DAY OF PICK UP
Please bring a bank check, money order or cash in the amount of the remaining balance as stated on the deposit form and the contract that has been sent to you. Checks should be made payable to Terri Meyers.
Bring a collar/harness and leash appropriate for a puppy.
Paper towels could be handy if there is any car sickness or accidents.
Your puppy will be micro chipped. There is no additional cost for the microchipping.
VET
Your pup should have a vet visit within 72 hours of pick up, unless there is a holiday. In the case of a holiday, take the pup as soon as you can preceding the holiday. Your vet will be able to confirm that the pup is in good health and also set up the vaccination schedule for you.
SHOTS
Your pup will have one 5 way shot before being sent home. During your vet visit you need to set up the remaining shots according to your vet's protocol. I personally never give Lepto which most vets want to give. Some Mini's have had reactions to Lepto, and for others it has been safe. Usually if the pup is older, they tolerate the other vaccinations a bit better. I also never give the final 5 way shot on the same day as the rabies. This is a personal preference and also the preference of many Mini breeders. It means an additional trip to the vet, but allows the pup's immune system not to be overtaxed.
MEDICATIONS
Some Australian Shepherds, but not all, are sensitive or allergic to the active ingredient IVERMECTIN. The heartworm medicine Heart Guard and the flea and heartworm spot-on Revolution, are a few of the popular ones containing this product. Any paste wormer containing IVERMECTIN, can possibly have a TOXIC build-up in the liver & reaction that can cause death. Please check the active ingredient in any product you use.
Information about Ivermectin and products containing Ivermectin can be found at: http:www.busteralert.org
Interceptor is my choice for heartworm treatment but is no longer available. Check with your vet on the products he has that do not contain IVERMECTIN. Even if both parents are MDR-1 clear, I am not responsible for products given by you or your vet.
FOOD
Your pup has been started out with the very best. Life's abundance All life stages. To learn more about the food they are currently eating, click here. A small amount of the food that I am feeding will be sent home with you. Please purchase the food that you intend to feed and mix it with the food you are sent home with. Mini's sometimes have a tendency for their bones to grow quicker than the surrounding tissue which can cause a problem called knuckling if they are on puppy food.
I start 8-9 week old pups with 3 meals a day, adjusting the amount that they consume rather than letting them graze all day. They are always crated to eat when the food is given. I watch the leanness of the dog and adjust the amount of food accordingly. If they look heavy, I cut back a bit. If they are getting skinny, I increase the amount. Just like real babies and children, there are growth spurts that need to be met with more nutrition. I feed 3 times a day until 6 mo. of age, then reduce to twice a day. Larger meals are always in the morning to sustain the energy during the day. At night I will feed a smaller amount if necessary, but I always feed twice a day.
CRATES
Crate training is a must for your puppy and is a part of my contract. Puppies need a safe place to rest and be kept out of trouble when the family isn't watching them. Pups are introduced to the crate by 4 weeks of age. They are already comfortable in them and are actually crated daily while I do the cleaning of the area. The type of crate you use depends on you. My personal choice is the double door, folding, wire crate. Depending on where I place my crate, I always have a door to use. If the crate is against the wall, the side door is used. If I have crates side by side in my van, I can use the end door. No matter where I place my crate, I have access to the pup/dog.
If your puppy is not being watched very closely, then the pup should be in its crate. Puppies need constant supervision during the first few months. You can feed puppy in the crate, just so he/she knows it is a good place. When you want them to go in, throw a treat in the crate. This way, they associate treats with the crate. Place a soft old blanket or pillow in the crate along with a few of his favorite, safe toys. Make sure you take your puppy outside before confining hi/her to the crate. Sometimes a puppy will soil his/her blanket. If this happens, give him/her a clean blanket. I personally crate my young dogs until the age of 2 years whenever I leave the house. This way I know that they are safe. When we travel, all are in crates in the van or motor home. This is a personal preference but does protect the dog.
POTTY TRAINING
As soon as your pup wakes, it will need to go potty. Puppies go often until they learn to hold themselves a bit longer. Your pup will be introduced to the pee pee pads as soon as they are walking. It doesn't take long before they start using the pads for their potty area.
TRAINING
Any treat is appropriate for training, but I have found that the cookie/cracker types are harder for puppy. My favorite is Turkey and Berry chews. They can be easily broken into very small pieces. This is also the one recommended by my trainer. I use this treat for clicker training and conformation training and your puppy will be introduced to it before going home to their new home.
EXERCISE
Minis are herding/working dogs and should have a job to do. The job can be retrieving a ball, catching the ball/Frisbee, running after kids, going through sit, down, and stay commands, etc. It is wonderful if they can go outside and run off the energy, but if the weather doesn't permit, just play tug of war, inside ball retrieving, or anything that you can to keep your puppy busy. When they are tired, love them for a bit, and then return them to their crates. If you find your puppy is a bit more active than you desire at the moment, try a game of tug of war. Let puppy win often. We don't want to pull its teeth out, but they love it and it will tire them out quickly. Fetching soft toys will also help.
