Читать книгу Australian Kelpie - Charlotte Schwartz - Страница 8

Before you begin your search for a puppy, you must research the Kelpie thoroughly and be sure that this is the most suitable breed for you, your family, your lifestyle and your living environment. While you must like the breed’s characteristics, you must also be certain that you can provide for the breed’s requirements. With the Kelpie, a major concern is that you can provide adequate space and time for the dog to exercise and play. This is a working breed and, although you may be keeping your Kelpie simply as a companion dog, you must always ensure that he has more than enough “work” to do in order for him to be happy, well-behaved and mentally sound.

In the case of the Kelpie, researching and reading up on the breed is not enough. Before deciding that this is the breed for you, breeders strongly recommend that you meet, observe and interact with some representatives of the breed. Visit a ranch or a stockdog trial to see these dogs in action and to get an idea of what they really are about. Once you see this intense working dog doing what he does best, you will understand why Kelpie breeders are not eager to sell to pet homes, and you will also understand the true character of the breed. A potential owner who does not grasp the intensity of the Kelpie’s drive to work will be very unhappy trying to live with one.

Puppies of any breed need lots of attention during the growing stage. They need to eat frequently and relieve themselves often. Furthermore, they chew on everything they can get their teeth into. Your puppy must be housebroken and taught good manners for a successful existence within the family group. He will bond easily with you, his new owners, to become a life partner with those who demonstrate concern for his happiness and well-being. As the dog matures, that bond helps create the dog’s devotion to his family and regard for their safety.

A pet owner must be aware of the Kelpie’s adolescent period, which usually starts around eight months of age and can last up to around two years of age. Kelpies are hard to live with in a pet setting during this time if the owners are not completely prepared to provide the Kelpie with the work, training, exercise and interaction that he requires. This stage is not as problematic for the owner of a working Kelpie but can be overwhelming for the pet owner and often causes unprepared pet owners to give these dogs up for adoption at this age. Again, plenty of exercise and activity that uses the dog’s body and brain is absolutely necessary at all stages of the Kelpie’s life and even more so at this stage.

Do you have time to spend with your Kelpie, doing things together to keep his body and mind active?

If you feel that you and the Kelpie are a good match but would prefer an adult dog, a mature dog is sometimes available for sale or adoption. Situations include death of an owner, a family that must move and cannot take the dog with them or a former brood bitch who is being retired from having puppies and must be placed in a private home as a family pet. Situations also arise in which pet owners simply were not prepared for the Kelpie’s needs and are unable to keep the dog as a pet. These adult dogs can make fine companions, providing they have friendly, willing temperaments and are taken in by owners who understand the breed and can provide them with sufficient space and exercise.

With an adult dog, all of the developmental stages of growing up are over. The dog is usually housebroken and chewing stages are long gone. However, many Kelpies that are given up by pet owners are in their adolescent stage, during which the “go, go, go” mindset was too much for their previous owners to handle. And though bonding will take longer than with a puppy, the older dog can develop a strong relationship with new owners, providing he’s treated with gentle kindness and patience.

THE FAMILY TREE

Your puppy’s pedigree is his family tree. Just as a child may resemble his parents and grandparents, so too will a puppy reflect the qualities, good and bad, of his ancestors, especially those in the first two generations. Therefore it’s important to know as much as possible about a puppy’s immediate relatives. Reputable and experienced breeders should be able to explain the pedigree and why they chose to breed from the particular dogs they used.

Now, let’s talk about the sex of your new dog. Females are usually more gentle and tend to stay closer to home than males. They can be very patient with young children and gentle with older adults. Males are usually more curious and tend to wander away from home more frequently. They also can be stronger-willed than females and frequently require a firmer leader. However, a stubborn, dominant female can be a real challenge, too.

As far as size, females are generally smaller than males. Size can vary quite a bit within the breed. While this is not a large breed, it is a very athletic and strong breed, with the strength of a much larger dog packed into a compact body.

