after you get your Cocker Spaniel

Before You Bring Your Cocker Home Brining your puppy or dog home is like bringing a new baby or child into your house and your life.  In order to provide a safe environment you need to be prepared.  Here are some recommendations on what you should do to get ready for your new family member:

Arrange the same day you bring him or her home:

• your first vet appointment lined up for the same day or the next day (bring all of your dog’s papers with you for the vet to copy)
• you will have read our sections on choosing your vet, vaccinations (print out the vaccination schedule to discuss with your vet), and permanent identification (microchips and tattoos
• you will have applied for pet insurance
• you will have a listing of your vet’s phone numbers; emergency veterinary/hospital  phone numbers and poison control on your fridge and in your wallet

Books You Should Read:

Supplies You Will Need Before and After You Bring Your Dog Home :

• food that the breeder was feeding the puppy or what an older dog has been eating which you can change after you decide how you want to feed your dog
• crate and washable crate pads
• collar with I.D. tags and harness size and breed appropriate
  leash
• safety restraints for the car
• toys appropriate for your dog’s age
• nonbreakable and sterilizable stainless steel bowls for water and food and an adjustable height feeder
• newspaper
• puppy wee wee pads for training
• puppy/dog shampoo
• belly bands for males
• bitches’ britches for females
• snoods for everybody!
• urine deodorizer and carpet cleaner

Medical supplies to have on hand:

• medical book that is breed appropriate such as Cocker Spaniel Owners Medical Manual and Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
• first aid kit
• toe nail clippers or dremil tool to grind their nails
• ear cleaner (blue powder cleaner) PUT LINK
• syrup of ipecac in case the vet wants you to administer this in case of poisoning
• peroxide for poisoning and disinfection
• activated charcoal for poisoning
• rectal thermometer
• ear light which you can get on-line very inexpensively

Grooming Supplies:

• comb
• brush
• rounded end scissors
• tweezers
• toothbrush and toothpaste

Prepare your house for your new family member:

• puppy proof your new house as you would for a baby:  get on your hands and knees and look at every hanging chord, any toys or objects on the floor, ways to get under recliners, behind stoves and fridges, into kitchen cabinets and out doors into the street
• put up baby gates for specific rooms or stairways
• go to ASPCA.org and take all poisonous plants out of your house and yard where your puppy will be
• sign up for ASPCA newsletters and order a free poison controll magnet for your fridge
• put locks on cabinets that contain poisons to be sure your puppy or dog can’t get into the garage and poisons and tools there