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| Enjoying your new Aussie Puppy |
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| ENJOYING YOUR NEW AUSSIE PUPPY |
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| (reprinted here with Sandy's permission) |
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| Bringing Your New Puppy Home |
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| Congratulations on your new pup! We feel that you will find the experience special and rewarding. To help make the ownership of this dog positive and enjoyable, here are a few things to consider which we hope will be of help. It is always an exciting time when you welcome a new puppy into your home. You need to remember though, that it can also be a stressful and confusing time for the new pup. You should provide a sleeping area, preferably near the activities of the household, but also quiet and out of the way. The purchase of a dog crate at this time would be a good investment. Let the puppy know this is his bed and a safe place to be. If there are children in the family, they will want to play with the new puppy a lot. |
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| While puppies play and are active, they also require a good deal of sleep. Do not fall in the trap of going to the puppy to comfort him for making noise. He will learn that crying is a good way to get attention. You might take him out, play with him and tire him out just a little before bedtime so he will be ready to sleep. |
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| Nutrition and Good Health |
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| A name brand puppy food is the best choice for your puppy until he is over a year old. It is a good idea to feed what the breeder has been feeding and not change his diet around. Diet changes can lead to digestive problems and diarrhea. Also, your puppy does not need table scraps which may likewise cause problems. Never give your puppy bones or chocolate. You may either free-feed (leave food out) or put down food for the puppy three, decreasing to two times a day. Fresh water should be available to the puppy at all times. Watch your puppy to make sure he does not get too fat. A fat puppy is not a healthy puppy and obesity is hard on developing bones and joints. Be sure you keep your puppy up-to-date on vaccinations. Distemper and Parvo are both killers and if your puppy should survive these (and other) dreaded diseases, they may still ruin his health for the remainder of his life. Talk to your vet about heartworm preventative. If Ivermectin or an ivermectin-based product is suggested for any reason, be sure your vet knows that Aussies are in the high-risk category and can have serious reactions to this drug. |
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| Aussies generally housebreak quite easily. The key to good house habits is consistency by the owner. The puppy should, if he must be left alone, be in the yard (with shelter and water) or in an area where he is not expected to refrain from relieving himself. When the puppy is in the main part of the house, the owner should be present. When the puppy wakes from a nap, he should go outside and be praised when he relieves himself. Watch the puppy for sniffing and circling in the house, this probably means he is looking for a place to go. Take him outside and again praise. If you catch him too late, "in the act", do not spank him but scold him slightly and take him outside or to a place that he is allowed to potty. Soon the puppy will go to the door and "ask" to be let out. Praise the puppy for this action. A crate is a handy tool for housebreaking. Most dogs do not like to relieve themselves where they sleep and this teaches some control. Do remember that a puppy does not have a great deal of control and use the crate only for short periods of time. When he comes out of the crate, he should be immediately let outside and after he relieves himself, allowed to play in the house. |
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| To some people a dog crate seems like cruelty to the dog. However, if presented correctly, it is just the opposite. It gives the dog a place that belongs to him, a safe den where he can go if he wants to be left alone or rest. It also give you a place to keep your dog at the times when you do not want him underfoot, (like a dinner party or a cookout) and a safe way of traveling your dog. If you crate you dog in the car, he can be left with the windows completely down. It is extremely dangerous to leave your dog in a closed car in warm weather or ride loose in the back of a truck. Also if you should have an auto accident, your dog is not likely to be thrown out of the car or escape in the confusion. Motel rooms generally prefer crated dogs, also. To crate train your dog, first select a crate which will be large enough to fit him as an adult. The puppy should be fed in his crate, and encouraged to sleep in it with the door open. He may be left with the door closed for short periods of time once he is used to it. Avoid leaving a puppy in a crate for extended periods of time. NEVER use the crate as a punishment. The location should be out of the way but near family activity. |
