A GUIDE TO PUPPY CARE
Worming:
Your puppy should have been wormed every two weeks, please make sure your puppy is wormed at regular intervals using a good wormer from either your vets or pet shop. All instructions will be clearly labeled and generally easy to administer.
Vaccinations:
Vaccinations are usually given at 8 and 12 weeks, but please book your puppy in, for a health check and the first vaccination, with your local vet. Vaccination programmes do vary with different vets, but usually consist of two vaccinations starting with a parvo virus and then a combined vaccination, followed by a further combined one two weeks later. Please make sure that your new puppy has the full course and do not take him/her out until 7/14 days after the course is complete.
Socialisation:
It's important to allow your puppy to be fully socialised with other dogs and people. Let your puppy mix with other dogs and encourage them to be handled by other people also. Just make sure the other dog is not aggressive which will frighten your new puppy and make it anxious around dogs in the future. Go out and about allowing your puppy to explore and come across different situations, noise etc., It's also a good idea to introduce them gently to other livestock Do not allow your puppy to chase, always have them on a lead until you are sure they will not annoy or chase poultry, horses, sheep, cattle etc., If you can introduce them at an early age and set the boundaries then you should not have too many problems when they are older. Jack Russells are a hunting breed and therefore it is natural for them to want to hunt, please remember this, especially if you have neighbouring cats.
Feeding:
We recommend 100% complete dried food which is easily obtainable from supermarkets, pet stores, vets, etc., This product is a well balanced diet ensuring your puppy has all the nutrients and vitamins, protein etc., in the correct quantities. Always make sure there is fresh drinking water available all day, when feeding dried or moistened food. You'll also find that when they empty their bowels, that it does not smell as much and is much firmer making it easier for you to clean up after them.
House Training:
The best advice I can give is to be patient. We find pet carriers are ideal for training your new puppy. They make ideal beds where your puppy will feel safe when they want to have a nap, or you need to nip to the shop and can't take them with you. Never put your puppy in there for long periods except at bedtime. Generally speaking a puppy will not soil and wet an area where they are going to sleep, so it educates them to train their bowels and bladders to wait overnight, until you get up and let them out. Remember they have waited all night and are excited to see you, so do this immediately on getting up. With lots of praise when they relieve themselves in the garden, it does not take them long to learn. A stern no if they have mishaps in the house, followed by putting them immediately outside, is all that is needed, they will soon learn, as long as you are consistent in your training methods.
