Border Collies Puppies: Caring For

Border Collie puppies will be fed by their Mom, unless there are problems with Mom (or maybe a sickly puppy) for the first two to three weeks of your puppies life, all you need to do is let Mom look after her babies.

Making sure Mom is well cared for is a must - give her extra food, after all she's eating for many, lots of fresh water and make sure she's comfortable.

In my experience, most dogs start to wean their pups at about 3 weeks old. My girls generally start leaving the puppies in the litter box and resting next to the litter box for extended periods each day from about 2 weeks on. They only 'get in' the box with the pups, when they need feeding. Of course, this changes a little in Summer and Winter - as Mom decides if the pups are warm enough etc... However, by about 3 weeks old, it's time to start feeding your pups.

Your puppy will require three feeds a day until they are about 6 months old.

To a large extent, you can be guided by your puppy! If they look hungry, they probably are. They are growing so fast at this age, that they need a lot of fuel. A young puppy will rarely overeat.

We do recommend the use of dog biscuits for our puppies - but we do also recommend caution in selecting the biscuits for your puppy. Make sure you know what is in them etc... In Australia, I use Supercoat Puppy.

Here's my recommended feeding guide for new puppy owners:

• Up to 3 months: Feed them 3 times a day. With an equivalent of a 100 to 200 grams of "Kennel or Chicken Mince" and 1/2 cup of Supercoat Puppy biscuits. Raw chicken wings may be given to your puppy in place of the mince from time to time.
  
  Please make sure you 'break' the wing, so it doesn't pop open in puppies mouth!
• 3 - 6 months: Feed them 3 time a day (reducing to 2). With an equivalent of 200 to 300 grams of "Kennel Mince" and 3/4 cup of Supercoat Puppy biscuits. Substitute raw chicken wings for the meat from time to time.
• 6 - 12 months: Feed them 2 times a day (reducing to 1). With an equivalent of 200 to 300 grams of "Kennel or Chicken Mince" and 1 cup of Puppy Biscuits, while on 2 feeds / day. Start mixing adult biscuits in with the puppy biscuits. This is to be done gradually by mixing the puppy biscuits in with the Adult biscuits.
• Over 12 months old, use 1 to 2 cups of Adult dog biscuits. When on 1 feed per day, approximately 2 cups of biscuits should be given.

Some Important Points

There is a lot of discussion about whether dog biscuits are good for your puppy or not... The main reason I use biscuits, is that they help keep the dogs teeth clean, allow the dogs to exercise their jaws and, they are convenient.

However, if you are after alternatives for you dogs, here are some great resources:

1. The Complete Dog Food & Nutrition Guide - Ebooks And Audios

2. Rovers Recipes

3. Dog Food Secrets

Meat is not required at each meal.

Raw Bones Are Great!

We use raw bones for our dogs too. Raw Chicken Bones are the best! Chicken Wings for puppies, because they are small enough for the pups to eat. Chicken Necks for our adoloscents and full Chicken carcasses for our adults.

Only ever give your dogs Raw Chicken Bones...

Lamb necks, marrow bones and lamb shanks are also good... although we are careful with the lamb shanks because they are a bit fatty.

Do Not Give Your Dogs Cooked Bones At All

• Cooked bones are brittle and shatter easily. This can cause problems with puppies and adult dogs - so avoid the danger altogether.
• Add any vegetables or left overs from your dinner to the food


• Avoid Onions though! They are definitely not good for your puppy or dog

This is only a guide for feeding your puppy.

If your border collie puppy not eat its entire meal within 10 minutes or so, you should the leftovers and give fresh food at the next meal time. However - if you puppy finishes its meal and is still If your pup is still looking for food, offer a small amount of extra food.

We strongly recommend using Kennel Mince or Chicken. When using Kennel Mince, please scald the meat before giving it to the puppy to eat - it removes some of the nasty parasites.

ENSURE THAT WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUPPY AT ALL TIMES.

Like all puppies, Border Collie puppies need baths to keep them squeaky clean and neat.

Particularly in the litter environment, it is very easy for little puppies to become very messy.

Apart from that, it's important to accustom a puppy to being groomed so they aren't concerned about as they get older. I also find that grooming my dogs can be very relaxing for both the dog and myself.

