Bluebonnet Kennels Family Raised Leonbergers Wendy Jones (Wendy)832-515-1148 Websites: www.bluebonnetleos.com Email: wendyruhl@comcast.net We have all had such a pleasure with this litter. Please remember to keep us updated on their progress through life and send pictures throughout the years. Do not hesitate to call me anytime! In the following write up I would like to give you an insight on how we raise our dogs and hope this will help you to enjoy the new addition to your home: Vaccinations and Deworming: Your puppy will have his first set of puppy vaccinations on xx/xx/15. They will need their next round of shots at 10 wks, 13 wks, and 16wks…for a total of 4 DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvo, para-influenza) shots. By giving shots every 3 wks you limit the window of susceptibility. Rabies vaccine is usually given at the age of 4 months (after the 16wk shots – around 17 wks). This is sometimes staggered from the 16wk shots…just do whatever your vet recommends. You also need to be aware of whatever other shots might be needed for your area, such as lyme, lepto, etc. Please refer to the included “Vaccination recommendations for puppies” guide. I would also suggest that you discuss with your vet getting a Parvo only shot at 6mths. I have had the misfortune of contracting Parvo at the age of 7mths following complete and perfectly scheduled vaccinations. Your puppy was dewormed at 21 days of age, and every 2wks thereafter, with StrongidT. The last deworming being xx/xx/15. They will need to have their first heartworm preventative as soon as they have their first vet checkup. You will need to continue with this every month. I use Sentinel which also helps with fleas. You can use Sentinel or Interceptor, but do NOT use Heartguard. Some Leos have shown a negative reaction to this…including one of my dogs. They will also have been microchipped on xx/xx/15, and you will receive all the corresponding “chip” info in your “puppy packet”. This is no additional cost to you…but Please remember to register with the location service. Feeding and Food: The puppies are all eating 4-5 times per day right now. It is advisable to still keep the puppy on at least 3-4 meals a day and he/she will let you know by not eating well at one of those meals when it is time to only eat 2 times a day. At present they eat Orijens and/or Acana (varying varities). It is recommended to rotate blends every week or so. Treats will be a mixture of meaty bones, and various items mixed into their food could be pumpkin, yogurt, and whatever else I feel like adding (usually bananas or apples). I always let the kibble set in water to become completed hydrated before mixing with the other ingredients and feeding. You can gradually decrease the amount of time moistening and increase hardness of kibble. I do believe that dry dog kibble is not enough for any dog and therefore; I also add a variety of things (puréed) including pumpkin (100% canned pumpkin), apples, carrots, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, or whatever fruit and veggies I have in the house (except onions and tomatoes) in the blender and then I mix raw ground beef, chicken, or turkey, and yogurt in with that. Once they are consuming a hard kibble with water, I typically feed kibble in the morning and raw in the evening…as a hard kibble and raw do not digest at the same rate. One source of raw food is through Northwest Naturals (cms.nwnaturals.net/raw/index.php). All Northwest Naturals raw foods are formulated from 1 quality and pure ingredients. Human grade, hormone-free, grass-fed, no added antibiotics, and grade A vegetables. If you choose to feed raw, please make sure of the ingredients quality. Currently I do get my raw from Texas Tripe and add in vegies & supplements myself. I only feed adult food, no puppy food!! Puppy food (even large breed puppy food) has a tendency to make them grow too fast. Always let them eat till they stop during their meals. Let them control the portion size. Every now and again you will get a ‘gluten for punishment’, but typically speaking a puppy is the best regulator of how much food they need. In a group, these puppies are very good eaters, but once they are in a different environment this might change especially if there is no other dog in the house. If your puppy gets to be picky and does not gain steadily, you might have to feed three meals longer. The stool of the puppy is a very good indicator of overeating. Many times loose stool happens if he is overeating or the food has too much protein content (I prefer max. 24 % protein). Of course if the puppy has loose stool it could also be parasites or an oncoming illness so this has to be watched closely. Pumpkin (only 100% pure canned) is good for diarrhea and/or constipation. Too much calcium in the diet can cause bone disorders in large