When viewing a puppy for purchasing always ask the breeder about general health, feeding, worming and vaccination if the pup has been reared correctly then this information will be available.  Always look for obvious signs, a distended belly maybe a result of non-worming and also that the pup will feel lightweight. A lump in the groin or stomach area possible hernia which can be corrected by surgery.  Look at the eyes they should appear clear and bright and the nose should feel moist and not runny the overall look of well being of the pup is paramount. Check the mouth and that the jaw is not under or overshot this will be an important factor in future breeding.
 
Some people have a defined approach when choosing a puppy, do you go for the up front pup who's first on the scene or the one sitting at the back taking it all in?, myself I would go for the pup who's full of themselves and happy to greet, my husband on the other hand would prefer the pup who's quiet and taking everything in, what you don't want is a nervous pup for any aspect of work as it may not take to instructions readily and this causes undue stress to the pup when training is given.

 

Tips on feeding pups

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The digestive system of a pup doesn’t fully form until they are eight weeks of age so it is best that they are fed on a high protein pup food either a kibble or canned and to try and avoid the rubbish treats that are available unless stated specifically for pups.  I feel pups are pups until they reach seven months of age then puppy/junior food can be introduced.  Owner of new puppies are often unaware of a feeding programme, my advise is ask at a pet centre or go online www.hyperdrug.com where advisors will chat to you online and help with any questions.

I have seen so many poorly reared pups because of ignorance and cost, to have a healthy animal you have to feed correctly and I feed processed tripe gradually with kibble once they reach seven weeks.  Throughout a pups development worming as necessary, as I will further explain.

 

Tips on worming pups

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If you are rearing puppies from birth it is advisable to worm at ten days of age with a suspension.  I use Panacur which can be obtained from your veterinary centre and advice will be given on dosage and frequency.  Or online www.hyperdrug.com  never buy over the counter wormers as you are wasting your money as they never work.  Worming is paramount in a pups development and must not be avoided.

 

If you have just received your eight week pup ask about it’s worming programme, if the information is sketchy and unclear worm the animal as soon as you can as the longer you leave the pup untreated the more debilitating it will become.  I cannot stress the importance of worming.

 

The most common are roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms.  Of these four only two are seen in the faeces and that is roundworm and tapeworms the others would be detected by a stool sample.  Worm infestation cause symptoms such as loss of vitality, diarrhoea, perhaps with blood or a watery substance, weight loss, a pot belly, dry fur, and a general poor appearance.

 Adult feeding

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 With the extensive varieties of adult dry foods available on the market it is so easy to fall prey to manufacturers' advertising, without knowing fully about the product and its ingredients and is it the right food for our dogs.  We must learn what we are actually feeding our animals and not just take a fleeting glance at the ingredients.  Do we understand about proteins? What percentage do our dogs require? it varies from actual working dogs to canines leading a more sedentary lifestyle.

 Having spoken with several dog owners you would be amazed how little they know on the feeds that they give.  What you don't want to be doing is feeding masses of cereals which are found in several branded kibbles. 

A dogs digestive system especially collies don't take kindly to huge amounts of cereals.  Primary food sources found in a Border Collies native environment would have included potatoes, wheat, corn, lamb, fish & poultry.  Foods to be avoided are soy, beet pulp & white rice. In times past your working dog would have been fed household scraps with a bit of flaked maize for bulk, there was no such thing as kibble.
 
My feeding regime for my army of collies consist of minced green tripe (see www.jeffs-tripe.co.uk) boiled potatoes and vegetables and a small amount of kibble to bulk out the food as it can be expensive if just feeding tripe and vegetables . Their coats are in fantastic condition, they are healthy and full of vitality which gives them the best start for work.  What we should remember is 'we are what we eat' and the same goes for dogs.  It is well worth the effort putting more into your dogs diet than a generic kibble.
 

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