Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of a very special Miniature or Giant Schnauzer puppy. I am personally pleased that he is going to such a wonderful home as yours. Your life will never be the same again! Just like a new baby, there is work to be done so your lifestyle isn't totally upset. You must remember, this is a baby who is going to be full grown in just a few months, so you only have weeks to establish your ground rules. If you don't work daily with your new puppy, you will have an ill-mannered spoiled brat by the time he is six months old. You are the adult - puppy is the child - you are the boss! Integrating your new little bundle of joy into your family will take patience and commitment (and a good sense of humor!). There is so much he needs to learn and discover; and how successful he is at adapting to your lifestyle and his new environment will depend on you. Here are a few things that I hope will help you along the way.

Housebreaking

There are as many ways to housebreak a puppy as there are books on the subject. However, in my opinion, your success depends solely on your ability to predict the call of nature. Watch your pup. He will tell you when it's time. After playtime, when he awakens, and after mealtime, take him outside. The more times he eliminates outside, the fewer accidents you will have in the house and the quicker he will be housebroken. Simple, really!!!

While you are at home try and take your pup out every hour. Don't talk to him until he has gone to the bathroom. If he has success, praise him, pet him and make a big deal out of it. If he doesn't go, take him back in the house and resume your normal activities. A young puppy can "hold it" about 4 hours at the most, so always keep this in mind if he needs to be crated while you are away.

If you have a "doggy door" installed in your home, you will be pleased to know that your puppy has been housebroken to using a doggy door before he goes home. It is simple to make the transition to your new home. Even if you do not have a "doggy door" installed in your home, you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that your puppy already understands that "outside" is for potty. I teach them "outside potty" from the time they are five or six weeks old, it really helps when making the transition to his new home.

Take your puppy out the minute he wakes up day or night, after every meal, as soon as you get up in the morning, and just before you go to bed at night. Watch your puppy! Most accidents in the house are people accidents, not puppy accidents. When a puppy goes to the door, whimpers to go out, and you say "In a minute." and take him out 5 minutes later, you will have to clean your accident up off the floor.

If your puppy does have an "accident" roll up a newspaper and smack yourself on the head saying "bad owner"!!! Next time you'll be more vigilant about taking him out!!!

Socializing

To be a good canine citizen and an ideal pet, your puppy needs to meet new people, dogs, and other animals. This gives him self-confidence. Puppy kindergarten is wonderful. I recommend socializing him in earnest after his last puppy shots have been completed at about 16 weeks of age. New experiences are stimulating to your new puppy and can be quite educational for you. It's a great way to get to know your pup.

There are many wonderful activities you and your puppy can get involved in such as agility, obedience, flyball and therapy work. Schnauzers are happiest when they have a "job" to do, so go out and have some FUN!!!

Crate Training

DAYTIME - a ex-pen or crate is a must. Don't lock your puppy up in a kitchen, bathroom or utility room. Keep him in a ex-pen or crate in the room you're most often in so he can watch what you are doing and not get into trouble behind your back.

When you let your puppy out of the ex-pen/crate, this is his time to be with you and your family. This is the time to play and interact and to learn the boundaries of your home.

This is not the time for him to go exploring on his own. Paper, books, Kleenex, toilet paper and all reading material can become confetti in less than five minutes. They are not referred to as "Paper Schnauzers" for no reason!!!

NIGHTTIME - I find the best way to deal with nighttime is to let the puppy sleep in bed with me. This way when he puppy begins to stir, he will wake me and outside we go! If you choose not to have your puppy sleeping in bed with you, then use of the crate for your puppy to sleep in at night is a must!

Cover the bottom of the crate with a soft, absorbent material such as a small towel or rug, add a toy, and perhaps a cookie to the crate, then place puppy in the crate. If he begins to cry, go over to the cage, clap your hands and firmly GROWL NO!!! If he continues to cry, place a towel over the front of the crate so he can no longer see you, clap your hands and firmly GROWL NO!!! If he still insists on crying, then take a heavy object and slam the top of the cage with it and firmly GROWL NO!!! This loud noise and vibration will instill the word "NO" into your puppy's memory. Usually this only has to be done a couple of times for the first few days, then when you clap your hands and firmly say NO, he will settle right down.

Obedience

As you probably know, Schnauzers sometimes get overly excited when meeting other dogs, and people, and may show a streak of stubbornness, and have devious ideas on getting their own way. Schnauzers are very intelligent dogs, and that means they need to learn very early on who's boss. Simply learning the sit, stay, come, commands teaches them that you are in control.

I urge you to enroll in a basic obedience class. Not only will your puppy be better behaved, he will develop a special bond with you and his self-esteem will soar. Choose an instructor who is big on positive reinforcement and respects a dog's sensitivity. The time you invest in training your puppy should be enjoyable for both of you.

Do not play rough with your puppy! Don’t let the puppy develop bad habits such as jumping up on you, biting at clothing, etc. Some of the bad habits that he develops as a small puppy will certainly not be desirable when he grows older. Don’t let him get by with anything as a puppy that you won’t want him to do when he is older!


