedules, or pure laziness, DO NOT GET A PUPPY! There are other dog options if your and your family’s lives are so hectic that a puppy must spend most of its life in a crate. That is not what crate training is intended for; it is a training tool, not a home or constant babysitter. ​

When purchasing a crate, choose one large enough for the dog to stand, turn around, and lie down as an Adult (we use 28-31″). You can modify the crate for the use of the puppy by stuffing an old pillow in the back end and a towel on the bottom; both items should be able to be washed. You want the puppy only to have enough room to turn around and lie down; if not, he or she will sleep on one end of the crate and potty on the other. I do not like the wire kennels as the dog will feel exposed, and you will cover it with a towel or blanket, and the dog will pull it through and chew and eat it. I prefer plastic because it is much easier to keep clean.​

Again, I use crate training for nighttime potty training and periodically during the day to run a few errands or have a much-needed nap! Always potty your puppy before crating. I crate train by placing the crate on my nightstand and pulling it up to the side of the bed so the puppy is as close to me as possible. Just like a baby, puppies want to be reassured of your presence. Once at bedtime, of course, you have given a small treat and NON-SQEAKING TOY (learned this the hard way), your puppy will fuss. In a soothing voice, tell the puppy night-night. The fussing may continue the first night, but eventually, the little love bug will drift off. In the first few weeks, your puppy will likely need to go out once a night. When you hear the whining, take your puppy to potty, say a good job, and right back in the crate. DO NOT turn on all the lights and throw a parade, as you will now be up for the day! I don’t treat for pottying at night either, or this will now be a learned behavior. Just a voice of a good dog will be enough. This ends very quickly, and your puppy will sleep through the night in no time. If you get an accident in the crate, it is your fault. Dogs are very clean and do not mess in their living space. Do NOT reprimand the puppy; simply clean it up. After a few weeks, I move the crate to the floor of my bedroom. During the day, especially when your puppy is very young, I put the crate in the room where he or she is for the day and leave the door open. Don’t panic when you can’t find the baby; he or she is in their crate. Once your puppy is potty trained, you then may decide to leave the door open at night and Spoon a Doxie, ENJOY

 

We also use and recommend a Snuggle Puppy. We offer them here for $25.00 at the time of Pick-Up.

https://www.chewy.com/snuggle-puppy-original-snuggle-puppy/dp/135569

 

Plush dog toy with heat pack and "Snuggle Puppy" tag.
 

High Quality Puppy Food

We highly recommend high-quality food just for puppies. Your puppy is now eating Orijen Amazing Grains Dry Puppy Food. I have done my homework and research. By far, Orijen’s products come in first (in all categories) across the board when looking for the best Dog and Puppy foods sold. Here, my adults eat a 50/50 mixture of Orijen grain-free and grains, and I would recommend doing the same with Puppy food, Amazing Grains, and Grain Free Puppy. I am only using the one for your baby to keep it simple for new Moms and Dads. There has been a lot of research, and the consensus is that Grain-Free is not good for puppies and dogs and causes heart issues. I don’t agree with the research. I feel this is all about selling junk dog food. So, I have compromised if I am wrong, and that’s why there is a mixture. I know it’s a pain, but most studies recommend at least two different dog foods be given to your dog as nutrients are different in different brands. This food is pricey, but so are veterinary bills and the time, energy, and inconvenience of an ailing Dog or Puppy. Orijen also has a generous frequent buyers’ program when purchasing food locally. For a list of retailers that carry and sell Orijen near you, go to Orijen Pet Foods or call 1-877-939-0006. For your online convenience, www.chewy.com.

At 4 months of age, with the evening meal, I include Longevity and Omega 3-6-9, both products sold by Springtime Supplements, www.springtimeinc.com. These products are superior for overall health and the protection of the hips and joints in your sweet Doxie.
Your puppy needs to eat 2 to 3 times a day, starting at 1/8 to 1/4 cup per feeding and increasing as they grow, keeping in mind an adult Doxie gets a total of 3/4 cup to 1 1/4 cups per day depending on exercise and food quality. Less quality food will be a bigger serving, so follow the directions on the bag. At a year old, your puppy should be transitioned to adult food, and again, I recommend Orijen Adult food or another high-quality food. Water should be available at all times unless you find this to be a problem with potty training, and in that case, water should be offered with meals 2 hours before bed until training is under control.
If you have decided NOT to feed the same puppy food we do, please let me know, and I will send home with your baby a 14-day supply.
A week to ONLY feed (even treating) what I send and then a week of mixed 50/50 with the new puppy food.
If switched too soon, your puppy will get diarrhea, and the fun begins!

Treats

NO TREATS IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS HOME!! Use the puppy food kibble. We absolutely want you to treat the baby for all the positive things they do, but WE DO NOT WANT TO INTRODUCE ANYTHING NEW INTO THIER BELLY IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS AT HOME. Doing so will only end badly with diarrhea and possibly vomiting. Once past the 2-week mark, start slowly and see how the new food/treat is tolerated. Also, when feeding a high grade food, I feel a treat doesn’t necessarily need to be top shelf, a treat should be a treat!
 

Stain Remover

Accidents happen, especially during puppyhood. Having a reliable pet-safe stain remover on hand can save your carpets and floors from unwanted marks and odors. Look for enzyme-based cleaners that effectively break down stains and neutralize odors without harmful chemicals, keeping your home fresh and your puppy safe.

 

Liquid Benadryl

In case of unexpected allergic reactions, vaccine reactions, or bug bites, liquid Benadryl can quickly relieve your puppy. Always consult your veterinarian for the correct dosage before administering any medication. Keeping liquid Benadryl in your pet’s first aid kit prepares you for any minor allergic emergencies.
 

Dog Bed

Your puppy deserves a cozy spot to rest and sleep. Invest in a comfortable, size-appropriate dog bed that supports its growing body. A good dog bed not only provides a sense of security but also helps establish a designated sleeping area, contributing to better sleep patterns and behavior.
 

Puppy Obedience Class

Enrolling your puppy in obedience classes is key to their development and socialization. These classes offer foundational training that fosters good manners, understanding of commands, and positive interactions with other dogs and people. Not only do they strengthen the bond between you and your puppy, but they also set the stage for a well-behaved adult dog.