A calmer first week starts here
Save this guide before go-home day. It covers the food, setup, routines, and little comforts that help a puppy settle in safely.
View the shopping list
Prepared with loveBefore go-home day
A little planning now makes pickup day sweeter for you and less stressful for your puppy.
Choose an available puppy and select Reserve Pup Now. The puppy's listed deposit and a separate $12 online service fee are shown before payment.
The puppy deposit is credited toward the adoption price and is non-refundable unless something happens to the puppy while in Little Paws' care. The service fee is added automatically and does not reduce the remaining adoption balance.
Pickup appointments are generally available Thursday and Friday at 10:00, 11:00, or 1:00, and Saturday at 9:30. Confirm your exact time with Rhonda.
If your puppy needs to remain longer than the agreed pickup date, ask about scheduling and any additional care or vaccination fees.
Professional ground transport may be arranged for an additional fee. Little Paws uses people—not cargo shipping—to transport puppies, with health and comfort first.
Call for a transport quoteThe go-home checklist
Keeping the food and routine familiar is one of the kindest things you can do during the first few days.
Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Puppy Chicken & Rice dry food and Purina ONE Puppy Lamb & Rice canned food. Do not use a large-breed formula.
Keep pads at the back of the crate or pen, away from the sleeping, eating, and play areas.
Choose a professional-style crate at least 23 inches wide, 36 inches long, and 25 inches high—or use a secure playpen or gated puppy-safe room.
A product such as Tomlyn Nutri-Cal can be useful for a small puppy during the adjustment period. Follow Little Paws and veterinarian directions carefully.
Use two sturdy bowls or a double dish. A dog water bottle can help keep the crate area clean and the water available.
Small Milk-Bone puppy biscuits or another veterinarian-approved puppy treat work well for gentle rewards.
Long-coated puppies need a slicker brush, a mild puppy shampoo, and a gentle grooming spray. Do not use flea shampoo on a young puppy unless your veterinarian directs it.
Gerber chicken-and-gravy baby food is one option Little Paws recommends keeping nearby for short-term feeding support when directed.
Minimum suggested size: 23″ W × 36″ L × 25″ HA safe little home base
Your puppy needs enough room to rest, eat, play, and use a training pad without those areas overlapping.
Front: bed, food, water, toys, and safe chews.
Back: training pads for bathroom breaks.
Supervised play: leave the crate door open inside a puppy-proofed room or gated area.
When you leave: return the puppy to the secure crate or pen with water and pads.
Do not take a young puppy onto public ground until your veterinarian confirms the vaccination series is complete.
Feeding & health
Small puppies can be sensitive to abrupt changes. When anything feels off, call your veterinarian promptly.
Little Paws recommends keeping the puppy on the same food until around five months old. If a change is needed, transition gradually over several days with veterinarian guidance.
Young toy-breed puppies need regular meals and monitoring. Lethargy, trembling, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, or refusal to eat deserves prompt professional advice.
Little Paws recommends NuVet Plus wafers. To order, call 1-800-474-7044 and use order code 23920. Ask Rhonda how this relates to the current written guarantee.
Prepaid microchipping and enrollment may be available before pickup. Ask Rhonda for current availability and pricing.
Gentle house training
A puppy is learning the rhythm of a brand-new home. Short, calm repetitions build confidence and good habits.
Use the indoor training-pad routine until your veterinarian says outside ground is safe after vaccinations.
Once cleared, take the puppy to the same bathroom area first. Keep potty time separate from playtime.
Go first thing in the morning, after meals, after naps, and as soon as you return home.
Reward the behavior you want with praise and a small puppy treat. Never hit or frighten a puppy for an accident.
Health, deposits & agreements
This page is a practical preparation guide and does not replace veterinary care or the signed Little Paws health, deposit, pickup, and spay/neuter agreement.
Call Rhonda for the most current written terms, pricing, supplement guidance, and any puppy-specific instructions.
Call (318) 498-1965
Questions are welcome
Call before pickup if you are unsure about a product, feeding instruction, travel plan, or home setup.