Biting

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. Unfortunately, this can also mean biting/chewing on things such as your furniture, rugs, shores, hands, etc. Puppies must NEVER, EVER, be allowed to bite you, not even in "play"!!!! This behavior must be EXTINGUISHED right away. At first you may think it is "cute", and really does not hurt, but if you do not stop it the first time it happens, you will have a problem later. When the puppy bites you, IMMEDIATELY grab him by the muzzle, flip him on his back, holding him there while you GROWL "OUCH" "NO BITE"..........mama dogs and littermates do the same thing to each other when one of the littermates get out of hand. It is their way of saying, "back off, you're playing too rough". DO NOT allow the puppy back up on his feet until he strops struggling!!! If you let him up and he bites again, repeat. Continue this as often, and EVERY time the puppy bites. Normally it only takes a few times and the puppy understands that biting is not acceptable behavior. Always redirect the puppy to an acceptable chew item such as a rope bone, Kong toy, or hard bone. Puppies need to chew and their chewing desire must be satisfied with acceptable items, and YOU are not one of them!!!.

Do not play rough with your puppy! Don’t let the puppy develop bad habits such as jumping up on you, biting at clothing, etc. Some of the bad habits that he develops as a small puppy will certainly not be desirable when he grows older. Don’t let him get by with anything as a puppy that you won’t want him to do when he is older!

I urge you to enroll in a basic obedience class. Not only will your puppy Schnauzer be better behaved, he will develop a special bond with you and his self-esteem will soar. Choose an instructor who is big on positive reinforcement and respects a dog's sensitivity. The time you invest in training your puppy should be enjoyable for both of you.


Grooming

To maintain healthy coat and skin, your puppy should be brushed and combed out at least every 2 or 3 days. I bathe mine about every four weeks in the Summer, and every six to eight weeks in the Winter months, with a citrus based natural flea shampoo with d-Limonene, such as Top Performance Citrus Plus, which is available in many dog supply catalogs. If you cannot find this brand, any good citrus based shampoo will do just fine. Bathing a Schnauzer too often will dry out his skin. Brushing frequently will help keep the coat's natural oils distributed throughout his coat. When you bathe your puppy, make sure to clean his ears, remove the hair from his ear canals and clip his toenails, and brush his teeth!!!. Miniature and Giant Schnauzers should be trimmed (groomed) every 4-8 weeks by a professional groomer who is knowledgeable with the proper grooming of the Miniature or Giant Schnauzer. You can also learn to groom your own Schnauzer. There are many good grooming books and charts available to teach you how.


Feeding

Your Miniature Schnauzer puppy has been raised exclusively on Eukanuba Lamb & Rice for Puppies. If you are getting a Giant Schnauzer, they are NEVER to be fed a puppy food as it causes them to grown too quickly which can put strain on developing joints. Your Giant Schnauzer puppy should be started on Eukanuba Lamb & Rice For Adults, or Eukanuba Large Breed Adult food. Feed him three small meals a day until he is about 4 months old, and after that, one regular meal or two smaller meals a day. My kids tend to eat at night. Some eat better in the AM, some in the PM and some do best if you split the meal into two smaller meals. You will have to learn what suits your pup and your lifestyle the best. I never wet the food, nor do I feed canned food. These things tend to cause buildup of tarter and contribute to poor dental hygiene later in life. My dogs and puppies eat their food dry with a small bowl of water beside if they need a drink.

Puppies should be allowed to eat all they want at their mealtimes but feed only what your puppy will eat in about 15 minutes, don't leave the food out all day. Your puppy must be fed and watered on a schedule if housebreaking is to be successful.

Boiled chicken and white rice with no seasonings can be fed as a special treat for your puppy or adult dog.

Small IAMS or Eukanuba Lamb & Rice or Puppy biscuits are wonderful treats that I recommend, but make sure not to overfeed your puppy. Overfed puppies can develop serious medical problems later on in life. Table scraps, onions, chocolate and many other types of "people food" are off limits to dogs and puppies.

One of the most important things I think you can feed your puppy/dog is fresh veggies and fruit. I give veggies and fruit to all of my dogs and puppies about 3 to 4 times a week. Carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and apples make wonderful treats. They help to keep your dog/puppy's teeth clean and breath fresh smelling, and they LOVE them. I start teaching my puppies to eat veggies right from the time they start cutting their teeth. The hard veggies also serve as a wonderful chew, much safer than rawhide. As for other safe chew items, I use only natural raw bones, cow hooves, cow/lamb ears and veggies/fruit, NO, NO, NO, "PIGS EARS", they contain way too much fat!!!

If you have a Miniature Schnauzer puppy at 6 months of age you should change him over to an adult dog food as most of your puppy's growth is now reached. I highly recommend Eukanuba Lamb & Rice for Adults. If you have a Giant Schnauzer puppy, no change is needed. He should continue on the Eukanuba Lamb & Rice For Adults or Eukanuba Large Breed Adult Food for the rest of his life or until age dictates the need for a "senior" food.
Eukanuba Lamb & Rice is a fairly hypoallergenic food. You may think you are paying more for a premium food like Eukanuba, however, your puppy/dog will eat much less of a premium food and you will get less stool in return because more of the food is digestible and being used by your dog. Vet bills for a puppy/dog fed a poor diet will be much higher than the additional cost of the food for a year.