breed dogs, so supplementing with calcium has to be done very careful and only in conjunction with extra meat in the diet. I also would not recommend free feeding - that is leaving food out all the time - it makes generally picky eaters eat even less. With my own dogs and puppies I will stand there and watch them eat to make sure everyone is doing well and getting what they need and take the uneaten portion up after they are done - of course they enjoy the company too. Supplements: o I use Nupro Joint Supplement. I also add a little into their puppy mix during the last week. Their number is 1-800-360-3300. o Vitamin C is very crucial to their growing bones. You can start them on 500mg (or add to that from Nupro Joint Supplement…to make up to desired amount) and gradually get them to 1500-2000mg. Vitamin C helps with bone growth and strength without adding unnecessary calcium. And whatever the body doesn’t need it sluffs off. o Probiotics. I use a probiotic from Canada that is produced solely for dogs. http://probiavi.com/english/probiavi_dogs.htm is the link. And I order the one for ‘big dogs’ (it’s on the Boutique tab) Example of an exact food recipe for 6 puppies: (So divide by 6…or realize this will make for possibly 6 feedings…and let them tell you when they are done) o 4 cups kibble (then soak till hydrated) o approx 2 -3 cups raw food (ground beef heart/turkey/lamb/beef/chicken) o approx 1 cup pumpkin o approx 1/8 cup coconut oil o *3 full (little) scoops of probiotics (2x per week) o *1/4 cup Nupro Supplements (1x per day) 2 Housebreaking: If you feed your puppy at about the same time every day and let him out to do his business right afterwards, after every nap, first thing in the morning when he wakes up (you have to be fast then) and last thing at night, he will very quickly know what is expected of him and he will be housetrained in no time. Crate training - this means to have him sleep in his crate for any nap and over night. Usually puppies will not soil or wet their bed and will let you know by whining or scratching that they will have to go out. It is even then the best to instantly take him out when he wakes up in the morning or from a nap. Overall positive reinforcement is the key to training so praise him whenever he does anything right. You can never praise him too much. Care: Leonberger Coats are "wash and wear". It is a good idea to brush him at least once a week - it will be quality time for you and him and he will get used to being messed with. Trouble spots that mat easily are the feathers behind the ears, the pants and tail. Keeping up with these areas is a whole lot easier than dealing with huge mats! In Spring and Fall is shedding time and I usually take several hours to comb through their whole coat to get most of the loose hair in one sitting then brush him every other day for a couple of weeks until all the dead hear is out. My Leos love to be brushed, so this will be a fun time. The nails have to be trimmed on a regular basis (this might be a struggle and has to be done from the time he gets home to you - just do it often and take just a little edge off, so it will not hurt) If you do not get him used to this early, you might not be able to do it when he is grown up! I also dremmel my dogs nails. It is best to get them use to the vibration early too. Start by doing just one nail at a time for a few days, then maybe two at a time…and so on. Before you know it they will be tolerating it fine. Then you can resort to doing it once every couple weeks. Ears also have to be checked and possibly cleaned weekly for excessive wax or oncoming infections especially if the environment is humid or the puppy swims regularly. Dental care is important also. Only use toothpaste that is canine appropriate!! Puppies that are bored will sometimes be very destructive (I have heard of a breeder that sold one puppy that dismantled a whole couch and took the stuffing out in the backyard so it looked like it had snowed several inches when the owner had to stay hours longer at work than usual). To avoid things like this it is good to give the pup something to chew on and have him confined in an area were he can not do too much damage. Obedience: It is absolutely essential to take a large dog like the Leo to obedience school (see contract) not only for the obedience part is it so important but for socialization equally. The Leonberger is a guard dog, so without constant socialization especially in the first 2 years of his life he might just take it on himself to decide who is a stranger or even that anybody outside the immediate family is a stranger. And he will protect his family and property more than you like. Puppies go through many phases at times where they are more shy or more outgoing and sometimes they will try you out. To build your pup's self-confidence you need to take