BOHUNT

BOHUNT

Buying a Puppy

Photo: Bertha (Bohunt Scarlett Ribbonz)

This is what you can expect once you have decided to buy a puppy from me and what I also expect if I have agreed to sell one of these precious babies to you.

I will send photos of the babies every week so you can be involved in their progress as they change dramatically in a very short time.

This is a summary of what to expect over the next weeks while your puppy is in my care:

1st & 2nd weeks: Most of the special care in centered around Mum at this stage. She is fed 3 times a day and has "K9 Natural" and minced chicken frames. I also give the lactating mother a calcium supplement tablet morning and night.

www.k9naturalfood.com

Some of the litters are on newspaper at this time, as Mum constantly digs the bed up and the paper ensures that the babies are not buried alive or smothered. Some of the girls will lie quietly on vetbedding safely. They have a Ceramic Heat lamp and Veterinary Electric Blanket for warmth. I pick up each puppy at least once a day for a cuddle and a check.

3rd week: The pups have opened their eyes and are ready for their first worming. Mum is also wormed again at this time. They are big enough to put on a blanket safely now if they have been on Newspaper. They will have had their nails cut - end of week 2 and maybe a second cut during this 3rd week. I will offer them a small amount of beef or lamb mince to suck from my fingers while being cuddled on my lap in the evenings.

4th week: Pups are now offered solid food 4 times a day as well as mum's milk. I always begin my babies on raw minced meat for this first week. They are wormed again this week and also have their nails trimmed again. I will begin to teach them to stack on a table, have their teeth inspected and be handled as they would be by a vet or show judge. This will continue until they leave as it is good socialisation and makes it easy to do things with them later.

5th week: Mum will only be with the pups at night for this week as they will be feeding themselves during the day. They will have had their first outdoors experience (I have a puppy yard and puppy house for this purpose) and develop great independence this week.

6th week: Pups are now completely weaned from Mum and are on 4 meals a day consisting of "K9 Natural", crushed chicken frames and sardines.

7th week: Between weeks 6 and 7 they will have been to the vet to have their microchip installed, first vaccination and a complete health check. They will be wormed again at this time also. I will groom the coat and get them ready for their departure to their new homes with you.

TRANSPORTATION: I only use and recommend JET PETS ANIMAL TRANSPORT.

I have tried others but have found them more expensive and less reliable. So that you are happy with what is organised, I ask that if you require the puppy to be sent you contact them directly to make the arrangements and you can pay them directly when the booking is made. They have a range of crates that you can hire or purchase outright at very good prices.

Please organise to have puppy collected by Jet Pets.

Contact Jet Pets on 1300 668 309. Mention that it is a Bohunt Border Terrier puppy you are organising travel for.

Barry collects the pups from me and ensures their safe delivery to the Airport.

If you are travelling to collect your puppy then you might wish to buy a crate that is suitable to your car & also airline approved (in case you may wish to take him somewhere at some time) and one that will fit the dog at the end of his growth cycle! Some of my new puppy owners have purchased their crates through Jet Pets and they will drop them off at my home (when they are passing if you organise early enough) ready for when you pick up your new baby

PREPARATION FOR THE NEW ARRIVAL: You do not need to buy a lot of things for your new dog. I do use crates for shows and transportation, dog pens (my favourite for containing the puppy so your home and puppy are safe when you are busy and doing other things), toys and chew things, food and water bowl and a comfortable bed.

I recommend lovely handmade beds made here in Victoria to the highest standards and very reasonably priced for the quality - I am thrilled with mine and looking to replace all my beds with these. You can find these beds at

http://maisondogblog.com/

I also like the Snooza range of dog beds and the manufacturer will repair them for free even if your dog does the damage! They are obviously more expensive than a lot of others but they are quality and mine just keep washing.

If you have room for a pen in your home you can put all these things in that area and your pup has it's own little room where you can feed it etc. It is a fantastic way to prevent home damage or dangerous situations for your puppy when your back is turned or you are out.