smiles604 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Hello! I'm a new poster, though I've been reading the boards for awhile in preparation for getting my own BC, and I really appreciate all the knowledge of the board members here. I'm finally going to pick up my puppy tomorrow morning and I'm so excited but also feeling nervous...I've never raised a puppy before, or a kitten or child, or any life form, and I hope I can do a good job for my pup! Rationally, I think I have done all the research and reading and I have the support to do this, and I can't wait to have the puppy here, but less rationally I'm freaking out a little bit. I know that this will pass, but I'd appreciate any general words of wisdom. Also, I promise puppy pictures once we get home tomorrow night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttiffany20191 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Congrats on the new puppy! I wish you many years of happiness together and can't wait to see your pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaLupa Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Hello! I am also a new member here and I was reading the boards before I picked up my little bundle for some research and general advice. I was (am) exactly where your mind is at. I've grown up with dogs before but never that were considered my own dog and this is my first time with a border collie. A lot of the posts I've read on these boards have actually been very reassuring for me in my ability to raise a puppy. A majority of the general research I went through was more or less warnings on what high energy dogs BC's can be and I had countless neighbors and family tell me oh no you won't be able to handle one and they're way too energetic. After months and months of research and serious thought, my decision remained the same. I knew that if I kept confidence in my ability to raise a puppy and offer a loving, stable home that I could in fact handle a border collie. It's been a little over a month since we picked Luna up and it has been such a fun-filled happy experience so far! Given all the warnings in my research, I was bracing myself for a storm. I have been pleasantly surprised! I'm not sure if I just got lucky, or this is just the calm before the storm, but Luna has been relatively laid back for the most part. And she has adjusted into her new life nicely. When I started with the training, I used clicker training and positive reinforcement and for a basically inexperienced trainer, it seems to be working well. I think it is proving very useful for me. I think it's extremely important to keep patience and to remind yourself to stay calm. I'm only in the beginning stages and the frustration will inevitably set in at times. But then I just think about how my life has been filled with so much more joy since getting Luna and I couldn't imagine a day without her. I'm also really grateful for this forum. There seems to be a lot of knowledgeable owners who are more than happy to offer any recommendations or advice. Anywho, just offering some thoughts from a recent new mommy. Congratulations on your new puppy and good luck! It will be an exciting adventure filled with silliness and lots of puppy kisses I'm sure! I'll leave it to the experts on the high quality wisdom! Just a PS! A lot of the posts and advice on this topic also helped to ease my mind. http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=37742 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfisher7151 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Congratulations!! This may be the best decision you've ever made. Either way, you'll never be the same again! In a good way! (Remember that through the sleepless nights, chewed shoes, upset tummies, and all the other joys of puppy raising!) You've found the right place for anything border collie! The people here really are incredibly resourceful and genuine. I can't wait to see pictures of the new addition! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Congratulations on the new baby! You are welcome to post photos, of course. As for when the little one is home, here are a few basics to remember.1. Stock up on paper towels and pet stain/odor carpet cleaner. 2. Buy a crate. 3. Get cheap towels for bedding until puppy outgrows mauling his/her bedding.Once puppy arrives: 1. Remember that puppies always have to go potty, A) as soon as they wake up, B.) after they eat, and C) after and sometimes during play. Guaranteed.2. Introduce puppy to his/her crate from the very first day. Have puppy sleep in it every night. 3. Give puppy treats every time you put him/her in her crate. Every time. Use little bitty treats for this to avoid over feeding. 4. Put special toys and chewies in the crate with puppy at all times. 5. Be prepared to have your house look like it's been invaded by a demented two-year-old, because the best way I know to keep a puppy from latching onto things it shouldn't like rugs, furniture and shoes is to scatter toys everywhere. And be prepared to go a little short on sleep for the first few nights. Puppy may very well have to go potty at 2 a.m. or fuss when you go to bed a night, but this will pass if are consistent in your crate training.And enjoy all the puppy breath and adorableness! ~ Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiles604 Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Thank you for the kind and thoughtful posts! They really helped. Now, as promised, a couple pictures, though she moves so much I haven't got any very good ones yet. Sleepy on the way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiles604 Posted February 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 Also, she's a rescue pup and while the mother is know to be all BC, dad is a bit of a mystery. The rescue was told the dad may have been an Aussie mix, which makes some sense to me as half the litter was merle (and I think that's more common in Aussies?). Mom was about 40 lbs, black and white rough coat. My pup is on the big side at 15 lbs and 10 weeks old tomorrow. Any other thoughts/guesses re: her dad? I'm interested to see what she looks/acts like as she grows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cass C Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 It's always hard to tell this young, but there may be some lab in there somewhere. You will have a better idea once the puppy is around 6-8 months old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfisher7151 Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 If half the litter was merle, the dad would have had to have been merle himself. Granted, it's quite possible to have more than one sire. Your pup doesn't look aussie to me (although I definitely see BC) so maybe there were different sires, or he's just a smooth coat! Are you from a heavy ranching area? I wonder if maybe he has hanging tree or catahoula blood in him. I'm just trying to think of a dog that's merle and could also produce such a slick coat and drop ears on your pup. Granted those ears are sure going to change over the next 6 months! Genetics are fun, huh? And in the end, who cares what the dad is! Your pup is gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoHo Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 You're going to have a good sized dog there, probably a bit over 50 lbs when full grown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ourwully Posted February 1, 2015 Report Share Posted February 1, 2015 I was a first time puppy owner a year ago and it has been a great experience. I would like to emphasize what Gloria said about crates. My Juno was a pleasure from day one but that being said she was a bundle of energy and a very busy puppy. Especially in the early days, I was exhausted at times keeping an eye on her for potty reasons (almost no accidents at all, but I watched closely), and spending a lot of time with her in games and early training. Watching TV was just about impossible. If I sat down she would steal something or do anything to get my attention. The crate was my salvation. I would put her in the crate at night to sleep, at meal times so we could eat in peace, and any time I just needed to relax. As Gloria said I would always put a small treat in for her. Today, Juno is a lot more calm and doesn't need to be supervised constantly but I still don't let her wander the house when I am out so she goes in the crate when I am not at home. This usually ends up being about 2 or 3 hours during the day and then 8 hours for sleeping at night. All I have to do is say, "Juno, go in your house" and it doesn't matter where she is, she bolts to her crate and lies down and waits for her treat. Juno's crate is actually a gutted piece of Ikea furniture with a gate so we call it her house. She really likes her house and we never send her there for anything negative. I could mention a lot of other things but in the beginning crate training was the best thing I did. I hope you enjoy your puppy. My Juno changed everything for me and all in a positive way. Many days I was frustrated, mostly at my own incompetence, but it only made the achievements that much more special. cheers Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess's Girl Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Very cute puppy. My first thought was also Lab. Like someone said, it's possible for a litter to have two sires, especially if the mom was a stray or wasn't supervised when she was bred. Good luck and keep up updated, especially with lots of photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 The rescue was told the dad may have been an Aussie mix, which makes some sense to me as half the litter was merle (and I think that's more common in Aussies?). Just because half the litter was merle doesn't mean the dad was an Aussie (or part Aussie) or that the litter was sired by more than one male, though with the parentage being unknown both are certainly possibilities. Border collies, as well as some other breeds, also come in merle, and statistically you'd expect 50% of a litter with one merle parent to be merle (although in real life individual litters vary quite a bit). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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