You whelped, weaned and cuddled him. Now it’s time to send this puppy on to his new forever home.

You can help give the puppy and his new family the best start to their new relationship by putting together a puppy pack. Puppy packs are a simple yet helpful way to set this puppy up for success with his new family. We’ve put together a short checklist of useful items many people include in their puppy starter kits.

Reading Materials- Even though you may have gone over the ins and outs of puppy ownership with the new family, it always helps to have things written down. Providing reading material such as the My Puppy Guide or Your Pandemic Puppy book will ensure the new family knows how to handle housetraining, chewing and other common puppy behaviors. Make sure the new family is given reading materials that discuss the importance of vaccination before the puppy faces viruses carried by wildlife, feral cats or other dogs. It can also be helpful to send home breed-specific information so they know exactly what to expect from their newest family member. Some breeders put this information on a flash drive to send with the puppy. It helps cut down on paper clutter and has all the information in one place.

Paperwork- You’ve done a great job ensuring the puppy is up-to-date on vaccinations and deworming, so don’t let that information fall by the wayside. Use our Revival Health Records to record important health information about the puppy and pass that information on to the new owners. AKC papers and a health schedule are also necessary information for them to have. And don’t forget, if you’ve microchipped the puppy already, make sure the new owners are aware they need to register the microchip in their name.

Doc Roy’s^® GI Synbiotics Gel– Moving to a new home can be stressful for puppies and that added stress can result in diarrhea. GI Synbiotics is a probiotic and prebiotic that helps promote overall digestive health and is recommended to minimize the potential for diarrhea. It works by supporting the growth of good bacteria and helps remove bad bacteria from the GI tract. It also helps strengthen the animal’s immune system.

Doc Roy’s^® Forti Cal Gel– Forti Cal helps prevent hypoglycemia issues and provides extra calories if he doesn’t eat well the first few days in his new home.

Familiar Toy or Blanket- A small child has their favorite stuffed animal for comfort and puppies are much the same. Sending a small blanket or familiar toy with the puppy can give that added comfort the puppy needs. It’s also helpful if these items have been around the puppy’s mom, so they have her scent on them as well.

Current Food- Sending along a one-week supply of the food you’ve been feeding the puppy is always a good idea. Since he will have so many new things that first week, it will be comforting to have some food he is familiar with. Suggest the new owners mix half of your food with half of the food they intend to use because switching foods too fast can cause digestive upset. It also helps to send along some of your water since the puppy will be used to the taste.

Healthy Treats or Chews- If the puppy has a favorite treat you’ve given him, send some samples along!

Doc Roy’s^® Healthy Bones– Puppies don’t stay small very long, so make sure his new family knows what they need to do to help a fast-growing pup. A calcium supplement like Healthy Bones helps provide the nutrients the puppy needs to grow strong and healthy.

Guarantee- If you offer a guarantee on your dogs, make sure to have it in writing and include a copy with each puppy pack. Clearly state what things could void the guarantee, such as taking them to a dog park too soon or any other stipulations you may have.

Breeder’s Edge^® Foster Care Canine or Feline– Adding a milk replacer to food helps with diarrhea issues and keeps pups eating through the transition.

Breeder’s Edge^® ID Me Take Me Home Collars and Leashes– A must-have for any new puppy owner!

 Foldable Food and Water Bowl- A foldable bowl or a small stainless steel bowl costs very little and is quite useful when traveling around to the vet, park, beach, or anywhere away from home. It’s a cute little addition to your puppy packs that new owners will appreciate because of its usefulness.

 A Personal Note or Card- Write a short letter to the puppy’s new family letting them know how much you believe in them and why you chose to give a puppy to them to care for.

Puppy Bundle- To help you get a start on putting together your Puppy Pack, we’ve put together four different puppy bundles, each with specially selected items that are perfect to include in a puppy pack:

• Puppy Toy Bundle – gives the puppy plenty of energy-burning fun
• Puppy Basic Bundle – helps get the puppy off to a great start
• Puppy Comfort Bundle – give the puppy a secure start
• Puppy Health Bundle – helps give the puppy a healthy start

Let the new family know they aren’t alone and if they have any new puppy questions, our Pet Care Pros are always happy to help! Give our Pet Care Pros a call at 800.786.4751.