Question 1

When will my puppy be ready to go home?

Accepted Answer

As a general rule,  your puppy is ready for pick up after they see the veterinarian at 8 weeks of age.  Here  in Florida, they get  their first set of puppy shots as well as a physical exam and are issued a health certificate which is your document showing what has been done and certifying your pup was examined by a licensed veterinarian.

Question 2

What comes with my puppy?

Accepted Answer

Your puppy will come with a small packet of food if you are switching dog food from what we use here at RuckerRun. In addition, you will receive a folder with all the paperwork including a written sales agreement, receipt for payment, Nuvet information to boost first year immunity,  Nuvet starter pack of wafers, AKC registration ( limited not for breeding ) transferred into your name, microchip transferred into your name. Puppy is usually microchipped around 6 to 8 weeks of age. We provide a small scent blanket with siblings scent on it as this seems to help with their first major separation from their pack which at this age is their siblings.

Question 3

What is Nuvet supplement?

Accepted Answer

We feed it to all of our dogs here at RuckerRun and our personal dogs including our farm dog is on it for life. We ask that you commit to feeding for pups first year as we have seen the proof of boosted immunity after using it for ourselves for over 10 years.

Question 4

Is my puppy house broke already?

Accepted Answer

The answer is no because 8 weeks of age your puppy has just been weaned from its mother and learned to eat dog food and to walk and started being socialized.  Expect to average 4 to 6 months of age to be fully housebroken and to  be somewhat trusted. Like people, each dog is different and matures differently.  An 8 week old puppy does not have the mental maturity and has a very tiny bladder ( think I have to  pee every 20 minutes at 8 to 9 weeks of age) and after I wake up from a nap.

Question 5

Is my puppy Crate Trained?

Accepted Answer

The simple answer is no. However, your puppy has been exposed to the crate several times before 8 weeks of age. They get dry runs to get exposure when they get wormed and when going to the vets they are in the crate for a longer period usually with a sibling or two.

Question 6

What early socialization will my puppy have been exposed to?

Accepted Answer

Here at RuckerRun, we do things a little differently than many breeders. We believe a young puppy needs room to run and build muscles . We begin taking them outside at 6 weeks of age to a fenced puppy play yard . Here they learn about fences, obstacles we put in their pen to teach problem solving and for brain development. They are exposed to strange noises like the lawn mower, other dogs barking, sunlight, and to seek shade to cool off . They get to play in a large water bowl and sniff grass and good old fashioned dirt . We have a big Australian shepherd farm dog named Odie who watches over them and interacts through the fence . The pups are handled by myself and my husband as well as the grandchildren pick them up and play with them.  Older pups are exposed to a collar and leash and taught the doggy door and to put their face against something.

Question 7

When will my puppy need to go to the veterinarians for their next puppy shots?

Accepted Answer

As a general rule, 2 to 3 weeks after their first set of shots. We ask that you schedule this immediately after picking your puppy up to bring home.

Question 8

What shots did my puppy get at 8 week vet check up?

Accepted Answer

A combination shot is given that covers upper respiratory viruses, as well as Parvo. A separate vaccine is given for bordatella ( kennel cough).

Question 9

Has my puppy been wormed?

Accepted Answer

RuckerRun’s worming schedule for puppies is as follows : 
2,4, weeks pyrantel pamoate
5 weeks of age at weaning they are  given 3 days of safeguard. 
7 weeks of age they are given advantage multi or genetic form which is a topical monthly product that does worms, fleas, heartworm prevention.
7 weeks they are also given a round of Toltrazuril as a preventative for coccidia. 
8 weeks they are wormed again at the veterinarians when they go for their health certificate. Usually this is Pyrantel Pamoate.

Question 10

How is a puppy play pen/yard used for in early house breaking?

Accepted Answer

We recommend it highly for the first few weeks bringing puppy home. It gives you freedom and keeps puppy safe. An 8 week old puppy is not ready for crate training as their bladder is too small and we don’t want them to learn a bad behavior like messing in their crate.

We like to set up a small play yard and put a crate inside with the door removed or tied open. We put a little bed in the crate and tie it in there so the little monsters cannot drag it out.

Our only goal at this age is to train them NOT to go potty in their bed/crate.  Just outside the crate we put their litter box ( shavings) or grassy squares, or piddle pad that is heavily anchored down. (most pups destroy them so we don’t use them). On the other side of the potty area, we put water so they have to cross the potty area to get a drink.

After a few weeks we begin shutting the door to their crate for an hour only at a time to teach them to hold it. We then take them immediately outside to go potty.

Any time you are able they can be taken outside to go potty. But at least they are not going all over your house in the early weeks of training. Here are some examples and a washable pee pad we use that really stands up.

Question 11

How do I add a new question & answer?

Accepted Answer

To add a new FAQ follow these steps: 
1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 
2. Add a new question & answer 
3. Assign your FAQ to a category 
4. Save and publish.

You can always come back and edit your FAQs.

Question 12

Can I insert an image, video, or GIF in my FAQ?

Accepted Answer

Yes. To add media follow these steps: 
1. Manage FAQs from your site dashboard or in the Editor 
2. Create a new FAQ or edit an existing one 
3. From the answer text box click on the video, image or GIF icon 
4. Add media from your library and save.

Question 13

How do I edit or remove the 'Frequently Asked Questions' title?

Accepted Answer

You can edit the title from the FAQ 'Settings' tab in the Editor.  
To remove the title from your mobile app go to the 'Site & App' tab in your Owner's app and customize.

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