Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
DISEASE CONTROL IN PUPPIES
All puppies should have been routinely treated for hookworm and
roundworms from the time they were 3 weeks of age. All pups
should have received their fi rst inoculation for a variety of highly
contagious diseases, including canine distemper, parvovirus, lep-
tospirosis, coronavirus, hepatitis, and various respiratory diseases.
The inoculation given for these diseases before the pup leaves the
breeder is just the fi rst of a series of inoculations needed at 3- to
4-week intervals until the puppy is 16 weeks old and full immunity
is reached. At 16 weeks, the puppy requires a rabies inoculation.
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Hold the sheep in a group for the shepherd
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Single out an individual sheep and control it without the use of force or
excessive aggression
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Move the sheep without diffi culty or the use of force
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Demonstrate their ability to move the sheep in the way that would be
appropriate for ewes during their last weeks of pregnancy — gently but
fi rmly
The prospective buyer should interview the dog breeder to learn about his
or her breeding program. Learn what traits are being bred for and what type
of puppy the breeder hopes to produce. While breeders cannot guarantee the
herding qualities of the pups they produce, they can at least discuss why they
have bred two particular dogs and how they hope the puppies will turn out.
There are plenty of top working dogs around; don't settle for a puppy whose
parents don't demonstrate the qualities you require.
It is important to feel comfortable with the breeder; he or she should be
willing to provide the names of prior customers and inform the buyer how
previous puppies have performed.
Both parents of the puppy should have had their hips X-rayed to determine
if they have canine hip dysplasia and ideally should have a rating of their
hips from the Orthopedic Foundation of America. Dogs with any sign of hip
dysplasia should not be bred. Both parents should also have had their eyes
examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist and have been certifi ed as clear of
progressive retina atrophy (PRA) and collie eye anomaly (CEA). Both of these