him with you to as many different places as possible. If he shows signs of dominant behavior towards you or your family members, make sure to practice dominance exercises on a daily basis. o You should always be able to take a bone out of his mouth and touch his food while he is eating!! Be consistent in your training without shouting and anger. Leos are very sensitive and will be affected by your household emotions very easily. Praise and dog biscuits will be 3 the methods of choice due to their sensitivity and for the most part any Leo would like to please his owner. If they could be with you 24x7, that would be perfect for them. Involve your children whenever possible in training your puppy. Always supervised, to make sure it is done properly, but it is wonderful for your child to learn appropriate obedience and training for your puppy. It will also help make it clear to the puppy that the child is ‘above’ the puppy in the pack order. The work with your puppy in the first two years will pay off because he will be your wonderful companion. Exercise: Your Leo will be ready to go with you whenever you will take him, but just a few words of caution here: Until his muscles have developed for the heavy bone they have it is wise to not strain the puppy. Just let him go at his own pace and however long he wants to run. So to take him jogging while growing up is not a good idea, the same for running up and down stairs or jumping in and out of a truck. This has to wait until he is about one year old to avoid damage to joints and bones. However to go on walks and play with him on his own terms (let him rest when he is tired) is very important. When it is hot and humid he should probably stay in the house. Cooling is almost impossible in hot/humid climate. For those days he needs a kiddy pool or a watermister to be able to cool off. Children and dogs have to be supervised especially while the puppy grows up. Make sure not to have the children play tug games with the pup, as the puppy will have the feeling that the child is on his level and this is not what we want for safety reasons. Try to never allow your child’s head to be below that of the dog…and make it clear that the children are higher in the pack than the Leo. And remember that Leos are great with children, but they still are puppies with big puppy teeth and sharp/big puppy paws. The Leonberger reaches his maturity about age 3 or even 4. At times he might grow only in the front and then only in the rear and might look awkward and lanky until he is fully mature. Hopefully your puppy will grow up to be the most beautiful Leo. I tried to write down the things that I find most important but there are many more things to talk about. The books I feel are very helpful are: " The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skeet and "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook" by Delbert G. Carlson, DVM and James M. Griffin, MD and “The Leader of the Pack” by Nancy Baer and any of Cesar Millan’s stuff. 4 Items you might need for your new baby… I will provide starter collar & leash 1. "The Art of Raising a Puppy", by The Monks of Newskeet (and other books listed above) 2. Crate/Vari Kennel – exercise pens - define sleeping and playing area. (I love the Hagen crates (for a ‘vari’ kennel style): (expensive, but worth it…easy to open, etc.) http://www.petco.com/product/119193/Hagen-Dogit-Design-Cargo-Dog-Carrier.aspx 3. Puppy area defined in your house and back yard...puppy proof, think about poisonous plants, cords, etc.!! I typically have an ex-pen in the kitchen area as well as their crate…this can be thought of as ‘puppy play pen’, and a safe place for them to be if they cannot be tethered to you…gives everyone a break (kids, other dogs, etc.) without putting them in their crate. 4. Food and water bowls 5. Make your first vet visit appointment. Visit/talk with your vet of choice and give them a heads up that they will have a Leonberger as a client. Make sure your goals are in line with the vets. 6. Food: · Taste of the Wild adult kibble (or another premium kibble) · Northwest Naturals (or equivalent raw food diet) · pumpkin (100% pumpkin) · Coconut cold pressed oil (I put approx. 