How to care for your YabaLabs puppy

Food

• Puppies are currently fed Eukanuba Chicken and Rice puppy food.
• Feed 6 to 8 oz dry food twice a day (6 am and 6 pm) add 2 oz of hot, tap water to the dry food to make it soft and mushy. When the food has expanded and is soft, give to the puppy. Add an ounce or two as the days go by to be sure the puppy is getting enough food.
  Within less than ten minutes after eating—take puppy to place you want him/her to use as the potty, when he goes, praise him/her.
• Follow your Vet’s advice as the puppy grows older and heavier for feeding amounts.
• Please do not change your puppy's food for the first several months. If in the future you choose not to feed Eukanuba please purchase dry puppy food that lists the first ingredient as LAMB, BEEF or CHICKEN (not by-products) for LARGE BREEDS and remember Labs are not full grown until about 2 years old!
• When the puppy reaches about 50 lbs., purchase Eukanuba for LARGE Breeds.
• Do not leave food out all day. Be consistent! Feed at a specific time every day. This will make it easier to train. Give the pup the food and let him/her eat, when the bowl is empty remove it. If puppy doesn't finish within 15- minutes -remove food. Labs have a tendency to eat ALL the time. Dog food attracts all kinds of bugs, poisonous frogs and other crawling insects and animals. Remove uneaten food immediately. Keep dog food in a tightly closed container.
• For nutrition info, check out http://www.eukanuba.com or write us at: Info@YabaLabs.com
  
  Microchips
  ·We will insert a microchip into the back of your puppy's neck. This chip is the size of a grain of rice and is engraved with a number that will trace ownership back to you! If the dog is ever lost or stolen and a animal care worker finds him/her, they will scan the back of the dog's neck and see who the dog is registered to, and then will contact the company to track down the rightful owners.If your puppy is lost or stolen, the authorities will contact the registered owner listed on the chip and the puppy will be released to that person. YabaLabs is the owner of the puppy on record until you register it in your name. Please submit the registration with required $ amount to register the microchip in your name. We use HomeAgain microchips which can be registered online or faxed: http://www.microchipidsystems.com/register/ You will need your pet's microchip number and a credit card. $19.75 covers your dog if he/she should get lost for the lifetime of your dog. The first year HomeAgain provides a variety of services at no additional charge.
  AKC Papers
  · The online registration process is available to YabaLab puppy owners. Simply have the AKC papers with you (the online access code is on the form) and a credit card. You will receive your official AKC registration certificate within a week.
  ·Choose a unique name, at least two or three names (read over the pedigree to get some ideas) such as; Sissie's Marley of Miami, Diaz's Brandee Wine, Golden Girl of Green Acres, Biscayne Breezy Baby, Hollister Girls Baby, Kendall's Tequila Sunshine, etc.
  
  Security/Warmth
  ·Puppies love to be cuddled and held. When left alone, give them an old towel or blanket to cuddle with and put them in an area where they cannot hurt anything and nothing can hurt them. Make sure that the blanket or towel cannot be eaten.
  
  Water Supply
  ·Keep fresh water available at all times
  ·2 to 5 gallon containers which allow for fresh water to be available all the time can be bought at PetSupermarket, K-Mart or Wal-Mart or local pet or feed stores (can get moldy, —clean regularly). Puppies can turn over most all buckets and bowls. It is best to have two or three water bowls available at all times. Chose the water container carefully, be careful that the puppy cannot fall into the bucket or bowl.
  · Stainless steel dishes for the food and water will suffice. Plastic and other types will be chewed and destroyed very quickly. Dishes can be found at various Pet Food Stores and Feed Stores, K-Mart, Wal-Mart.
  
  Snacks
  ·Buy dog biscuits (lamb, beef or chicken) and only give one or two a day (too much can result in upset stomach)
  ·No table scraps~!
  
  Toys
  ·Large, hard, solid chew toys -- while you are watching them, they can destroy some toys and swallow large objects and pieces of the toys, which can be dangerous.
  
  Shelter
  ·Dogloo costs approximately $125+ at Wal-Mart, PetSupermarket, PetCo or feed stores. Also, make arrangements for your dog to be protected from the extreme heat we feel in South Florida by keeping him/her on a covered patio or a build a dog house that protects the animal from extreme heat or cold.
  
  Dangers
  ·Plastic bags - Do not leave plastic bags that contain food or used to contain food, on counter tops. Dogs can reach them and have been known to suffocate
  ·No Chocolate - (chocolate increases the heartbeat and can be fatal to dogs)
  Raisins and Grapes - Cause kidney failure
  ·WATER - Labs LOVE pools, lakes, canals and bathtubs, be careful when they are around water. Canals and lakes have bacteria that can make your pet ill.
  ·Cleaning supplies, open toilets - with toilet cleaners
  ·Pigs ear chews -they can gulp them down whole and get stuck in stomach.
  
  Chewing
  (puppies favorite chew toys are listed below—keep them out of reach or puppy will find them)
  ·Keep all electric cords out of reach
  ·Shoes (do not give old shoes—they will think it’s okay to chew all shoes)
  ·Towels, especially dish towels hanging from oven handles or drawers
  ·Socks, pantyhose, underwear and dirty laundry..,
  
  Weather
  Please use common sense when taking your dog out in the very hot Florida heat! Dogs do not experience heat the same way that we do, unlike us, dogs do not sweat. Dogs cannot take off their fur coat! Even though you may be comfortable, your dog could be overheating.
  