Please bring a bank check, money order or cash in the amount of the remaining balance as stated on the deposit form and the contract that has been sent to you. Checks should be made payable to Terri Meyers.
Bring a collar/harness and leash appropriate for a puppy.
Paper towels could be handy if there is any car sickness or accidents.
Your puppy will be micro chipped. There is no additional cost for the microchipping.
VET
Your pup should have a vet visit within 72 hours of pick up, unless there is a holiday. In the case of a holiday, take the pup as soon as you can preceding the holiday. Your vet will be able to confirm that the pup is in good health and also set up the vaccination schedule for you.
SHOTS
Your pup will have one 5 way shot before being sent home. During your vet visit you need to set up the remaining shots according to your vet's protocol. I personally never give Lepto which most vets want to give. Some Mini's have had reactions to Lepto, and for others it has been safe. Usually if the pup is older, they tolerate the other vaccinations a bit better. I also never give the final 5 way shot on the same day as the rabies. This is a personal preference and also the preference of many Mini breeders. It means an additional trip to the vet, but allows the pup's immune system not to be overtaxed.
MEDICATIONS
Some Australian Shepherds, but not all, are sensitive or allergic to the active ingredient IVERMECTIN. The heartworm medicine Heart Guard and the flea and heartworm spot-on Revolution, are a few of the popular ones containing this product. Any paste wormer containing IVERMECTIN, can possibly have a TOXIC build-up in the liver & reaction that can cause death. Please check the active ingredient in any product you use.
Information about Ivermectin and products containing Ivermectin can be found at: http:www.busteralert.org
Interceptor is my choice for heartworm treatment but is no longer available. Check with your vet on the products he has that do not contain IVERMECTIN. Even if both parents are MDR-1 clear, I am not responsible for products given by you or your vet.
FOOD
Your pup has been started out with the very best. Life's abundance All life stages. To learn more about the food they are currently eating, click here. A small amount of the food that I am feeding will be sent home with you. Please purchase the food that you intend to feed and mix it with the food you are sent home with. Mini's sometimes have a tendency for their bones to grow quicker than the surrounding tissue which can cause a problem called knuckling if they are on puppy food.
I start 8-9 week old pups with 3 meals a day, adjusting the amount that they consume rather than letting them graze all day. They are always crated to eat when the food is given. I watch the leanness of the dog and adjust the amount of food accordingly. If they look heavy, I cut back a bit. If they are getting skinny, I increase the amount. Just like real babies and children, there are growth spurts that need to be met with more nutrition. I feed 3 times a day until 6 mo. of age, then reduce to twice a day. Larger meals are always in the morning to sustain the energy during the day. At night I will feed a smaller amount if necessary, but I always feed twice a day.
CRATES
Crate training is a must for your puppy and is a part of my contract. Puppies need a safe place to rest and be kept out of trouble when the family isn't watching them. Pups are introduced to the crate by 4 weeks of age. They are already comfortable in them and are actually crated daily while I do the cleaning of the area. The type of crate you use depends on you. My personal choice is the double door, folding, wire crate. Depending on where I place my crate, I always have a door to use. If the crate is against the wall, the side door is used. If I have crates side by side in my van, I can use the end door. No matter where I place my crate, I have access to the pup/dog.
If your puppy is not being watched very closely, then the pup should be in its crate. Puppies need constant supervision during the first few months. You can feed puppy in the crate, just so he/she knows it is a good place. When you want them to go in, throw a treat in the crate. This way, they associate treats with the crate. Place a soft old blanket or pillow in the crate along with a few of his favorite, safe toys. Make sure you take your puppy outside before confining hi/her to the crate. Sometimes a puppy will soil his/her blanket. If this happens, give him/her a clean blanket. I personally crate my young dogs until the age of 2 years whenever I leave the house. This way I know that they are safe. When we travel, all are in crates in the van or motor home. This is a personal preference but does protect the dog.
POTTY TRAINING
As soon as your pup wakes, it will need to go potty. Puppies go often until they learn to hold themselves a bit longer. Your pup will be introduced to the pee pee pads as soon as they are walking. It doesn't take long before they start using the pads for their potty area.
TRAINING
Any treat is appropriate for training, but I have found that the cookie/cracker types are harder for puppy. My favorite is Turkey and Berry chews. They can be easily broken into very small pieces. This is also the one recommended by my trainer. I use this treat for clicker training and conformation training and your puppy will be introduced to it before going home to their new home.
EXERCISE
Minis are herding/working dogs and should have a job to do. The job can be retrieving a ball, catching the ball/Frisbee, running after kids, going through sit, down, and stay commands, etc. It is wonderful if they can go outside and run off the energy, but if the weather doesn't permit, just play tug of war, inside ball retrieving, or anything that you can to keep your puppy busy. When they are tired, love them for a bit, and then return them to their crates. If you find your puppy is a bit more active than you desire at the moment, try a game of tug of war. Let puppy win often. We don't want to pull its teeth out, but they love it and it will tire them out quickly. Fetching soft toys will also help.