Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines does my puppy need, and when should they get them?
Every veterinarian’s schedule varies, but for the most part, it’s not long after a puppy is weaned (no longer getting milk) at around 6 weeks of age. The schedule should go 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks of age and when they turn 1 year old.
The needed vaccines are for the prevention of the following illnesses:
- Distemper - A highly contagious virus that attacks multiple systems of the dog. This virus can be fatal.
- Canine Hepatitis or Adenovirus Type 1 - A contagious virus transmitted through fluids like saliva. This virus can also be fatal.
- Leptospirosis - A condition that can affect both dogs and humans. There are different types of Lepto, and all are potentially fatal.
- Canine Parvovirus - A highly contagious virus that attacks the canine's digestive tract, causing diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss that could lead to death. On a positive note, if your pup survives the parvovirus, they become immune to it.
- Parainfluenza - An upper respiratory disease. This is not a deadly disease but may cause discomfort and contagious conditions.
Do you test your adults for genetic conditions?
Not at this time. However, we do have our parents seen by our veterinarian annually.
When do I get to bring my puppy home?
Mom usually starts weaning the puppies at about 6 weeks of age, changing to food other than their mother’s milk. That is why veterinarians recommend starting vaccines at/or around this age. AHK starts vaccines and has our veterinarians administer an exam and give us a health certificate, all before a puppy is sent home. We monitor our puppies’ health and growth after weaning to ensure they can acclimate to the stress and change from mom to parent at about 9-1/2 to 10 weeks of age.
When does my puppy leave Mom?
Mom will start weaning her puppies at or around 6 weeks of age. But that doesn't mean they stop nursing on mom right away; it usually is a process. At about 4 weeks, the puppies come out of the whelping or puppy box and will begin to have access to solid puppy food. Some will start to nibble on it immediately, while others will wait and continue to only nurse on mom for a while longer. Over the next few weeks, mom will begin to encourage the puppies to transition to solid puppy food and discourage nursing on her.
We have found that some breeds make this transition quicker than others. We usually keep the puppies with mom until between 7-9 weeks, and some puppies will stay with mom longer if we believe a little extra time would be beneficial. This ensures that all puppies have had time to transition from mom's nutritious milk to solid puppy food.
How big will my puppy get?
Each puppy is different and their size is determined by the parents weight, litter size, and each individual puppy's growth rate.
*Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will be around 14-16 pounds and about 13 inches tall.
*Miniature Poodles will be around 10-12 pounds and 10-15 inches tall.
*Toy Poodles & Yorkiepoos will probably be around 6-9 pounds and stand no more than 10 inches tall.
*Cavapoos and Schnoodles both have a Miniature or Toy Poodle parent, so both will be around 10-20 pounds and stand about 10-15 inches tall.
Each will vary due to genetics. Giving you an estimate will be an educated guess. Also, remember that spaying or neutering, diet, and exercise will significantly affect your puppy's weight and height.
To see the estimated full grown weight of our currently available puppies, visit our Available Breeds page.
*Spaying and neutering do not cause your dog to gain weight. It is the hormonal change that causes the weight increase. To help with weight gain, having an exercise routine is essential.
Did you see a purple foot in our puppies' pictures?
Our puppies are SOOO CUTE. Sometimes, it's even hard to tell our puppies from the next litter of the same breed. We have devised this brilliant way of telling them apart—POLISH. Now, it's not human nail polish; it's pet-friendly polish, and purple stands out on that beautiful black coat.
Congratulations on your new puppy! We are so excited you have found your next little furbaby.
So, you get your puppy home, and she is wild, or he’s the opposite of what you saw at our house. So, what's going on? Is there something wrong with your new puppy, or did you pick the craziest dog ever?
Determining how a puppy will behave is subjective. From the moment they are born, puppies struggle with their litter mates at who will nurse from where. Play fighting continues until they leave the litter and find their own family. Family life is much different from being with mom and siblings. Play fighting is how they determine their place in their pack. The puppy’s behavior with other puppies will always be more primitive than what you see when they play with people. That wild puppy you see playing with his sister might be timid when you bring him home.
Temperament and personality are two very different things. Temperament is an inherited style; however, personality is acquired and layered on top of temperament. Each breed has inherited needs, like a herding dog will want to herd things for fun. Temperament is an instinct nurtured as the puppy grows. Pet owners have a considerable role in nurturing the temperament, just like a personality is being developed.
The personality of the puppy can take years to develop. Factors such as education, i.e., training, socialization, and other aspects affect the puppy's personality.
That being said, starting training and socializing your puppy significantly earlier in life is crucial. A puppy class could help curb unwanted behavior.
I received an AKC Reunite brochure in my Puppy Pack. What do I need to do with it?
Your new puppy has a microchip, and the company requires you to provide your information and enroll for a one-time fee. In the event your pet is lost, this information is used to find you. Please be sure to keep it up to date once a year. Enroll here
