Wiggle Rump Ranch

Mini/Toy Australian Shepherds (Little Aussies :o)

Wiggle Rump Ranch

Puppy Care

 

  • FOOD, CHEWS, & TREATS:

    Here at Wiggle Rump Ranch, we feed all of our dogs/puppies Canidae All Life Stages.  This is a premium feed that needs to be purchased at a pet/feed store, but is very resonably priced.  We enjoy many things about this Canidae Formula and know you will to!  To read more about the feed, ingredients, and to find a store near you simply click on the bags above to visit their site.

  • Busy Buddy Twist-n-Treat

    The Busy Buddy Twist-n-Treat is a huge hit around here!  Aussies are a dog that like to work and this fun toy gives them their meals as a reward for 'working the kibbles out of the holes'.  We do not use "treats" in these, rather - this is how we feed our dogs their meals.  They are easy to clean & fill and our dogs just love them!  They help provide some much needed mental stimulation for your pup.

  • Kongs

    Kongs are a really fun way for your puppy/dog to use their imagination and their teeth to get a yummy reward.  You can fill the kong with your puppy/dogs food, peanut butter, yogart, meat, or anything you can think of that is safe for your puppy/dog to eat.  We freeze our filled kongs for an added challenge and longer play session for our dogs.  Kongs work great for crate times or when you have to leave your puppy/dog at home while you are away.  Kongs are the ultimate boredom busters!

  • Knuckle Bones


    Knuckle bones are a favorite around here.  They are long lasting and we have never had a problem with them breaking or splintering into small pieces.  You can pick them up in the butcher department of the grocery store, or at your local feed/pet store.

  • CRATES:

    *Crates are not meant for long time confinement.

    Petmate Medium Vari Kennel Ultra Precision 36 in. Suitcase Dog Crate

    Crates are one of the single most important part of training our puppies.  They, dogs, have a natural 'den' instinct that makes 'their bedroom' (crate) a safe place for them.  If a puppy returns to their crate for a nap, we know they are off-limits, they have had enough.  When a puppy rides in the car, they are safer in a crate, and so are you. :o)  If you decide to go to a dog sporting event, travel with your dog, or have your dog boarded while you are on vacation, the crate takes a great deal of stress out of the situation for your pet.  Vets also love crate trained dogs.  They are much more at ease when recovering from their alteration surgery in the clinic.

  • EX-PENS:

    Kennel-Aire 48 in. Dog Exercise Pen with Door Pet Gear XL Moss Green Pet Exercise Pen
    Ex-pens can let you safely confine your puppy anywhere!  We love these!  They allow you so much freedom in where you want your pet to be, or not to be, while you are cooking dinner, away from home, or just busy with other matters that require your full attention for a while.  We give a crate, water, chew toy, bed, litterbox, etc... to our puppies who are having ex-pen time.  It is a great way to socialize your pup to new things/people, they have their 'safeplace' but can still be part of the action by being able to see and smell what is going on around them.

  • DOG HOUSES:

    Plastic
    Petmate Barn Home III Dog House w/ DoorPetmate Indigo Dog Home
    I like plastic dog houses.  They are easy to clean and sanitize.  Many can have a door flap added for further weather protection.
    Wooden
    Ware Ultimate A-Frame Dog House Package Ware Ultimate Dog House Package
    Oh yes the wooden dog houses are adorable, but a bit harder to keep clean.  Dogs that enjoy chewing can make them look a bit rough too. :o)

  • KENNELS:

    *Please don't think for a minute that we endorse the practice of having a dog "live" in a kennel.  They are Great Safety Tools that should not be abused. 
    Basic
    Pet Safe Cottageview Dog Kennel 10' x 10' Low Pitch Kennel Cover
    Safety comes first!  If you are unable to 'watch' your pet or while you are out, please keep them safe!  A dog left to himself can easily end up in trouble when not safely confined.  Think of this as his/her outdoor playpen.  Include a crate or doghouse as his/her bedroom and furnish the kennel with a kong, twist'n treat, fresh water, safe toy, chew bone, favorite blanket, you get the picture.
    Deluxe
      Cape Cod Cozy Cottage Kennel
    Designed after a child's playhouse the Cape Cod & Victorian Dog Kennels are ADORABLE!  These rank high on our Wiggle Rump Wish List!  To find a dealer, do an internet search of either title listed below the pictures here.
      Victorian Cozy Cottage Kennel

Basic Elements to Puppy/Dog Care:

Exercise, Training, Nutrition, Health Care, and Affection.

*This page is stil being built, thank you for your patience*

Exercise:

"Walk Your Dog".  Dogs enjoy walking, sniffing, seeing & meeting new things/people/animals.  A walk is physical and mental exercise when led by you.  Be sure to include times where your dog/puppy is walking nicely at your side and times where he/she can move more freely to sniff, go to the bathroom, and say "hi" to new acquaintances.  We all should be careful not to push a puppy when they're growth plates are still developing, so save the Jogging for adulthood.

"Fetch".  A good game of fetch is not just for the Retrievers!  All dogs can learn to enjoy a good game of fetch to release extra energy and please their master.  This is a great exercise when you find yourself short on energy.

"Tug".  Now some people will tell you to never play tug-of-war with your dog, it's too aggressive.  I say play as long as it is 'fun'.  We use toys to keep our dogs excited about training.  Using games like 'tug' as rewards for desired behaviors keeps our dogs from even knowing they are being trained!  If you dog is nipping at your skin in attempt to get the toy or becoming overly excited about the game, you have played too long and/or have some more work to do on the manners part of 'teeth are never allowed to touch the skin'.  Discountinue the game until you feel comfortable with the outcome of it or simply don't play it at all.  This is your 'best friend', so use your own judgement on what will make a win-win situation that you are both happy with.