In both cases, neutering the male and spaying the female is a must in order to get the most out of the relationship. Unless your pup has been deemed as having excellent potential for future breeding, spaying/neutering should be considered mandatory and may even be required in the breeder’s sales contract. Left unaltered, dogs are controlled by their hormones. Their natural urges can be so strong and overwhelming that they never really develop strong bonds with their human pack members.

Males are governed by hormones full-time, 12 months a year. On the other hand, females are governed by hormones usually twice a year for periods of 21 days at a time. This is the period known as estrus. A female in estrus will willingly accept any male dog that finds his way to her door during these heat cycles. As a result, the unaltered male frequently wanders the neighborhood in search of females in heat, and the female has unwanted puppies. Altering is the perfect solution to these situations. Altered dogs are generally nicer, more loving and more dedicated to home and family than sexually intact dogs.

FINDING A QUALIFIED BREEDER

Before you begin your puppy search, ask for references from your vet, other owners and other breeders to refer you to someone they believe is reputable. Responsible breeders usually raise only one or two breeds of dog. Avoid any breeder who has several different breeds or has several litters at the same time. Dedicated breeders are usually involved with a breed or other dog club. Many participate in some sport or activity related to their breed. Just as you want to be assured of the breeder’s qualifications, the breeder wants to be assured that you will make a worthy owner. Expect the breeder to interview you, asking questions about your goals for the pup, your experience with dogs and what kind of home you will provide.

A litter of Kelpies means more than a little mischief!

Once you are sure that the Australian Kelpie is the breed for you, check with the Kelpie breed clubs and registries to get the names, addresses and phone numbers of Kelpie owners and breeders in your area. If you have a computer, the Internet can provide many references for Australian Kelpies; the breed club, Working Kelpies, Inc., is a good place to start. Talk to local veterinarians to find out if they count Kelpies among their clients. Through these sources, you can meet Kelpie owners to see how they feel about the breed and if they have any recommendations for you as a prospective owner. Remember that the show-type Kelpies and working Kelpies differ considerably, so this will play a large role in your choice of a breeder. Talking to people within the breed can further acquaint you with the differences and can point you toward breeders of the type you prefer.

Most breeders of working Kelpies are insistent about their dogs’ being used for work and will not sell to pet owners. If you are bringing a Kelpie into a pet home, your search for a breeder will be difficult. Finding a breeder in your area will be even more difficult. Be wary of a Kelpie breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy without much thought to your living environment and your preparedness for the breed; this is not the type of breeder from whom you should purchase any breed.

NEW RELEASES

Most breeders release their puppies between seven to ten weeks of age. A breeder who allows puppies to leave the litter at five or six weeks of age may be more concerned with profit than with the puppies’ welfare. However, some breeders of show or working breeds may hold one or more top-quality puppies longer, occasionally until three or four months of age, in order to evaluate the puppies’ career or show potential and decide which one(s) they will keep for themselves.

Your efforts will be worth it when you find a reputable Kelpie breeder. Only the pup’s breeder will know about the origin of the puppy, the background of the parents, any risk of hereditary health problems, how the puppy was raised, the pup’s personality, etc. A good breeder will also offer help and support after the puppy comes home with you. Therefore, the best place to look for a Kelpie puppy is from a Kelpie breeder.

Your Kelpie puppy will not be an instant purchase. If you find a good breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy, you will likely be put on a waiting list for a suitable pup. If the breeder is far away, you will not get to meet your puppy, and he will have to be shipped to you. Prior to that, you will contact the breeder by phone, email and/or mail; he should be able to share the important information with you in those ways, including pedigrees, photos of the litter and parents, puppy diet sheet, health records and documentation, etc.

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY PUPPY

Healthy puppies are robust little fellows who are alert and active, sporting shiny coats and supple skin. They should not appear lethargic, bloated or pot-bellied, nor should they have flaky skin or runny or crusted eyes or noses. Their stools should be firm and well formed, with no evidence of blood or mucus.

