A Safe Space
o
Your puppy needs to be kept safe and protected from other pets and young children until they are acclimated to their new environment. We suggest your new puppy not have full run of the house. It will be difficult for them to figure out where their food, water and potty pad is. They may get confused where the appropriate place to go is, as well as forget to drink or eat when they need to. This can result in compromising their hydration and caloric needs, as well as failed success for choosing the wrong place to potty themselves.
Set up a pen in an area in the house where they will not be left alone for long periods of time, such as a kitchen, a family room area, bedroom or an office. This way the pup has an area in which they can run free and have a designated spot for their potty area, food, bed etc.
As the puppy begins to acclimate, gradually enlarge their living space until they are comfortable and familiar with the house and their surroundings.
We recommend purchasing a human “walk through” pen from:
https://www.chewy.com/pet-adobe-8-panel-folding-metal-dog/dp/341315
https://www.revivalanimal.com/product/midwest-step-thru-exercise- pen?sku=12152-386-150
In the pen be sure to include a warm fleece bed large enough to completely stretch out in, fresh food & water, served in glass, or porcelain bowls, and a pee pad with antimicrobial artificial grass. We have stopped using stainless steel bowls as the imported steel from outside USA has shown to be inferior quality and leaches into the water.
Your puppy's living quarters should make house-training and chewing/toy-training a fluid activity. A den like environment allows your puppy to choose an appropriate relieving spot, to chew appropriate toys, and settle down quietly and calmly.
Confinement with chew toys stuffed with food and treats teaches your puppy to enjoy his own company and prepares him for those times when he might be left at home alone. Short-term confinement also prevents your puppy from learning to make mistakes around the house. Successful house-training focuses the ability to predict when your puppy "wants to go." We highly urge you to use a pen for your Mi-Ki rather than a crate, even though some people have success with crates.
If your pup is ever left unsupervised indoors he may chew household articles and soil your house. Although these individual small accidents do little damage, they collectively set the precedent for your puppy's choice of toys and toilets for many months to come.
Be absolutely certain that you fully understand the principles of long-term and short-term confinement before you bring your new puppy home. With a long-term and short-term confinement schedule, house-training and chew toy-training are easier and efficient.
Here is an example of a space you can create for your pup
Fresh Food and Fresh Water in Glass Bowls
Toys & Treats
Warm Fleece Bed
A Soft Fleece Comfortable Bed
Anti Microbial Grass with washable pad underneath it.
o Make sure the bed is large enough for your Mi-Ki to stretch out completely. Even though your puppy will curl up to sleep, they also need space to straighten their spine. During the night, temperatures drop and it is extremely important to keep your little fur baby warm, especially if you live in cooler climates. Even when a room temperature is comfortable, the floor can be cold. Even in hot climates with air conditioning on all day and night.
o We recommend using a pad under the pen or an elevated bed like a Perla bed with a cover and pad, or cot. We also recommend Perla/U- Design beds as they keep the bed off the ground. beds that have a bolster keeps the heat in as well.
o Amazon.comisagreatplacetofindvariousstylesofdogbeds
Anti-microbialfakegrass Werecommendthe25x20modelfor1-2dogs, and the larger sizes for more than 2 dogs. Rinse well with warm water, then we soak them with Dawn detergent for about 15-20 minutes, rinse off completely, then hang to drip dry on a shirt hangar. Do not put in washing machine. They will fall apart!
o https://www.amazon.com/Downtown-Pet-Supply-Bathroom- Artificial/dp/B01D3J4U9Q/ref=lp_3024689011_1_4?srs=302468901 1&ie=UTF8&qid=1559504192&sr=8-4
o Underneath the fake anti microbial grass, place a washable, reusable under pad. They are very absorbent and wash nicely for many washes. Adding Borax into the wash helps to boost its cleaning power. We have found that always putting the washable grass, through trial and error, on top of the reusable pad, helps your puppy differentiate between where to do business, and other fabric surfaces in the home such as rugs and carpets. https://www.amazon.com/Medline- Washable-Underpads-incontinence-reusable/dp/B000FED594
o Stain&OdorRemoverTrainingAid
If there is another dog (or other animal) currently living with you or used to live in any area of your home, make sure there are no traces of urine etc. in any inappropriate places. We suggest cleaning carpets and/or rugs with a commercial cleaner and then going over the area with an enzyme cleaner. We recommend
Eco88: https://www.amazon.com/Eco-88-Pet-Stain-Odor- Remover/dp/B0013R2B88/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=15144816 55&sr=8-1&keywords=eco88
In our ever search for organic, non toxic products we found this cleaning & stain remover product that we are using Whip It: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F3T2M6B/ref=emc_b_5_i
Porcelain or Glass Bowls
o Plastic leaches out chemicals into the food and water, which can be very harmful to the health of your puppy. They can also harbor bacteria and other residue. We recommend only using porcelain or glass bowls for food and water. We wash our bowls twice a day and provide fresh akaline/spring water in them.
