Puppy Care
Allow us to share our thoughts and concerns with caring for a puppy.

Collection
We encourage puppies go to their new homes from 7-8 weeks. At this age, most Hovawart puppies are ready to start the enormous learning curve that will continue until maturity at around 2½ to 3 years.

If you are collecting a puppy from us, we ask that you do so early in the day. No breakfast will be given on that day however, on arrival at a new home the puppy can be fed, shown his new quarters and then left to rest.

Sleeping Arrangements
A simple cardboard box lined with a warm blanket or (better still) a vet bed, will make a most comfortable bed for any new puppy. It is important for the puppy to have a "special" place of his own; a place he can retreat to when tired, or where he can be left with reasonable safety (for short periods) on his own.

Feeding
A puppy of this age will need at least three meals a day and access to drinking water at all times. Although we recommend using Royal Canin "Maxi" Junior (a complete, balanced dry food), there are several other regimes and these are just a question of personal choice. We add a natural Vitamin 'C' pill to the food a couple of times a week. Aside from this nothing is added, although we do make a habit of giving a dry biscuit at bed time.

Toys
The puppy should have sufficient things to play with. Hovawart puppies are active and will turn to furniture if they get bored. You should keep a special toy for those special times when the puppy plays directly with the main owner/trainer. Using this toy in special circumstances will focus the puppy's attention.

Playing and involving yourself with the puppy at this stage can't be emphasised enough. It is a key part of the puppy's development and helps create a firm bond between you both.

Socialising
Even before inoculations have been given, the puppy should get out and about and socialise. You can do this by carrying the puppy around with you, taking him in the car whilst visiting friends, or to have him in your arms when standing outside public places, shops, or noisy city centres. The more noise and experiences the young puppy is exposed to, the better and more balanced his temperament.

Walking
After inoculations, walking on a lead should start in earnest. Every day the puppy should be carried out of the familiar garden into the street and gradually encouraged to walk home from an increasing distance. The first day need only be 10 feet the other side of the garden gate. You can gradually build the distance and the duration of the walk home. Keep in mind that puppies should not be taken on very long walks as they need time for bones and muscle to strengthen.

The puppy should never be allowed to pull (a "Halti" or a "Gentle Leader" can prove very useful in this regard), however, praise in the first 48 hours should be given for simply moving forward (as long as it is in the right direction!).

Training
Your training programme will advance faster if you join a Dog Training Club. Clubs will allow the dog to socialise and will teach you how to teach your dog. You will be expected to practice commands all the time, which is a good thing because, as they say, practice makes perfect!

Hovawarts have wonderful brains but the individual owner sometimes needs to work to unlock it. Once an understanding has been formed, the young dog goes from strength to strength and you will be amazed just how much you can teach them.

No two dogs are the same so with every new puppy you can learn something different. Of course, you may have to adapt your training methods accordingly.

Health
After the first year, two meals a day and a biscuit at bedtime should be sufficient. Too fat or too thin, isn't healthy. Ask yourself; can I see ribs, can I feel ribs? The answers should be, no, you can't see them but, yes, you can feel them.

Worming and spraying for fleas should be undertaken at regular intervals. You can do no better than to make a "friend" of your Vet and ask his advise whenever in doubt.

Clip nails monthly with guillotine nail trimmers. Your breeder should show you how to do this. At first, it may be kinder to trim just one nail per day. The puppy needs to get used to his feet being touched as they usually dislike it.

A word about milk and the puppy; contrary to our initial judgment, we no longer give milk to puppies. We do to the dams but not the puppies. Odd though it may seem, puppies thrive on dry food and water and, once weaned off the bitch, the same diet can be followed day in and day out. From personal experience, we have found that a change in diet upsets bowels and causes all sorts of messy problems

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