How to care for your puppy

To maintain your Mini Foxie puppy’s health always make sure that it is free from fleas and worms and has a warm, clean, dry bed away from drafts to sleep in. Regular, monthly worming should be carried out for puppies and a flea treatment such as ‘Revolution’ used if necessary.

My vet advises that puppies should be vaccinated at 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks of age, and then yearly to keep your pet healthy and hopefully, vet-free.

Due to your puppy’s fine coat they do tend to feel the cold and appreciate a coat or two and a warm place to sleep. The ‘cold ear test’ is a good way to tell if your Mini Foxie is actually cold before it starts to shiver - if the ears are cold when you touch them then your dog is cold and needs a coat. Your puppy can get cold very quickly so please keep it rugged in cold weather and let it sleep inside somewhere warm.

Once, while taking a puppy for a vaccination and vet check, my vet was alarmed to find that the puppy’s core body temperature was too low even though she was wearing a knitted coat and rushed out to get an additional coat to put on her. When you think about it, a Mini Foxie pup is very small and has limited body mass to keep itself warm. However, like any other breed of dog, you should never leave your Mini Foxie in a locked car or house in summer as they can quickly suffer heat stroke, and always provide shade, shelter and water in the yard.

Your Mini Foxie will soon become a loving, obedient member of your family if given direction and training with much encouragement and affection. Always give exercise in the form of walks or games before affection or treats and your puppy will become obedient and respectful. Your puppy is like a little child and needs to know what you expect of him so direct/correct first and praise and cuddle much when your puppy does what you have asked of him. Stop unwanted behaviour early with a firm ‘ahh’ and redirect to the appropriate behaviour followed by much praise when the desired behaviour is accomplished.

Mini Foxies are intelligent and need company and stimulation, particularly when you have to leave them home alone. If you are working and your pup is to be alone for long periods, consider getting a second puppy as a companion. Plenty of toys and exercise will prevent boredom for you intelligent, active little companion and a secure yard will prevent annoying habits such as wandering from developing. Make sure your fence is high enough to prevent bigger dogs from invading your dog’s territory as your Mini Foxie is a little dog with a big heart and has no idea how small and cheeky he can be. Fit a dog flap to the house door to give constant safety access and for toilet training.

If you live in an area where snakes are prevalent it is advisable to use snake mesh on fences and gates to prevent your little huntsman from being bitten. Whites Wire produce a mouse and snake mesh in 30m rolls which is available through hardware and rural stores.

Vitamin C can be given to your dog if bitten to prevent the snake bite being fatal. Vit. C can be given by mouth in powder or crushed tablet form or as a liquid injection but warm the Vit. C liquid first. Vit C can also be used to reduce swelling from bee and insect stings. It is very important to have a thorough understanding of this treatment before attempting to use Vitamin C. The treatment is explained fully in the book ‘Natural Pet Care’ by Pat Colby and additional information is available in the article ‘Pat Colby on Vitamin C Treatment for SNAKE BITES’ attached.

* Research this treatment more before attempting to use Vit C.

Some garden plants and foods are poisonous for dogs. Do not allow your puppy to eat bulbs such as Daffodil and Jonquils and do not feed them onion and chocolate. Remove all snail baits from your garden and make sure there is no mouse or rat poison in the area. Remember Mini Foxies are athletic and can climb so keep all poisons safely locked away.

Remove electric cords from the floor or tape them to skirting boards to prevent your puppy from chewing them. Provide an alternative for you puppy to chew such as a brisket bone or hide chew product.

Good preparation for the arrival of your Mini Foxie can prevent heartbreak later.

Feeding your puppy

You Mini Foxie will not grow any bigger than a cat (they really are the little dog with a big personality) and needs a balanced diet to ensure healthy growth. As your puppy is a growing, active little dog it will benefit from a morning and evening feed. I feed my Mini’s a hand-full of biscuits in the morning with a main meal at night. To keep a soft shiny coat, healthy teeth and bones and a healthy immune system your puppy needs a combination of foods. Fresh food is always best and a few extra vegies can be cooked with the family meal for your ‘other child’.