RGM Food Recommendations
o HereatRareGemMi-Ki’swefeedourMi-Kisawellbalanced,saferaw food diet. We feed our dogs the healthiest species appropriate diet available to ensure their long-lasting health and well-being. Wheat, corn and soy are common allergens for dogs and feeding raw food is optimal for their digestive system. We advocate rotating proteins as if our dogs were in the wild. This gives them a variety and is optimal.
o Somebrandswerecommendare:PrimalFreezeDriedLambNuggets, Tuckers Freeze Dried Chicken, Real Meat Air Dried Lamb, Bixbi Freeze Dried Rawbble Duck or Chicken & Salmon, Small Batch Freeze Dried Patties and Farmina N&D Pumpkin, Lamb, Blueberry Ancestral Grains Kibble.
o All freeze dried foods need to be re-hydrated by sprinkling warm/hot water over the food and letting it sit for a few minutes before serving.
o Foodandfreshwatershouldbeavailabletoyourpuppyatalltimes,to prevent issues such as hypoglycemia, especially when they are small in size. Once they are older, you can change their feeding to twice a day: once in the morning and once at dinner-time.
o Smalltoybreedpuppiesrequireseveralsmallfeedingsofahigh quality diet per day.
o IfyoudecidetocookforyourMi-Ki,thereisaresponsibilityofmaking sure they get the required balanced nutrition in each meal. They cannot eat a human diet. If you are in favor of this practice, please read the articles and check out the products that we have linked below to learn more.
o https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/home_prepared/how-to- make-your-own-dog- food/?fbclid=IwAR3QVRKmLHW2_JQbAFTKm3JSyhbEelS0pK9KRGsC guHxZf-I-sh_uRyYXyw
o http://www.mealmixfordogs.com/about.aspx?fbclid=IwAR20PNh54F nRDu_qk9Mm2pttFuEtHWXYNDoPE8h_igue6e3nUtN_2p3QIG4
o MercolaProbiotics
o OrganicPowderedPumpkin
o Bio8orKinandKindseaweedwheatgrasssupplement
Treats
o Dogs Chews are a great item for appropriate chewing. When puppies teethe, they need to chew to encourage proper growth and development. Some of our Rare Gem favorites include Bully Sticks, Canine Caviar Buffalo Toothpicks- (these are dehydrated tendons not rawhide or pizzle!), and anything natural and digestible as long as they are grain, soy & corn free. NO rawhide or Greenies. Your pup can choke on it and can also cause intestinal blockage. Also, please don’t buy any products from China. They have very different standards there and have been known for callbacks from manufacturers.
o StewartsFreezeDriedChickenLiver-Treatsareagreattooltohelp train your Mi-Ki to sit, walk on a leash and to use as a reward system for going potty in the right area.
Training Your New Family Member
Keep your puppy stimulated! A bored puppy is a mischievous puppy! Rare Gem Mi- Ki's strongly recommends professional training for your pet. You will have years of enjoyment with a well-trained puppy. Practicing training commands and tricks are great daily activities to keep your puppy active and engaged.
You may begin to notice naughty puppy destructive behaviors around five months of age. Destruction is the product of a puppy's boredom, lack of supervision, and a search for entertainment. Natural inquisitiveness prompts the lonely pup to dig, bark, and escape. That is why it is so important to have interactive treat toys, appropriate chew toys, and stimulating objects to keep your puppy engaged.
