Choosing a
Breeder
To assist potential
puppy owners, the Club Information
Officer can assist in providing details
of known and expected litters which have
been provided by registered breeders in
Western Australia. Breeders who are in
goodstanding with the club abide by the
code of ethics which is also endorsed by
the AKNC Australian National Kennel Club
and CAWA (Canine Association of Western
Australia). If in the event of there
being no puppies available in Western
Australia the club can direct buyers to
registered breeders in other who are
members of other state Bernese Mountain
Dog Clubs.
Contact the Club
Information Officer .
 The
club advises however to be wary of any
Bernese Mountain dog puppies advertised
in pet shops, newspapers or on the
internet which make promises of being
pedigree. For a dog to be pedigree
purebred,the breeder must provide a
Certificate of registration from CAWA or
state affiliates of the ANKC.
It is the buyers
responsibility to research and determine
a breeder's reliability. The
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Western
Australia in no way endorses or makes
recommendation of any breeders on its
lists.
Choosing and Caring
for a Puppy!!
It
is important to thoroughly research the
breed so that you have a good
understanding of the problems and
diseases that your dog may develop, as
well as the wonderful features of the
Bernese. You are then in a better
position to visit breeders and check out
the pedigree of any likely pups, as well
as making sure that you are comfortable
with the breeder.
Once
you have made a decision and a puppy has
been selected then take a towel or cloth
to the breeder. Bring the towel home when
you bring your pup home and leave it in
their area so that they have a familiar
"security blanket".
Socialise your puppy as much as possible,
although until all vaccinations are
complete it is important not to put them
in situations where large numbers of dogs
play or walk, e.g. a local park. With a
new puppy make sure there is some noise
in their new environment and supply toys
that make a lot of different noises. They
need to be gradually accustomed to all of
the usual household noises and everyday
situations. As they develop it is
important to introduce them to the many
and varied situations they are likely to
meet in the community. This involves
traffic, people, other animals and
children. Remember, the pup will only be
equipped to deal with many varied
situations if it is exposed to them by
you. The Bernese Mountain Dog is good
with children, but needs to be introduced
to them in a controlled situation where
the puppy will not be harmed by over
excited children.
Muscle development is important for your
Bernese puppy and so some exercise is
beneficial but care is needed with this.
Puppies get lots of excercise just being
puppies in the house and garden with
their family. Don't overdo the exercise
though - all things in moderation using
common sense, e.g. we wouldn't expect a
toddler to walk for 20 minutes so why
expect this of a puppy!
Some of the most common concerns noted by
puppy owners are discussed below.
1. Biting and chewing:
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Puppies
will naturally bit and chew. This
is an important aspect of
teething and learning. If you
leave them alone for long periods
they will become bored and become
destructive. When you leave them,
ensure they are in a safe
environment and have plenty of
toys to play with. Don't allow
them the opportunity to develop
bad habits. If the pup bites you,
use a noise to startle it so that
it does not bite. Eventually you
should be able to reduce the
pressure until it will not
attempt this behaviour at all.
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2.
Toilet training:
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The door
needs to be open with you ready
to go outside with them. Chances
are that they don't yet know that
they are supposed to stand by the
door fidgeting from foot to foot
or whimpering to get you to open
the door! Learn to read your
pup's signals so that you are
aware when it is wanting to
toilet. At regular intervals,
especially on waking or after a
meal, walk your puppy outdoors
and stay out with them until they
are successful. Always reward the
behaviour you desire. |
3.
Feeding:
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It
is most important for your puppy
to have a good nutritious diet.
You do not need to add
supplements if it is fed a
balanced diet.
There are various thoughts on
what to feed your puppy. These
range from a totally natural food
approach, to wholly commercially
prepared foods. Find out from the
breeder what the pup has been fed
and try to maintain this for a
short period. Make changes
gradually so that you avoid upset
stomachs. Remember, what you feed
your dog will be reflected in
their health and well being.
It is important that your Bernese
is not over fed or it may lead to
serious joint problems. It grows
very rapidly in it's first year
and matures slowly so maintain a
nutritious diet for the first few
years. |
4. Bedtime:
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Your
Bernese needs to feel secure. It
will become distressed when you
leave the room or area, they need
to be able to sense your presence
continuing through familiar
smells or familiar areas.
Isolating them in the laundry or
outside often results in a very
unhappy and noisy pup. Bernese
need to feel part of the family
and so may be best left in a
comfortable and secure area that
is part of the family's ordinary
living environment. |
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