New Puppy Care
Getting Your New Puppy
If you have recently purchased a pup, “Congratulations!” on your new baby.
If you are planning to get a pup, research the breed carefully and contact the Secretary of your local Club. Only buy from reputable breeders and please try and avoid succumbing to the ‘cute’ pet-store pup purchase.
Whether you have one of our pups, or one from another breeder, you will need to be well prepared, as far as feeding and maintaining your new whippet.
Either way, we hope you find the information helpful but please note, it is only a guide and other breeders may have different rearing and feeding practices that may be just as effective.
House Training
By the time you collect your IBIZA pup, the basic house training will have been well underway and should be much easier for you to complete, as long as newspaper is always available near their bed and in a couple of corners in the room they sleep in. Some pups may use “kitty litter” if encouraged.
Always take them outside straight after they wake up (whenever possible) and also straight after they finish drinking, and a few minutes after eating (if fed indoors), as these are the main “wee-wee” & “doo-doo” times.
Some new pups at 10-12 weeks may not be accustomed to their name yet, so you will need to re-enforce it often. Pick any name or abbreviation you feel appropriate (don’t worry too much about what the breeder called it).
It’s often easier to choose a name once you discover your new pup’s nature and character.
This initial period is a great time for you (and your pup in particular) to set the foundation for a long & loving bond.
Always have clean fresh water available.
Have a nice warm place for them to sleep, as well as a shaded place out of the sun. Ensure at least one toy is available at all times and alternate these to keep them from getting bored. Offer a rubber ‘chew’ toy if they starts nibbling on rugs or furniture. Always give distractions to interrupt disruptive conduct. Do not give biscuits or treats after they have been bad or stubborn.
Remember to always reward your pup’s good behaviour with a positive comment such as “good pup” and a quick rub or scratch behind the ear &/or under the chin.
A good way to teach them their name is to say it when calling them over to you and also while feeding them treats by hand. If they respond and come to you, or sits (etc.), don’t forget to also give a quick scratch behind the ears &/or under their chin.
Our puppy owners can contact us at any time
We will provide backup any time required and if you have any problems, do not hesitate to contact us promptly. We’re available at any time of day (or night).
We always endeavor to supply quality, fit puppies that are sound, both physically and in nature. It is now up to you to make sure that your puppy develops to it’s full potential.
We trust your pup brings you many years of love, joy and delight, the way our dogs continue to do for us, each and every day.
Looking after your new puppy
Please keep in mind that the day you take your puppy home with you is the likely the most traumatic day of its life. They have just been separated from their mum, siblings and all prior, familiar humans and surroundings.
When you get home, take pup straight out into the garden, offer it a drink of water and then wait until they relieve themselves. Only then take them inside to the place where they are going to sleep. Show your puppy their bed (even during daytime) and offer them a little bit of food (I didn’t give puppies any food before their journey). Just let them explore.
Before you bring your new baby puppy home you should decide where it is going to sleep. In the beginning you will need a secure warm room, preferably with a washable floor (with an access to the garden would be perfect); a place were you could leave pup when you are not at home (large laundry is ok for a few hours).
Alternatively, puppy ‘playpens’ (min. 3 - 4ft high) are a good way to keep your puppy and home safe. Pens are a series of joined panels that shape as needed.
Please make sure the top of adjoining panels are taped together with thick ‘Gaffer’ tape to avoid pups paws getting caught when jumping.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN’T REACH ANY ELECTRIC CORDS & Computer cables. If possible, always switch the power point OFF. Please put all electrical & phone cords in a flexible plastic drainage pipe when first introducing young, teething puppies.
Place their basket, crate or box in a corner with food and fresh water nearby, then spread some newspaper in an opposite corner. When you have to go out, lock them in their room or playpen with some food, ’spill-proof’ water bowl and a toy or two. Try to tire them out as much as possible before you leave; remember “A tired dog is a good dog”.
Think of recyclables that are ‘new’ toys for them. You can give them cardboard cylinders from inside toilet rolls, empty margarine containers, or raw carrots if your pup likes them (cold from the refrigerator in summer is always appreciated). Also squeaky plastic baby toys or soft toys (watch for glass eyes that might come off) are good and some Op-Shops have baskets full of puppy toys. Hide some in a cardboard box so they have to discover them (they love that).
Only give pups Raw-hide while being supervised, as it’s important to take the soft, chewed-up hide away from pups when it softens. These spongy, malleable pieces may get stuck and lodged in their throats. They love rawhide, but you need to keep an eye on them, especially when they get towards the end, as the hide ‘expands’.
Pedigree Puppy “Alphabites” biscuits can be given as rewards & special treats if pup’s been good. Don’t get them too used to these, as they may not eat their regular meals.
A hard biscuit or “Dentabone” is good for teeth, a great treat and seems to be helpful in keeping pups occupied, especially if you’ll be late home.