1 tsp per 6 puppies) 7. Supplements: · Nupro Supplements (1x per day) · Probiavi Probiotics (2x per week) 8. Toys: all textures and feels till you find out what kind your pup loves · plastic, rubber, soft cloth, chew toys (absolutely NO rawhides), bully sticks, etc. 9. First aid supplies (your vet might recommend) 10. Food storage - freezer space - etc. 11. Hopefully you are visiting and making a decision on the perfect training facility...and/or doggie day camp. 12. Brush 13. Nail clippers - dremmel 14. Tooth brush & doggy paste 15. Heartworm medication (Sentinel) 16. Exercise Pen (if needed), doggy door (if needed) 17. Pooper scooper/doggy bags 18. Think about pet insurance. (I use, and have been very pleased with, PetsBest) Please try to get these books and go through them before your puppy arrives. Make sure that you are the pack leader…but with gentle, positive reinforcement! If you have any questions at all that I can help you with, feel free to call or e-mail me any time (even at night). I hope you will be as happy and have as much fun with your puppy as we have had with our Leo's. Your Leonberger Bluebonnet Kennel 5 Vaccination Recommendations for Puppies (Puppy Shots) Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff The vaccination of puppies (puppy shots) is one of the crucial steps in assuring the puppy will have a healthy and happy puppyhood. The who, what, why, when, where, and how of vaccinations are complicated, and may vary from puppy to puppy. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine which vaccines are appropriate for your puppy. To better understand vaccines, it is important to understand how the puppy is protected from disease the first few weeks of its life. Protection from the mother (maternal antibodies) A newborn puppy is not naturally immune to diseases. However, it does have some antibody protection which is derived from its mother's milk. 98% of the pupppy's immunity is from antibodies derived from the first milk. This is the milk produced around the time of birth. This antibody-rich milk is called colostrum. The puppy does not continue to receive antibodies through its mother's milk. It only absorbs antibodies from colostrum for 12-24 hours after birth. All antibodies derived from the mother are called maternal antibodies. It must be noted that the puppy will only receive antibodies against diseases for which the mother had been recently vaccinated against or exposed to. As an example, a mother that had NOT been vaccinated against or exposed to parvovirus, would not have any antibodies against parvovirus to pass along to her puppies. The puppies then would be susceptible to developing a parvovirus infection. Window of susceptibility The age at which puppies can effectively be immunized (protected) is proportional to the amount of antibodies the puppy received from its mother. High levels of maternal antibodies present in the puppies' bloodstream will block the effectiveness of a vaccine. When the maternal antibodies drop to a low enough level in the puppy, immunization by a commercial vaccine will work. The antibodies from the mother generally circulate in the newborn's blood for a number of weeks. There is a period of time from several days to several weeks in which the maternal antibodies are too low to provide protection against the disease, but too high to allow a vaccine to work. This period is called the window of susceptibility. This is the time when despite being vaccinated, a puppy or kitten can still contract the disease. When should puppies be vaccinated? The length and timing of the window of susceptibility is different in every litter, and even between individuals in a litter. A study of a cross section of different puppies showed that the age at which they were able to respond to a vaccine and develop protection (become immunized) covered a wide period of time. At six weeks of age, 25% of the puppies could be immunized. At 9 weeks of age, 40% of the puppies were able to respond to the vaccine. The number increased to 60% by 16 weeks of age, and by 18 weeks, 95% of the puppies were protected by the vaccine. Almost all researchers agree that for puppies and kittens, we need to give at least three combination vaccinations and repeat these at one year of age. Drs. Foster and Smith prefer to vaccinate puppies with a combination vaccine at six Consult with your weeks of age initially, with boosters given every three weeks until the puppy is veterinarian to determine about sixteen weeks of age. We feel that this schedule will help protect the widest range of dogs. We realize that with our protocol, we will be vaccinating some dogs which vaccinations your that are not capable of responding, and we will be revaccinating some dogs that have already responded and developed protection. But without doing an individual puppy should receive, and test on each puppy, it is impossible to determine when the puppy's immune system how often. will be best able to respond. We also realize that in the face of an infection, due to the window of susceptibility, some litters will contract a disease (e.g., parvo) despite being vaccinated. By using quality vaccines and an aggressive vaccination protocol, we can make this window of susceptibility as small as possible. Our vaccination protocol may not be right for every puppy. Some 'high risk' puppies may need a more intense and aggressive vaccination program. It is best to work with your veterinarian on a vaccination protocol that is best for your individual puppy or kennel, taking into consideration your individual situation. Against which diseases should puppies be vaccinated? The AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents' Report on Cat and Dog Vaccines has recommended that the core vaccines for dogs include distemper, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2, and rabies. Noncore vaccines include leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parainfluenza and Bordetella bronchiseptica (both are causes of 'kennel cough'), and Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme Disease). Consult with your veterinarian to select the proper vaccines for your puppy. 