No pups are available at this time.

When pups are available, below is an outline of how they are cared for in the first few months of their lives to get them ready for their new families.

Health
The health of the pups begins with the parents. The parents are wormed monthly for 3 consecutive days with panacur. Heartworm preventative(ivermectin) and tick/flea/mosquito control(permethrin) are administered on a monthly basis. They are given 7 way shots annually and bordetella biannually. Rabies vaccinations are administered by a vet every 3 years. They are fed Victor Hi Pro Plus(30% protein & 20% fat), a 5 star dog food.

For the pups that are born at my kennel, the dewclaws are removed before 3 days old. The pups are given pyrantel at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, & 13 weeks of age, then every 30 days. They are administered 5 way shots at 7, 9, 12, & 16 weeks of age. The pups are given the opportunity to begin eating Victor Hi Pro Plus(30% protein & 20% fat) and drinking water at 3 weeks of age. The weaning process is gradual, at the age of 4 weeks the mother and pups are separated briefly until at age 6-7 weeks the pups are completely weaned. The pups are monitored closely between 3-6 weeks to ensure they are drinking water and eating food.

Socialization
The pups are briefly handled on the first day of their life to begin the socialization process. They are handled daily to continue the process and as necessary to administer the appropriate medications. The pups are handled by family, friends, neighbors, kids, and anyone who visits my house. At 3 weeks of age the pups are allowed to leave their pen and explore the yard. I don’t overuse yard rakes, mowers, insecticide/weed sprayers, etc. so the pups play in short/tall grass, weeds, leaves, and with an assortment of insects. The pups are introduced to other adult dogs too. If any pups remain after 4 months of age, they are introduced to birds via free fly and remote launchers.

Picking A Pup
Picking a pup is great fun! Here are some tips for picking a pup. You may want to rank order the following items to determine what is most important to you. There are at least 6 criteria for selecting a pup- goals, pedigree, physical traits, gender, personality, and sire/dam.

First establish your goals for this pup. Will this dog be a house dog, hunter, competitor/field trialer, or all of the above? Your goals will direct you in finding breeding programs that fit your goals.

Secondly, pedigree can yield information as to the quality of your pup. Does the pedigree include dogs you respect? Is the pup line bred or an outcross? Do the dogs on the pedigree represent what you are you seeking in a pup? With that said, a pedigree never found a single bird, it’s just one piece of the puzzle that may help you select a pup.

Third, physical traits can be important in the selection of a pup. You may want to choose a pup that is physically appealing to you. Consider color, markings, size, coat, tail, eyes, nose, eyelids, head, gait, paws, and body structure. After all you are choosing a friend that will be around for approximately 10 years, it should be an attractive pup to you.

Gender may guide you in selecting a pup. There are health considerations for both female and male pups, choose what fits your particular situation.

Personality may be of concern to you. Is the pup happy, excited, lethargic, bold, or shy? Try to make an assessment of the pups personality.

Finally, inquire and look at the parents. Do the parents have appealing traits to you? Do the parents have good noses, back naturally, and hunt with style? There are certainly other considerations not mentioned at this time, perhaps cost would be another consideration. Most importantly, once you have selected a pup you must work with the pup and even more critical believe in the pup!

Jim Gourley – Setter Dogs – 785-249-4316 or jim@setterdogs.com Lincoln, KS.  Licensed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture for training, boarding and breeding, as well as for commercial dog training by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.