hi im shortly getting my first puppy and was wondering whats the first or best injections it needs, the pups going to be 6 weeks old, please help!

6 WEEKS IS VERY YOUNG, WHAT BREED? YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE TAKING PUP TO GET ITS HEALTH CHECK WITH YOUR VET. HE/SHE WILL ADVISE ON VACCS. 8 & 10 WEEKS IS THE NORM.  SORRY ABOUT CAPS!

Agree this pup is very young to leave the nest but think that 10 & 12 weeks is the norm for vaccination - think it depends on the vaccine the vet uses.

the puppie is a border collie, the breeder is taking it to the vet tomorow for health check, just want to do everything properly! thanks all!!!

Can you persuade the 'breeder' to keep another week until the pup is 7 weeks old, 6 weeks is very early to leave mum and siblings.  As you haven't got pup yet then surely they can keep for another week?  Ask what worming programme the pup has been given - what wormer and when.  Should have had worming at 2 week intervals of decent wormer (not milbemax), I do pups at 3, 5 and 7, so they can have vaccinations at 8, more wormer at 9, then vaccination at 10, wormer at 11 weeks.  I would recommend not giving wormer and vaccination at the same time so not to overload pups immune system.

In my breed we recommend waiting and having first needles not before 12 wks.

Can I ask without offending if the border collie breeder isnt one of those where they sell the puppies from a board ouside thier property.?

6 wks is very early to leave mum so agree with what others have said.

the puppies are from working parents on a farm and basically it seems like the breeder just wants to get rid of them :( , i think 6 weeks is too young but i would preferre to get the pup and look after it rather than leave it somewhere with someone who doesnt realy seem bothered about it! hopefully it'll be ok, thanks for your help! x

The trouble is that if you buy from breeders who 'can't really be bothered' -you're just encouraging them to keep breeding ! - support good breeders and buy responsibly - that way you'll help break the cycle .

Yvonne

Thats such a hard one Jack I can see where you are coming from and I would feel the same , but the morality of it is that we should be supporting good responsible breeders. ... hard 

Jack..yes this is usually the case they breed usually when they want another working collie then sell on what is left from the litter ..if you are someone who has had collies before and know what you are taking on ... thats upto you but I wouldnt take a working collie from a farm....they have a strong drive and can lead you a merry dance!

Please think carefully before you go ahead ... if it is a collie you want I know of a excellent breeder (in Scotland) who breed fabulous dogs...

Sadly I have to agree, a working collie removed from the nest before learning manners from mum and how to react to it's litter mates is not the best start for a pup required as a house dog & family pet - if it is to be used for sheep and kept in a kennel then there may be no problem.

before i knew any better,many years ago,i bought 2 litter sisters from working parents from a farm in wales.I have to say,they were lovely,id have them back in a heartbeat if i could.Jill and Kelly,I still miss you!Maybe I was lucky.

Colliepam, glad your pups turned out fine and I am sure there are plenty who do but there are many who don't. A lot depends on the amount of time the new owner has to give to the pup and later the dog. All BC need high stimulation but working strains can become very disturbs if they are expected to behave like a normal pet dog as their makeup means they need almost continual stimulation to be healthy and happy.

Jack, please read carefully everything you can about BC's they are not a breed for the faint hearted, highly intelligent and need lots of stimulation and exercise, particularly from working lines they are not suitable for many pet homes.

Make sure you understand what you are taking on, don't just look at the puppy, imagine the fully grown dog, we all fall for cute puppies who need homes, I could happily have had 50 dogs by now, I fall in love every time I see a pup of all breeds, you have to step back and think.

You need to view more than one litter of your chosen breed, look into other breeders and then decide on which pup, this is a 13+year choice and commitment, not something to be swayed by puppy eyes.

Take a step back and think about what you are wanting and if you have the suitable home for the breed also if this is the best pup of that breed if you do. :-)

thanks for your reply, i have been involved with older bc dogs before, from about 8 to 15 year old dogs but have never had a pup before so i know they need an incredible amount of attention and playtime, but as you know a pup is completley differant to an older dog which cant handle as much exercise, i know its going to be a huge challenge but hopefully i'll do a good job at raising her,  thank you for your help and support and ill post an update of how she's doing soon. thanks

Ok, :-) Looks as though your heart is set on her, at least as you say she will be going to a home where you are used to the breed and understand what she needs. :-)

At least I guess for a plus side the breeder is taking the pup to their vet for her health check before homing, make sure you see the vet report and that the pup has been regularly wormed and checked for ear mites and fleas also, along with heart and all other checks. If the pup is wormed at 6 weeks (make sure the pup is wormed before you take her) the next worming will be 8 weeks which will coincide with your own vet starting inoculations and you will then be given a wormer and flea treatment from your vet also.

