Recommendations

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• Training Books by Liz Palika. One of my favs is 'Australian Shepherd, Champion of Versatility'.

 

• 'The Art of Raising a Puppy' by New Skete Monks. (focused on German Shepherds, but still fits).

 

• ​Feeding a high quality food is of UTMOST importance to the health of your dog. Check out the 5 star food list on www.DogFoodAdvisor.com to find the best food available in your area. 

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• Always, always, always recommend TOPICAL flea treatment. Research and make sure any meds or treatments do not have 'seizures or neurological issues' as a common side effect. All herding dogs are susceptible to toxins or meds crossing the blood brain barrier.  A good standby though the years has been Frontline Plus topical for fleas and ticks, and then Interceptor Plus chew for Heartworm and intestinal worms. We've also used Advantage II for fleas.

 

• Folding wire crates 36" (or whatever size will fit inside your vehicle).

 

• Puppy play yard can be quite helpful. We recommend only leaving pup in the crate for an hour or two, but with the puppy play yard, they can have access to water, and a place to potty and can be ok for a longer time.

 

• Get several towels to wash and change out for their crate and use for the first few months, so they can't 'un-stuff' them!

 

• ​Stainless Steel food bowls will last forever and can be sanitized easily. (Just go with the 2 cup size, so you will be less tempted to overfeed!)

 

• Slip Leash is a very effective tool when used with an older puppy and dog. (I like the 4' length personally, so it's easier to encourage walking closely beside you.)

 

• Furminator Rake (brush for the adult coat)

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• Brush for puppy coat- works well for the first couple months, and even after for a quick surface brush.

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• I really like a metal comb like this one to get more undercoat out, even after using the rake to get started.

 

• NEVER give INTERNAL flea treatment pills or chews, as they can cross the blood/brain barrier. We research every medication that we consider, and avoid all meds that have seizures as a side effect, just to be safe!