General Puppy InformationPuppies go home with first vaccinations, a microchip, a small bag of Purina Pro Plan puppy food (or a coupon for), three cans of Purina Pro Plan food (or a coupon for), a box of Purina Pro Plan probiotics, a toy, training pads, poop bags and a blanket. All puppies have a two-year health guarantee against life-threatening genetic defects. All puppies are sold on a non-breeding contract. *Please note, to get the Purina Pro Plan items, you need to fill in a short online form.
Well socialized, our puppies are raised in our home and spend much of their day interacting with people. Sit down in a chair in our home and you will be surrounded by puppies clamoring to climb into your lap. They are used to the noise and hustle of a busy household!
Bringing a new puppy home is a rewarding yet challenging experience. Investing time and energy into training and socializing a puppy when it is young will help to ensure a lifetime with a happy, well behaved dog. A few hints:
Puppy Sizes – General GuidelinesDifferent breeders and breeds use slightly different size labels, but these are general guidelines that many people find helpful when thinking about what size dog fits their home and lifestyle:
Toy / Very Small (under ~12 lb)
Puppy Temperament & Lifestyle FitEvery puppy is an individual, but it can be helpful to think about broad temperament types and how they might fit your household:
Confident / Outgoing
Early Puppy Development – What Happens Before You Bring Them HomePuppies go through several important stages before they ever leave their litter:
Birth to ~2 Weeks – Neonatal Stage
The First Weeks at Home – What to ExpectThe first few weeks with a new puppy can feel a bit like having a newborn baby in the house. Some common experiences include:
Feeding Your PuppyThere is no lack of controversy surrounding the science of feeding dogs today, and the pet food industry has spent a lot of money trying to get you to buy their brand of food. Please keep in mind that NO objective, scientific evidence has yet demonstrated that feeding Grain Free, Natural, Holistic, Organic, or Raw diets to otherwise healthy pets, when compared to conventional diets, leads to a better outcome for your dog.
Our vet's advice – head to the back of the pet store, walk past all those high price brands with questionable promises and buy a puppy-specific, size and age appropriate food from a large, reputable manufacturer. As examples she suggests Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin and Hills Science Diet and counsels staying away from smaller brands which might lack the appropriate veterinary oversight and quality control standards.
Shipping Your PuppyWe will ship puppies upon request but please check the viability of shipping your puppy to its intended destination before you purchase. We ship West Jet since Air Canada requires that the puppy be 12 weeks of age to travel as cargo. All costs and arrangements for shipping the puppy are the responsibility of the buyer, we will however deliver the puppy to the Ottawa International Airport for its flight. Once the puppy has been dropped off at the airport all responsibility for the puppy is the buyer’s. Ask us about shipping nannys if you would rather your puppy flew in the cabin.
We will only ship within Canada at this time but you are also welcome to fly to Ottawa to pick up your puppy.
Well socialized, our puppies are raised in our home and spend much of their day interacting with people. Sit down in a chair in our home and you will be surrounded by puppies clamoring to climb into your lap. They are used to the noise and hustle of a busy household!
Bringing a new puppy home is a rewarding yet challenging experience. Investing time and energy into training and socializing a puppy when it is young will help to ensure a lifetime with a happy, well behaved dog. A few hints:
- Enroll in a formal puppy or dog training class
- Puppies learn desired behaviour through positive reinforcement – reward, don’t punish – most dogs respond well to reward-based training using treats or favourite toys
- Reinforcement – all family members should agree ahead of time on house rules
- Socialize, socialize, socialize – many dog experts think that the all-important puppy socialization window closes at 4 months
- I have included a few links to new puppy reading material that I find helpful. The first booklet in the list, by Dogworks UK, is very good.
