Just Two Days Till Christmas

If you live somewhere that is cold, be sure to provide shelter for your dogs.  A good rule of thumb is this, if it too cold for you to spend extended periods of time outdoors then the same is true for your dogs.

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

I hope you will find these suggestions useful.  That first Saint Bernard puppy is a unique experience for everyone; one you will look back upon with fond remembrance.  A Saint Bernard is not for everyone, but for those of us privileged enough to share our lives and home with them find that our lives have been enriched beyond description.  I know my Saints have made my life better; each Saint Bernard is unique and your relationship with them will be as well.  Enjoy that little ball of fluff; you are in for the ride of your life!

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

Teeth cleaning and x-raying for hip dysplasia is not necessary during the first year of a puppy’s life.  If there were any major deformities they should have been noted by your vet during their initial examination of your puppy.  Saint Bernard puppies grow so quickly that first year, that early x-raying will not give an accurate picture of problems.  If your puppy is lame for extended periods of time, or has difficulty getting up or down, then x-raying is beneficial; however it you have a healthy active puppy then this is not necessary till they are older.  Your puppy/dog has to be sedated for teeth cleaning or x-rays; this is not something you want to do more often than is absolutely necessary.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Enrolling your puppy in a training class is a great idea; you learn training techniques and more socializing occurs during class time.    Make sure your puppy is around handicapped individuals, those in wheelchairs, those with canes.  Be sure they meet a wide age range of individuals; babies to elderly.  Large or tall people, people with hats, people with bulky coats. Try to include as much variety as possible with dogs, puppies, and other animals as well.  You will want your puppy to be well rounded when it comes to other dogs/animals and people.    Socializing and training should occur during your dog’s entire life.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

It is not a good idea to take your young puppy to a dog park for a socializing encounter.  So many loose dogs can be a bit overwhelming for your young pup.  You really want to strive to make socializing encounters a positive experience; not something scary.  If your young puppy has a bad experience, you may have a difficult time helping them recover from it.  In some cases puppies are permanently scarred from a bad encounter.  Aggression can become a major behavior problem; underlying causes for aggression are fear, territorial dominance, and pain.  Once aggression is established in a puppy or dog, it cannot be fixed.  You can be taught how to deal with the aggression, but it will not go away once it is established. 

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Socializing and training your puppy is very important. Actually it began before you got your puppy; the breeder on a daily basis handles the puppies. They touch their paws, expose them to different textures, acclimate them to noises (like a vacuum), just to name a couple of things. It is crucial that during the first six months that you make every effort to socialize and train your puppy on a daily basis.  As soon as they have their first shots, the socializing and training should begin.  It is best to control the situation for the first socializing encounter.  You should know the people, dogs, cats personally. These first socializing encounters should be a positive experience for your puppy. 

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Puppy proof your yard, you want to make sure that they cannot get out of your yard.  Check to see if you have poisonous plants or shrubs.  Puppies will get into mischief, so be prepared.  Puppies will dig; and they will chew on a huge variety of things. It is not a good idea to leave a Saint Bernard puppy alone for extended periods of time, some very serious behavior issues can develop.  Be a good neighbor and don’t let your puppy be a barking nuisance.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

Prior to bringing you puppy home, you should have a food bowl, water bowl, toys, collar, and leash.  It is a good idea to purchase a weighted bottom food and water bowl, this type is not as easily knocked over.  A 1 inch wide and 4 to 6 foot long leash is a good choice.  Retractable leashes are never a good idea with the large breed dogs.  Some people prefer choke collars, other use just a regular collar, keep in mind the Saint Bernard puppy will grow quickly and you will have to purchase a series of sizes.  Nylabones are excellent for chewing; do not give your Saint Bernard rawhide!  Get an ID tag for your puppy’s collar; consider having them micro chipped as well.  A dog crate can be very useful; it is not cruel to use a crate.  Your puppy will often view a crate as a safe haven.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Saint Bernard puppies are adorable and will easily steal your heart.  Puppies should be a minimum of 7 weeks old before they leave their litter mates.  Many breeders do not allow them to leave till they are 8 to 10 weeks old.  This is a better age because by 8 weeks they will have their first shots and have been wormed as well.  It is very important that you take your new puppy to your veterinarian for a physical examination.  They can advise you of any health concerns, plus they will insure that your puppy receives all the necessary vaccinations.  There are a series of vaccinations that all puppies should receive; they are usually given at two week intervals.  The rabies vaccination is required in all states; it is given at 4 months of age.  If the veterinarian tells you that something is wrong with your puppy, you should return it to the breeder.  The reputable breeder guarantees their puppies for a certain time period.  If you have to return a puppy, be sure to bring paperwork from your veterinarian stating what the problem is.  Rarely does someone have to return a puppy, but it does happen.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

You should make sure you have contact information for the breeder you buy from.  Phone numbers for land lines and cell numbers are very important.  Take the time to write down the physical address of the breeder.  You should also have their email address.  If they have a website, add it to your favorites.  Find out if they are on Facebook or other social network sites.  Ask for a backup person that you can contact just in case you are unable to reach the breeder.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Some breeders require you to sign a contract.  The contract can be for a variety of reasons.  If they are selling you a pet, they may require that you spay/neuter by a certain age and that you provide them with proof that this was done and when.  If they are selling you a show dog, they may require that you show the dog by a certain age, they may want to determine when, if, and who regarding breeding of the dog.  Sometimes co-ownership contracts are drawn up.  Be sure that you understand all conditions of any contract before signing them.  Never agree to any oral contract; always get it in writing.

