Vanstone
Australian Shepherds
Puppy information, links and resources:
Welcome to the Vanstone Family
We're so thankful that you will be giving one of our puppies an awesome home, filled with love and continued commitment to their best life, just as we have been!
We are here to help for life, please don't hesitate to reach out at any time for any reason!
Text is typically my quickest response time 778 345 6861 and I'm on FaceBook Kim Van Biert
Puppies are Eating Pro Plan Focus, Chicken formula
We are currently feeding ½ a cup, 4 times a day. Reduce to 3, larger meals a day by 12 weeks and 2 meals a day after 5 months. Follow the feeding amount your puppy is currently on and adjust to the feel of you puppy, please be sure that you can feel the ribs with light pressure for the entire life of your dog! Nothing shortens their days with us and their long term mobility like being over weight! Vets are happy to do a weight check and we are too!
Playtime at 8 weeks old should be 1/3 Play to Rest Ratio. So for every 20-60 minutes of play they need 2-3 times that to recover with rest.
Crate Training Rule of Thumb:
For every month of age a puppy can handle that number plus 1 hour in a crate. So at two months they can be in a crate for up to 3 hours. At 3 months they can handle 4 hours.
By 12-16 weeks they should be able to sleep through the night most nights without going to a potty break.
Most puppies will cry if they are hot or thirsty so keep that in mind as well... we recommend removing all bedding during the summer.
Exercise:
Please be aware that the joints of a puppy are all wide open and very susceptible to damage.
8-12 weeks no formal walking is recommended. Walking for training should be motivational and short,5 minutes sessions with tons of treats, praise and toy rewards. I like to use my lunch meal for puppy as training at home.
Free Running play should be under 15minutes.
12-24weeks keep walks and training sessions under 10-15 minutes. Running free play under 20 minutes.
4-6 months: Free running play on natural surfaces is the best kind of exercise, but some puppies don't know when to rest, make sure they aren't running or playing for more that 20-30 minutes without stopping.
watch for signs of over stimulation at this age, step in an enforce rest (time out) before they loose their cool.
Under 1 year:
Fetch is fun, but repetitive motion is not a good thing for dogs under 12-15 months, so make sure not to fetch more than 2x and only on natural surfaces, not in the house unless it's on a sturdy rug. Beware of slippery and smooth surfaces, slipping motion is the hardest on hip joints. keeping the hair on the underside of the foot and between their pads trimmed is a great way to increase traction in the house. as well as weekly nail trims.
Swimming is more safe for growing joints than most other forms of exercise, short swim sessions are an excellent way to tire out an older puppy.
Grooming:
Grooming under 6 months old is really just practice for adult coat maintenance, it may seem hardly needed but it's important to practice a grooming ritual with a puppy. It should include handling of all body parts, lifting legs touching paws, lightly cleaning ears, baby toothbrush to teeth touch, and nail trimming, all for a reward, and awesome way it to tag teem one groomer and one person offering a treat after each exercise.
Vaccinations:
First Vaccines done: Aug 21 2020.
2nd Vaccine Booster is due after the 21 of September and again 30days from 2nd booster
*DO not give Lepto and Lyme at the time of other vaccines*
We do not give Lepto or Lyme, as these vaccines have more adverse reactions than the basic DAPP
If you do decide to give these vaccines we recommend giving them 30 days after their 3rd Booster.
*Never give Rabies Vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.
I advise waiting for Rabies until 6 months old.
De-Worming:
Puppies have been De-Wormed 3 times with Strongid and on Aug 14 with Panacure for 5 days
* De Worming is recommended monthly until 18 weeks.
Aussies can have adverse reactions to Metronidazol so check with your vet before treatment for diarrhea.
We can help answer any questions about stools and tips for treatment of mild symptoms.
*Aussies Can Carry the MDR1 Mutation that causes sensitivity to Ivermectin.
Please discuss this with you Vet before administering any de-wormers.
*We do not have heart worm in the valley so we do not give monthly heart worm preventatives. I will give one treatment prior to going to an area known for prolific heartworm issues, specifically southern USA
Flea and Tick prevention:
We Strongly Advise against monthly oral de-wormer/flea combination drugs because the are known to trigger seizures in some Aussies.
We recommend treating topically as needed. Natural flea/tick deterrents can be found in some Shampoos.
We use and recommend Enviorogroom
Please feel free to ask for more information about our protocol for fleas/ticks and de-worming.
Puppy Contract:
