Preparing for
Your New Border Collie Puppy
We want you to be happy with your new family member — and your puppy to be happy with their new family! Here’s how you can prepare for your new Border Collie puppy.

Prepare for the Arrival of Your New Family Member:
Schedule Your Puppy Pickup
Contact me for pickup date and time — emailing is best.
Plan Your Travel Route
Decide on your travel route and where you will stop to give your pup and break if you are traveling more than 2 hours. Rest Stops, Gas Stations, Fast Food Restaurants and Dog Parks are a no-go. They are heavily visited by other dogs. You want to protect your pup by taking a bathroom break in a low dog traffic area, like an office park that has trees and grass.
Create a Puppy-Proofed Area
Create a puppy-proofed area where your puppy will be when you are not home, when you’re sleeping, or when you can’t supervise him directly.
Get Some Sleep
Get a couple of good nights’ sleep. You will need energy and patience.
Clear Your Schedule
Learn
Pick a Veterinarian
We want you to take your new pup to your vet within 3 business days of picking him/her up. You pup will have been to our vet for an examination, his first puppy shot and microchip; BUT I want you to be a good consumer and have your puppy checked. You will need to establish a vaccination schedule and heartworm, flea/tick prevention program.
Find a Sitter
Find baby sitter(s) for times that you are away – like work, shopping etc. Or if you don’t have a sitter, create your puppy-proofed area with litter tray, crate and maybe an Xpen.
Sign Up for a Puppy Class
They should be ready for class 2-3 weeks after you get your pup. Talk to your friends, neighbors and veterinarian for suggestions on a local puppy class.
Choose Your Puppy Food
Decide what food do you want to feed. Go to Dog Food Advisor and find a dry puppy food to fit your budget or you can keep him/her on Royal Canin Medium Puppy. If you do switch, remember to switch foods gradually.

What to Bring for Puppy Pickup:
- Cashier’s check or cash (Unfortunately we had an issue or two over the years.)
- A crate with newspaper. Puppy will ride best (less sway) behind the passenger seat.
- Water container or bucket
- Small collar and leash
- Food bowl if traveling more than 6 hours
We Provide You With:
Plus:
- Health record to take to your vet
- A copy of our signed contract that also acts as a Bill of Sale
- AKC Registration
- Microchip registration information
- AKC Health Insurance — Free for the first 30 days, once activated
- A blanket that smells like mom and littermates
- Gallon ziplock bag of puppy food – We feed Royal Canin Medium Puppy, but you can slowly transition your pup to another quality puppy food.
- Forti Flora by Purina Vet, a super probiotic to add to their food the first week
- Puppy Kong and snack kit
