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the decision has now been made and soon you
will be taking your puppy home from here.
it is time to intimately discuss all details which
make it easier for you and the puppy to master
the beginning of your life together.
until that time we urge you to visit your future
hovi as often as possible. all afternoons are
available for a visit.
take advantage of this time to collect your
individual questions and discuss them with us.
praise your puppy as often and as much as
possible.
create situations which are conducive to that!
please ignore undesirable behavior and rather
steer the puppy's attention to a safe zone.
a perfect time for reading good material about
puppy training.
you will receive a vaccination/european animal
passport which will detail medical care.
try to stay as close to home as possible during
the first two weeks. the vaccinations will
slowly take effect during that time. only after
the booster shots are given during the
12th week - which will be your responsibility
as well as all follow up shots and regular
deworming - will the puppy have protection.
now you can enjoy full puppy play and take on
the world.
your puppy will definitely miss his mamma and
even more his siblings. up until now he has
never been alone. he will scream and cry if
you isolate him to sleep, that is, if you leave
him alone unprepared. please leave all doors
inside the house open.
if you do not want to have your puppy in your
bedroom, which can have big advantages,
prepare a temporary bed for yourself in the
room in which your puppy will sleep from now
on. your puppy will adjust easier and faster to
his new surroundings and be comfortable.
he will look for you repeatedly during the
night to make shure you are still there and he
has not been left alone.
this time should be strucured with the least
amount of stress for you and your hovi.
we are preparing the puppies by feeding them
according to our nutritional recommendations
and we have them wear a collar for an hour at
a time. we also make them get used to riding
in the car which they learn easier when
mamma and siblings come along.
one or two weeks before you take the puppy
home please bring a blanket, a pillow or
similar object, one you have used if possible.
we place this article into the litter's bed which
will represent your scent and also mixes with
the scents of the hovi birthplace. this creates
a scent marker which will bring the puppy a
sense of direction, security and confidence on
the drive home as well as at his new home.
we are sending home with you a starter kit
containing puppy food, milk for puppies, bone
meal etc..
we say good bye to you and your puppy and
place him on the aforementioned blanket, on
your lap on the back seat of your car.
this basic task is assumed by the person who is
the main care taker of the puppy because
during this trip home you form a powerful and
close bond with your puppy. he is wearing his
collar and, in addition, you have brought a
leash with you.
this will assure that he is safe and protected if
has to do his big or small business on the way
home.
i recommended a blanket or vet-bed* for the
resting and sleeping area for your hovi since
a basket chosen for his present size will soon
be too small.
this new area belongs only to your small, and
later big, hovi.
it is off limits to all other animals and people
in the home.
please communicate this point unequivocally
from day on to everybody including your small
children.
nobody is to bother him or pet him there. the
toys he carries to this area are his and are not
to be removed as long as he is there.
after the drive home, put the scent marker
you brought to this specific location. this will
support his sense of orientation.
if you decided to make certain rooms of the
house or apartment permanently off limits to
your dog, you have to enforce these rules from
the first moment on. if your hovi is not
allowed in the kitchen or bedroom he cannot
enter these rooms on the first day or any day
thereafter.
after your arrival at his new home allow your
puppy to explore and sniff everything which is
not off limits. that way your puppy will explore
his new living quarters, will be comfortable
faster and not feel alone. take an active role
accompanying your puppy and make this
exploring a positive and happy encounter and
experience. praise him and encourage him
when he makes discoveries and is unafraid.
during the first few nights he should not be
left alone at all.
if he is not allowed to sleep in your bedroom,
make a bed for yourself in the room where he
sleeps from now on.
if he is left alone at night he will be
traumatized and feel abandoned and cry for
his mother and siblings.
please don't do that to him!
he has to be able to recognize you as his
nurturer when he wakes up. he will touch your
hand and your voice will calm him. he needs
you now!
if you are employed take at least three weeks
vacation to actively integrate your puppy into
the family unit.
during the first six month, minimal, puppies
should not climb stairs. if he sleeps with you
on an upper floor, carry him upstairs and
downstairs.
you may want to put a gate at the bottom
and/or top of the stairs during the day so he
cannot follow you as you go up and down.
this protects the joints and hips of the puppy
and it is the best way to give a chance for a
long and healthy life.
hovawarts are protectors of their family and
their territory. they do not tolerate strangers
entering without getting a signal of approval
by their family. make a point to communicate
this with your dog in a conscious and purposeful manner.
the feeding area should also be determined
right at the beginning. this space belongs to
him. please instruct small children
unequivocally that they cannot touch the dog
while he eats or take food away from him.
you thereby avoid potential conflicts.
a bowl of fresh water must also be available in
this area at all times.
puppies as a general rule do their business
after sleeping, eating or playing. this is a law
of nature and only your attentiveness by
picking him up and taking him out immediately
can shape this into a form most acceptable to
you.
puppies not unlike babies cannot control their
sphincter at the beginning. a puppy cannot
control it until after he is about 12 weeks old.
all the training given before that is merely
practice. it is therefore necessary to pay full
attention to this during the first few weeks.
praise your dog when he is doing it right and
never punish him if he is not perfectly
housebroken yet.
just keep a roll of paper towels handy!
at least every two hours take your puppy
where he is to do his business. if it goes well,
applaud.
during the first few days in the new home
your puppy ought to have many positive
experiences and have him to get used to his
new family and new territory. communicate
with him, show him what he can and cannot
do. since he wants close contact with you he
will try to stay close when you sit down.
he will try to climb your couch or bed for
example. if this is not acceptable from now on,
you have to show him clearly and unmistakably
right now. puppies like children are full of
energy and your puppy will put you to the test
over and over again. it is now up to you to
show consistency, calmness and more patience
than he has. the excuse that he is still so small
and will learn later is wrong. on the contrary,
you mar your relationship and your
communication with your puppy if you treat
unacceptable behaviour randomly and
inconsistently.
make it easy for you and your puppy. what he
is not allowed from the beginning he will never
miss later on.
create a language for the daily life at home
different from the one at the dog park. for
example: sit down! lie down!
the commands used at the park: sit! stay! etc.
are to be called off by countermanding.
this strict rule does not apply at home.
play a lot of games with your young dog and
allow him to learn through play.
if your puppy bites down too hard his sharp
teeth, say: ouch! and stop the play for a short
time. he will definitly not understand long
lectures or a swat with a newspaper. however
you can learn the dog's language and enable
him to understand you.
you should basically avoid all emotions and
communicate calmly and with ease.
your puppy will thus keep self confidence, be
obedient and respond to your clear-cut
commands. learn to be clear and precise! this
will teach your puppy that you mean what you
say, no ambivalence or uncertainty. he will
love you for it.
make use of the list of literature!
go find an inspiring puppy play group. cultivate
your relationship with your puppy lovingly and
hands-on. this will help him to develop his
potential in the best way and he will enrich
your life and the lives of your fellow humans
for as long as he lives.
if you don't already have this in your first aid
kit, add arnica d6/dhu for immediate
treatments of injuries.
also rescue remedy/dr. bach for scary and
shocking situations. carry these two with you
at all times together with treats.
also have stullmisan on hand of diarrhea.
don't demand too much or too little of your
puppy. he will give you a clear signal by
yelping when he is exhausted or in urgent
need of sleep.
we wish that every improvement you
experience with your hovi or concerning him
will become a break-through for both of you
thanks to your determination, your
engagement, your love and your knowledge.
you have convinced us of your commitment
and chosen dedication and we wish you and
your hovawart that it will last and be true for
the rest of the dog's life.
may you and your hovi become a dream team!
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