Toys, DVD’s; Stimulating Objects & Attention Getters
o Your puppy will be teething for several months so to help him with the pain, and to encourage him to chew on things you want him to chew on, provide him with plenty of chew toys for him. Plus, puppies love to play! Playing with your new family member is a great way to bond with your puppy! Treat hiding toys work wonderfully.
o We recommend the Small Kong for Puppies and the Small JW Pet Roller Ball as good chewing and interactive treat finding toys. You can fill them with chicken liver and other similar treats.
Collar, Harness, Leash & Name Tag
o It is very important to get your puppy used to a harness as soon as possible. There are many assortments that you can choose from. You want to make sure that it is adjustable and comfortable and fits snugly enough that it won’t slip off. We recommend the use of harnesses to walk your Mi-Ki. It helps to relieve pressure and strain from the neck.
o PuppiaHarness:https://www.amazon.com/PUPPIA-International- Puppia-Harness- Small/dp/B003X4J01A/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Puppia&qid =1602175443&sr=8-6&th=1
o Lil Pals Harness:https://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Adjustable- Harness-Puppies- Breeds/dp/B009SXDCC8/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Lil%2Bpal %2Bharness&qid=1602175570&sr=8-5&th=1
o Identification tags can be added to the harness. Be mindful that harnesses with straps fit properly, as the straps can irritate your puppies under arms.
o Start training your puppy to walk on a leash and encouraging them with treats will help with this process. Make sure your leash isn’t too long. Retractable leashes are dangerous and not recommended.
Grooming Your New Family Member
Combing your puppy’s coat daily will help keep their coat healthy and avoid the build up of knots. Although long coat Mi-Kis are non shedding dogs, the fine undercoat of puppies grows and sheds off for the first 9 months of your puppy’s life. Keeping up with combing thru this undercoat reduces the discomfort of knot build up detangling. We recommend misting the coat first with a detangler/leave in conditioner before combing or brushing.
o In your puppy’s going home pack, we included a face comb. We recommend washing your puppy’s face with a washcloth and warm water and comb out under eyes, mustache & beard from food and goobies. This comb is also good for getting at the dead hair and knots that sits closer to the skin.
o RemembertocomboutthehairontheundersideofyourMi-Ki.The hair tends to tangle there.
o Yourpuppywillbegrowingouthispuppycoatstartingasyoungas3 months of age up to 9 months of age. This time period can differ for each puppy. This is a natural process and you can help by brushing and combing your puppy more often to keep the dead hairs out of the coat. Worth repeating.
o Tofamiliarizeyourpupwithgroomingasapositiveexperience,after a play session hold the puppy in your lap and gently brush him. This will help him connect brushing with a pleasurable experience.
o It is very important to keep your puppy’s nails properly trimmed and paws shaved. This should be done every 3-4 weeks as needed. Below is an example of a overgrown paw vs a groomed paw.
Our Favorite Grooming Products
Here are the links for some of our favorite professional grooming products we use:
Detangler Spray, it can be used on a dry or wet coat. Rub spray into coat and comb out: https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Specialties-Quicker-Conditioner- 16-Ounce/dp/B005IAZBPG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=natures+specialties&qid=15 59670165&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-3
Standard Use Shampoo/ Conditioner:
https://www.chewy.com/buddy-wash-relaxing-green-tea/dp/42895
Kin and Kind Charcoal Shampoo:
https://www.amazon.com/kin-kind-Charcoal-Activated- Essential/dp/B073RVFNLN/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Kin+%26+Kin d+Charcoal+Shampoo&qid=1587657594&sr=8-1
Squeaky Clean Shampoo:
https://www.amazon.com/iGroom-Squeaky-Clean-Shampoo- 16oz/dp/B07XFBNSM7/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Squeaky+Clean+Sh ampoo&qid=1587657626&sr=8-4
Here are the professional Shampoo and Conditioner Pure Paws H20 that we use, they are usually concentrates, so they need to be diluted before use:
https://www.showdogstore.com/pure-paws-h2o-shampoo/
https://www.showdogstore.com/pure-paws-h2o-conditioner/
Metal comb:
https://www.amazon.com/Conair-Comb-Memory-Grip- Medium/dp/B005KSOB16/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=15015 21809&sr=1-5&keywords=dog+comb
Here is the link for the slicker brush. This brush is to be used at the end of grooming/ combing out any tangles or knots. We use the long soft
pin. https://www.cherrybrook.com/transgroom-tuffer-than-tangles-slicker- brushes/
Here is the link for flea combs that we use to comb out eye goobies, which we also have included in your puppy’s going home pack: https://www.amazon.com/Remover-Gently-Effectively-Removes-Stains/dp/B0 1IYIYWQM/ref=pd_sim_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B2XMH245QR FC0MVHM3DQ
Dental Needs
A word of advice about your puppy’s dental needs: I encourage you to check your puppy’s mouth regularly for retained baby teeth that have not fallen out. Retained baby teeth can ruin an adult bite by not leaving appropriate space for the permanent teeth to position themselves appropriately. This can result in dental surgery to correct the issues caused by the retained puppy teeth. For those homes that will be showing their Mi-Kis, it could mean the difference of being qualified/disqualified by bite alone.