Here are some guidelines for bathing your dog:

• Up to 3 months: Will need a bath once every two months. In a sink or bath with a small amount of luke warm water with dog shampoo. Once you have washed your puppy towel dry it and give them cuddles.
• 3 - 6 months: Will need a bath once or twice every two months in a bath with luke warm water. You should wash them in a bath. Dog Shampoo will be needed. Towel dry them and brush them.
• 6 - 12 months: Will need a bath once a month in a bath of luke warm water. Dog Shampoo will be needed, you should shampoo you dog twice. Towel dry them then brush.


• Over 12 months: Won't need baths as much but a bath once every three month will be good in a bath or hydro bath of luke warm water. Dog Shampoo will be needed and shampooing twice is recommended. Towel dry and brush.

So, that's the guidelines... but the real rule of thumb is - bath your Border Collie when it's dirty!

Dog Shampoo

Use a quality dog shampoo and conditioner to bath your Border Collie puppy. By doing so, you will make sure you don't irritate sensitive skin or cause other problems.

Some shampoos are very harsh and can cause burns and irritations.

There are any number of Shampoos and Conditioners available for your puppy - take your time in selecting an appropriate product. Speak to your Vet, or your local grooming parlor and ask for their recommendations.

Brushing

Shedding Slicker Brush Large

Use a gentle 'slicker brush' to groom your Border Collie's coat. These brushes are designed to remove dead hair and keep your pups coat in great condition, without hurting the skin.

Training your puppy is really important. Not only will it allow you a semblance of order around the house, training your Border Collie will engage their intellect and stop them becoming destructive with boredom.

Training your Border Collie puppy when it is young is important too. We start teaching the basics of sit, wait, go to the bathroom and go to bed almost as soon as our puppies can walk. The reason for this is they memorize the process and they generally have few bad habits to 'detrain'.

Once you have trained your puppy and they know a few tricks you should revise them every few days, to reinforce the learning.

You should start with the basics like, sit, down, stay, come, heel, go to the bathroom and go to bed. These are things that are essential to know and will make life so much easier for yourself and your border collie puppy.

When you train your Border Collie puppy you should use positive motivation techniques, like Clicker Training. You shouldn't ever hit your puppy (or older dogs either!). The premise of a positive motivation training is 'ignore the bad stuff' and 'praise the good'. Basically, when your puppy does what they are meant to do - it gets a reward.... when they don't, we just ignore them and the behavior.

Many people can't see how this can work, so let me give you an example. Most people call their puppy to them when it has done something bad (like pull the washing off the line) and then tells the poor puppy off.

How would you feel, or do you feel, if someone calls you over then proceeds to chastise you? What would you do when they call you over again? I bet you wouldn't go over when they call you again....

Well, that's the same for your puppy - why would it come to you, when the last time it did - you told it off?

However, if whenever you are called over by someone you're given $10 - you'll go back again and again - and I bet you'll go back more quickly each time.

The same principle applies to your Border Collie puppy... reward them for coming to you and they will come to you faster and happily each time!

I strongly recommend the Karen Pryor - Clicker Training series. I've recommended an excellent Puppy Training Pack below however, visit Karens' Clicker Training site here and check out the free resources.

Puppy Training Kit Plus
Includes new EXPANDED edition of Clicker Training for Dogs book and Clicker Puppy DVD!

Like human babies, puppies love to sleep. When they're young, their life is spent eating and sleeping.

When puppies are born they sleep alot because they need their energy to grow. As they get older, they need less sleep and it is generally around 3 months of age that you'll know you have a puppy in the house.

When your puppy is asleep do not wake them. This will cause young puppies distress.

It's important that you give your Border Collie a safe place where it can sleep, and not be bothered by the 'goings on' in the house.

If you have children, it is very important to let you're children know that when Puppy is sleeping, it is to be left alone. Unfortunately, many children don't realize that a puppy needs it's rest and often try to get it playing. I explained to my children that waking puppy from a sleep is like waking Mommy up - and she's like a bear with a sore head!

We teach our Puppies to sleep in a crate. It's like a den to the Puppy, providing it with protection from the outside and ensuring that it is secure.

These fantastic Pet Carriers are light weight and collapses down for easy storage. These pet carriers are great if you need to travel - but they are also wonderful places for your border collie Puppy to sleep in.

78cm Foldable Pet Carrier


Measures: 78cm x 56.5x 66.5cm.
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60cm Foldable Pet Carrier


Measures: 60cm x 42cm x 42 cm.
More Details

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