"Hide & Seek".  Many dogs love to 'find' stuff; food, toys, and even you!  If you sneak off to another room to do a chore while your canine companion is sleeping on the pillow, you can call his/her name and see how fast and excited they will find you.  Give a big reward of affection for a job well done.  You can hide objects like kongs or favorite toys in boxes of crumpled papers.  I recieved a wonderful video clip from a Wiggle Rump Family who's little guy unwrapped his Christmas present to find a special beaver toy as his gift!  Aussies love to use their minds and problem solve.  Be creative!

"Go To Training"....

Training:

"Manners".  Teaching a puppy good manners is a task that should be going on all the time.  First you need to decide 'House Rules' and have the whole family on board BEFORE you bring the puppy home.  Will your puppy be allowed on the furniture?  In every room of your home?(always supervised:o)  Prevention is key when it comes to bad habits like chewing(on undesired items), barking, jumping up, etc...  As a rule of thumb, try to have more "good boy/girl!" responses than "No!" responses.  Once your puppy knows a few basic obedience skills, teaching and maintaining manners will be much easier.  House Rules may be tested throughout puppyhood and adolesence(up to 24months), but if you stick with it and be consistent, you Will be rewarded with a well mannered companion in the end. 

"Puppy Kindergarten".  This is the first class offered from most trainers.  There is a heavy emphasis on Socializing and you will learn many good ideas for creating a well socialized pet.  In addition there will be some basic obedience skills introduced, practiced, and possibly mastered with an Aussie Pup!(they are So Smart:o)  Finally your class will probably include some play time for the pups to play with other breeds/sizes that are their same age.

"Basic Obedience".  Sit, Down, Stay, Heel, etc.... you know the drill.  Obedience is the foundation to almost everything you may want to do with your dog AND for a great family member!

"Dog Sports".  Becoming a Human/Canine Team is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.  Your dog will need an understanding of basic obedience skills and you will need some training on using those skills to manuver your dog through a fun coarse.  Agility, Rally, & Flyball come to mind.  It's up to you, the sky is the limit with an Aussie!

Nutrition:

"Kibble".  We feed dry kibble here at Wiggle Rump Ranch.  We have chosen Canidae due to it being the most cost effective premium dog food available in our area that does not contain soy, wheat, or corn.

"Raw".  I am not the person to ask for information on raw diets for dogs.  I have read great things and not so great things about them.  Feeding a BALANCED diet is of utmost importance, so keep that in mind when choosing your feeding method.

"Supplements".  Most dogs that are fed a high quality diet do not need extra supplementation.  If we begin to ask our dogs to give us 'more', like with a competition dog, we may need to seek out some extras for them.  The only supplements we use currently are hard boiled eggs and yogurt in kongs.

Health Care:

"A Vet You Trust".  This is so important!  You should not feel like a 'number' at your vet's office.  You also should not feel rushed when you are in the exam room.  I want you to find a vet that will listen to you, answer your questions, and will love your dog!  Our vet, Dr.Fuller, always lowers his head to our dogs while they are on the table to recieve kisses.  Your vet should not be quick to offer you a ton of tests, medicines, and/or vaccinations.  Take the time to talk with them about 'how much' is neccisary.  We do give basic puppy vaccines, but we are not fans of the annual vaccination schedules for the life of the dog.

"MDR1 BEWARE".  Aussies are in a group of dogs that can have very bad, even fatal, reactions to some drugs.  You should have this list, http://miniaussierescue.org/BusterAlert/MDR1VetFactSheetLK9-8-07.doc , and be sure none of your flea treatments, wormers, medication, etc... have any of these drugs in them.  Also be sure your vet knows about MDR1!

"Grooming".  Aussies do best with a weekly brushing, nothing fancy really.  They have an easy coat that doesn't matt easily, unless never brushed.  Trouble areas for tangles would be the soft hair behind the ears and the long britches under the tail stump.  Your Aussie will shed twice per year, spring/summer and fall/winter.  To speed this process give a good brush out when you notice them beginning to 'blow their coat'.  Nails need to be kept short.  Some dogs will seem like they never need trimmed and others will be weekly.  Teeth can be brushed with a Dog Toothbrush and Dog Toothpaste.  You may have to take your dog in for a professional teeth cleaning if you are unable to remove plaque buildup.

Affection:

"Hugs, Pets, & Kisses"   Oh how this is good for you both!  A human can benefit even more than the dog from this affectionate relationship that you will form.  Wiggle Rump Puppies and dogs are no strangers to these three affections.  From the day they are born I kiss them as I place them back in their whelping box after looking them over and hold them to my neck as I talk to them so they can 'feel' my words before they can hear.  My children are stroking them daily as well.  Hugs come in when they are a little older.   I want every Wiggle Rump to be touched affectionately every day of their lives!  I want every puppy family to be affectionately touched by a Wiggle Rump every day of their lives.  This is a gift to you.

"Belly Rubs"  Belly Rubs are so good for your relationship with your dog.  A laying down position with you in control of the petting while your aussie is relaxed does more than you think!  Leadership and submission, to a deserving owner who is taking the time to just 'be' with their pet, will be accomplished with this ritual.  Sometimes this takes practice, not all puppies/dogs readily accept this form of affection due to their genetic temperament, but if you practice and take it slow you will be successful.

"All Of The Above"  Everything we have mentioned in the above categories of Exercise, Training, Nutrition, and Health Care are Affections to your pet!  Feeding your dog a treat could mean more to him than a petting session.  Asking your dog to perform a trick could be more rewarding to him than a kiss.  I say experience the joy of them all and take note of what his/her favorite affections are.  Someday you will have to master a really chanllenging skill and will want to bring out the 'big guns' to help your dog see the value in the new task at hand.

Ages and Stages, what to expect:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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