Getting A Pup At 3 Months

[Jumabaar]

I would probably suggest a bitch if you were looking at age differences. I think male kelpies can co-exist but generally try do much better with a few years inbtween.........

It's great that you have found a breeder you click with that's great. I. Think some great points have been raised here to ask the breeder. Don't rush in if it doesn't feel 100% right but if you sit back and take the emotions out and still feel like it's the right thing then I hope you enjoy your pup :rolleyes:

[Kavik]

From what I've heard talking to other Kelpie people, gender isn't so much of an issue. I have a friend who is now a WKC reg breeder and who runs her dogs together and has no problems with the males, but sometimes with the females. The safest is generally one of each though. I am still deciding what gender I will get next (Zoe, female, 11 years, Diesel, male, nearly 7 years, Kaos, male, 4 years) and my current thought is another male.

However, I would also space my dogs out more, as I think issues are more likely if the dogs are close together in age . I would do minimum 2 years apart.

[poodlefan]

I am extremely respectful of all views and opinions and do appreciate the time that people take to give me their input, but must stress that my main concern was whether or not 11-12 weeks is still ok in terms of socialisation based on your experiences. As mentioned, we are very aware of the consequences of our actions and will not make any decisions lightly. We would also stand by any decision we made and would never pass off problems to anyone else.

I've said its way less than ideal. I'd like for you to get a pup that wont' break your heart.

Can you go and see the pup? Its reaction to you as a stranger would probably be a make or break for me.

[Cosmolo]

Go and see the puppy- Its possible that at 11-12 weeks the pup is great and well socialised. Or its possible that it is a ball of nerves with issues.

Personally if you have not had a multi dog household before, i'd go male- female. Every dog is different yes but one of each sex is generally 'safer'. (and i say that despite running 3 bitches and 2 dogs together) SO much depends on the experience of the person in charge- and by experience, i mean experience with multi dog households.

[luvsdogs]

Tilba was 11 weeks 5 days old when we brought her home. Resident dog, female, was 7.5 y/o at the time. I had spoken to another owner of a dog from the same breeder that said I'd be happy that she was that bit older as her dog was. I started her in puppy preschool a week later & took her every week to my obedience club but didn't let her on the ground until after her 3rd vaccinations. She had had 2 with the breeder.

She was a jumpy puppy happy to meet people & not phased by other dogs. At 5 weeks old the litter was taken to Canberra for 3 weeks while the breeder went overseas, so no problems with her travelling in the car in a crate. There was no problems with her being a biter but she did eat things she shouldn't as puppies do. The only problem I had, that I didn't have with previous 2 pups who were under 6 weeks when I got them [long story], was toilet training. She'd hold on in the crate but wouldn't settlle in it at night, so when she was allowed to sleep in her room at the back door she would wee near the door. She now woofs to be let out but if I don't hear her, even now about every 3-4 mths, she will occasionally still do so.

I too would have preferred a male when I was thinking of getting another dog when April was about 4-5 y/o but my son came home with Sooty. Once she was a little bigger & older they were the best of mates. Same thing now with Sooty & Tilba, only have feed them separately as Sooty will snap if another animal or bird goes near her bowl after she's eaten.

Another thing to think of is when you would have him neutered if you intend doing agility. Research says to wait until a bitch has had her 1st heat & a male 12-18 mths, giving the growth plates a chance to close.

[Genabee]

We'd also probably invite any Canberra-DOLers who were interested over to our house for a puppy cuddle party. We were originally looking at getting a female and naming her Cupcake so would have had a Cupcake Cuddle Party with cupcakes, but may now need to rethink the menu.

I want to live in Canberra!!!!

You could name the little guy 'Sausage' and serve little sausages!!!!!!

I know. Lame.

What name options have you got?

