IMPORTANT FACTS FOR YOUR NEW AUSSIE PUPPY

Nutrition is one of the most important factors in the proper growth of your puppy. Aussies are an energetic dog, and grow very rapidly. In my kennel, I recommend that the pup be upgraded to adult food at 4-5 months so that bones and cartilage can grow at the proper pace to muscles and organs. I feed my pups Pro Pac Performance Puppy [Website]. I have found that this brand of dog food is loaded with a lot of extras such as DHA for proper brain function as well as many other estras for immune defenses and omegas to promote excellent coat growth. It is also naturally preserved, meaning fewer chemicals for your puppy's long-term health. At 4-5 months, I change to Pro Pac High Performance Adult. It is also high protein and fat, providing your pup with the nutrition for all the energy Aussies are known for. You actually feed less of these dog foods. Look at the feeding guide on the instructions, and go by it. Your pup will be the proper weight, which is especially important as the dog ages. I buy breeders dog food at the feed store on Palm Beach Blvd called Futral's. Their phone number is as follows: 239-334-3431.

I also supplement my dogs witha daily Pet Tab vitamin, and a Salmon Oil capsule (found at Wal-Mart), as well as Flax seed oil capsules (also found at Wal-Mart). These are anti-oxidants, and the omegas are making sure these high performance dogs are at their peak. I feed my young pups a joint supplement also, as it helps joint growth keep up with bone growth. Joint supplements are a good support for an active dog, helping to prevent any joint damage to the hips, elbows, etc.

Grooming Aussies: I bathe my dogs once a month. More frequent baths can dry out their skin. Always use a gentle shampoo, such as an aloe based shampoo. I use a rake type comb to keep the undercoat from tangling, and always check your pup's ears for wax build-up or infections from swimming when you do your regular grooming. Shampoos and gentle ear cleansers can be obtained at the veterinarian's ofice I use:

Important reminder: NEVER give liquid Ivermectin to Australian Shepherds as it can cause severe reactions up to and including death.

Chewing: Provide plenty of toys for your new pup such as hard Nylabones to help with the teething period. Make sure any toys that have fluff or beads (inside or out) are not used as the pup can chew through the toy and ingest these items. Foam and beads (or other removable parts) can cause serious problems for your new puppy.

Puppy Proofing: Get down on your puppy's level and imagine what he sees at your home. Remove electrical wiring and other cords from the puppy's reach as he will chew most anything when he is teething. If cords cannot be removed from his reach in certain rooms, then restrict the pups access to these places.

Leash Training: When the pup is 8-10 weeks old, he will naturally follow you. This is a perfect time to gently teach them a collar and leash. Use gentle coaxing and a treat to start the training process. Another important thing to try to incorporate into our routine with your pup is handling the pup's feet, ears, and turning him over...this will make vet trips a lot easier!

BUCKINGHAM RANCH AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS

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