Hey there, new parents!

Bringing home a furry tornado of love is equal parts joy, chaos and a whole lot of “Am I doing this right?” . To keep your new bud’s tail wagging and your sanity intact, here’s all the things you’ll want to know.

Microchipping & Identification

Vaccines & Preventatives

Puppy Proofing

The Home Grooming & Hygeine

Behaviour 101: Training

Basics Socialising Your Bud

Health Monitoring

Insurance

Microchipping & Identification

Before you get swept up in picking out cute collars and squeaky toys, there are a couple of important admin jobs to tick off first. Microchipping isn’t just a clever little gadget under the skin, it’s also the law in Queensland. Think of your bud’s microchip as their permanent ID tag, so that if they ever pull a Houdini and sneak off, a quick scan at the vet can be get them back home safely.

Most breeders will arrange microchipping at the same time as your pup’s first vaccinations, but if you’re unsure, we can quickly scan them in clinic to double-check. No chip? No problem! Our vets can easily microchip your bud for you.

Not sure where your bud’s chip is registered? Drop by and we’ll scan the details, then help you transfer ownership if needed. And remember, if you change your phone number or move house, be sure to update those details. A microchip is only as reliable as the info attached to it.

One last bit of admin is to register your bud with Brisbane City Council. This isn’t just about following the rules, it also helps the council reunite lost pets with their families.

Vaccines & Preventative Care

Vaccinations and parasite prevention are two of the most important ways to protect your little bud as they grow. They are the invisible shields that protect your pup from nasty diseases and uninvited guests. Starting prevention early keeps your pup safe and saves you from some very unpleasant surprises.

Vaccines start young, with the first set usually given with the breeder, around 6 – 8 weeks of age. From there, you’ll bring your pup in for their second and third vaccines. The age your bud gets vaccinated may change, based on when they received their first vaccines. The golden rules are:

6 – 8 weeks: first vaccine
10 – 12 weeks: second vaccine
14 – 16 weeks: third vaccine

At least 10 weeks old for 2nd vaccines
At least 14 weeks old for 3rd vaccines
Ideally 4 weeks between vaccines

And remember! No free roaming until their vaccines are complete. A week after their third vaccine, your little adventurer can start exploring the big wide world!

Protection doesn’t stop at just vaccines though. Flea, tick and worming is also an important step in your buds health journey. Worming should be given every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old. After that, the schedule depends on the brand of prevention you choose.

If you choose to go with our in-clinic preventatives, we’ll send you reminders so you never miss a dose. Think of us as your pup’s personal parasite-fighting calendar.

We’ve popped our preventative package and schedule on the next couple of pages, for easy reference. If you’d like us to organise your bud’s preventatives, just give us a buzz or ask us at their next appointment!

Flea and tick

Heartworm

Intestinal parasites

Vaccination

2 Puppy Vaccination – $250

Health check, vaccination, heartworm injection and complimentary flea, tick and intestinal worming tablets until 6 months of age.

Final Puppy Vaccination – $185

Final puppy vaccination and health check.

6 Months of Age – $350

Sniff visit with our care team for heartworm injection, flea and tick injection, plus complimentary intestinal worming until their first adult vaccinations.

Please Note: This schedule will differ depending on which brand of prevention you use. This schedule is based off the following brands:

Heartworm: SR12 Injection
Fleas & Ticks:
- Bravecto 1 Month Chew until 6 months of age
- Tick injection starting at 6 months of age
Intestinal Worms: Broad spectrum All Wormer

Puppy Proofing The Home

Bringing your new bud home is a very exciting time! But just like a toddler, puppies like to explore their world with their mouth and paws! Puppy proofing your home is all about creating a safe environment where your bud can learn, play and grow without getting into any trouble (or danger!).

Get On Their Level

Take a moment to look at your home from your bud’s perspective. If it’s within reach, it’s fair game! Getting low will help you identify any potential hazards you may not usually notice.

Remove & Secure Hazards

Electrical cords, shoes, loose items, children’s toys and small objects are all tasty treats to your little bud. Make sure to remove these items so they can’t be swallowed or ingested.

Be Mindful Of Toxic Items

Cleaning products, chemicals, medications, certain foods (e.g. chocolate, grapes & onions) and plants, can all be toxic to puppies. Always reach out to us if you’re bud has eaten something you think could be toxic!

Create Safe Zones

Setting up a designated area like a play pen gives your bud a safe place to relax and play, when you can’t monitor them closely. This means no mischief making when you’re not around!

Provide Appropriate Outlets

Puppies love to chew on anything and everything when going through teething stages. Providing them with toys can help curb the urge and set them up for success!

Grooming & Hygiene

Keeping your bud clean and well-groomed is an important part of their overall health and wellbeing. It isn’t just about looking good but also helps prevent skin issues, keeps your bud comfortable, and allows you to pick up on any concerns early.

Starting a grooming routine from a young age helps your bud become familiar with handling. Consistency and patience, alongside an early start, can make grooming a calm and positive experience for your bud (and you!). Remember to use lots of treats, praise and take things at your bud’s pace.

Start Early & Go Slow

Introduce grooming gradually. Think gentle brushing, bathing, handling paws, exposing their nails, looking in their ears & brushing their teeth. This builds confidence and trust over time.