** Wizzle gets baby name book out**

[KumaAkita]

We'd also probably invite any Canberra-DOLers who were interested over to our house for a puppy cuddle party. We were originally looking at getting a female and naming her Cupcake so would have had a Cupcake Cuddle Party with cupcakes, but may now need to rethink the menu.

I want to live in Canberra!!!!

You could name the little guy 'Sausage' and serve little sausages!!!!!!

I know. Lame.

What name options have you got?

** Wizzle gets baby name book out**

I agree with wizzle... Sausage is an awesome name!

[persephone]

if the dog isn't good at sheep, why?

usually with ours it's because they prefer to wander about, sniffing the flowers - and need a rocket up their whatsit to get them moving

I always fall for the nice placid ones ..totally useless workers.The ones I can't stand- the in your face, active, noisy ones.. they are usually the workers

At this pup's age, if possible go visit the litter... see how it reacts a bit away from its home territory (pen/kennel/yard) Ask if you can meet with it in a paddock or a different yard...ALONE ... .A pup with other family around may well be the calmest and most settled of souls .Remove the security blankey, and see what happens

Not what you are asking.. but I would opt for a bitch puppy as well..

You are doing a wonderful job with Elbie- it amazes me everytime I see what else he has accomplished Having two tho, MAY, stress MAY mean he reacts to training differently , and he may change a bit personality wise ...

[wuffles]

Having met Elbie, I can't see that you'd have any problem with either sex, and you also probably wouldn't have a problem with a dominant pup either. Elbie isn't confrontational! I'd go for it if I was you, not that I am the ultimate expert or anything

[4Kelpies]

Although I've always spent lots of time and effort socializing my puppies, when I've met their litter brothers and sisters who have never been away from the farm, I've been amazed at how similar their temperaments have been. If this is a well bred Kelpie with a true Kelpie temperament, it won't hurt in the slightest if it hasn't done any socializing until 11 weeks. I got Caleb at 9 weeks and not only had he only met 2 or 3 people, he'd spent most of his life locked in a stable. He was born in summer during heat waves and the coolest place on the farm was in a loose box in an old stable with concrete floors and thick brick walls. The pups got out for 30minutes morning and night but spent 23 hours a day in the stable. I brought him home where he met my lot, kept him inside with TV and music playing, took him to puppy kinder within a week and he took it all in his stride.

Young Kelpies begin their trialling careers at noisy agricultural shows and most are totally calm and go about their work as if they have been doing it all their lives. I did see some react to the highland dancing right beside the yard trial once when they had a piper playing the bagpipes. Several dogs turned their backs on the sheep and just stared but made no attempt to run away or show aggression. I've been to trials where the yard dog trial was right beside the wood chop or stockwhip cracking competitions and have only seen one older dog react with fear (and I suspect he may have met a stockwhip or two at home.) If this is your only concern about this puppy I don't think you should worry.

But please don't call your Kelpie pup "Cupcake" - that would be so embarrassing for the poor dog.

[koalathebear]

But please don't call your Kelpie pup "Cupcake" - that would be so embarrassing for the poor dog.

But if they were as cute as

, the name Cupcake would be fine!! When were looking at breeder websites, OH found out the owner of Beloka Kelpie Stud auditioned for "Australia's Got Talent".

_{Also, Cupcake the Kelpie would have been awesome for a girlie ... Not so much for a boy ...}

Edited October 6, 2010 by koalathebear

[poodlefan]

But please don't call your Kelpie pup "Cupcake" - that would be so embarrassing for the poor dog.

But if they were as cute as

, the name Cupcake would be fine!! When were looking at breeder websites, OH found out the owner of Beloka Kelpie Stud auditioned for "Australia's Got Talent".

_{Also, Cupcake the Kelpie would have been awesome for a girlie ... Not so much for a boy ...}

Just remember no matter what name you choose, if you plan on doing dog sports, you'll be yelling it in public a fair bit.

[Jumabaar]

But please don't call your Kelpie pup "Cupcake" - that would be so embarrassing for the poor dog.

