Puppy Care

Your puppy should come with it's first set of shots and deworming and will require two more boosters spaced one month apart. Thereafter, yearly vaccinations are needed along with an annual veterinary check-up.

Neutering of both sexes is best by 6 months of age (before hormonal maturity) for an ideal pet. The procedure can be done by your local veterinarian. Behavioral aggression, scenting territory, and wandering are all reduced or eliminated completely by neutering. This surgery does not cause obesity in dogs; only over-feeding does.

Dogs' nails should be trimmed or filed every 3 - 6 weeks. If a nail bleeds, it can be stopped with 'Quik Stop' or with a nitrous stick such as men use for shaving nicks.

Grooming is simple. No hair cuts! Bathe as required, using both shampoo and conditioner to keep coat from drying out. Washing the head last will cause less stress on the dog. An occasional brushing will keep shedding to a minimum. Whiskers, long hairs on ear edges, tail tips, or whorls can be trimmed for a neater appearance for photography or showing.

This hearty, sensitive breed's life span is from 12 - 18 years, with few health problems.

House Training

Always let your puppy out after:

• He sleeps
• He eats
• He plays

Always praise your pup when he is doing the right thing. Dogs are a pack animal and learn almost everything by tones of voice. They look to you as their 'pack leader' for instructions, much like children.

You will find it easier if you confine his area in the house until he understands what is expected of him. Example: a kitchen with access to an outside door. Baby gates or temporary blockades to other rooms can eliminate house training frustrations. 'Umbilical training' can be used to control the pup in other rooms, that is, to attach a leash to your belt or chair while you are in that area.

Dogs like to have a room or den for their own 'space'. A plastic or wire crate is ideal for this. This provides safety for both pet and owner's personal property when pup is unsupervised. Also dogs do not tend to mess where they sleep.

Kaos & 1 yr old son Justice