FAQs
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How much food do I feed my puppy?
When you pick up your puppy, we will give you an estimate of your puppies adult size. The back of the dog food bag gives you a recommended feeding amount based on estimated adult size. Measure the whole amount into the dish. Offer your puppy food three times a day until it is 3-4 months old. At that point you can reduce feedings to twice daily until it is an adult (10 months). An adult schnauzer can be fed once or twice daily. You will need to figure out what works best for you and your dog.
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Will my puppy sleep through the night?
When your pup first gets home, it will likely wake up once or twice at night. Let it out to go to the bathroom…it’s a business trip only. No playing or cuddling. Let it out and then put it right back to bed. Young pups are capable of sleeping 5-6 hours at a stretch at night. Their night sleep will gradually lengthen to 8 hours or more as they get older. Making sure you take away food after supper and water by about 8 pm when your pup is young and learning/developing bowel and bladder control will help it be successful at sleeping through the night more quickly.
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When should I start training my puppy?
Puppy training should start the moment your puppy arrives home. Don’t wait for training classes. Schnauzers are very smart so with just a few minutes a day of consistent training, you will be amazed at what your dog will learn. We recommend starting with basic commands and gradually increasing your dog’s repertoire as it masters an individual command. “Sit” is often the best place to start. Sit is the key that unlocks opportunities for interaction. Dogs sit for attention, sit to get leashed up, sit before getting fed, sit before getting out of their crate etc. Our website has links to basic dog training videos to get you started. We recommend finding a good trainer in your area and attending a puppy class as soon as the training facility will allow. Sometimes pups have to have their second set of shots before they can attend a class with other puppies. Also, remember that training classes are more for you than for your dog so find a trainer you are comfortable with.
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When can I take my puppy for walks?
8 week old pups have only had their first of three sets of vaccinations at the time they go home. They are susceptible to contracting serious and life threatening virus and bacteria however, the 8-16 week old period is also a very important socialization period. I have personally never kept a pup at home before all the vaccinations have been complete. I have always had pups out in public and interacting with people and other dogs but used some common sense. DON’T take your pup to a dog park or any place where many dogs congregate and use the area for a bathroom. Many of the potential viruses etc travel in urine and feces so it’s important to limit exposure before all vaccinations are complete. DON’T let your dog meet other dogs unless you know that dog is up to date on shots and is good with puppies. You don’t want your pup having a bad experience playing with another dog at a young age. If you have friends/family with well-behaved dogs that are up-to-date on vaccinations, arranging play dates is a great way to help your puppy get socialized. 8 week old pups are very capable of walking for 5-30 minutes…it all depends on how patient you are. Walks in the first few weeks will be a work in progress. Stick to your immediate neighborhood and give your pup time to figure out how to walk on a leash.
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What vaccinations does my puppy need?
Your puppy will have its first set of shots and a vet check before it leaves to join your family. A health booklet is supplied for each puppy listing the date of the first set of vaccinations as well as the dates for the second and third set of vaccinations. Every puppy is de-wormed before it leaves us and the date they were de-wormed are also recorded.
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Can I bathe my puppy?
We recommend bathing your puppy with baby shampoo once a week until it is completely house trained. Clean puppies seem to house train faster. If your puppy gets dirty between baths, you can stick them in a sink or tub and rinse off the dirt without using shampoo. Anytime you bath, avoid getting soap/water in ears and nose. Rinse well to remove all the soapy residue. Soap strips the coat of oils that help keep it shiny and soft. Soap also dries out the skin so bath no more than weekly as a pup and as needed when they are adults.
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How often will my puppy need to go to the bathroom?
When your puppy first goes home, it will need to go to the bathroom quite frequently throughout the day. Key times to take your pup out: as soon as it wakes from a nap, right after it eats, about every 45-60 minutes during active play. Watch your puppy carefully for signs that it may need to go to the bathroom. Sudden stoppage in play followed by sniffing around and possibly circling can indicate your puppy needs to pee or poop. Take it in and out the same door in your house and let it walk to and through that door on its own. Carrying pups in and out could actually slow down the learning process. They need to get themselves to the bathroom spot. Give your pup LOTS of praise when it successfully goes to the bathroom outside.