6 AVMA and AAHA Vaccination Recommendations for Dogs Component Class Efficacy Length of Immunity Canine Distemper (MLV) Core High > 1 year for modified live virus (MLV) vaccines Parvovirus (MLV) Core High > 1 year Risk/Severity of Adverse Effects Low Low CAV-2 (MLV) for Hepatitis Core High > 1 year Low Rabies Core High Dependent upon type of vaccine Low to moderate Intranasal MLV Moderate Injectable MLV Parainfluenza Noncore Low Bordetella Intranasal MLV Moderate Noncore Injectable MLV - Moderate Short 7 Low Low Comments Only use canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) vaccines, not CAV-1; also protects against respiratory disease caused by CAV-2 Only recommended for dogs in kennels, shelters, shows, or those exposed to large numbers of other dogs. Vaccinate prior to exposure to large numbers of dogs Low Leptospirosis Noncore Variable (boarding, shows, etc.) Up to 30% of dogs may not respond to vaccine Short High Lyme Appears to be limited to Noncore previously unexposed dogs; variable Revaccinate annually just prior to tick season Moderate Coronavirus Noncore Low Unknown Low Generally not recommended Low Does not prevent infection but may reduce risk of transmission to others Giardia Noncore Low Unknown MLV= modified live vaccine A possible vaccination schedule for the 'average' dog is shown below. Dog Vaccination Schedule Age Vaccination 5 weeks Parvovirus: for puppies at high risk of exposure to parvo, some veterinarians recommend vaccinating at 5 weeks. Check with your veterinarian. 6 & 9 weeks Combination vaccine* without leptospirosis. 12 weeks or older Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (age at vaccination may vary according to local law). 8 12 & 15 weeks** Combination vaccine Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Combination vaccine Leptospirosis: include leptospirosis in the combination vaccine where leptospirosis is a concern, or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Adult (boosters)§ Lyme: where Lyme disease is a concern or if traveling to an area where it occurs. Rabies: Given by your local veterinarian (time interval between vaccinations may vary according to local law). *A combination vaccine, often called a 5-way vaccine, usually includes adenovirus cough and hepatitis, distemper, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. Some combination vaccines may also include leptospirosis (9-way vaccines) and/or coronavirus. The inclusion of either canine adenovirus-1 or adenovirus-2 in a vaccine will protect against both adenovirus cough and hepatitis; adenovirus-2 is highly preferred. **Some puppies may need additional vaccinations against parvovirus after 15 weeks of age. Consult with your local veterinarian. § According to the AVMA and AAHA, dogs at low risk of disease exposure may not need to be boostered yearly for most diseases. Consult with your local veterinarian to determine the appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog. Remember, recommendations vary depending on the age, breed, and health status of the dog, the potential of the dog to be exposed to the disease, the type of vaccine, whether the dog is used for breeding, and the geographical area where the dog lives or may visit. Bordetella and parainfluenza: For complete canine cough protection, we recommend Nobivac Intra-Trac3 ADT. For dogs that are shown, in field trials, or are boarded, we recommend annual vaccination with Nobivac Intra-Trac3 ADT. Vaccine dose It is NOT true that a small breed of puppy should receive a smaller vaccine dose than puppies of larger breeds. 