Make sure to check the ingredients on your doggy treats, the further away you stay from corn, wheat and soy products, the happier and healthier your dog will be. Don't feed your puppy or adult Schnauzer what I call "grocery store garbage" such as "Beggin Strips", "Snauzages", Etc. These are just like feeding your human children "Twinkies" every day. They are full of sugar, corn, and artificial colors/flavors. Stick to the more "natural" type of treats as mentioned above.

Miniature Schnauzer adult dogs should only be fed about 3/4 to 1 cup of Eukanuba Lamb & Rice per day, total. A few raw veggies and a couple doggy "cookies" (Iams Biscuits or homemade cookies), can be given as treats in addition to the daily food ration. Giant Schnauzers will eat anywhere between 2 and 4 cups of food a day, depending on their size and activity level. Do not feed a soft food or only canned food. If you do, you will have a dog with bad teeth, bad gums, and bad breath.

Although your puppy has been wormed, I suggest you take a sample of his stool to your vet on your first vet visit. Your puppy has had at least its first vaccine as well. You will recieve a health record (refer to puppy manual that went home with your new pup) with your new puppy, please take this with you to your vet on your first visit.

Runny or soft stools can be common the first couple days, due to change of surroundings, but be sure to call your vet if this persists. If puppy is eating fine, drinking plenty of water, and acting alert and playful, there should be no reason for alarm.

Please, no water after 6 PM or so. You will discover the seventh wonder of the world; give them an ounce and they'll give you a quart. This means NO food or water after you have fed your puppy in the evening.


Vitamins

Due to the variation and quality of dog foods available on the market and the fact that puppy owners don't always feed their dogs what is best for them, I require that your puppy be on a high quality vitamin supplement which is only available through breeders. Your puppy must be on this supplement for your health guarantee to remain in effect. You will want to have this supplement on hand before you receive your puppy so there is no break in the puppy’s supplement routine. The order line to call for "NuVet Canine" supplement is (800) 474-7044 and our special WHOLESALE DISCOUNT order code is: #51763. NuVet also now has an online store where you can purchase all of your new puppy's needs such as beds, collars, leashes, etc. To enter the store, please click the hyperlink NuVet Online Store. NuVet Canine Plus can be ordered in a 1, 3 or 12 month's supply. You will save money on the “auto-order program” which will also make sure you have supply on hand if you forget to order when you run out (saves you the hassle!). You will be asked to initial a copy of your health guarantee before you recieve your pup, confirming you have the "NuVet Canine" supplement on hand. This will ensure optimum health and a long life for your dog.

It is recommended you find a place where you do something EVERY DAY that will trigger your memory to administer the supplement...in my house it on a stand near my bed, this way I see it before I go to bed, and the dogs love it so much, they help me remember too!!!. Whatever works for you!!!! (don’t worry, you can administer two tablets if you forget one day!). I like to use the vitamins as daily treat.


Recommended Reading

Below is a list of books you might find very helpful in raising your new Miniature or Giant Schnauzer puppy. I have found these to be the best books available to date. These books are available through many online book retailers such as Amazon.com.

1. The New Miniature Schnauzer - Dan Kiderowski
2. The Art Of Raising A Puppy - The Monks Of New Skete
3. The Book Of The Miniature Schnauzer - Anna Katherine Nicholas
4. Giant Schnauzer - A Comprehensive Owner's Guide - Barbara J. Andrews
5. The World Of Schnauzers - John Gallant

Recommended Puppy Supply List

I am always being asked what supplies to buy for the new arrival. Below I've put together a list of the things that you should purchase for your new addition. Happy Shopping!!!

The Follow Supplies Can Be Purchase Online Or By Phone At Nu Vet Labs

1. NuVet Plus Canine Vitamins
2. Kennel Cab II Large Size Or Vari Kennel Size #200
3. Stoneware Food & Water Dishes Or Fresh Flow Water Fountain
4. Nylon Collars, Leashes & ID Tags
5. Greenies Chews
6. Nylabones
7. Plush Toys
8. Premium Plush Toys
9. Rope Bones
10. Tennis Bones
11. Kongs & Dental Kongs

Other items you will need:

* Doggy Toothpaste & Toothbrush *
* Dental Scaler *
* "Parrot-Nosed" Nail Clippers *
* Sherpa Crate Pads (At Least Two) *
* Shampoo (I Use Top Performance Brands) *
* Greyhound Comb *
* Slicker Brush *

These items can also be purchased on-line at the following pet supply stores:

JB Wholesale
Pet Edge
Ryan's Pet Supplies


Love, Love, Love

Give lots of love and praise. Your puppy really wants to please you and make you proud of him. A little love goes a long way.

Well, now, that's about it, easy right? If you ever have any questions, comments or need any help, please feel free to contact me. The only stupid questions are the ones that go unasked!!! Good luck with your puppy. I am here if you should need any help.