NOTE: Any and all statements made on this page are our advice and recommendation made through personal research and are not made by a professional veterinarian.

Crate Training:

We recommend crate training for your puppy. By nature, dogs find comfort and safety in their dens.  Dogs keep their den as clean  as possible so keep the crate small as the puppy is being potty trained.  Most dogs don’t want to be near their own waste and make an effort to control elimination in a smaller space.  Increase the size of the crate slowly as the puppy grows and is able to “hold it” longer.  Eventually your puppy will go in on his own to nap or when feeling scared and will feel comfortable in his home.  A crate is not a “puppy prison” so always make your puppy feels safe when in his crate.  Make the crate comfortable with a bed and puppy safe toys.

Exercise and Spay/Neuter Recommendations:

Puppies need proper exercise as they grow and develop but moderation is key.  Sometimes people want to “tire out” a puppy with exercise but a good rule of thumb is a ratio of 5 minutes of exercise per month of age, up to twice per day until the puppy is full grown.  3 months = 15 minutes 2x/day, 4 months = 20 minutes 2x/day, 5 months = 25 minutes 2x/day and so on.

Hormones are known for playing a role in a puppies growth plates and skeletal development.  Growth plates tend to generally close when a dog is 12-20 months old depending on breed and size.  This coincides with the end of puberty.  Male and female sex hormones are known to play key roles in the closure of bone growth plates.  If a dog is altered (spayed or neutered) prior to puberty, there could be a delay in the closing process which could lead to orthopedic issues in the future.  We recommend delaying spay or neuter until the dog is 16-24 months old to reduce the incidence of these types of issues.