Until properly trained, puppies must remain on lead when out and about

A reputable Kelpie breeder devotes his energy and time to producing the best Kelpie puppies possible. He has studied the breed history, knows the health problems of the breed and has probably participated with his own breeding stock in events where knowledgeable judges have evaluated the quality of his dogs for future breeding purposes.

Most importantly, the breeder is anxious to share his knowledge of the breed with you. The breeder will probably ask you many questions about how you intend to raise his puppy and the facilities you have to provide a good, safe home for the puppy. In short, the Kelpie breeder is the best source of quality puppies and the best guide to help you find the puppy best suited to you, your family and your lifestyle. Be aware in your search for a pet puppy that you may be met with many “Nos” before you find a breeder who agrees to sell you a puppy.

Speaking of lifestyle, the breeder will need to know what type of lifestyle you will be offering the puppy. Will he grow up to be a herding dog on a 2000-acre sheep ranch? Will the dog work in a confined area, such as a stockyard, to move the flock from one area to another? Will he be a family pet and a companion to small children or elderly family members? Will the dog be expected to travel with his owner for business or pleasure? The more information you give the breeder, the better able he will be to decide if you have a suitable home for the breed.

Kelpies play as hard as they work and provide entertaining companionship for children and adults alike.

SOME DAM ATTITUDE

When selecting a puppy, be certain to meet the dam of the litter. The temperament of the dam is often predictive of the temperament of her puppies. However, dams occasionally are very protective of their young, some to the point of being testy with visitors, whom they may view as a danger to their babies. Such attitudes are more common when the pups are very young and still nursing and should not be mistaken for actual aggressive temperament. If possible, visit the dam away from her pups to make friends with her and gain a better understanding of her true personality.

How tragic it is for a puppy to go to an owner whose lifestyle is not suitable for the breed’s temperament and the individual puppy’s personality. And what a shame for an owner to discover that the puppy he wanted so much turned out to have the wrong personality for the family that chose him. By doing your homework now, you’ll avoid all the pitfalls of random selection and lack of careful planning. Instead, you and your new puppy will be well suited to each other.

Once you’ve located a respected breeder with a litter of puppies, make an appointment to visit them. This will be easier for those selecting a working dog, as there are many more breeders who place puppies in working homes. There will be lots of things you’ll need to check out during your visit. First is the overall impression you get upon entering the breeder’s home. Is it clean? Does it have a pleasant odor? Is the dam (the puppies’ mother) there to meet you? Is she friendly and self-assured yet willing to meet you? What is her physical condition? After nursing a litter of puppies for five or six weeks, she may be thin, but she should have a clean coat and bright eyes and appear to be in good health.

Be aware that the mother’s basic temperament will be passed on to her pups, so spend a few minutes with her and observe her reactions to you, the breeder and her pups. An unfriendly, aloof, even aggressive mother will probably raise pups with the same undesirable traits. So look for a friendly, tolerant, easygoing dam who accepts you cautiously yet willingly.

GETTING ACQUAINTED

When visiting a litter, ask the breeder for suggestions on how best to interact with the puppies. If possible, get right into the middle of the pack and sit down with them. Observe which pups climb into your lap and which ones shy away. Toss a toy for them to chase and bring back to you. It’s easy to fall in love with the puppy who picks you, but keep your future objectives in mind before you make your final decision.

Healthy puppies are active, alert and playful.

Initially observe the whole litter as they interact with each other and you. If possible, watch them eat a meal. If you spot a particular pup who appears to be overprotective of his food, that puppy may become a problem in the future. You don’t need trouble with an adult dog who is so protective of his food and toys that he threatens to bite you every time you get near him when he’s eating or playing.

Do the puppies appear healthy and bright-eyed, with no discharge from their eyes or noses? Are they clean? Do they smell clean when you pick them up? When they have bowel movements, are their stools firm and well-formed with no hint of diarrhea? Are their coats fluffy and free of parasites and foreign matter such as grass, twigs, leaves, etc.?

