Rough Collie puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Rough Collie puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Collie eye anomaly and choroidal hypoplasia, detectable by DNA test, with puppies eye checked by a veterinary ophthalmologist at six to eight weeks
• Multidrug resistance mutation MDR1, which makes several common drugs dangerous, detectable by DNA test
• Progressive retinal atrophy, rod cone dysplasia type 2, detectable by DNA test
• Dermatomyositis, an inherited skin and muscle disease, detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock

From Rough Collie breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/collie/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Rough Collie puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Rough Collie.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 22.7 to 34 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other large breeds

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