Before you go ahead with the purchase of any pup, make sure that you have taken everything into consideration. Remember when buying a pup you have agreed to take on a commitment for the life of a animal. I always hope that everyone who considers this takes this commitment seriously. I believe in part that putting a good value on one's pups makes people take their commitment to their pup seriously, so in part this is part of the reasoning behind the pricing of my pups, so with no further ado I hope you will find everything you need to know before you purchase your next family member to love and enjoy! To help you be ready for the arrival of your new pet I have compiled a few things together to hopefully make your shopping experience a little easier for you.
First when shopping please make sure you are comfortable with the breeder you have chosen. If you have chosen a breeder who offers many breeds of different dogs for sale, I first caution to be very careful, as most of these are in it for the money primarily, as it is often their livelihood. Please check out their facilities and local agencies to make sure they have no reports of any abuse or neglect filed against them, as well as to see first hand that they are clean and run in a fashion that you yourself are happy and comfortable with, as well as to see your pup in person, so there will be no surprises when he or she shows up on your door step. Please note: I do not mean to insinuate that because someone makes a living doing so, that their business is not run in a proper fashion, just to air caution.
This is not to say that all smaller breeders are run in the perfect of conditions either, however this is why I myself have chosen to keep my breeding program small, run from my home and strive to make shopping for your new puppy a pleasure, and in that hopefully a puppy of your dreams!
So You have found your Breeder and the perfect puppy...
Some things you will need:
Kennel portable ( I highly recommend a kennel for house training and traveling )
leash and collar ( adjustable collar is best at this age as he will grow quickly)
no rim metal food and water dish with rubber base ( puppys cant pick them up and push them around making big messes and their more sanitary )
puppy bed or mat (don't recommend wicker till he/she is done teething preferably washable)
chew toys ( he will be teething soon best he chew on these and not your shoes & furniture)
play toys ( give him some variety so he doesn't get bored)
puppy food ( Eukanuba & Max if purchasing from me :), if changing brands always change over slowly)
I do not highly recommend rawhide treats, or pigs ears for your pups. ( these have been known to cause intestinal blockages) These are okay when their older.
brushes and combs ( miniature schnauzers need regular grooming to keep from matting)
puppy shampoo ( your puppy will need to be bathed at least once a month or more if needed)
toe nail clippers (for dogs, if you have never done this Please get advice first)
(line up a groomer and the vet you will use)
Some things you should know:
The Miniature Schnauzer is a very intelligent dog, and very easy to house train, the kennel or crate training will help you to get this under way very quickly, however this does not mean that you will not have to work at this as well. The time you spend from the start and devote in those first few weeks of your pups life will help to ensure a wonderfully well behaved house trained dog, for the lifetime of your dog. So you will have to make a schedule that works somewhat with your life style while keeping your pups schedule in mind as well!
Bringing your new pup home, while everyone loves to show them off, please keep in mind that until they have recieved their whole series of vaccinations they will certainly by no means be protected from all the bad diseases as of yet that they could encounter in the big world. So... Please treat your puppy as if it has had no shots, at least until the next booster is given by your Veterinarian. Please refrain from taking your puppy to the Pet Store, park, lake, groomer, around other pets etc. until absolutely necessary. Older animals can be carriers without showing any signs of disease even years later. Parvo, Distemper, and Kennel cough are airborne diseases and puppies that have not had their full series of shots are very susceptible to being infected, possibly resulting in death. Please make sure your pup doesnt drink any questionable water outside as giardia is also a very serious disease to pups and is contracted through contaminated water, also very deadly to pups. Please see your veterinarian and complete your pups full series of vaccinations on schedule as recommended for your area. Follow a deworming program as recommended by your veterinarian, and if your pup is around older outside dogs or spends a lot of time outdoors a good defleaing program as well. Always take your dog in for a yearly check up and yearly boosters for life. Remember the miniature schnauzer is an inside dog and cannot be housed outside in our winter climates. They love to be close to their masters and live in the house along side their masters. While a fenced yard isn't mandatory it certainly is recommended or when let outside I recommend that this be done with supervision or better yet, on a leash, as all dogs can tend to be led astray by sights and smells on occasion, so for the safety of your beloved pet, make sure that you have made the necessary arrangements for this ahead of time. Schooling for your pet at 6 months to a year is recommended if your not an experienced dog handler to make your pet an obedient and well mannered member of the family is always recommended.