But if they were as cute as

, the name Cupcake would be fine!! When were looking at breeder websites, OH found out the owner of Beloka Kelpie Stud auditioned for "Australia's Got Talent".

_{Also, Cupcake the Kelpie would have been awesome for a girlie ... Not so much for a boy ...}

Just remember no matter what name you choose, if you plan on doing dog sports, you'll be yelling it in public a fair bit.

True nothing worse than an emergency recall yelling out "princess saf saf" across a field and wanting to kill ones family for encouraging the dog only to answer to such a rediculas phrase for it's recall. LMAO!!

[Kavik]

But please don't call your Kelpie pup "Cupcake" - that would be so embarrassing for the poor dog.

But if they were as cute as

, the name Cupcake would be fine!! When were looking at breeder websites, OH found out the owner of Beloka Kelpie Stud auditioned for "Australia's Got Talent".

_{Also, Cupcake the Kelpie would have been awesome for a girlie ... Not so much for a boy ...}

Just remember no matter what name you choose, if you plan on doing dog sports, you'll be yelling it in public a fair bit.

True I sometimes get funny comments about Kaos's name but I like it and have no problem calling it out in public

[wuffles]

There was a lab called "Dirt" in our obedience classes once.

[~SL~]

If the pup hasnt' had exposure outside the breeder's property and dogs, I'd be looking elsewhere.

It doesn't matter so much if the breeders hold onto pups for a while but pups need to get out and about and see a lot of sights and sounds. Otherwise, you could be looking down the barrel of a fearful dog for life.

Exactly.

We had a pup here who's forever home took a little while to come along. I took him and another pup we had here at the time out and about as much as I could. I made sure that he experienced as much in the outside world as I could possibly expose him to.

When that right home came along he was 4 months old and his new owners were thrilled to bits with how well he adapted to their home and life and how confident he was with the changes he experienced.

[Gayle.]

We got Benson when he was 11 weeks old. He was born on a farm and had left it only to have vet check and eye tests done. When we visited, the pups came roaring out of the house and bounded right up to us, full of cheek and friendly as anything.

We chose him and brought him home a week later. We got him out and about right away, on the breeders advice and he has always been a dog with the best tmeperament ever. He is friendly to everyone, lovely to be around and simply a really nice dog.

[ruffpup]

I agree with a lot of the posts in here, and have been seen a bad case of non-socialisation from a puppy aged 12 weeks on arrival. The breeder sounded fantastic before the purchase (turned out to be a real cow afterwards).

This poor little dog didn't seem to have been socialised at all, contrary to breeder's claims in conversations and website still saying so. He was and still is the most frightened little dog I and others have ever encountered. A behaviourist reckoned it's genetic with this guy and can't be changed. imo his behaviour is like a little school boy, those who are terrified and act tough to prove they're not.

just from seeing this dog, I think he did miss out on the critical period. On the other hand, his companion is a girl who arrived at 15 weeks and she is marvellous, could run a doggy social club. Different breeder who didn't tell fibs about the personality etc.

When I get around to purchasing a dog I'm going to be so super-wary.

[Kirty]

We bought a 5 month old pup with severe behavioural problems (just ask Cosmolo!). We worked with her intensively and she is still shy, but is 100% better than what she was. She LOVES her family and is getting better with strangers. I think that most well bred pups will adjust and can be socialised even if adopted at a slightly older age, but I would not buy an older pup without meeting it first.

[Leithy]

I got my seven month old dachshund who lived with her six brothers for all her life, came home with me and started socialising her and she's been really good withe every dog we've met, she is very well behaved and trained to.

Gypsy i got her at nine weeks and she is well socialised as well.

Both aren't bothered by dogs when walking which is great, they both loved my BF's old shephard until she passed, they have a new dog now which is dog aggressive and we are working on that.

I loooove kelpiesm they have so much energy! Cupcake could be their middle name :D