Basic Training
There are two words I have already started to teach the puppies; ‘NO’ and ‘COME’ as these two commands are initially the only important ones. Always use a stern voice when saying ‘NO!’ and if the puppy does not respond, a gentle tap on his nose (while you say NO again) will give them the idea that they have to stop doing what ever they are up to. To say ‘COME’, I always use my ‘nice’ voice and when puppy eventually comes, I give a reward (bit of “Schmacko” or at least a scratch/cuddle) praising them constantly.
Never punish your pup when they obey the ‘COME’ command, even if it’s taken a while to get to you. NEVER (ever) reprimand your pup when they have been finally caught after being missing for a period of time.
I usually have some snacks when we go out, and now and then call my dogs to ‘COME’ for no reason at all, giving them a reward when they do. That way you are constantly reinforcing their initial training. If you can teach your puppy to retrieve a ball, it’s great way to tire them out whenever you want them to go to sleep. Some whippets though will not do it. Most will run after the ball but will not bring it back; with work, they can be trained to do so.
House-breaking
The puppies have been using newspaper for “Doo-Doos” since they started escaping from their basket inside the whelping box and are well on the way to being trained to go outside during the day. Most of the time, your puppy needs to go to the toilet after sleeping and after eating.
If you take them out as soon as they have woken up and again just after they finish eating, they will soon learn what to do. In good weather, you may want to feed them outside.
Always praise them once they relieve themselves and always take them to the same spot to “go”; somewhere in the corner of the garden and they will soon learn what is expected of them.
While pups are little, always stay outside with them and try to make it fun for them, especially once they’ve relieved themselves. Don’t make putting pup outside feel like a punishment. If they feel that - when they go out, they will be locked out alone (in what would feel quite cold, especially after being asleep), they will try to avoid going outside. They may make the occasional “Boo-Boo, Doo-Doo” if they are ‘half’ awake; please try and be patient, accidents will happen.
Whippets are naturally very clean, but they hate the cold and they usually dislike getting wet. I have been taking these puppies out later at night and into dampened grass areas in the mornings, but I won’t force a puppy to “go” outside in the rain. I just provide the newspapers (pretend I do not notice when they “go” in front of me) and then take away the soiled papers as needed. Place several layers and you can ‘peel-away’ the top, soiled ones.
Worming & Vaccinations
We worm our puppies at 4 weeks, then 6 weeks and in the 9th week (for those collecting 10-12 wk old pups), using the “TROY” brand of liquid wormer.
You can squirt it down their throat, or place it in their food. The next dose is due at about the same time as their next vaccination (16 weeks).
Please continue worming them every 2 or 3 mths.
By the time you get your pup, you can give them the Tablet form. We supply new pup owners with a couple of 10 KG tablets. Use half of these tabs for a 5 kg pup.
In the future, ask your vet to weigh your pup and make sure he/she gives you the appropriate dose of worm treatment, or call us for more tablets (at wholesale price) as they are quite expensive at retail.
Heartworm tablet must be given every month where needed (or daily variety given if necessary). Please check with your vet.
The first vaccination was given at 6 weeks, the second is due at 3 months and next one at 16 weeks - All Dates should be recorded on your original vaccination certificate.
Bathing & Grooming Whippets
Generally, most owners do not need to regularly wash their whippets. In the summer on a hot day, you can take them for a swim in a dam or even the sea.
It seems whippets get extra filthy when owners insist on washing them in “nice smelling” shampoo. They usually rub themselves in the first foul smelling substance they come across..
When we notice our dogs moulting at the start of the warmer months, we remove the loose hair with a rubber brush. Even better is a special rubber glove with little rounded ’spikes’ - you can get one from pet stores.
It will be a while before you really need to buy anything, in the meanwhile all what you need is a damp old towel for when they get muddy; keep one in the car as you can wipe them clean anywhere. “Wet-Wipes” are also habdy to have on-hand.
The best way to buy a playpen and other accessories is to visit a large Dog Show. Here in Melbourne, KCC Park Shows have several Pet Supplies stalls, giving you a large choice and prices are lower. Ask us about any “Special Deals”; we’re normally aware of most current bargains.
Pool Instructions
IF YOU HAVE A SWIMMING POOL, NEVER LEAVE YOUR PUP ALONE IN THE GARDEN UNTIL YOU ARE QUITE SURE THEY CAN’T SQUEEZE THROUGH THE SAFETY FENCE.
As part of their training, let your puppy fall into the pool on a warm day and show them how to swim along the side to the steps, as it will take a while to teach them not to fall in. If you have a pool or pond, you’ll find that pups walk very carefully around the pool, but when they come to the corners, they forget about their back legs or try and “cut” the corner and may fall in.
All that they then want to do is to scramble out in the same spot where they fell in. Make sure they learn about the exit steps. This may save their life.