Raising our Puppies...
Tired Mom
Early morning cuddles
for all
Aunt Star disciplines an uppity pup
Our puppies are raised in our kitchen, which is in the middle of our home, so they have constant contact with our family and our adult dogs. From the day they are born they are held and cuddled. They spend time hanging out with mom, and when their ears and eyes open, listen to the sounds of a home - a running dishwasher, a loud TV, a closing door, a crying child. They grow up as part of our family and the pack. We give them temporary "puppy names" so each can become an individual and we can get to know who they are as individuals. No two puppies are ever alike and each has special traits and characteristics that make it special.
Star snuggles with Penny's
puppies
Nova's doll
Hanging out with Grandpa
We raise them on terrycloth towels rather than newspaper or carpet because towels can be disinfected daily (or more often if necessary) so the pups learn to be clean. (If you've ever smelled or stepped in wet newspaper, you know what I mean). Many of our pups have immediately "buried" their feces with a corner of a towel to keep the area "clean" by themselves. Our puppies have many different types of toys to play with and learn the difference between "food" and "toys", so will rarely swallow toys or other foreign objects, unlike many kenneled dogs we know.
Star & Tova discover water Tova LOVES it!
Hanging out with Grandma
Slowly we shrink the area covered by towels until the litter is using only a small area that is cleaned up immediately. At 5 weeks they are allowed to play outside to experience all sorts of surfaces - grass, rocks, cement, wood deck, dirt, bushes. We begin teaching them not to dig, walking on a loose lead, and get to play in a tiny pool, They get their first puppy shots and are rewormed again. We take pictures constantly! They still live and sleep in our kitchen most of the time (not counting snuggles in the family room while tv watching). Mom is with them the entire time, teaching, and weaning gradually.
Nova discovers tables The
Great Escape
]
Music Appreciation class
About this time, the pups are also allowed to explore the rest of our house under supervision where they experience stairs, carpet, lineoleum, wood floors, ceramic tile, plants, cactus, and lots of trouble! They learn what "no" means when they discover and try and dig in a plant, or find an electrical cord. They learn their temporary "puppy names" and discover they have an identity apart from the "litter". All this time the entire pack, especially mom and Homer our alpha dog, helps raise the pups to have wonderful "dog manners" while we teach the people rules.
Evaluation time (Louis prev. Astro) See my new tatoo?*
| (*Note: We no longer do tattoo's only because of the "litter that wouldn't tattoo" - three attempts and it wouldn't take! I still think a tatoo is one of the best methods of identification, but until we find a better system, future puppies will be microchipped by Home Again (AKC). |
Pokey's mole (at 9 weeks of age)
At 6-7 weeks we temperament test each puppy to determine his strengths and weaknesses, and begin considering which home each puppy should go to, though our final decision is not made until the final week. At 7-8 weeks the pups get their first outings and car rides: to the vet for health checks; for tatoo's; for a ride in a grocery cart at the hardware store; or a visit to their potential new home. Most pups enjoy this as they are the center of attention!
At 9 weeks they are
ready to go home. This is the hardest time for us. We have to say
goodbye. (I usually cry a lot even though by now I know the homes they
are going to are wonderful...). But then I start bugging YOU for
pictures and visits! Everything comes full circle and we've made wonderful
new friends and our pups are in great homes. We can relax...until we see
another breeder's puppies and begin to think...