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Cyber Monday Gift Ideas

Visit Brandykegs Store for some unique gifts ideas for family and friends.  Many items are themed around the lovable Saint Bernard Breed.  Free USPS shipping on all orders!

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

The breeder should provide you with details regarding any vaccinations your puppy has received and when they were given, the same is true about worming.    Your veterinarian will ask for this information when you bring your puppy in for its first examination.   Some breeders provide you with a purchase receipt, guarantee for a healthy puppy is usually stated on the receipt.  You should also receive the necessary paperwork to register your pure bred puppy with the American Kennel Club.  It is very important that all pure bred dogs are registered whether they are pets or show dogs.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

You should use a quality puppy food for your Saint Bernard puppy.  Be sure to find out what the breeder is feeding them; they should provide you with a small amount of food when you take your puppy home.  The breeder will tell you how often to feed them and the amount.  If you want to change your puppy’s food, be sure to slowly introduce the new food.  This type of change can be very upsetting to their system and cause diarrhea.  Puppy food is more expensive than adult food; the puppy food contains the right amount of nutrients necessary for healthy growth.  I have always fed puppy food for the first year, and then gradually change to the adult formula.  I do know that many breeders do not recommend using puppy food for the entire first year.  This is something you will have to decide for yourself, consult your veterinarian.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

Ask if there have been health issues with any of the dogs in your puppy’s pedigree.  Heart disease, epilepsy, bloat, cherry eye, pyometra, cancer, hip dysplasia, behavior problems like aggression; are just a few to ask about.  Try to find out the longevity of the dogs in the pedigree.  The average lifespan of a Saint Bernard is 8 to 10 years, some live longer than this and some lives are shorter.

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Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

Come prepared with questions for the breeder.  Ask to see the puppy’s sire and dam; if additional members of their pedigree are on sight ask to see them as well.  This will give you a glimpse as to how your puppy might turn out.  It will also show you the adult size, coat colors, and temperament.  There are two coat types with the Saint Bernard breed, smooth or short-haired and rough or long-haired.  The coat type is a personal preference.  It is not true that a smooth or short-haired Saint Bernard will shed less than a rough or long-haired Saint.  It has been my experience that the opposite is true, when you keep your Saint Bernards in your home.  My smooths have always shed far more than my roughs.  If you keep your Saints outdoors your experience will probably be different.  Saint Bernards drool, some drool a little and others drool a lot.  If you meet the sire and dam, you will have a better idea as to whether you will have a heavy drooler or a light one.

(more tomorrow)

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

The reputable breeder will invite you to their kennel.  They want to get to know you; the experience is often similar to a job interview.  They should willingly show you their kennels and dogs.  The breeder wants to insure that their puppies are placed in the right hands; so they will ask a lot of questions.  Some breeders will even want to see your home environment.

continues on 11/25/2011

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

I would not buy a Saint Bernard puppy from a pet store.  Caution should also be used about buying from backyard hobby breeders; most of them ask far less for a puppy than a reputable breeder.  Producing healthy puppies, with sound bodies, and good temperament requires a great deal of knowledge and experience with the breed.  Rescue organizations sometimes have puppies as well, you probably won’t know a lot about their pedigree though.  You may be happy with a puppy from any of these sources; ultimately it is your choice. 

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - cont.

Many breeders will ask if you are looking for a show dog or a pet.  Some breeders are only interested in selling to individuals who are looking for a show dog.  I never quite understand that logic, not every Saint Bernard is a show dog.  You should decide before you start talking to breeders whether you want a pet or a show dog.  Some of the breeders focus only on the show environment and they can be difficult to work with.  Try to find a breeder that offers pets as well as show dogs.  The reputable Saint Bernard breeder strives to produce puppies that meet the Saint Bernard standard or improve upon it.  

(more tomorrow)

Buying A Puppy Suggestions - continues

The Saint Bernard is one of those easily recognized breeds; and so there are always a lot of looky loos.  The same questions are asked over and over again.  How much food do they eat?  How much do they weigh?  Do they drool?  Are they friendly?  However if you want to buy a Saint Bernard puppy; then you better have more questions than that. 

(suggestions continues on tomorrow's blog)