Toilet training (or housebreaking) your puppy requires consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement. Here are steps you can follow to effectively toilet train your puppy:

1. Establish a Routine:

• Puppies generally need to eliminate:
• After waking up from a nap
• After eating or drinking
• After playing or vigorous activity
• Before going to bed at night
• Take your puppy outside to the designated potty area at these times consistently.

2. Choose a Potty Area:

• Designate a specific area outside where you want your puppy to go potty. Use the same spot every time to help reinforce the behavior.

3. Use Crate Training:

• Crates can be helpful tools for toilet training because dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area. Use a crate that is just large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
• Take your puppy outside immediately after letting them out of the crate.

4. Monitor and Supervise:

• Keep a close eye on your puppy when they are indoors, especially during times when accidents are more likely (e.g., right after eating). Supervision helps you catch them in the act of eliminating indoors so you can redirect them outside.

5. Reward Good Behavior:

• When your puppy eliminates in the designated potty area outside, immediately praise and reward them with treats, verbal praise, and affection. This positive reinforcement helps them associate going potty outside with good things.

6. Interrupt Accidents:

• If you catch your puppy in the act of eliminating indoors, quickly interrupt them with a clap or a sharp "No!" Then, immediately take them outside to the designated potty area to finish.

7. Clean Accidents Properly:

• Accidents will happen, especially during the learning process. Clean up accidents indoors thoroughly using an enzymatic cleaner specifically designed for pet messes to eliminate odors that might attract your puppy to the same spot again.

8. Be Patient and Consistent:

• Every puppy learns at their own pace. Stay patient and consistent with the training routine. Avoid punishing your puppy for accidents as this can confuse and stress them.

9. Adjust as Needed:

• As your puppy grows and their bladder control improves, you can gradually increase the time between potty breaks and reduce reliance on the crate.

Remember, successful toilet training requires time and effort. By following these steps consistently and using positive reinforcement, you can help your puppy learn where and when to go potty appropriately.

Socialising a puppy is crucial for their development and well-being and to ensure that you have a confident adult dog.  Here are some effective ways to socialize your puppy:

1. Early Start:

• Begin Socialising your puppy as early as possible, ideally between 3 and 12 weeks of age. This period is critical for them to form positive associations with various people, animals, environments, and experiences.

2. Positive Experiences:

• Expose your puppy to a wide range of stimuli in a positive and controlled manner. This includes meeting different people (of different ages, genders, and ethnicities), encountering other animals (dogs and cats), exploring various environments (parks, streets, shops), and experiencing different sounds (traffic, household noises).

3. Gradual Exposure:

• Introduce new experiences gradually and in a controlled manner. Start with quieter and less stimulating environments, then gradually increase the level of challenge as your puppy becomes more confident.

4. Reward and Reinforcement:

• Use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and play to reward your puppy for calm and confident behavior during social interactions and new experiences. This helps them associate positive feelings with new situations.

5. Structured Puppy Classes:

• Enroll your puppy in a well-run puppy socialization class or puppy kindergarten. These classes provide controlled environments where puppies can interact with other dogs and people under the guidance of a professional trainer.

6. Supervised Play Dates:

• Organise play dates with other puppies or well-behaved adult dogs that are fully vaccinated and friendly. Supervise the interactions to ensure they remain positive and safe.

7. Handling and Grooming Practice:

• Get your puppy used to being handled by gently touching and stroking them all over their body. Introduce them to grooming activities such as brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning early on so they become comfortable with these routines.

When your puppy first comes home to you it should have 3 meals per day.  You can then drop the lunch time meal if there is no interest or when the puppy turns 6 months old.

It's crucial to understand the importance of appropriate exercise and joint care for puppies to ensure their long-term health and well-being. The X-ray of a 2-week-old puppy illustrates how much growth and development are still ahead before bones fully form into proper joints. This developmental stage is why it's vital to avoid activities that could stress growing bones and joints, such as jumping, walking up/down stairs, or overexercising.

The "puppy rule" emphasizes gradual introduction of physical activity based on age. For instance, an 8-week-old puppy may only need 10 minutes of physical activity a day, while a 6-month-old dog might require up to 30 minutes. Physical activity includes walks, training sessions, playing fetch, and interacting with other dogs.

