Aussie Puppy Manual
Shots: Your puppy was up-to-date on all shots when you received it. Puppies get their puppy shots at 7, 10, 13, and 16 weeks of age. Depending on how old the puppy was when you received it, you may need to finish its shots. The puppy should be given a 5-Way puppy shot, not a 7-Way puppy shot. Please REQUEST that the vet does NOT give your puppy the Lepto vaccine. The Lepto vaccine kills more puppies than the actual virus. Lepto can be given after the puppy is one year old. Rabies vaccine can be given at 12 weeks.
Worming: I use Safeguard liquid or horse paste to worm my dogs. For Safeguard give 1cc per 5 lbs each month for 3 days in a row. You can buy Safeguard at your local feed store. NEVER give your aussie Ivermectin as this is fatal.
Feeding: Feed your puppy a good quality dog food that is high in protein and fat. Check the first ingredient on the dog food bag. Make sure a meat is listed first. I recommend Purina Pro Plan Puppy until your puppy is 6 months old. Then switch to a high quality food with around 24% protein and 20% fat. I like to free-feed. Fill up the bowl and let your puppy eat as much as it wants but as soon as its done take it outside to potty. Immediately. Allow your puppy to eat as much as it wants. It is easier to feed on a schedule while potty training. Once potty training is well established then you can move to free-feeding.
Crate Training: In my opinion, this is the best way to potty train your puppy. Purchase a crate that will be large enough for your puppy when it gets full grown. Dogs instinctively know not to potty in their bed. Their mothers teach this at a young age. Take your puppy out every two hours and/or immediately after finishing a meal. It is helpful to take your puppy to the same spot each time to potty. Keep it on a leash and don't allow it to play until it has used the bathroom. Once your puppy does its business praise it! Puppies love high voices so get very excited and silly! Say, "Good puppy! Yay!" etc. You may also give it a treat if you wish.
At 8 weeks old a puppy is still an infant. It may take up to the time the puppy is 12 or even 16 weeks of age to completely housebreak it. At 8 weeks old the puppy is not mentally or physically able to grasp the concept of potty training. As the puppy gets older, you can put more time in between each time of taking it out of the crate to potty. For at least the first few weeks only take your puppy out of the crate to take it to potty, feed it, and play with it. I do not recommend letting it roam the house. The very first thing when you take it out is to take it outside to potty, then feed it, then outside again, and then play. When you are playing with it, don't put it down on the floor unless you are supervising 100%. If you witness your puppy start to squat to pee, say a loud and firm NO! and pick it up and carry it outside. Puppies do give you warning before they poop, you just have to watch for the signs. The puppy will start sniffing the ground and walking in circles with purpose. Its tail will be high and its back legs somewhat stiff. You have about a 5 second window to get your puppy outside NOW or you will be cleaning up tootsie rolls.
By crate training you are teaching two important things to your puppy - 1. Don't potty in your house/bed and 2. The crate is your safe place to go when you're scared or tired. This will also come in handy once the puppy starts teething and wants to chew on everything! Puppies can be very destructive. If you work or if you leave for any period of time, please crate your puppy. It's for his safety as well as the safety of your furniture, shoes, walls, etc. As he grows, the crate will be his home/bed and place of refuge. The crate should NEVER be used as punishment.
Exercise: You need to be very careful how much exercise your puppy gets. Their bones and joints are not fully formed so excessive exercise can hurt them. A small fenced in yard is plenty of room for it to run around in. If you walk your puppy, please don't go far, or you will be carrying back you puppy. They tire very easily and love to take naps!
Socialization: This is probably the most important part of raising your puppy! The more your puppy is exposed to new environments, the better he will act. If you go somewhere that allows dogs, please take your puppy (after all shots have been given)! Let him meet all kinds of new people and animals, hear many different noises, see lots of different things. The more he is exposed to, the better! However, always read his body language before you let someone pet him. Watch for body stiffness, rolling eyes, nostril flaring, ears held back, cowering, growling, and quick motions as all these are warning signs! Also, make sure the person petting him is not rough or fast moving. You want as many GOOD experiences as possible for your puppy!
Enjoy your puppy!!!
*Attention Breeders: Please do not copy this and use it on your own website without my consent and permission.