Gilbertson & Page Dr John Puppy 10kg

Product Information

Garden Time: Typically puppies need to go out into the garden frequently. This needs to be first thing in the morning, after every meal, after a long sleep and any time when they look as though they might need to! You will need to go out there too, create a command that you can remember each time to say in a gentle firm tone and then praise them when they perform. To start with, reward them with a small treat (or biscuit from their diet) so they identify your praise with rewards too. All pups will have accidents along the way but so long as their bedding is washable and they are in areas that can be easily cleaned, these are easily dealt with and ignored, reinforcing praise and rewards for good behavior.

As an overall guide feeding a palatable, balanced adult maintenance diet during this period is ideal in a normal healthy pregnancy, and there should be no need to supplement. All of our adult diets are suitable for the requirements of pregnancy, however, Gilpa Trinkets, Dr. John Titanium are ideal for particularly small females or those likely to have a large litter as these diets have higher energy and protein content which will help with the additional requirements of pregnancy and enhance milk yield. Carb-rich ingredients: includes all ingredients derived from grains, pseudo-grains, potatoes and other starchy root vegetables, sweet potato and legumes (except whole peas which are categorised under fruit and veg) except for isolated protein and extracted oils. Also includes fibre supplements. Dr John also makes food specifically designed for working dogs and has a great range of different foods for different breeds. Training: This needs to start straight away at home. Introduce consistent commands and reward methods early on to ensure a good start. Training classes can be a great way to meet people with similar issues and also for your puppy to socialize in a safe environment. However it is important to wait until vaccinations are complete and it is not until a further 7 days after the second set that your puppy will be safe to go outside and meet other dogs. PUPPY FEEDING SCHEDULE Puppies have different requirements to adult dogs. During their growth period they need higher levels of energy, protein, fat and certain minerals and vitamins to maintain their optimum growth. To feed a puppy on an adult diet would mean doubling the amount of food you would need to give the puppy. This would be difficult to interest the puppy into eating and likely to cause diarrhoea, through the sheer volume of food passing through the digestive system. In addition although the diet would provide sufficient energy it would not be balanced in terms of amino acids, vitamins and minerals which could all have a detrimental effect on growth.Plan to spend the whole day with your puppy so arrive at the breeder’s home as early as possible so you have time to go through all the documents, information on your puppy’s current routine and what your puppy will need over the next few days. This will also allow your puppy to become more familiar with you before leaving. Days 42- 49: The developing puppies continue to grow. The mother will start shedding her stomach hair.

Commitment to 10+ years of your life to looking after your dog through all his/her life stages. Commitment to regular exercise, playtime, providing a suitable diet and veterinary care as needed. Symptoms of hunger, shivering in the cold and fatigue can be early signs that your dog needs a higher energy formula. It may be that you have been feeding a light diet to prevent your dog gaining weight, cutting out treats to prevent bad behaviour, or perhaps started keeping your dog cooler to improve coat condition. All these minor changes can have an effect on your dog’s metabolic rate and nutritional requirements. Dr John has a wide range of dog food available which includes: Dr John Puppy Food, Dr John Hypoallergenic, Dr John Titanium, Dr John Silver, Dr John Gold and Dr John Grain-Free Dog Food. The duration of pregnancy in dogs can range from anything between 57 – 69 days. Feeding well throughout this period should ensure a successful outcome and healthy well-fed pups. For the first 35 days there is no need to increase the amount to feed, simply feed as normal and monitor appetite, digestion and condition. You may notice that during week 4 and 5 of pregnancy she loses her appetite, which in most cases is entirely normal and indicative of pregnancy. However, in the last third of the pregnancy period she will need to have her food increased by approximately 10% a week so that when she is ready to give birth she is having 1.5 times her maintenance amount. As the pups increase in size in her, her stomach capacity is reduced so feed her little and often or through free choice feeding. FEEDING FOR LACTATION All dogs will vary in their nutritional requirements, and although estimates can be made for average breed size, individuals may require more or less than these guidelines. Factors to consider are whether your dog is smaller or larger than the standard for the breed, how active they are, their energy levels, their age and appetite. Then, start with the recommended feeding amount and adjust to as many of these factors as possible – never going more than 50% over or under the starting amount (exceptions for puppies and during breeding). Always remember to subtract a small amount for treats if using these as behavioural rewards. The resulting amount is your starting point. Immediate signs of overfeeding are struggling to finish the food in one sitting and loose stools or diarrhoea; a more long term effect is weight gain. If you under feed, some obvious signs are that your dog will be ravenously hungry and constantly asking for food even after finishing the meal and in the longer term, weight loss will result. Weigh your dog regularly and keep a careful eye on their shape to maintain a good level of condition. You should see a nice covering on your dog but the ribs should be felt once you press lightly. How you measure the food is important, the best way is to weigh the food out each time as this avoids inaccuracies gradually being built up over time. Alternatively a measuring cup or marked scoop can be used, but with this method it is worth weighing out the amount you are measuring every now and again, to make sure that the amount still matches the weight you are expecting. NEW PUPPY?There are of-course some objections to this, but these tend to be from owners that use this food irregularly. Any responsible owner knows that dogs need routine, the same goes for their food too. Providing a suitable environment for a dog, a warm quiet place for them to sleep, room to play and a fenced in, secure garden that they can treat as their own. It’s worth getting your vet to advise you on the birth process with puppies and what might go wrong if this is the first litter you have overseen. Reference books can also provide additional information and reassurance on the day. Finally, research whelping kits (ID collar bands, UV lamps, heat pads and bitch milk replacer for instance) early on to ensure you have everything to hand when needed. WHAT TO FEED DURING PREGNANCY What you feed your puppy is even more important than with an adult dog as this is the key stage for determining their adult health and wellbeing. First of all, they need to be fed a puppy diet and a complete dry food will ensure they get all the nutrients and bone minerals in the right percentages to match their growth. Is Dr John dog food the high quality, nutritious food your dog needs? Find out in our review. We get to know the popular food and decide if it’s worth paying close attention to.

Most experienced dog owners would agree that spring or summer are the best seasons to bring a puppy into your household. Puppies are mostly born in the spring anyway – as with most baby animals, nature has decided that this is a good time! Plus these are ideal months because it doesn’t rain as much which is important for house training, and both you and the pup will naturally enjoy walks and outings more in good weather. Timing with puppies is everything. Once you’ve decided to get a puppy there’s a lot to get done before bringing them home so time to plan is vital. Research into their typical behavior and needs will help, and if you are getting your pup from a recognized breeder this is the ideal place to start.As your dog ages, there is a general decrease in energy needs, firstly due to a reduction in physiological needs but also due to reduced activity. Therefore, it makes sense to keep a close eye on any weight fluctuations and reduce the amount fed as required. On a physiological level, ageing can lead to a number of changes in your dog’s body, seniors often have lower glucose tolerance, less lean body mass, and reduced function from their kidneys (reduced kidney blood flow and glomerular filtration rate), their immune function, hormone secretion and response, brain and enzyme activity and mineral uptake/homeostasis can all be reduced too, making them more vulnerable to illness, environmental changes and digestion and absorption issues. They also clearly state how much you should be feeding your dog, dependent on its weight, size, breed, and other existing health conditions. We really can’t stress enough with how impressed we are with Dr John.