As you begin to focus on particular puppies in the litter, concentrate on studying their behavior, as it usually predicts what they’ll be like as adults. For example, the bully in a litter may turn out to be a very dominant individual who is difficult to control. The smallest one may grow up to be very timid or, conversely, extremely tyrannical, challenging every other dog he meets.

SELECTING FROM THE LITTER

Before you visit a litter of puppies, promise yourself that you won’t fall for the first adorable face you see! Decide on your goals for your puppy—herding dog, show prospect, competitor, family companion—and then look for a puppy who displays the appropriate qualities. In most litters, there is an alpha pup (the bossy puppy), and occasionally a shy fellow who is less confident, with the rest of the litter falling somewhere in the middle. “Middle-of-the-roaders” are safe bets for most families.

A friendly, outgoing, yet not hyperactive, puppy begins life with a lot in his favor. He will be easy to train, work with and live with. His curiosity and alertness indicates his potential intelligence, and raising him will be fun, interesting and rewarding.

One final note: look for the puppy that, by his behavior, indicates that he wants to be with people rather than with his littermates. Some dogs are “dog dogs” and some are “people dogs.” “Dog dogs” are happiest when they’re with their own kind, while “people dogs” find pleasure in human company and are, therefore, easiest to raise and live with.

At some point during your visit, the breeder may mention that he considers one or more of the puppies to be of breeding or show quality. While the focus in the Kelpie breed is on preserving working ability rather than producing show dogs, the breed standard is still a valuable tool. There are those who show their Kelpies in conformation shows. When planning a specific mating, the reputable breeder strives to produce puppies that will grow up to represent the breed as best as possible in the stockyard or the show ring, depending on the breeder. If a puppy develops into a top-quality specimen, the pup must be kept sexually intact. The working-type breeder wants to get this puppy into a home where his working instincts will be utilized; the show-type Kelpie breeder wants the pup to be shown in conformation. These are the dogs that are used for breeding and contribute to future generations of the breed.

Finally, you’ll want to ask the breeder about pedigrees, kennel club registration papers and health records and certificates. A pedigree is a genealogical record of the puppies’ forebears. It will also tell you who of the puppy’s ancestors among the past four generations earned titles in performance events or shows. There are many titles available for dogs to earn, and you may be interested in getting involved in competitions with your Kelpie as he matures. If you are interested in a particular area of competition, look for a pup whose ancestors were achievers in that area. By knowing about the accomplishments of your puppy’s parents and grandparents, you can better appreciate your dog’s future potential.

PUPPY PARASITES

Parasites are nasty little critters that live in or on your dog or puppy. Most puppies are born with ascarid roundworms, which are acquired from dormant ascarids residing in the dam. Other parasites can be acquired through contact with infected fecal matter. Take a stool sample to your vet for testing. He will prescribe a safe wormer to treat any parasites found in your puppy’s stool. Always have a fecal test performed at your puppy’s annual veterinary exam.

You are entitled to registration papers from a national registry, which the breeder will provide. These papers give the names and registration numbers of the puppy’s parents, the name of the breeder, the date and place of the pup’s birth and the litter number from which the pup came. The breeder should also supply you with an individual certificate of application, which you must fill out and submit to register your own dog. That application also requires you to submit the name you have chosen for your new puppy.

A Kelpie in his element. Learn all you can about your puppy’s lineage and the depth of working ability over several generations.

A health certificate from a veterinarian should also accompany the puppy when you purchase him. That certificate should list any immunizations given to the puppy by the veterinarian as well as any future shots that will be required.

Various breeds of dog have various hereditary and other health problems particular to their breed. Australian Kelpie owners, however, are blessed to have one of the healthiest breeds of all. There are, however, some problems that need to be mentioned. In Australian Kelpies, genetic bone disorders have been found as well as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a degenerative eye disease that eventually leads to blindness. Hip dysplasia is occasionally found in Kelpies; this is a problem that has been seen in many breeds of dog. It is the malformation of the hip’s ball-and-socket joint. In some dogs, the problem is severe and causes pain and lameness. In other cases, the problem is mild, and the dog can live his entire life without suffering or showing signs of discomfort. In the case of elbow dysplasia, a similar problem, the ulna (a bone in the upper arm) fails to fuse with the rest of the bone of the arm, resulting in abnormal development that causes lameness and pain.