Joint care is equally important. Overfeeding can lead to excess weight that stresses joints, potentially exacerbating conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia. During the first 12 months, it's crucial to avoid activities that involve excessive twisting, turning, and sudden stops, as these movements can strain the hips, knees, and elbows. Additionally, prevent your puppy from running on stairs or slippery surfaces like timber floors or tiles to minimize the risk of injury.

By adhering to these guidelines and ensuring responsible exercise and joint care practices, you can help your puppy grow into a healthy and active adult dog, minimizing the risk of orthopedic issues later in life.

Stopping a puppy from biting is an essential part of their training to ensure they develop good manners and bite inhibition. Here are some effective strategies to help manage and reduce biting behavior:

1. Redirect Attention:

• Puppies often bite as a form of play or exploration. When your puppy starts to bite, immediately redirect their attention to a toy or chew bone that they are allowed to bite and chew on. Encourage appropriate chewing behavior by praising and rewarding them when they chew on the toy instead of your hands or clothing.

2. Use Positive Reinforcement:

• Reward your puppy with treats, praise, or playtime when they interact gently with you and refrain from biting. Positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat the desired behavior.

3. Provide Plenty of Chew Toys:

• Puppies have a natural urge to chew, especially during teething. Provide a variety of chew toys that are suitable for their age and size. Rotate the toys regularly to keep them interesting.

4. Avoid Rough Play:

• Refrain from engaging in rough play with your puppy, such as wrestling or games that involve grabbing or pulling. These activities can encourage biting and may confuse your puppy about what behavior is acceptable.

5. Use Timeouts:

• If your puppy continues to bite despite redirection and positive reinforcement, calmly say "No" or "Ouch" in a firm tone to signal that the behavior is unacceptable. Then, withdraw your attention by leaving the room or briefly placing your puppy in a timeout area (like a puppy-proofed bathroom or crate) for a short period. This teaches them that biting leads to loss of attention.

6. Socialisation with Other Dogs:

• Puppies learn bite inhibition from interacting with other dogs. If possible, arrange playdates with well-mannered adult dogs or other puppies to provide opportunities for socialisation and learning appropriate behavior.

7. Consistency and Patience:

• Consistently apply these techniques and be patient with your puppy. It takes time for puppies to learn and develop self-control. Avoid punishment or physical corrections, as these can damage trust and worsen behavior issues.

8. Consult a Professional Trainer:

• If your puppy's biting behavior persists or worsens despite your efforts, consider seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can provide personalised advice and techniques tailored to your puppy's needs.

By employing these strategies consistently and patiently, you can effectively teach your puppy to inhibit their biting behavior and develop into a well-mannered companion.

Core Vaccinations:

C3 Vaccination (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus): This combination vaccine protects against canine distemper virus, infectious canine hepatitis caused by adenovirus, and parvovirus. Puppies typically start receiving C3 vaccinations from around 6-8 weeks of age, with boosters given every 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. Boosters are usually required annually thereafter.

C5 Vaccination (C3 + Bordetella bronchiectasis and Canine Parainfluenza Virus): Some veterinarians may recommend a C5 vaccination, which includes protection against C3 diseases plus Bordetella bronchiectasis (one cause of kennel cough) and canine parainfluenza virus. This is often recommended for puppies that will be in environments with increased risk of exposure to other dogs, such as boarding kennels or dog shows.

At Misty Mountain we take the upmost care to breed with only healthy and health tested dogs - but as we are dealing with a live animal (and just as with us humans!), we cannot predict the future, and it is possible for issues to arise after the puppy has left us. Puppies can (rarely) have health issues and (sometimes) have accidents – therefore we always encourage each buyer to take out health insurance for their puppy.  

We suggest that you research the options and make your own decision re insurance – but to be sure that an active policy is in place when you receive your puppy, we take out a policy for all Misty Mountain puppies with Knose Pet Insurance. This policy is active when you receive your puppy, we will transfer the policy across to you that same day and it will remain active for a couple of weeks thereafter. There is no cost or obligation to you, Knose will contact you and give you the option to continue the policy. We have found them very easy to deal with and they will offer your first month for free – but it is completely your choice!