A Puppy For Christmas

Getting a puppy as a gift for Christmas sounds like such a romantic thought. But the reality is that puppies don't make good Christmas gifts. It's kind of along the same line, that you wouldn't surprise a family member with a baby adoption, just because you thought they would like a baby. It sounds rediculous, I know. But puppies require a similar preparedness and responsible decision because it's a lifetime commitment to that puppy for 10-15 years. Parents may want to give their children a puppy, and as long as they are making the decision in a responsible way, that may work out fine. But I caution against bringing home a puppy during the hectic holidays. The transition home should be a quiet transition, with the puppy coming into a normal family routine. Let's face it, the holidays are usually not quiet or routine! There's often travel, visitors, and a lot of commotion surrounding the holidays. Not to mention that having a lot of visitors coming into the house may risk your puppy's health when they aren't fully vaccinated and protected until 12-15 weeks of age. If your plans for the holidays revolve around a nice quiet period of being home and off of work, then with being prepared and mindful of the puppy's transition, it may work out to adopt a puppy at this time. But just be prepared with a normal schedule and minimal visitors for puppy.

Why Register Your Cairn Terrier Puppy?

Once in a while, I have someone ask if there's any reason to actually register their Crooked Creek Cairn Terrier puppy, since they're just a spayed or neutered pet. There are a few reasons that I think it is important to complete the registration process.

1. Accurate record keeping. A puppy not registered or not transferred effects my record keeping as a breeder. I have multiple retired dogs still in my name online, which makes it difficult to keep track of my active records (current breeding records).
2. A buyer only has 1 year from the date of purchase to register the puppy without additional late fees. It's only $20 if completed within the 1st year. Avoid unnecessary late fees. By the 2-3rd year, it's very expensive to register them.
3. Delaying registration may mean that you lose the paperwork in the meantime.
4. With immediate registration of your puppy, you receive a free check up with participating veterinarians. You're required to take your puppy to the vet within 3 days of purchase, why not get that visit FREE? You also receive a 60 day complimentary healthcare policy.
5. People purchase AKC registered puppies because they want known heritage from a quality breeder. Take full advantage of what you've already paid for, complete the registration process.

As a breeder, I'm always glad to register a puppy for a buyer. I can simply collect the transfer fee upon pick up of the puppy and complete the registration process for you!

Libby's female Cairn Terrier puppy

I've been busy with one of Libby's little girls. She slowly lagged behind in growth and has been similar to a failure to thrive infant. She sucks well, latches on, and is active. But she is remarkably smaller now at 2 1/2wks of age. I started supplementing her intially and am now fully syringe feeding her in order to monitor her intake. I've added a high calorie supplement to her formula and put her on antibiotics. I'll continue to monitor her growth. I took this photo with my chin! It's not in focus, but shows how tiny and sweet she is. She's about 1/3 the size of her siblings, who are very small Cairn Terrier puppies. My scale isn't very accurate but I believe she's about 2 oz. She takes her milk and still acts hungry so I let her suck my finger until she seems satisfied. It's so hard not to get attached when they are so tiny and innocent.

Cairn Terrier Puppy Supplies

You'll find a new page on Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers, identifying a list of Cairn Terrier puppy supplies. The product links are not live yet, but there will be links to products on Designer Dog Avenue to make shopping easier and/or give an example of products that I recommend. I can get Midwest brand wire crates with a divider in 3 styles- single door, double door, or triple door. Since I haven't placed them on Designer Dog Avenue.com yet, please contact me if you are interested in getting one. crookedcreekcairns@verizon.net. I may add other supplies later, but these are the basic supplies that I would recommend.

List of Puppy Supplies

Here's a quick list of supplies to obtain before bringing your puppy home.

Adjustable Collar & Lead- ask your breeder the size of your puppy’s neck, Cairn puppies are usually 6-7”, toy breeds should wear harnesses rather than collars for leading, since they have fragile tracheas
Food & Water Bowls- stainless is preferred by some, but when washed and kept sanitary, crocks and plastic are ok too, match your décor!
Food- ask your breeder what brand they use, feed a premium puppy formula until 1yr of age
Crate- large enough for the puppy to stand and turn around comfortably, but not so large that they can potty on one end and sleep on the other
Crate bedding- washable towels or waterproof liner, if puppy soils their crate remove the bedding so that they are uncomfortably wet, to encouraged them to hold it
Training Treats- small and easy to keep in your pocket for rewarding your puppy
Chew Treats- for teething puppies
Shampoo- dog shampoo only, never use human shampoo, they have a different ph balance
Between Bath Spray- handy to freshen up between baths
Puppy play pen or puppy gates- offer an appropriate play area to protect your carpets and keep your puppy safe
Potty accident clean up supplies- a carpet cleaner and/or sanitizer to clean up accidents
Booster Car Seat, harness, or crate for safe travel in the car- appropriately restrain your puppy during travel
Dog Bed- used not only for comfortable sleeping outside of the crate, but for training purposes
Toys- appropriate for age and breed size, too small of toys for your breed is a choking hazard, puppies need comfort toys, chew toys, and things that are interesting and stimulate them
ID tag- all dogs and puppies should wear an ID tag with your contact information
Sweater, Jacket, or Coat- for cold or wet weather, dogs and puppies acclimated to indoor temperatures need protected from weather
Soft Sided Carrier- handy for small dog breeds and puppies
Books on Training- don’t wait for puppy classes to start training, learn how to crate train and start your puppy’s training before bringing them home

