You're about to buy a Collie puppy. We have your interests at heart, and the following guidelines have been proven over the years to be amazingly valuable to the sensible people who have made the right decision. (We have to say at this point that although we believe and act as we say herein, we can take no responsibility for things in this area which are beyond our control. Okay? )
But how do you know what is a good pup from a faulty one , and how do you tell whether one pup is better in quality, or is the more suitable for your needs? Okay, let's move through these basic pointers and try to assist you . . .
Firstly, try to assess the temperament of the puppies in the litter.Normally reared, healthy, happy Collie pups should look friendly, outgoing and generally happy in that cute puppy way. We suggest that you try to avoid the excessively shy pup who stays away from all contact and appears to cringe at the rear of the group .
Next, as you cuddle the pups, as invariably you'll want to with Collies, feel the general body condition of your prospective pup. Excessively fat or thin pups may not have been fed correctly to produce that effect, or they may need a treatment for worms. Bye and large, accredited breeders will be the sort of people who spare no expense in getting their pups' diets correct, and to be fair, litters do vary in their ability to carry or shed weight.
There are three major clinical health factors that you also need to know something about. The first, and most obvious, is to ensure that the puppy has had a full and appropriate course of vaccinations . Immunisation regimes do vary from place to place where Collies are bred, so find out what is considered "normal" for your home area, and check the documentation to see whether all vaccinations have been done well before you take the pup away from its first home. The next thing to insist upon is that the little ones have been wormed. Believe it or not, this is as much for your protection as for the dog's, as worms will affect human health too . A third and final factor is the condition of the puppy's eyes in terms of Collie Eye Anomoly (C.E.A.). Reputable breeders will have had their litters tested and official certificates from the qualified Ophthalmologist will be ready for you to view. C.E.A. and P.R.A. are two ocular conditions which can affect the dog's sight .
That's the end of the "bad" stuff. Buying and owning a Collie is a great thing, but we just felt as though you deserve the knowledge. |
