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FAQ's
Puppies are adorable, fuzzy and super cute, but they're also a huge responsibility. Whether you're a new puppy owner or a seasoned pet parent, you may have a few questions when you come to bring home that precious fur baby. Here are 10 of the most commonly asked questions we have been asked by new puppy owners.
1. How do I housebreak my puppy?
Every puppy learns at his/her own pace. It takes time and lots of patience, but we have found the process can be sped up by crate training your young dog. Once he/she is comfortable in their own crate, they will see it as a safe space and most of the time won't soil it. As a general rule, your puppy can "hold it" for as many hours as is his/her age in months. For example, if he/she is 3 months old they should go out every 3 hours to prevent an accident.
2. What should I expect at my puppy's first trip to the veterinarian?
First, the veterinarian or vet technician will take your puppy's vitals and ask for a copy of his/her health record from your breeder. Next, the veterinarian will examine your puppy from nose to tail to check for any signs of disease, abnormalities, or external parasites. A fecal test is also something your veterinarian will want to take to determine if your puppy has any intestinal parasites. Depending on the age of your puppy at the time of your first visit and his/her vaccination history, the veterinarian may give your puppy vaccines and de-worming medication. They will also suggest a flea and tick preventative at this time.
3. When can I take my puppy to the dog park?
Although it's important to introduce your new puppy to as many people as possible so he/she is socialized properly, there is one caveat: it's not a good idea to take him to public places until he/she has finished all their puppy vaccines at 4 months old. The reason being that if he/she isn't fully vaccinated they are very vulnerable to contracting either a communicable disease like coccidiosis or worse, a deadly disease like parvo. You should not assume all the dogs at the dog park are vaccinated. Some could even be ill and can pass that sickness on to your puppy. It's not worth the risk; wait until your veterinarian gives the all-clear.
4. At what age should I begin training my puppy?
Start as soon as you bring him/her home. You will probably want to work on housebreaking, and teaching him/her basic commands like come, sit and stay. Once your puppy has mastered these basic skills, gradually begin adding new ones like walking on a loose leash (while wearing a harness) and stopping his/her jumping behavior. (we use the "off" command) Remember to keep your training sessions short (10-15 minutes twice a day) and reward with lots of praise and healthy treats.
5. Which vaccinations does my puppy need?
There are four core vaccines all puppies should get: rabies, canine distemper, hepatitis and canine parvovirus. The rabies vaccines is a one-time vaccine for puppies, but yearly boosters are required, typically every 3 years. Your veterinarian may also want to discuss with you some optional vaccines for diseases like Bordetella (kennel cough), Lyme disease, and canine coronavirus.
6. How do I get my puppy to stop chewing on everything?
First and foremost, pick up your stuff! Chances are pretty likely that your puppy will chew your favorite shoes if they're left lying around for him/her to find. Get your entire household together and puppy-proof your home (before puppy pick-up day) by removing things that could be harmful if chewed or swallowed and get it out of his/her reach. Next, give your puppy plenty of chew toys and interactive puzzles that can keep his/her mind occupied. This is also a great time to teach your puppy the "drop it" command to help keep him/her from swallowing anything inappropriate or potentially dangerous.
7. When should I spay or neuter my puppy?
The answer to this question is where breeders and veterinarians sometimes disagree. That said, we all agree it's necessary to avoid unwanted offspring. As a general rule, we suggest the males get neutered after they reach sexual maturity at 7-8 months old and females just before sexual maturity at 8-9 months old. Waiting just a smidge longer than the typical 5-6 months will still prevent the unwanted offspring, while allowing the hormone levels to level out and growth plates to properly fuse. Please note these recommendations by us are for corgis only, other breeds differ by size and maturity. By talking with your veterinarian about the best time to spay or neuter your pet, you can both agree on a plan specific to your puppy's needs.
8. How often does my puppy need to be bathed?
Now is the best time to get your puppy used to being bathed and brushed out. Introducing your puppy to nail trims, brushing and bathing while young, instead of waiting until he/she is an adult, will help him/her become comfortable with being handled and will go a long way in relieving any anxiety associated with proper grooming. We don't recommend shaving corgis, except around the "britches and privates". (for obvious hygienic reasons) Their thick fur will grow back even thicker and furrier if shaved off completely. It's best to keep them in a temperature controlled environment and brushed out every other day to help keep them comfortable. Bathing should be done as needed, of course, but as a general rule at least once a month.
9. How big will my puppy get?
How big he/she gets depends on heredity. Oftentimes male corgis are bigger than female corgis, however, if your breeder has kept their breeding stock within the AKC Breed Standard, your corgi should be 10"-12" (25-30 cm) in height at the shoulder, your male puppy should mature out to be 25-31 lbs. (11 - 14 kg) and your female puppy should mature out to be 22-29 lbs. (10 - 13 kg)
10. How much/often does my puppy need to eat?
How much you should feed your puppy depends on the nutrient content and digestibility of the food being fed. We feed our dogs and puppies Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice blend. Puppies are fed twice daily, 1/2 - 3/4 Cup each feeding and the adult dogs are fed 1 1/2 - 2 Cups daily. If your pet is more active they may need more food, if less active they may need slightly less food. As always, consult your veterinarian for their recommendation on how much to feed your specific puppy based on his/her nutritional needs.
