So You Want A Silky

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So You Want A Silky

Responsibilities

Choosing A Breeder

About Contracts

Silky Terrier Breeders Directory

So... you've researched the breed and have decided that the Silky is the right breed for you. Great! That's the first step. Now you have to continue with your research and locate a good breeder. You need to see the contracts that each breeder offers, you need to feel comfortable dealing with the breeder and feel confident that you can call to discuss any questions you may have and that your call will be welcomed.

Don't limit your search to just your local area. Shipping puppies by air is relatively easy and not very expensive. The breeder takes care of all the arrangements and gets the puppy safely on the plane. The puppy travels in his crate, with a blanket, water and (if the trip is long) food, and a toy. This is usually not particularly stressful to the puppy, in fact they often sleep on the journey. Most puppies will be busy exploring their new home within 5 minutes to 1/2 an hour from arriving back at your place. Shipping is usually collect (you pay at your end). The puppy, of course, is expected to be paid for before the breeder ships to you. Something that can make things a bit nicer for the puppy, is for you to take a towel or blanket at home and sleep on it for a night. Then, bundle up the towel (without washing it!) in a clean plastic bag and seal firmly shut. Then mail this to you breeder and request that they not open up the plastic until they get to the airport, and then the breeder can use this towel in the crate for the flight to you. This way, the puppy is nice and comfy on the trip and is beginning to get used to your smell (from the blanket) by the time you get it home.

Discuss with your breeder what kind of food the puppy is being raised on. Good quality foods such as Eukanuba, Iams, Precise, Techni-cal, Eagle, Royal Canin and Nutram (among others) get your puppy off to a good start in life. Generic supermarket brands are not a good choice. Your Vet is another good one to ask about quality pet foods. If you decided to switch from the brand of food your breeder was feeding to something recommended by your vet, do it gradually. Mix a little bit of the new food into your puppies old food and, over a couple of weeks, gradually increase the amount of the new food while decreasing the amount of the old food. This way your puppies stomach won't have a sudden shock by switching brands.

Before your puppy arrives you'll need to go shopping. Check out the page of "Puppy Supplies" in the Care Of The Silky section to get an idea of what you'll need. It's just like bringing a new human baby home.... you need certain items to keep the baby clean, comfortable, safe and have something to play with.

It's also a good idea to check out the Vets in your area. You should check out Vets offices for some basics.... are they clean? Are they willing to give you a quick tour of the back rooms and surgical areas? Is there more than one Vet at the clinic? Note: Your puppy should get to know both - or all - Vets at a clinic. Then, in case of emergency, your pet is being dealt with by someone they know. If you live in the country and your Vet works alone, be sure to check who's on call for emergencies when yours is unavailable. You need to know how far away that help might be. Speak with your Vet about putting together a First Aid Kit for your puppy, so that in the event of an emergency, a Vet can give you instructions on giving first aid and you have on hand bandages, antibiotics, kaopectate, distinfectant, etc. A page is offered on this site to get you started - but always check everything out with your own Vet first.

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