[ SHOWGSD-L ] Now baby puppy raising...how do others do it?
- From: Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx
- To: rbuffdogs@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2014 08:06:37 -0500 (EST)
Changing the subject line...
I do a whole lot of things with a/b people. I am frankly amazed at how
MUCH effort they put into raising a litter. Well before the 8-9 weeks when a
puppy would leave, some build little jungle gyms, some feed in a wading
pool filled w/ empty water bottles (noise), many have modified tunnels, quite
a few purchase washable "baby and toddler' things from toys r us and most
do all they can to introduce a puppy to as many things as possible before
they go to heir new families. Some feed a number of different things in
different places and so on.
Working for myself, I have the luxury of being able to just about slept in
the whelping box the first week, little nails start to get done at 2-3 days
so as not to scratch mom, as soon as a puppy can toddle they are taken
away from their littermates for a bit, they learn different flooring surfaces,
the ice maker, washer/dryer/dishwasher/vacuum noises and I am deliberately
noisy, dropping a metal feeding dish on concrete, allowing a push broom to
fall on concrete, dropping silverware on the kitchen tile floor etc. By
about 4 weeks puppies are on the table, nothing formal, constantly handled,
of course my hand is right there under them. As soon as they can toddle
appropriate toys are introduced. I have tried the water bottles/wading pool
thing and puppies love it. I have a very large kitchen, laundry, mud room
area, large tiled foyer, long tiled hallways and at about 4 weeks 2-3
puppies at a time come in and socialize with adult dogs other then their
mother.
(I wouldn't keep let alone feed a dog that would hurt a puppy).
By six weeks families who have reserved a puppy visit, and even though a
puppy is not theirs, puppies are brought out, hugged and loved on.
The result? (And I'm proud of this!) Nothing, and I mean not-a-thing
phases them when they go to their companion homes. In other words, I don't
have people reading Monks OF New Skeet and asking "fear period" questions, nor
do I make excuses when girls come in season for the first time about her
being hormonal. AND I strongly encourage new owners to continue the process,
puppy-K, beginner obedience.
A puppy that stays will continue learning, rides around town and trips to
parks, puppy class at the a/b club, lots of people and all different kinds
of puppies/dogs to meet there. Ditto herding lessons. More dogs, more
doggy people.
Among most doggy people I know, and now that I reflect on it, perhaps
slightly more of an emphasis is placed on those interested in performance,
this
is viewed as good, common sense puppy rearing. What it ISN'T viewed as is
somehow covering up temperament issues or compensating for something they
possibly could be afraid of in a pedigree.
Maybe I have been hanging with a/b people too much <G>, but they sure do a
nice job!
So how does everyone else start their GSD puppies?
Or do many believe you end up with the same puppy/adult if you just skip
all of this, more or less forget about a puppy until they are 6 months or so
and you evaluate where to head for a Futurity?
I certainly don't skip the early learning weeks/months but not because I
am covering things up, but because I want a dog to be the best they can be,
and will only breed when I am up for all of this and can put the rest of
life on hold and will only grow one out when I am up for all of early
foundation (challenging with all of the snow and ice lately!).
Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC
Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions
visit http://www.pinehillgsds.com/
In a message dated 2/8/2014 7:47:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
rbuffdogs@xxxxxxxxx writes:
If you start with genetically strong nerved dogs of good temperament and
character, with a pedigree,
behind them of similar, you don't end up with spooks either, regardless as
to how they are started. ;-)
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