9 All puppies regardless of age, body weight, breed, and gender are given the same vaccine dose. Vaccines are generally administered in one milliliter (cc) doses. Simply follow the manufacturer's recommendations. To administer a lesser vaccine amount than recommended will likely result in insufficient immunity. Time to produce protection Vaccines do not stimulate immunity immediately after they are administered. Once a vaccine is administered, the antigens must be recognized, responded to, and remembered by the immune system. Full protection from a vaccine usually takes up to fourteen days. In some instances, two or more vaccinations several weeks apart must be given to achieve protection. In general, modified live vaccines and those vaccines administered intranasally provide the fastest protection. Why do some vaccinated animals still get the disease? It is a fact that in the USA today, literally hundreds and perhaps thousands of vaccinated dogs and cats are still contracting the diseases they were vaccinated against. Some term this ' vaccine failure,' although it is more likely a failure of the immune system to respond than a problem with the vaccine itself. Parvovirus is a serious case in point. How can a puppy get the disease and possibly die if it was vaccinated? Unfortunately, for some reason the vaccine did not stimulate the immune system enough to protect the puppy from disease. The reason may be interfering maternal antibodies, the vaccines themselves, the dog's own immune system, or genetics. By far, the most common reason in puppies is interfering maternal antibodies. 10 Critical periods in puppy development Neonatal Period (0-12 Days): The puppy responds only to warmth, touch, and smell. He cannot regulate body functions such as temperature and elimination. Transition Period (13 - 20 Days): Eyes and ears are open, but sight and hearing are limited. Tail wagging begins and the puppy begins to control body functions. Awareness Period (21 - 28 Days): Sight and hearing functions well. The puppy is learning that he is a dog and has a great deal of need for a stable environment. Canine Socialization Period (21 - 49 Days): Interacting with his mother and littermates, the pup learns various canine behaviors. He is now aware of the differences between canine and human societies. Human Socialization Period (7 to 12 Weeks): The pup has the brain wave of and adult dog. The best time for going to a new home. He now has the ability to learn respect, simple behavioral responses: sit, stay, come. Housebreaking begins. He now learns by association. The permanent man/dog bonding begins, and he is able to accept gentle discipline and establish confidence. Fear Impact Period (8 - 11 Weeks): Try to avoid frightening the puppy during this time, since traumatic experiences can have an effect during this period. As you can see, this period overlaps that of the previous definition and children or animal should not be allowed to hurt or scare the puppy -- either maliciously or inadvertently. It is very important now to introduce other humans, but he must be closely supervised to minimize adverse conditioning. Learning at this age is permanent. This is the stage where you wonder if your dog is going to be a woosy butt all his life. Also introducing your puppy to other dogs at this time will help him become more socialized. If available in your area, a doggy day care is great for this. Seniority Classification Period (13 - 16 Weeks): This critical period is also known as the "Age of Cutting" - cutting teeth and cutting apron strings. At this age, the puppy begins testing dominance and leadership. Biting behavior is absolutely discouraged from thirteen weeks on. 11 Praise for the correct behavior response is the most effective tool. Meaningful praise is highly important to shape positive attitude. Flight Instinct Period (4 to 8 Months): During this period puppies test their wings- they will turn a deaf ear when called. This period lasts from a few days to several weeks. It is critical to praise the positive and minimize the negative behavior during this time. However, you must learn how to achieve the correct response. This period corresponds to teething periods, and behavioral problems become compounded by physiological development chewing. Second Fear impact period (6 - 14 Months): Also called, "The fear of situations period", usually corresponds to growths spurts. This critical age may depend on the size of the dog. Small dogs tend to experience these periods earlier than large dogs. Great care must be taken not to reinforce negative behavior. Force can frighten the dog, and soothing tones serve to encourage his fear. His fear should be handled with patience and kindness, and training during this period puts the dog in a position of success, while allowing him to work things out while building self-confidence. Maturity (1 - 4 years) : Many breeds' especially giant breeds continue to grow and physically change well beyond four years of age. The average dog develops to full maturity between 1-1 1/2 years and three years of age. This period is often marked by an increase in aggression and by a renewed testing for leadership. During this time, while testing for leadership, the dog should be handled firmly. Regulars training throughout this testing period, praise him for the proper response. Giving him no inroads to affirm his leadership will remind him that this issue has already been settled. 12