A puppy as a gift?

The sentiment sounds romantic and sweet, to give a puppy as a gift. But the fact is, puppies are a lifetime commitment, a big responsibility, and a puppy is not usually an appropriate gift. Adopting a puppy is like adopting a child. It takes a lot of thought, preparation, training, and care. Puppies aren't cute when they've soiled your carpet, chewed up your furniture, and are bundles of destructive energy. Even as they mature into adults, they need ongoing training, care and a lot of time. If you believe a friend or family member would benefit from a companion, involve them in the process. They need to choose the breed that fits their needs, and be fully involved in the planning and preparation for a 12-18yr commitment to a dog. For children, the parents need to take the ultimate responsibility and even though a 13yr old child may seem very responsible, they need the support and assistance from their parents. Minors are not mature enough to take on the responsiblity of a dog. Involve the whole family in the training of the puppy to avoid dominance issues. The puppy needs to realize it ranks below all members of the family and it takes the whole family to reinforce the status of the members. So if you're thinking of a puppy as a gift, think through the process thoroughly, involve the person who is receiving the gift, and talk with your breeder to ensure that they believe it's a good placement for a puppy. The breeder ultimatley knows what is best for the puppy.

Socializing Your Cairn Terrier

Many realize the importance of socialization and seek a breeder that appropriately socializes their puppies. What they may not realize is that socialization only begins with the breeder, and the most important socialization period is at 8-16wks of age (after the puppy usually goes home). Puppies have a very high learning curve, just like human toddlers. The period from 8-16wks of age is when puppies learn things quickly and easily, and it's important to expose them to situations that they may encounter the rest of their lives. Introduce scary objects, clip their nails, visit the vet, blow dry them after a bath, visit other dogs (after their 3rd vaccination) and most importantly START PUPPY OBEDIENCE CLASSES. Training starts the minute you bring them home with learning their name, walking on a lead, potty training, and even 8wk old puppies can participate in short obedience excerises learning to sit, stay, drop (lay down), in their bed, in their crate, etc. Start a puppy obedience class after 11wks of age or their 3rd puppy vaccine and practice the skills in your daily life. Take them to visit other dogs, socialize them with strangers on walks, in the park, and especially when visitors come to your home. Greet them politely with a "Sit" while the visitors are welcomed in. If overly eager greeting is an issue, make them stay in their bed until the visitors have come in and sat down. No one wants to enter a home where the dog is jumping on them and being inappropriate. Set limits for your dog and enforce household rules. A disciplined but loved dog is a well behaved dog.

