Feeding guide
Until the age of 12 weeks your puppy should be fed Nutro Large Breed Puppy food as follows:
| Breakfast (7.00 - 8.00 am) | Lunch (12.00 - 1.00 pm) |
| Tea (5.00 - 6.00 pm) | Supper(10.00 - 11.00 pm) |
Your puppy will eat 4 meals per day until the age of 12 weeks then reduce to 3 meals per day (dividing the daily total into 3) until the age of 6 month then 2 meals per day for life. At the moment he/she is eating approximately 4-6 oz per meal, obviously the meals will increase in size but the main criteria for judging the amount to feed is what comes out of the other end. When the stools are firm the amount of food is correct, if they are rock hard, increase the amount of food and if the stools are too soft, decrease the food intake. Feeding instructions shown on the food pack are only a guide. St Bernards are individuals, just like humans and quantities to feed vary accordingly.
We feed our St Bernards Nutro Large Breed complete food and you will have received a 15 kilo bag of Nutro Large Breed Puppy with your puppy. We recommend you continue to feed this quality complete food which can be obtained from Premium Pet Foods Ltd (details on enclosed leaflet). As the food is complete your puppy does not require any supplements and we recommend that no titbits are given. Nutro food is balanced and formulated to enable your puppy to grow naturally. Your puppy will let you know when the time is right to change from puppy to adult food. This can occur any time from around 9 to10 months onwards when the puppy will “go off” the puppy food and this will indicate a change to adult food is required.
Very Important Always make sure there is fresh water available.
When your puppy wakes up or as soon as he or she has eaten, allow him or her to visit a designated area in the garden and again last thing at night (we use the words “hurry ups”) it is surprising how quickly they get to know what you mean and oblige - except of course when it is freezing cold or pouring with rain!! If you do all of this it will speed up the training process. Saints are very quick learners you just need to exercise a little patience.
Should your St Bernard ever get an upset tummy we find Kaolin and Morphine (purchased from any chemist) should clear it up. 1 teaspoon 3 times a day on the first day and one on the second day should clear up any minor disorder but should the problem persist then a trip to the vet would be in order.
We find that a fleece (the original for dogs is called Vet Bed but that is much more expensive) is good for dogs to sleep on it is soft and cuddly very easy to wash and quick to dry. If it should get wet the water goes straight through to the backing and the dog remains dry. We find it very useful when we have exercised our dogs in the rain and they come in wet and dirty they will soon clean up on the fleece. Should your puppy cry on the first night for all your sakes including the puppy, steel your heart and ignore it, the puppy will soon settle down, this is the first lesson on who is boss, sounds hard but believe me it isn’t.
Vaccination & worming
Your puppy started the vaccination regime with homeopathic tablets at the age of 1 week (please see enclosed sheet from Ainsworth’s) - your puppy can be allowed out to socialize when you get him home. We continue to use this form of vaccination on all our dogs but you can vaccinate your puppy conventionally if you wish when you take your puppy to the vet for a checkup. We recommend you visit your vet as soon as possible for the checkup. Your puppy has been wormed with Panacur 10% Liquid and should be wormed again at 8 and 12 weeks. Should worms appear your vet will be able to supply conventional wormers.
Important
Your young puppy requires plenty of sleep and must have somewhere to go and be allowed complete rest. Children must be educated that puppies are not toys and they must be allowed their quiet time. The puppy should be separated from other dogs, if you leave the home unattended, in case they injure them in play.
Socialising with other dogs and people is very important. Please read the enclosed Blue Cross leaflet “Headstart for puppies” We also recommend you and your puppy attend puppy training classes which also help in socialising. Remember, what is acceptable behaviour from a puppy may not be tolerable from a 14 stone dog. Training classes are often advertised at your vet or the Kennel Club can supply the address of your local training society. Any training should be carried out in a gentle playful way with plenty of praise when your puppy gets it right. make a fuss. Should your puppy not get it right do not smack the puppy, voice chastisement is more effective in the long term. Be consistent in what you expect of your puppy. We find it helpful to take puppies to a nearby shopping centre finding a place where you can sit this will get him/her accustomed to the sounds of traffic plus you will be inundated with people wanting to say hello.
Exercise
Your StBernard puppy does not require much formal exercise apart from lead training until 6 months of age (we suggest you start off with a slip lead as Saints grow very quickly and you will be forever buying new collars. Until then running and playing in the garden are sufficient. From 6 months your puppy can be taken for walks gradually increasing the distance. The walking will help firm up the puppy’s muscles but begin with short distances. We recommend that puppies are not allowed upstairs because descending can damage their joints. They should not be allowed to run down steps into the garden or to jump out of cars. Until they have matured they should be helped out of cars and down steps or a ramp can be built into the garden. As adults, Saints will walk as many miles as you are prepared to walk yourself - a very good way for owners to keep fit. Please - do not be a fair weather walker as all of you still need the exercise. Walking the dog is for every day; not just for weekends.
Confinement
Puppies that are left alone can become bored, relieving this by chewing furniture and furnishings. Should this occur we suggest you invest in a cage. Puppies are easily trained to treat this as a place where they can rest and be left with a toy without causing damage to the house. A cage should not be used as a form of punishment. The enclosed Croft leaflet may be of some use but please remember St Bernards grow quickly and it could be beneficial to buy one large enough for an adult Saint even though it may appear too large at the moment.
Grooming equipment should include a slicker brush, T shaped comb, brush, nail clippers & scissors.
Insurance
In your puppy pack is a cover note from the Kennel Club Healthcare Plan. Please ensure the authorisation number is filled in and the cover note signed. The cover note entitles your puppy to six weeks free insurance including death by accident or illness and £5,000 veterinary fees. Full details are on the back of the cover note. Because veterinary fees can be expensive we suggest you consider extending the insurance after the 6 week period or insuring with another company.
Help
We are available at the address below and are only a phone call away should you come across a situation you do not understand. Please call us if you want advice - it is free.
Should you need to re-home your St Bernard through unfortunate circumstances please contact us first as we will always take back St Bernards we have bred.
We hope you enjoy your St Bernard and have a long, happy and healthy life together.
Useful contacts
The Kennel Club 1-5 Clarges, Piccadilly, Street London W1Y 8AB Tel: 0870 6066750
Ainsworths Homoeopathic Pharmacy: (Vet in attendance)
Tel: 0207 9355330
The South of England St Bernard Club: Mr J Cootes
Tel: 01342 842207
The English St Bernard Club: Mrs L Martin
Tel: 01666 510295
Terry & Sheila Munro
Stornum
205 Guildford Road
Bisley
Woking
Surrey
GU24 9DL
Tel/Fax: 01483 473572
E-mail: stbernards@stornum.com
Mobiles: 07710 269119 - 07802 708205
