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Puppies
coming April 8th 2003
First
and Foremost
Education
for the Conscientious Buyer
So
your Looking for a Miniature Australian Shepherd? I've been
there too! So I have put together some general but pertinent"advice"
to
help YOU be a conscientious buyer
and to give you a little needed help.
 When
choosing that "mini" make sure it looks EXACTLY
like an Aussie puppy, just smaller! A 12 week old mini should
look as fuzzy and furry and cute as a standard puppy but be
the same size as a 9 week old full size Aussie puppy. If the
coat is not thick as a puppy, it will not be thick as an adult.
If the ears stand up a bit, than they will be even higher
as an adult. If the head is narrow and long, it will stay
that way. Are you looking for pet or show? Do you think you'll
ever want to breed? Do you know the common health problems?[i.e.
iris colobomas, persistent pupilary membranes, and more]
The same health problems that plague the "standards"
also generally plague the minis. Please don't let ANYONE tell
you otherwise, as they are only fooling themselves! Are you
willing to wait for a litter in your area? How do you feel
about buying sight unseen? (sometimes asking for numbers to
other puppy owners is helpful!) Make
sure you tell the breeder what kind of temperament you want
and what you want to do with your mini; it will help her/him
place the right pup with you. Also ask to see the parents…Do
the parents look healthy? Is the mother free form sores or ordure?
Ask about seasonal allergies. Was the mother wormed before being
breed? Have the puppies been wormed themselves and check by
a vet? When were their first shots? What kind of handling have
they had or stimuli have they been exposed to before they go
home with you. Believe it or not, as a certified trainer training
about 12 to 18 classes a week for PETsMART, I can see a real
difference in puppies who have had a good head start compared
to those who have not. The first 8 weeks are VERY important
for a puppy and will primarily shape the puppies attitude and
outlook on you and life itself.
ANY
puppy you buy should have its eyes checked by an ophthalmologist
and come with a certificate of clearance
before he goes home with you. Eye problems that has been known
to crop up,causing light sensitivity and/or blindness can be
screened between the ages of 6 and 9 weeks. A regular vet is
not qualified to
"check" eyes; he doesn't have the instruments to see
if there are problems behind the pupil.
I recommend that buyers require CURRENT proof of OFA and
CERF clearances on the parents within one year of the litter
being born, before considering a puppy. Never accept the
excuse…"Well I don't check eyes et., cause I have
had no problem with my stock…." If they reply with
the above statement then ask them "How much of your stock
has been checked and cleared?" Never just accept their
word….It won't do you any good later on if the pup turns
to have a genetic defect…walk away with paper proof in
hand and save your self a lot of trouble.
Always
pick a breeder you can feel comfortable with since they are
your "first line of defense" for help. They SHOULD
always care about the dogs and be willing to "mentor"
you in the process of raising a mini, locally or far away! They
should be knowledgeable about the breed and health problems
and always be upfront about possible health problems or faults
in their breeding lines when asked directly about it... Make
sure the puppy comes with written guarantees. EVERYTHING MUST
BE WRITTEN OUT. Get EVERYTHING in writing!! I can't tell you
how many people have had unpleasant experiences with verbal
agreements. Better to be safe than sorry! If something doesn't
"feel right" or you're uncomfortable, be open and
honest.
Please
be aware that even within the miniature australian shepherd
and australian shepherd breed, there ARE
BREEDERS out there that treat their dogs
just like LIVESTOCK, where dogs are destined to live
outside in pens or pastures with very little human contact there
whole life or mostly part of it. Their physical needs may be
met, but not their emotional or developmental needs. These people
ALSO advertise on the Internet and have
nice websites too. Some seem
reputable at first glance....
They
can "talk the talk" so ASK TONS OF QUESTIONS and keep
in mind that a devoted person who really loves this breed will
not usually have an abnormally large amount of dogs due to the
time, the socialization factor, and intelligence of this breed.
A good breeder will only have as many dogs as they can realistically
build a loving relationship and partnership with. They will
also have the resources to properly care for their dogs. Here
is a webpage that gives "a
good comparison of a the difference between a reputable breeder
and a backyard breeder"
The heaviest
concentration of breeders are in California. The price per pup
ranges from $600 to $ 1500.00 in California and in Florida,
with prices varying state to state. Sometime you can work a
"Co-ownership deal" with the breeder to get a lower
price, but not always. For example: you own the puppy with the
breeder and work out a contract for various exchanges such as:
he/she gets back a pick puppy back, or a free stud service,
or for a lesser price, several free stud services, or other
terms.
If you don't
want to spend that kind of money you can always become a detective
and try a rescue dog. Sometimes they
even have puppies.
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For
new litters
Happy
puppy hunting!
Heather
Angel and her crew of herding and helpful minis at Heatherly
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