Use age-appropriate exercise for your new puppy. Do not stress young growing ligaments, tendons, and bones! Pushing your puppy to exert to much energy or allowing over exertion will potentially lead to future problems.

Maintain a healthy diet. Do your research and feed high quality foods. Please use common sense and do not feed your dog that 50-pound bag of $20 dog food. It is junk and your pet will pay a price for it.  Look at healthy labels and read the back of your bag. Ask your vet what they recommend, or we would also be happy to recommend brands if you do not want to continue feeding what we feed. I love talking about canine diet and love it when I can recommend foods and even additives that help with coat, digestion, gut health, allergies, hormones, weight, etc. We have fed so many different brands over the years, Raw, and healthy additives and supplements.  Look into a certified canine nutritionist if you really want to give your dog the best possible diet.

Consider healthy weight and listen to your vet. Obesity is too common, and your puppy will be more miserable than anything else with the extra weight. Lean and well-muscled is the way to go. Don't stress those joints with the extra weight. Puppies also stretch and grow and then bulk up and keep that process up for a while before maturity. So, expect to have to adjust diet to needs while growing.

Continue routine vaccinations, deworming and health checkups. Use flea and tick control as well as heartworm prevention.

We recommend not taking your dog out in public until FULLY vaccinated. Your puppy is vulnerable to many different kinds of germs out in the world. Even though they have one round of vaccines in their system right as you adopt them, they still are growing their immunity. So, use caution when taking them places if you do. They are especially prone to picking up parvo at this young age.

We do NOT recommend neuter or spay until AT LEAST 18 months of age. Let your puppy develop and use those hormones to fill out, muscle up, and go through proper growth. They will be a nicer looking, healthier dog in the end if you allow them to develop properly. You may also avoid risks from fixing your dog to early.

Internal and external parasite control. We deworm every two weeks here for pups and some litters we use flea and tick control if we suspect they were exposed in some way, and we want to proactively treat. We frequently use natural external parasite control on our pups and adults. Keep up on those and come up with a plan with your vet. 

Train your dog! Go see a trainer, take classes, be consistent at home. Socialize and take your dog out and about.

Consider proper grooming. Brushing, baths, nail trims, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing. Do some, all at home, or take to a groomer regularly.