THE FIRST FAMILY MEETING

Your puppy’s first day at home should be quiet and uneventful. Despite his wagging tail, he is still wondering where his mom and siblings are! Let him make friends with other members of the family on his own terms; don’t overwhelm him. You have a lifetime ahead to get to know each other!

Both of these conditions can be detected by testing once the dog is two years old. A certifying organization such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) will issue the results of the tests and give certification to those dogs deemed suitable for breeding. Ask the breeder to see certification on both of your pup’s parents, as reputable breeders only breed from certified dysplasia-free animals.

The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) issues similar clearances for dogs found to be free of eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, both of which cause blindness. Reputable breeders are anxious to identify and eliminate dogs from their breed’s gene pool who carry hereditary health problems. This is one more reason why purchasing a pet from a responsible breeder greatly increases the odds of a healthy and sound puppy.

Among the herding breeds, Kelpies are known for their affinity for children.

YOUR AUSTRALIAN KELPIE SHOPPING LIST

Just as expectant parents prepare a nursery for their baby, so should you ready your home for the arrival of your Australian Kelpie pup. If you have the necessary puppy supplies purchased and in place before he comes home, it will ease the puppy’s transition from the warmth and familiarity of his mom and littermates to the brand-new environment of his new home and human family. You will be too busy to stock up and prepare your house after your pup comes home, that’s for sure! Imagine how a pup must feel upon being transported to a strange new place. It’s up to you to comfort him and to let your little pup know that he is going to be happy with you!

FOOD AND WATER BOWLS

Your puppy will need separate bowls for his food and water. Stainless steel pans are generally preferred over plastic bowls since they sterilize better and pups are less inclined to chew on the metal. Heavy-duty ceramic bowls are popular, but consider how often you will have to pick up those heavy bowls. Buy adult-sized pans, as your puppy will grow into them quickly.

Stainless steel bowls are popular choices as they are durable, easy to clean and resistant to chewing.

THE DOG CRATE

If you think that crates are tools of punishment and confinement for when a dog has misbehaved, think again. Most breeders and almost all trainers recommend a crate as the preferred house-training aid as well as for all-around puppy training and safety. Because dogs are natural den creatures that prefer cave-like environments, the benefits of crate use are many. The crate provides the puppy with his very own “safe house,” a cozy place to sleep, take a break or seek comfort with a favorite toy; a travel aid to house your dog when on the road, at motels or at the vet’s office; a training aid to help teach your puppy proper toileting habits; and a place of solitude when non-dog people happen to drop by and don’t want a lively puppy—or even a well-behaved adult dog—saying hello or begging for attention.

Crates come in several types, although the wire crate and the fiberglass airline-type crate are the most popular. Both are safe and your puppy will adjust to either one, so the choice is up to you. The wire crates offer better visibility for the pup as well as better ventilation. Many of the wire crates easily collapse into suitcase-size carriers. The fiberglass crates, similar to those used by the airlines for animal transport, are sturdier and more den-like. However, the fiberglass crates do not collapse and are less ventilated than wire crates; this can be problematic in hot weather. Some of the newer crates are made of heavy plastic mesh; they are very lightweight and fold up into slim-line suitcases. However, a mesh crate might not be suitable for a pup with manic chewing habits.

Crates can be purchased at your local pet-supply shop. Since the crate should last a dog’s lifetime, get one large enough for a fully grown dog.

Don’t bother with a puppy-sized crate. Although your Australian Kelpie will be a little fellow when you bring him home, he will grow up in the blink of an eye and your puppy crate will be useless. Purchase a crate that will accommodate an adult Australian Kelpie. The Kelpie is a medium-sized dog, but size can vary, so use the breeder’s knowledge of how his line matures to help you predict your Kelpie’s eventual size.