Don't get wormer from anywhere but your vet as it is the only wormer to kill from egg to adult.

Wishing you all the best, (even though the pup really should be with her mum for another 2 weeks) but as you say, hopefully you will do a good job raising her.

Jack - make sure you get Drontal wormer rather than anything else,  Panacur is great for adults but can have bad effects on pups (minimal, but not worth the risk) and avoid Milbemax with a collie as they can have bad effects from ivermectin.  VETS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF THESE ISSUES.  Your pup will need a regular worming regime, my advice is to do it alternately with innoculations as doing both at the same time (partic if she needs flea treatment) can be punishing for their immune system.  One week worm and the next week innoculate, then worm, then innoculate.
I'm sure it's too much to expect that the 'breeders' haven't put two merles together and have done all the relevant tests to make sure the pup hasn't got collie eye, TNS etc so you'll have to accept what you've got.  With a farm collie this may be a 24/7 dog who will have to learn to relax and switch 'off'.  A crate can be useful here, but not if it's seen as a prison.  Yes, you're right to restrict exercise and stairs, jumping in and out of cars etc until at least 6 months, but you can do a lot with the pup - playing, socialising, getting used to walking on a lead etc

> make sure you get Drontal wormer rather than anything else,  Panacur is great for adults but can have bad effects on pups (minimal, but not worth the risk)

I have also known people have problems with the Drontal puppy and been fine with the Panacur.

We have to remember these are strong chemicals, and reactions can occur. 

Whatever you do use please dose carefully, read the dosing instructions and double check to ensure correct.

There's been a big discussion on a collie forum about wormers.  Not saying it doesn't happen but no one on that list has had an issue with Drontal, Panacur on the other hand has seen development issues and deaths in pups.  Vets have been heard to say that Panacur kills more, yes, not just worms, but pups too.  This is a range of pups, but quite a few collies and just isn't worth the risk.  I personally may have had an issue, although eye specialists say not, I don't know - I wormed with Panacur (not collie but a collie type, ie a breed affected by ivermectin) and following the instructions wormed at 2 weeks.  Now I would NOT worm until after eyes opened as one of the pups had a development issue with her optic nerve - which really didn't develop.  Fortunately her sight seems ok - good enough to run around the beach and get up to all sorts of mischief, but now I wait until the eyes have opened and usually start at 3 weeks - and with Drontal liquid. 

As I worm Mum in whelp I never worm before 3 weeks, but have used panacur now for 6 generations of bitches and 6 generations of their pups. 

Only had issues with one litter (my third) when I wormed at 2 1/2, 5 and 8 weeks (accordign to bottle inset), before (as advised by Vet) and since have always done Mum in whelp, then 3 and 7, then again at 11 if still here, monthly until 6 months.

Have used liquid panacur ever since it was first produced,and supplied and recommended by my vet.Always start at 2 weeks,eyes open  by then,have never had any problem,was not aware there was any issue with it,I have terriers,and I do let puppies go at six weeks.They are playing in thr garden at 5 weeks,but need to gain confidence to cope alone etc,which they do in the sixth week.Guide dog puppies go to walkers at 6 weeks,it being a critical time to start habitualising,and socialising.It obviously depends what breed you have,and how many in the litter,with big litters,the breeder cannot give the one to one attention from which my pups benefit.We play our puppies the Sounds for Life cd,whilst they are still nursing with mum,and as they are house reared,they hear all the household noises and get lots of human attention and close observation,so are very bold and confident.I do not think it is fair to let them bond to me first and then get taken away.I always encourage the new owners to make several visits before collecting their pup,KC insurance is available at six weeks,as are other puppy insurances,so no problem with that.So please do not condemn breeders like me who do not always keep the litter together until they are eight weeks,,I have been around dogs and puppies all my life,and no one cares more than me about the welfare of my dogs and pups.To buy one of my babies you have to provide  very high standard of responsible care as well as a loving home.,its a bit like giving away the kids for adoption!