Your Mini Foxie will appreciate a varied diet and here are some suggestions;

• Cooked pasta and vegetables can be mixed with canned food or fresh mince.

• Pet beef, turkey or chicken mince, lightly fried or boiled with rice or pasta and vegies.

• An egg once a week.

• Good quality canned food such as Pedigree Puppy and good quality dry dog biscuits (choose a brand low in salt).

• Meat scraps but no chicken bones as they can splinter in the stomach.

• Occasional bacon rind, toast and BBQ bits.

• Chicken necks and brisket bones for clean teeth and healthy gums.

• Ox tail bones, available from your supermarket pet freezer section will keep them happy for hours.

• Sardines, tuna or any dried fish.

• Add good quality oil such as a Cod Liver oil capsule to their food once a week.

Never feed your puppy onion, chocolate, grapes or sultanas as they are poisonous to dogs.

Always provide plenty of clean drinking water for your Mini Foxie in more than one location and ensure that the water bowl cannot be tipped over, particularly in hot weather. Change the water every day.

Bedding and warmth

Your Mini Foxie is a very small breed with a fine, translucent coat and will feel the cold as there is not much of them. It is vital to your Mini Foxie’s health that you keep them warm, particularly in winter. Dog coats are excellent with a second coat put on at night if your dog sleeps in an unheated area. If you like a house dog and don’t mind them on the bed, or on a chair with a rug or sheepskin they will certainly adapt to the pampering and snuggle down under the doona, but if you prefer, a warm dog bed with a doona, blanket or old sleeping bag and ‘doggie pyjamas’ (coats) will keep them warm at night. Always place the dog bed on top of a hammock bed to prevent heat drain through contact with the floor and keep the bedding clean and dry.

Op shops and second hand shops are a good source of cheap warm bedding – crochet rugs, old sleeping bags and doonas can be washed or cut up to make bedding for your best friend. Alternately you can purchase heated pet mats, available at some Crazy Prices stores, and Snugrug at snugrug.com.au make special polar fleece doggy sleeping bags that your best friend can burrow in to.

To settle your puppy on his first night at his new home, place him in a dog crate with a warm fleecy blanket or sheepskin, hot waterbottle (depending on the weather) and ticking clock to comfort him. Make sure that the alarm is not set though as it will be very distressing for your puppy if it goes off. Place the dog crate near your bed and tap on the top of the crate with a firm ‘aah’ if the puppy whimpers. The puppy will feel secure and know what you expect of him and should settle well. If the puppy stirs during the night, take him outside onto the grass for a wet. If you say ‘do wee’ and praise your puppy each time he wets you will soon train him to wet on command.

Affection, attention and exercise

The more you pick up, stroke and cuddle and praise your pup the better the response you will get from your new friend. Mini Foxies are intelligent and easily trained and benefit from puppy training and socialising as will your family members. Once your dog is trained and obedient you will be able to take them to public places, dog parks and beaches without stress. A well trained dog is cute and can go everywhere with you without problems.

The MFCA often runs Mini Foxies shows and fun days, such as lure coursing, where owners and dogs can get together for some fun and advice. Children’s and novelty events make these days fun for all the family.

Please feel free to contact Coolaminda kennels and the MFCA if you have any questions about your puppy’s behaviour.

Mini Foxies love to play

Lots of toys and other distractions such as brisket bones or smoked pigs trotter can keep you Mini Foxie happy while you are absent. Schmackos and other hide products make a nice weekly treat or training reward.

Some dogs enjoy toys with squeaks, bells and rattles or soft toys and bits of rope to tug on. Mini Foxies love to dig, so provide a sand pit for them to dig in. A child’s plastic clam sandpit can be filled with sand to provide not only a digging place but also a paddling pond if the other half of the clam is filled with water (Mini Foxies love to swim and splash in water). Remember to empty the water and close the clam to prevent it being used as a toilet by wandering cats.

De-stress, laugh more: get a Mini Foxie!