Читать книгу Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: An Owner’s Guide - Nick Mays - Страница 21

Finally, the big day will dawn and you will have to go to the breeder to collect your puppy. Take some towels and kitchen roll with you in case the puppy is stressed or unused to car travel and is sick. A water bowl and bottle of water will be necessary on a long journey as the puppy may be thirsty. If possible, take someone with you to collect the puppy, so that one of you can nurse him while the other drives.

When you arrive at the breeders, make sure the puppy you chose on your last visit is still fit and healthy, and then check the paperwork over. The breeder should provide all the documents you need (see page 32), plus a diet sheet and two to three days’ supply of the puppy’s usual food. Once you have paid the breeder, it’s time to take your puppy home. Some breeders even supply a ‘puppy pack’, which includes toys and maybe a blanket on which he and his mother have slept in order to provide a reassuring, familiar scent.

Make sure you keep a good hold of your puppy on the journey home. You can cuddle him on your lap or place him in a suitable carrier to keep him safe. Remember to reassure him as much as he needs, always talking quietly and in a friendly tone of voice, without overdoing the attention and making him anxious or over-excited. If you can, put a puppy collar (and lead) on him during the journey home, not to walk him – that comes later – but as part of the all-important process of getting him used to a collar and lead for his later training.

If you use public transport rather than driving him home in a car, avoid letting any other passengers touch your puppy. Of course, people will want to stroke him and make a fuss of him, but although it’s good socialization it may also be quite stressful.