ARE YOU READY?
The Puppy Stage
The Puppy Stage
The Puppy Stage
How sweet! How adorable! How fluffy! And now you have this new addition and you realize puppies are a lot of work! What does that mean? Read on to find out what we've learned over the years with our Mini Aussies.
ATTENTION
The Puppy Stage
The Puppy Stage
Puppies require your attention and we mean your FULL attention. So put down that phone and be prepared to connect with Fido. If you have a greater connection to your iPhone, rethink getting a puppy.
TRAINING
The Puppy Stage
TRAINING
Mini Aussies are EASY to train! If you catch them doing something you want, label it and praise them! These puppies just want to make you happy.
ARE YOU READY?
MORE ON TRAINING
MORE ON TRAINING
MORE ON TRAINING
- Puppies nip or bite...it's just what they do. We've found that our Aussies respond to the human cry. They don't want to hurt you, they are figuring out their boundaries and what is acceptable. Replace your finger with a chew toy and praise them!
- Use a crate. It's not cruel; dogs are den animals and a crate makes them feel safe. It also h
- Puppies nip or bite...it's just what they do. We've found that our Aussies respond to the human cry. They don't want to hurt you, they are figuring out their boundaries and what is acceptable. Replace your finger with a chew toy and praise them!
- Use a crate. It's not cruel; dogs are den animals and a crate makes them feel safe. It also helps them learn to hold their bladder and bowel (and you might get a full night's sleep faster)!
- Impulse training is imperative with these puppies; they learn to make decisions. This training will help your puppy be more relaxed and look to you for guidance.
SENSITIVITY
MORE ON TRAINING
MORE ON TRAINING
Mini Aussies are VERY sensitive. Just sharply saying "NO" can hurt their feelings and they remember it! These dogs respond much better to positive reinforcement than yelling.
ARE YOU READY
ACTIVITY LEVEL
ACTIVITY LEVEL
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Every dog is different. We've seen couch potato Mini Aussies and those who want to go, go, go. For the first year, most of these puppies like short spurts of activity. A focused walk is great! 5-10 minutes is more than enough until they are older. If you don't like going outside, this is not the breed for you.
TIME
ACTIVITY LEVEL
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Time is the most valuable tool you have besides love to give to these fluffy friends. Aussies aren't called "velcro dogs" for nothing! They don't like to be alone and make great companions from running errands, watching TV, and going to work. And you'll never use the bathroom by yourself again!
COST
ACTIVITY LEVEL
COST
Puppies aren't cheap even after the initial purchase. Food, toys, equipment, training, and vet costs all add up. Vaccinations and routine care are just the beginning. Emergencies arise. Pet insurance may be an option for you. The AKC offers this for all registered dogs.