Puppy Sizes – General GuidelinesDifferent breeders and breeds use slightly different size labels, but these are general guidelines that many people find helpful when thinking about what size dog fits their home and lifestyle:
Toy / Very Small (under ~12 lb)
- Typically under 12" at the shoulder
- Easy to carry and manage physically
- Require gentle handling and can be more fragile around young children
- Around 13–17" at the shoulder
- A popular “in-between” size for families and city living
- Big enough for walks and activities, but easier to lift and transport than larger dogs
- Around 17–21" at the shoulder
- A good balance for many active families
- Often enjoy hiking, running and more vigorous activities
- 21"+ at the shoulder
- Strong, athletic dogs that generally need more space and exercise
Puppy Temperament & Lifestyle FitEvery puppy is an individual, but it can be helpful to think about broad temperament types and how they might fit your household:
Confident / Outgoing
- Curious, quick to explore new places and meet people
- Often a good match for busy, active families or homes with children
- Calm, cuddly and more interested in their people than in exploring
- Often ideal for quieter homes, first-time dog owners, or those wanting a snuggly companion
- Loves toys, games and action
- Thrives in homes that enjoy walks, play and mental enrichment
- May take a little longer to warm up in new situations
- Often very loyal once bonded; does well with patient families who can help build confidence
Early Puppy Development – What Happens Before You Bring Them HomePuppies go through several important stages before they ever leave their litter:
Birth to ~2 Weeks – Neonatal Stage
- Eyes and ears closed
- Completely dependent on their mother
- Spend almost all of their time sleeping and nursing
- Eyes open, hearing develops
- Puppies begin to wobble, walk and interact with littermates
- Start to respond to sights and sounds
- Learn canine manners, bite inhibition and how to play
- Start exploring new surfaces, toys, sounds and gentle handling
- Experiences during this stage are very important for confidence later in life
- Ideal time for puppies to join their new families
- Brains are highly “plastic” – they learn quickly and form strong bonds
- Perfect time to begin short, positive training sessions and careful socialization
The First Weeks at Home – What to ExpectThe first few weeks with a new puppy can feel a bit like having a newborn baby in the house. Some common experiences include:
- Fatigue and big naps as puppies adjust to a new environment
- Night-time whining or restlessness for the first few nights
- Accidents in the house while they learn where to go potty
- Mouthiness and chewing as puppies teethe and explore their world
- Keeping a consistent routine for feeding, potty breaks and sleep
- Using a crate or pen to give your puppy a safe space and support house training
- Offering plenty of appropriate chew toys
- Rewarding calm, polite behaviour rather than focusing only on “no”
Feeding Your PuppyThere is no lack of controversy surrounding the science of feeding dogs today, and the pet food industry has spent a lot of money trying to get you to buy their brand of food. Please keep in mind that NO objective, scientific evidence has yet demonstrated that feeding Grain Free, Natural, Holistic, Organic, or Raw diets to otherwise healthy pets, when compared to conventional diets, leads to a better outcome for your dog.
Our vet's advice – head to the back of the pet store, walk past all those high price brands with questionable promises and buy a puppy-specific, size and age appropriate food from a large, reputable manufacturer. As examples she suggests Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin and Hills Science Diet and counsels staying away from smaller brands which might lack the appropriate veterinary oversight and quality control standards.
- https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/myths-and-misconceptions-surrounding-pet-foods
- https://www.wsava.org/WSAVA/media/Arpita-and-Emma-editorial/The-Savvy-Dog-Owner-s-Guide-to-Nutrition-on-the-Internet.pdf
- There is a well known website that rates various dog foods – https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ – however we have no idea how the site is funded and therefore cannot vouch for the independence of its data.
Shipping Your PuppyWe will ship puppies upon request but please check the viability of shipping your puppy to its intended destination before you purchase. We ship West Jet since Air Canada requires that the puppy be 12 weeks of age to travel as cargo. All costs and arrangements for shipping the puppy are the responsibility of the buyer, we will however deliver the puppy to the Ottawa International Airport for its flight. Once the puppy has been dropped off at the airport all responsibility for the puppy is the buyer’s. Ask us about shipping nannys if you would rather your puppy flew in the cabin.
We will only ship within Canada at this time but you are also welcome to fly to Ottawa to pick up your puppy.