  Be extra careful when exercising with your pet. Monitor breathing levels. Watch for signs of fatigue. Offer your pet sips of water along the way to keep him cool.
  
  In cold weather, make sure your dog has adequate housing.
  
  ROUTINE
  As a pack animal, your new dog will want to learn the power structure of your household as soon as possible. By establishing dominance early, you will be laying the groundwork for effective training in the future.
  
  When you first come home walk through doors ahead of your dog and eat a snack in your dog's presence before setting out the dog food. Taking the lead and eating first are activities your dog associates with a pack leader.
  
  The first few days, your dog will be busy exploring her new home. Don't discourage this behavior, but make sure you keep your dog within sight whenever he/she is out of her crate during the first few days. Your dog may chew, scratch or run indoors where these activities aren't appropriate. By watching your dog closely the first few days, you are always in a position to nip this behavior in the bud.
  
  When you see your dog doing something wrong, say "NO!" in a low voice and distract your dog with a chew toy or let her outside. Praise her for this appropriate behavior. Soon, your dog will know which activities result in praise and which result in scolding.
  
  Medications
  If you have to administer pills to your dog, it is simple when you know how. You can fool most dogs most of the time by hiding it in a bit of food. For liquid medication, simply put it in a spoon and hold it out to the dog. Usually, he will just lick it right off. If that doesn't work, try disguising it in some applesauce or other food.
  In an emergency, keep calm and get your dog to the veterinarian. Call first. If your doctor's office is not open, call the nearest emergency pet clinic. Keep emergency phone numbers near your telephone. In all cases, the objective is to get your dog to a professional AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. However, there are some things you can do to help your dog before you get him to the hospital/clinic:
  
  • Wrap your dog in a heavy towel or blanket to keep him warm and restrict his movements.
  • Apply a pressure bandage (sterile gauze or a clean handkerchief) to stop the bleeding of a cut or bite.
  • Apply cold compress to a burn and gently hold it there until you get to your Vet.
  • Do not induce vomiting if you suspect or know your dog has swallowed a poisonous substance.
  • At any sign of choking (drooling, difficulty swallowing, pawing at the mouth, gagging), do not attempt to remove the item.
  • If your dog suffers heatstroke, take him to a cool spot and sponge him down with cold water. Encourage your dog to drink small amounts of water.
  
  Crates
  · If you intend to crate your dog, purchase a crate for a large breed dog. Labs can reach up to about 85 lbs.+, and they grow very quickly. They grow as tall as 24 ½ inches (at the withers- top of the shoulder blade) and standing from head to toe about 31 inches. Labs are considered full grown at 2 years old.
  
  Some people that work outside of the home find that a most useful tool in setting a schedule is a crate. Once you have taught your dog to view her crate as her area, she will be glad to stay there when you aren't home. This will keep your puppy out of trouble and allow you to control when she eats, runs and eliminates.
  
  Dogs are creatures of habit. They will be happiest if their food, water, bathroom break, exercise and play come at the same time every day. Set a schedule as quickly as possible and follow it as closely as possible.
  
  Remember that your dog will react most directly to tone of voice and body language. Use a high and excited voice to motivate, a calm, normal tone to command and a low, growling voice to warn or correct.
  
  With this groundwork, you and your dog will learn more about each other and will be able to learn to work together. Once your dog has settled into her new life and has acknowledged you as leader, you will have a much easier time correcting behavior and teaching different activities.
  
  Exercise
  Even if a dog has a large backyard, he needs daily exercise. At least one walk a day is recommended. Make the walk as long as you can, so he gets lots of exercise!
  
  Well-exercised dogs suffer fewer physical ailments than sedentary dogs, are less likely to be overweight, and are happier and better behaved.
  
  VETERINARIAN VISITS
  Your puppy will need more veterinary care in the first year of life than at any other time. There is a lot your vet can do that will help keep your puppy healthy even when it is all grown up.
  
  A Veterinarian should be selected before bringing your puppy home. Once your puppy is home, YabaLabs requests that the first meeting of Vet and puppy should happen as soon as possible - ideally within 3 days. In addition to a general check-up and examination for parasites, you and your Vet should work out a specific schedule at that first meeting.
  
  In the first three months of your puppy's life, your vet will probably want to meet every two or three weeks for vaccinations. Initial vaccinations for many diseases start at about six weeks and are repeated every two to three weeks until 14 weeks of age.
  
  Rabies vaccinations sometimes are regulated by local laws and often begin between three and six months. Between four and six months, your puppy should be checked again for parasites and your vet will recommend heartworm treatment. Also permanent teeth should start coming in around this time.
  
  Spaying or neutering is recommended between four and six months. The procedure is simple, and males usually recover in a day. Females may take two or three days.
  
  After six months, the vet visits usually taper off. In general, it is a good idea for adult dogs to make at least one visit a year to maintain the healthy start they got as puppies.
  
  Books
  Before you bring a puppy home -