Feeding:
Upon bringing your puppy home it may not be unusual for him/her to have a soft stool the first day from travel, change of water, or just the stress of a new environement, however if your pup should ever have diarrhea for any reason, other then soft stool the first day consult a veterinarian immediately as diarrhea in a pup can quickly become life threatening.
Always make sure that your pup has clean fresh water available at all times to drink. (Never allow your pup to drink questionable water outdoors as giardia is a very deadly disease for puppies and is often contracted from drinking contaminated water.)
I believe in feeding puppies three times a day and always at very scheduled times. When you get your puppy you will receive your pups feeding schedule along with how much he/she is eating. If you cannot feed your pup three times a day twice will be fine as well, but no less then twice a day, as they grow follow the recommended dosages on the food manufacturers label for recommended amounts. Give the pup a few minutes to eat his meal then remove any uneaten food. I don't recommend canned food as Dogs need dry dog food to develope good healthy teeth, and gums which also in return promotes good breath.
House Breaking with the Kennel:
The kennel will soon represent a security place to your dog just as the den did to the canines of the wild. If we respect his/her space in that kennel, the pup will soon learn that in there it cannot be attacked or bothered, so it is able to relax fully. We ourselves must let go of our own preconceived notions that the kennel is a bad thing, and must never use it as a place of punishement.
To get your pup use to the kennel open the door, let him go in and explore the confines of it. Put a favorite toy or treat inside. Once he/she is inside and comfortable close the door and leave him in there for 5-10 minutes. When you let him out, don't make a big production about it. Each time increase the time till eventually you can leave him in for several hours.
This should be thought of as a safe haven, not as a prison, so never over use the kennel. Many dogs will go in there kennels on their own to retire for the night when their ready to call it a day. Eventually you will notice your pup looks forward to seeking out its kennel when its tired.
When purchasing a kennel make sure that the pup has enough room to stand up and turn around. A kennel should not be too big so that he will soil in it or can have a free for all play day in it, nor should it be so small that he cannot stand or turn around in it. A healthy dog normally will not soil in it's den, the place where it sleeps. If you purchase a kennel for a puppy based on the size of the mature dog, you may need to block off one end to keep the puppy from sleeping in one corner, and using the other for elimination.
While initially training any time you cannot keep a close eye on your puppy put him/her in their kennel until he or she is house trained. When the dog eliminates at the proper time, reward it. With the assistance of a kennel, house training can be almost painless for you and your puppy.
The kennel also can serve many other purposes as well in the future it also acts as a safety seat for a traveling dog. A dog thrown out of the car through a windshield has little chance of surviving. But in a kennel the kennel acts as a car seat of sorts. When travelling by air a kennel is required so he will be well accustomed to this type of confinement for this proecedure.
If your dog becomes ill and requires a overnight stay at the vets this will make the experience for him much less stressfull as he will be accustom to being in a kennel, as he will feel safe and secure within its confines. It also helps when having company over when he needs to find a place of comfort he will always have his own little den to find his place of comfort when things around him are too hectic.
If you are travelling and must stay overnight in a hotel or friends place your dog will always know where his bed is, so he will always have a place of comfort even in a strange place. This can be a huge comfort to a pet after a long stressful day of travelling.
No untrained pup should be left alone to run amuck the house while it's owner is away even for a few hours. This is not only foolish from the standpoint of protecting your belonging, but also from protecting your beloved pet. An untrained puppy could chew through electrical cords, be poisoned, choke on a chew toy, strangle in blind cords, curtains, or get into any number of dangerous things, see my page under health for just a list of a few of the possibilities but they are really endless. I have even heard of dogs getting their tongues in paper shredders left in the on positions. Use your kennel to protect the untrained puppy from his own foolishness, after all, kids will be kids ....including puppys! However keep in mind while your puppy is young you must limit your time away from home anyway as, he has potty business that he must take care of as well. While taking your puppy with you on occasion is okay, please, please.. keep in mind the temperature inside your vehicle. In the summer temperatures can become deadly in just minutes, and as well in the winter, and remember carbon monoxide poisoning when leaving a vehicle run, so while for very, very short stints and if someone can be with the puppy it is okay, I really do not recommend taking dogs with you in the vehicle if you have to leave them in the vehicle unattended.The miniature schnauzer is however a awesome little traveler and loves to go with you as your travelling companion.
If you have never trained a dog with a kennel before, after you have, you will wonder how you ever managed without one! Not only is it a peace of mind for you, but remember its a peace of mind for your pet as well, as it is his "little piece of safe haven."