Household Hazards to Dogs and Puppies

Puppies and dogs are like children, in that they can find things to get hurt on. "Puppy Proof" your home, and keep an eye out on an ongoing basis for potential hazards. Here's a partial list of things which are potentially dangerous to your pet:
Aluminum Foil
When ingested, aluminum foil can cut a dog's intestines, causing internal bleeding, and in some cases, even death.
Plastic Food Wrap
Plastic food wrap can cause choking or intestinal obstruction. Some dogs will eat the plastic wrapping when there are food remnants left coating its surface.
Anti-Freeze
If ingested, anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) is often lethal -- even in very small quantities. Because many dogs and cats like its sweet taste, there are an enormous number of animal fatalities each year from animals drinking anti-freeze. Poisoning from anti-freeze is considered a serious medical emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
Poisonous Plants
Dogs (and cats) can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Keep all unknown types of plants and any plants suspected of being poisonous out of reach of your pet, and/or spray with Bitter Apple (for plants).
Christmas Tree Ornaments
When ingested by a dog (or cat), tinsel may cause obstruction of the intestines, and the tinsel's sharp edges can even cut the intestines. Symptoms may include: decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and weight loss. Treatment usually requires surgery.
Bones
Bones from steak, veal, pork, turkey or chicken, as well as ribs, can be hazardous to your dog and are not recommended.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains Theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Even an ounce or two of chocolate can be lethal to a small dog (10 lbs. or less). Larger quantities of chocolate can poison or even kill a medium or large dog. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. During the holidays chocolate is often accessible to curious dogs, and in some cases, people unknowingly poison their dogs by offering them chocolate as a treat.
Corn Cobs
Many dogs have suffered and, in some cases, died after eating corn-on-the-cob, when the corn cob caused partial or complete intestinal obstruction. Never allow your dog access to corn cobs.
Bloat
Bloat (gastric torsion & stomach distension) is a serious life-threatening emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is relatively common among large and deep-chested breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Dobermans, German Shepherds and Great Danes. Many experts believe that a feeding a large meal within 2 hours of exercise or severe stress may trigger this emergency. Eating quickly, changes in diet, and gas-producing foods may also contribute to this serious condition. Symptoms of Bloat include: unsuccessful retching, pacing, panting, drooling, an enlarged stomach/torso, and/or signs of distress.
Electrocution
Electrical cords can be fatal if chewed on by a dog (or cat). Whenever possible, keep electrical cords out of reach.
Candles
Nothing makes a room nicer than a great scented candle. But beware of wagging tails, or pets which may knock a burning candle over. Not only can they be burned and injured, but could cause a devastating fire.
Hypothermia
When a dog's internal temperature drops below 96 degrees F (by being exposed to cold weather for long periods, or getting both wet and cold), there is a serious risk to the dog's safety. Small and short-haired dogs should wear sweaters or coats when taken for walks during cold winter weather. Any sign that a dog is very cold -- such as shivering -- should signal the owner to bring the dog indoors immediately.
Ice-Melting Chemicals and Salt
Ice-melting chemicals and salt placed across sidewalks and roads can cause severe burning to your dog's footpads. Whenever possible, avoid walking your dog through these substances, and wash off his footpads when you return home. There are also products available such as Bow Wow Butter Balm on www.designerdogavenue.com which can be applied to your dog's footpads to moisturize and protect them.

Should I give my puppy Vitamin Supplements?

There is lots of conflicting information about diet and supplements. I tend to believe the information when they aren't trying to sell me something! It is very important to feed a quality dog food. Commercial premium dog foods are balanced and provide all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and appropriate calorie intake for the specified formula (formulations are catered to age and now even to breed size). There are lots of brand names and 'natural' commercial dog foods that do not contain preservatives and artifical dyes. They contain vital antioxidants, and other health promoting ingredients. Therefore it is not necessary and actually can be harmful to give vitamin supplements. High levels of some vitamins and minerals can cause a malabsorption of others. (I read the specific toxic effects of high levels of vitamins and the effects of malabsorption and can't find the source...I'll post it when I find it again). So if you want to place your dog or puppy on supplements, consult your veterinarian first. But in general, a high quality dog food is adequate complete nutrition.

Feeding Your Puppy

Because of rapid growth and development, puppies require twice as many nutrients as an adult dog. Therefore, it is necessary to feed puppies a formulation developed for puppies. All puppies should be fed a puppy formulated dog food until 1 year of age. Since Cairn Terriers have most of their growth by 7-9 mo of age, I have had individuals gain too much weight and I switched them to an adult formula at 9 mo of age. As a breeder, we feed free choice, leaving dry food out and available at all times. Puppies will eat when they are hungry and this reduces over eating. However, it is helpful upon bringing your puppy home to feed scheduled meals since it aids in potty training. Eating stimulates the puppy's bowels and it's a prime opportunity to take them potty and have a successful trip. Puppies should be fed 3-4 times a day. How much food should you feed? This will vary with brand names, but check the side of the dog food bag. It will give a chart of puppy's weight and how many cups are to be fed per day. For example, for Diamond Brand Dog Food a 3-5lb puppy at 6-11wks of age needs 3/4 -1 1/4 Cup per day. Divide this total daily amount by the number of feedings, and that is how much they should be fed each meal. If your puppy doesn't eat, allow them 20-30min to eat and take what is left away. By the next meal they should be hungry. It is not necessary or even recommended to add peanut butter or other things to "make them eat". My friend once had a customer that complained that their puppy wouldn't eat unless she put peanut butter on the food. Guess what!? The puppy "Trained" her owner to put peanut butter on her food!! These tiny puppies eat less than you think and as long as they are gaining weight, voiding, stooling, and have normal activity, they are fine! If they are lethargic, not gaining weight, drinking, voiding or stooling, take them to the vet immediately. The adult Cairn Terrier may tend to gain weight easily. Watch the amount of treats you're giving, don't feed table scraps (don't start this bad habit and you won't have to fix it later), and alter the daily intake to manage their ideal weight. I feed my adults free choice and they maintain their weight within a normal range. I have only had overweight issues with 2 of my adults out of a total of 15 over the last 4 1/2 years.