Puppies

Our puppies are born in a warm, isolated bedroom in the house and we assist in every whelping.  Michelle sleeps in the room with the puppies for the first week, and if the puppies were born to a new Momma, then they are closely watched for the next week.  At three weeks, the puppies begin to be weaned from Momma, and by four weeks they have moved to the family room and are eating almost all of their meals out of a pie plate.  This move to the family room is crucial for their development; the puppies are exposed to loud noises (vacuum cleaners, blenders, loud voices, etc.), guests, and a cooler environment.  The puppies are also held every night while Matt and Michelle relax on the couch, and run around the kitchen every day.  Weather permitting, the puppies are taken outside to run through the yard; sunlight and fresh air promotes bone growth and happy, healthy puppies.  All of these new environments and different elements combine to help Heritage Collies to grow into stable and secure dogs that are not afraid of anything.

Heritage adopted the Signet routine of raising puppies:

• At three weeks, they are available for potential owners to come and visit
• At six weeks, they go to a certified opthamologist for their eye checks
• At seven weeks, we sit down and evaluate the litter for potential show puppies
• After evaluations, potential owners are called with availability of puppies
• At eight weeks the puppies get their first shots and a microchip for permanent identification.  They are then ready for their new families to pick them up.
• Deworming is done throughout this eight weeks process and your new puppy should go to your vet within 24-48 hours for a well puppy visit and scheduling of his second shots.