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| The Australian Shepherd is an easy dog to train. Being a working stock dog, he has been bred to learn to take directions and listen to his owner. He is also bred to be able to think on his own and make decisions for himself. It is up to you, the owner, to teach the dog what is, and is not, allowed. He must learn to look to you as his leader as a puppy, or you could be in for trouble with an adult. This does not mean you need to treat your puppy roughly. Aussies easily accept the authority of their masters if trained correctly, and a harsh word is often just as effective as physical punishment. Your puppy should allow you to be present, and take his food away from him while he is eating. He should not growl or nip at you when you try to make him do something. A good method to show a puppy who is boss, is to pick him up by both sides of the scruff of his neck and shake him gently while looking him in the eye and speaking firmly. This is very similar to the way a mother dog disciplines her pups and he will understand this far better than a spanking or a swat with a newspaper. Aussies are very intelligent and will test you from time to time. You should be firm and let them know who is in charge. The earlier you do this, the less trouble you will have later. A dog who knows his place in the family is far happier and more secure. |
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| The Aussie is by nature a one-family, or one-person dog. They do not accept all people as their natural "friends" as do some breeds. They are selective. This is not a fault. It makes them a better protector of their home and their family. Because of this part of their nature, it is a good idea to expose them to different situations and strangers often and at an early age. While they may not go tail-waggingly up to every stranger on the street, they should be taught to be mannerly and accept the presence of non-threatening people and situations. |
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| It is highly recommended that you teach your puppy some obedience. It is much more enjoyable to have a well mannered dog that can go out for a walk than a lurching, wild dog that pulls you along, or runs away when off lead. It is also a satisfying experience to train your dog and have a dog which listens to you and minds you. The Aussie is an extremely quick learner and enjoys the attention and the mental challenge of learning what you have to teach him. Even a young puppy, if taught in a positive manner, with no force, can learn basic obedience. Look for obedience training classes in your area, or read some of the many good books on this subject. For your peace of mind, and your dog's safety he should have at least these basics: Sit, Down, Stay and Come, and be able to walk at your side. |
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| Australian Shepherds are basically very good with children if they have been raised with children, and sometimes even when they have not been around them. One of the basics of having your children and your puppy have a good relationship is teaching the child, as well as the puppy what is allowed. Babies and toddlers should not be left unattended with your dog, no matter what breed. The child should learn not to handle the dog roughly or tease him. The parent, not the child should be responsible for correcting the puppy if he gets too rough. Puppies and dogs have a tendency to look at children as "siblings" in the social order of the family, and the dog should never be allowed to get the upper position over the child. Something that sometimes occurs with Aussie puppies and kids is that in play, the puppy may chase and nip at the heels of the child. This is because the dog is bred to herd and he is trying to "herd" the child because it is natural to herd something moving. In this situation a good idea is to have the child stop running and tell the dog "no bite." This should not be confused with actually trying to harm the child, but the game should not be encouraged. |
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| If you live in town, there are probably ordinances about keeping your dog on leash or in an enclosed area. This is as much for the safety of your dog as for any other reason. If you live in the country there are no such laws. The dangers to a dog in the city (heavy traffic, etc.) are more obvious, but the dangers to a loose dog in the country are just as deadly. If your dog has a good enclosed area to exercise, it is NOT necessary to his happiness and well being that he be allowed to roam free. Bear in mind that the Aussie is bred with a strong herding instinct. In town, this can lead to car and bicycle chasing. In the country it can lead to a dog who kills poultry or runs the neighbor's stock, and consequently ends up getting shot or poisoned. The fact that your dog has natural "herding instinct" does not mean that if you just put him out with livestock he will automatically know what to do! If you do not train him, he may learn to chase or maul. It is up to you to let him know what to do with his natural talent, or it may get him in trouble. A good way to start a puppy is to take him around with you on chores, to get him used to the livestock. Give him enough basic obedience to teach him to listen, and when he is ready, take him to the stock, and supervise his activity. Let him know what is acceptable. |
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| Copyright © 2000 - 2005 by the author and AfterHours Australian Shepherds. No reproduction of any kind, of any of the material on this site, is permitted without the written permission of AfterHours Australian Shepherds, or in the case of previously published articles, the indicated author. |
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