Brushing

Brushing your bud’s hair helps prevent matting, removes loose hair and keeps their coat healthy. Frequency will depend on your bud’s breed and coat type.

Bathing

Go slow to help get your bud familiar with the water. It’s also important to use a puppy shampoo that is gentle on their skin to prevent any irritiation.

Nail Care

Nail trims are important for comfort and mobility (as well as your own skin!). Playing with your pups paws and nails helps them become comfortable with handling. If you hear tapping on the floor, it’s usually time for a trim.

Ears, Eyes & Teeth

Check your bud’s ears & eyes regularly for redness, odour or discharge. Introducing teeth brushing early helps them become comfortable and supports their dental health from a young age.

Behaviour 101: Training Basics

Getting your bud trained up is one the most important (and rewarding!) parts of their growth. It’s not just about teaching commands like sit and stay, but rather about creating a strong bond, clear communication and setting boundaries to help your bud feel confident in their world.

Starting early with gentle, consistent training is key for creating a foundation of good behaviour. Your bud is always learning, so every interaction is a opportunity to guide them in the right direction.

Remember that learning take time and mistakes are normal! Be patient with your bud during this time. Stay calm, redirect when needed, and celebrate the small wins!

Keep It Pawsitive

Reward-based training works best. Use treats, praise, and play to reinforce good behaviours. Your bud will learn very quickly what earns them treats and cuddles.

Consistency Is Key

Use the same cues and routines across all family members and situations. Mixed messages can confuse your little bud and slow down their learning.

Short, Frequent Sessions

Your Bud has a short attention span, so aim for a few minutes of training at a time, repeating multiple times a day. This is more effective than one long training session.

Focus On The Essentials

Start with the foundational skills like your bud’s name, recall, sit and toilet training. Once they have these down pat, you can start introducing new commands.

Set Them Up For Success

Manage their environement to prevent unwanted behaviours. Supervise them closely, use puppy-safe areas, and avoid giving them opportunities to practice bad habits.

Socialising Your Bud

Now to the fun part: helping your puppy discover the big wide world! Socialisation is all about introducing them to new people, animals, sounds, textures, environments and experiences. It’s how you make sure they grow up curious instead of cautious.

The tricky part is timing. Puppies need to be exposed to lots of new things while they’re young, but they also need protection from nasties until their vaccines are complete. This means you’ll need to introduce a little bit of creativity, such as:

Carry them around the park instead of letting them sniff on the ground
Invite over friends with healthy, vaccinated dogs for them to meet both two and four legged mates
Let them experience loud sounds like doorbells and vacuum cleaners from the comfort of their home
Touch their ears, paws, nails, and teeth during cuddle time, so they’re relaxed with handling later on

And if you’re considering puppy school, this can be well worth it! Puppy classes are a safe environment for your bud to meet others their own age, while you pick up all the tips & tricks from trainers.

Health Monitoring

Puppies don’t come with an instruction manual, but they do have a way of telling you when something’s not quite right. You know your pup’s quirks, zoomies, and snack habits better than anyone, so if something feels off, trust your gut and give us a buzz.

That said, we get it can be hard to know when a “meh” day turns into a “call the vet now” moment. To make life easier, here are a few red flags to look out for:

Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Lethargy
Reduced appetite or thirst
Toxic treats (chocolate, grapes / raisins, macadamias, medications, caffeine)

Vomiting Diarrhoea Lethargy Reduced appetite or thirst Toxic treats (chocolate, grapes / raisins, macadamias, medications, caffeine)

It’s also a good idea to keep the details of emergency vet centres handy. If we’re ever closed and your bud needs urgent care, you’ll know exactly where to go. We’ve linked a few trusted emergency centres below to save you the latenight panic Google search.

Animal Emergency Centre Wooloongabba

Animal Referral Jospital Sinnamon Park

Animal Emergency Service Underwood

Pet Emergency Stafford

Trying to find your nearest clinic? Check out our map here.

Insurance Protection

Puppies are professional mischief makers. From mystery plants in the backyard to the “can I eat this?” stage that seems to last forever, you never quite know what’s around the corner. That’s where pet insurance comes in.

There are heaps of different pet insurance options out there, so it’s all about finding the cover that best suits you and your bud.

Our top tip when it comes to insurance is the earlier the better a puppy is a great age to look into insurance!

A lot of people love GapOnly, which allows claims to be processed on the spot, meaning you simply pay the gap amount. For alternative insurers, we can usually submit a manual claim after your visit to help get the reimbursement process rolling.

You can check out GapOnlypartners here.

And if you do decide to take out insurance, make sure to let our team know! We’ll add the details to your file so future claims are seamless and stress-free.

Ready For The Big Wide World

And just like that, it’s time to tackle life with your new little bud! They’ll be cuddles, chaos, and a few “what have I got myself into?” moments, but that’s all part of the fun. Soak up the zoomies, the tiny paws, and all the little wins along the way. This stage goes by quicker than you think, so enjoy every bit of it.

And if you ever find yourself in a tricky sitch, just give us a ring. We’re always here to be a calm voice, steady guidance, and gentle hand through the both the magic and the madness.

With love and pats, Your mates at Hey Bud x