Caring For Your Puppy

A puppy should be wormed according to the following schedule: 

• Every two weeks: From birth until they are 12 weeks old
• Every month: From 12 weeks until they are 6 months old
• Every three months: From 6 months onwards

Puppies are more susceptible to worms because they haven't developed an immunity to them yet. Worms can be transmitted to puppies from their mother's milk, other adult dogs, or by sniffing, investigating, or eating things they come across. 

Symptoms of intestinal worms in puppies include: 

• When to start: Puppies can be treated for fleas as early as 6–8 weeks old. 
• How often to treat: The frequency of treatment depends on the product and the number of fleas your puppy has. You should wait at least a week between flea treatments to ensure the treatment has been fully absorbed. 
• What products to use: There are many different flea treatments available, including chewable treatments, topical solutions, and flea powders and shampoos. The product you choose should be specifically designed for puppies because they have more sensitive skin than adult dogs. 

• Keep areas where your puppy sleeps clean by washing their bedding and vacuuming the area.
• Use pet-safe insecticides on furniture, but avoid using them near your puppy's bedding.

How often you should feed your puppy depends on their age and size: 

• 4–12 weeks: Feed your puppy three to four times a day 
• 4–6 months: Feed your puppy three times a day 
• 6–12 months: Feed your puppy twice a day 
• 12+ months: Depending on their breed size, you can switch to adult dog food and feed your puppy once or twice a day 

Puppies have a faster metabolism than adult dogs, so they need to eat more frequently. A consistent feeding schedule can help with digestion, bowel regularity, and mental health. It can also help you monitor your puppy's food intake and ensure they get the right amount of nutrition. 

• Initial vaccinations

  Puppies typically receive their first vaccination between 6–8 weeks old, their second at 10–12 weeks, and their third and final booster at 14–16 weeks. 
• Booster shots

  Puppies will need annual booster shots throughout their lives. Your vet will recommend a schedule for your pet during their regular health check-ups. 
  
• Noncore vaccines

  Also known as lifestyle vaccines, these are optional and based on your pet's lifestyle and where you live. Your vet can help you determine which vaccines are right for your dog. 
  
• Health check

  Before your puppy receives their vaccinations, take them to the vet for a health check. This is also a good opportunity to ask any questions you may have. 
  
• Vaccinations take time to work

  It can take up to two weeks for vaccinations to take full effect. Until then, you should avoid taking your puppy to dog parks, beaches, and other dog hotspots. 

• Direct contact: Dogs can catch parvo by coming into contact with an infected dog. 
• Indirect contact: Dogs can catch parvo by coming into contact with surfaces, objects, or people that have been contaminated by an infected dog: 
  • Feces from an infected dog 
  • Vomit from an infected dog 
  • Kennels 
  • Food and water bowls 
  • Collars and leashes 
  • Clothing and shoes of people who have handled infected dogs 
  • Public paths and walkways
• Environment: Parvovirus can survive in the environment for up to a year, and can even survive in grass at a park for at least six months. This makes it possible for dogs to catch parvo even without direct contact with another dog. 

• Keep your puppy away from unvaccinated dogs and environments where unvaccinated dogs could be. 
• Make sure your puppy is fully vaccinated and receives a booster vaccine at one year of age. 
• Continue to vaccinate your dog every one to three years for life, or monitor their immunity with parvovirus antibody tests. 
• Disinfect contaminated areas with a solution of 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach in one gallon of water. 

Border Collies are one of the most active dog breeds and need at least two hours of exercise per day: 

• Socialize early: Start socializing your puppy as soon as you bring them home, usually around 8 weeks of age. 
• Expose to a variety of experiences: Introduce your puppy to new people, animals, environments, and situations in a safe and rewarding way. This can include different places like cafes and pet-friendly stores, as well as car rides. 
• Ensure positive interactions: Make sure each new experience is positive and safe. Reward calm and confident behavior with treats and praise. 
• Introduce gradually: Only introduce your puppy to one out of every 10 dogs and people you see. 
• Teach basic obedience: Start basic obedience training early on to establish good behavior patterns.
• Use positive, force-free reinforcement: Border Collies respond well to praise and rewards. 
• Keep training sessions short and frequent: Keep training sessions short, frequent, and varied to prevent boredom. 
• Provide mental stimulation: Give your Border Collie plenty of different tasks to work on, such as obedience training, agility, or flyball. 
• Exercise: Border Collies need at least 2-3 hours of vigorous exercise every day. 
• Teach boundaries: Teach your Border Collie the difference between what they can and can't chase.
  

• Obedience

  Border Collies can learn to follow rules and commands through obedience training. You can use a clicker or whistle with positive reinforcement to teach good behavior. 
• Herding

  Border Collies can learn herding commands like "walk up", "to me", "away to me", and "come by". You can use a leash to teach these commands by having your dog move a ball around the yard. 
• Recall

  You can teach your Border Collie a recall command with a cue word. 
• Leash walking

  Border Collies can be strong, so you can teach them to walk on a leash with treats, praise, and love. 
• Toy names

  Border Collies are known for learning the names of their toys, and some can learn the names of over 100 toys. 
• Alone training

  You can teach your Border Collie to be comfortable being left alone by gradually increasing the amount of time they spend alone each week. 

• Brushing

  Brush your Border Collie weekly with a long-pin slicker brush and then comb to prevent tangles and reduce shedding. You can use a conditioner spray to make brushing easier and add shine to your dog's coat. During shedding season, you can use a shed and static spray. 
• Ears

  Clean your Border Collie's ears weekly with a vet-approved cleaning solution and cotton pads. Avoid probing too deeply into the ear canal. 
• Nails

  Trim your Border Collie's nails at least once a month. If you can hear your dog's nails on the floor when they walk, they're too long. 
• Shedding

  Border Collies shed moderately throughout the year, but shed more heavily during seasonal coat changes. 
• Tools

  Use a brush that your dog is already used to. You can also use a de-shedding rake with blades to help control excess undercoat. 
• Groomer

  If you're nervous about grooming your Border Collie at home, you can take them to a professional groomer.