Teething can cause excess tearing. Your puppy will be teething until around 8 months of age at which time his adult teeth should have grown in. One of the nasty by products of excess tearing is tear stains. There is no single cause for tear staining, and therefore no single solution. We recommend keeping your puppies face clean and keeping the hair safely trimmed away from their eyes.
Here is the link for the face wash for eye stains that we use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EJNA7L0/ref=crt_ewc_title_gw_2?ie =UTF8&psc=1&smid=A28WVGVSYNQNDG
Brush their teeth daily with a small soft brush and a good enzymatic toothpaste such as Virbac C.E.T Enzmatic toothpaste. Provide your puppy with appropriate chews to chew on such as The Canine Caviar Buffalo Toothpicks. When they are 1 years old and up you can introduce dental chews such as Brushzees. Proper at home dental care is much more affordable and safer then letting it go and having to deal with potential costly dental cleanings & dental extractions.
A word on dental cleanings- please make sure your Mi-Ki’s gum and dental health is checked out yearly by your Vet. If a professional dental cleaning is advised, make sure the Vet includes full dental x-rays as part of the cleaning procedure. X- rays are so important, espeically in smaller breeds like the Mi-Ki, to properly assess the health of the roots & teeth underneath the gumline.
Additional Items to Keep on Hand
Dark Karo Syrup for use in cases of low blood sugar
Heating pad with NO auto shut off. We use Sunbeam Model # 732-5 Always make sure it is set no higher than low and that it stays covered.
Snuggle Safe(microwavable) and cover- a portable heater that is handy in a car or during a power failure
Thuja- Liquid homeopathic tincture administered before and after vaccinations to prevent vaccinosis
Digital thermometer
Syringes with no needle- for emergency use if necessary to syringe food, water
or medicine
Dextrose water
Saline solution
Vetericyn Plus VF Spray
Quik Stop
Betadyne
Epsom Salt for soaking
Coconut water in a cardboard carton- used for low electrolytes
High calorie canned food- such as Ziwipeak, Farmina or Fromm
Colloidal Silver Spray: natural anti-bacterial spray/ immune booster
Natures Miracle & Eco 88: enzymatic stain and odor remover
Borax: Chemical free laundry booster. I use this for puppy pad washing in addition to my detergent
White Vinegar natural cleaning aid for floors. NEVER use a Swifter on floors of rooms your dogs walk on. Mi-Ki's are low to the ground. Chemicals come at them like a tsunami
Rescue Remedy- Highly beneficial and calming flower essence for times of stress for your puppy. Just one or two drops in your puppy’s mouth, on a treat or rubbed into your puppy’s ear tips or paw pads can be very calming for your puppy. You can also add a drop or tow to your puppy’s drinking water. Rescue Remedy is particularly useful in helping your puppy transition to his or her new home. It is also useful before vet visits, trips to the groomer, during thunderstorms, when you are away from home or anytime your puppy’s routine is out of the ordinary. Some people find Rescue Remedy calms their stomachs and their puppy’s stomachs when they experience carsickness or morning sickness. It is best to store at least 2 feet away from electronic exposure.
Lavender Oil- diluted 10:1, never undiluted. For calming purposes. We recommend putting a dab on a blanket or carrier.
Canned Organic Pure Pumpkin/ Organic Powdered Pure Pumpkin- for natural diarrhea aid