1. How do I housebreak my puppy?
Every puppy learns at his/her own pace. It takes time and lots of patience, but we have found the process can be sped up by crate training your young dog. Once he/she is comfortable in their own crate, they will see it as a safe space and most of the time won't soil it. As a general rule, your puppy can "hold it" for as many hours as is his/her age in months. For example, if he/she is 3 months old they should go out every 3 hours to prevent an accident.
2. What should I expect at my puppy's first trip to the veterinarian?
First, the veterinarian or vet technician will take your puppy's vitals and ask for a copy of his/her health record from your breeder. Next, the veterinarian will examine your puppy from nose to tail to check for any signs of disease, abnormalities, or external parasites. A fecal test is also something your veterinarian will want to take to determine if your puppy has any intestinal parasites. Depending on the age of your puppy at the time of your first visit and his/her vaccination history, the veterinarian may give your puppy vaccines and de-worming medication. They will also suggest a flea and tick preventative at this time.
3. When can I take my puppy to the dog park?
Although it's important to introduce your new puppy to as many people as possible so he/she is socialized properly, there is one caveat: it's not a good idea to take him to public places until he/she has finished all their puppy vaccines at 4 months old. The reason being that if he/she isn't fully vaccinated they are very vulnerable to contracting either a communicable disease like coccidiosis or worse, a deadly disease like parvo. You should not assume all the dogs at the dog park are vaccinated. Some could even be ill and can pass that sickness on to your puppy. It's not worth the risk; wait until your veterinarian gives the all-clear.
4. At what age should I begin training my puppy?
Start as soon as you bring him/her home. You will probably want to work on housebreaking, and teaching him/her basic commands like come, sit and stay. Once your puppy has mastered these basic skills, gradually begin adding new ones like walking on a loose leash (while wearing a harness) and stopping his/her jumping behavior. (we use the "off" command) Remember to keep your training sessions short (10-15 minutes twice a day) and reward with lots of praise and healthy treats.
5. Which vaccinations does my puppy need?
There are four core vaccines all puppies should get: rabies, canine distemper, hepatitis and canine parvovirus. The rabies vaccines is a one-time vaccine for puppies, but yearly boosters are required, typically every 3 years. Your veterinarian may also want to discuss with you some optional vaccines for diseases like Bordetella (kennel cough), Lyme disease, and canine coronavirus.
6. How do I get my puppy to stop chewing on everything?
First and foremost, pick up your stuff! Chances are pretty likely that your puppy will chew your favorite shoes if they're left lying around for him/her to find. Get your entire household together and puppy-proof your home (before puppy pick-up day) by removing things that could be harmful if chewed or swallowed and get it out of his/her reach. Next, give your puppy plenty of chew toys and interactive puzzles that can keep his/her mind occupied. This is also a great time to teach your puppy the "drop it" command to help keep him/her from swallowing anything inappropriate or potentially dangerous.
7. When should I spay or neuter my puppy?
The answer to this question is where breeders and veterinarians sometimes disagree. That said, we all agree it's necessary to avoid unwanted offspring. As a general rule, we suggest the males get neutered after they reach sexual maturity at 7-8 months old and females just before sexual maturity at 8-9 months old. Waiting just a smidge longer than the typical 5-6 months will still prevent the unwanted offspring, while allowing the hormone levels to level out and growth plates to properly fuse. Please note these recommendations by us are for corgis only, other breeds differ by size and maturity. By talking with your veterinarian about the best time to spay or neuter your pet, you can both agree on a plan specific to your puppy's needs.
8. How often does my puppy need to be bathed?
Now is the best time to get your puppy used to being bathed and brushed out. Introducing your puppy to nail trims, brushing and bathing while young, instead of waiting until he/she is an adult, will help him/her become comfortable with being handled and will go a long way in relieving any anxiety associated with proper grooming. We don't recommend shaving corgis, except around the "britches and privates". (for obvious hygienic reasons) Their thick fur will grow back even thicker and furrier if shaved off completely. It's best to keep them in a temperature controlled environment and brushed out every other day to help keep them comfortable. Bathing should be done as needed, of course, but as a general rule at least once a month.
9. How big will my puppy get?
How big he/she gets depends on heredity. Oftentimes male corgis are bigger than female corgis, however, if your breeder has kept their breeding stock within the AKC Breed Standard, your corgi should be 10"-12" (25-30 cm) in height at the shoulder, your male puppy should mature out to be 25-31 lbs. (11 - 14 kg) and your female puppy should mature out to be 22-29 lbs. (10 - 13 kg)
10. How much/often does my puppy need to eat?
How much you should feed your puppy depends on the nutrient content and digestibility of the food being fed. We feed our dogs and puppies Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice blend. Puppies are fed twice daily, 1/2 - 3/4 Cup each feeding and the adult dogs are fed 1 1/2 - 2 Cups daily. If your pet is more active they may need more food, if less active they may need slightly less food. As always, consult your veterinarian for their recommendation on how much to feed your specific puppy based on his/her nutritional needs.