Seita Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I'm very new to breeding and have a litter of 4 week old pups at the moment. I've been doing a fair bit of reading on what to introduce at different ages and have found lots of different ideas and of course opinions. So I'm asking for what everyone else does in regards to raising your puppies so they have lovely stable temperments? What toys/items do you give them? When do they move outside/inside etc? Do you take them to visit other people or places? What do you introduce them to? I think you get the idea! So tell me what you do to ensure your pups get the best start in life! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 I will watch this with interest also :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bordacollies4me Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) I do the ENS(early neurological stimulation) program with my pups, which goes from day 3 to day 16, they move from the whelping box/room to the lounge room during the day at about 2 1/2 weeks, in an Xpen set up... they have toys to crawl over and interact with a like a range of toys from squeaky toys to tug toys to plush toys, you name it they usually see it... i like to change they toys every other day or so, also gives you a chance to wash them if needed... i change the xpen set up around each day, there is a small crate in there with a bed in, from 3 1/2 - 4 weeks i may also put a balance disc, in with them to crawl over as well... while in the lounge all the other dogs are around... from 3 weeks i allow visitors, i like a range of visitors from kids to adults of both gender... at various times during the day from when they move into the lounge i play a sounds CD.. sometimes i play this later at night... once a day i will open the xpen up and let them explore( all other dogs are outside) it is fun to watch how they do when given more space... i open the back door and let them go out if they choose.. i like them to explore and be confident about it, i think by allowing this early on helps them deal with new places much easier while growing... from 4- 4 1/2 weeks, they are outside in the day pen (which has a section under cover and on concrete where i place all the bedding, and a grassed area) i start them off in the under cover area, and let them explore and find the grassed area on their own, usually takes maybe an hour... this also encourages them to toilet on the grass and it literally takes 1 or 2 days for them to go out to the toilet... the day pen is just a bigger Xpen set up with lots of things to stimulate their minds, toys, empty bottles, things hanging down, wobble boards, tippy boards, tunnels, etc... once again i change it every other day, after a few days in the day pen, i open the gate and allow more exploring of the back yard... this is usually a daily occurence and we usually get further out each day, i am lucky i am on 2 acres, so when they are confident enough and have found there way to the back gate, our daily adventures lead us further and further... i will start travelling with my pups from 4 weeks, they often come on a ride to training, but dont get out or if they do i will set up an xpen with blankets on the grounds, people are allowed to visit but not other dogs... i like lots of activity around them and noises, i will mow the yard, work with power tools etc, i also like them to feel different surfaces under their feet, my place is tiles and concrete indoors, grass/dirt & gravel outdoors... oh and i will play with them lots, i love playing tug with puppies and as most of mine can be destined for performance homes, this is not a bad thing.. i will play group tug sessions and one on one sessions with them nearly everyday... those that have been chosen for performance homes i will put a little more into with their tugging... mine have tugged from 4 weeks old :), on our daily outdoor adventures i love to get them to chase me as well as each other, my other dogs are also milling around on our daily explorations as well... Edited March 22, 2012 by bordacollies4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Our litter have just turned three weeks. They have been in the living room since they were a week old. I get them out of the playpen/whelping box a couple of times a day so that our adults, we have six, can interact with them. Their gr gr gr grandmother, who is 14, loves to lick them on their faces. :) They have toys they can play with. We will now let any visitors come in to see and handle them. When they are four weeks old I will take them outside and and will increase the amount of time they have outside on a daily basis. I initially just let Mum out with them for the first few days and then will let the adults out with them. Once they have had their first vaccinations at six weeks they can meet other dogs. We have a sheep herding training facility here and people bring their dogs out on a Sunday for training, so they can then meet other dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
**Super_Dogs** Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 This is a great thread I have some questions: How much do you handle your puppies in the first few weeks apart from when you are weighing them? From what age do you allow visitors? And what age do you allow vistors to handle the puppies? I let the occassional visitor come and look from when they are born. I think it is good for different noises and smells. From 3 weeks I let people handle the puppies - but I don't like them picking them up - I prefer they get in the pet with the puppies and let the puppies explore them. Then from 5 weeks I want as many people as possible to come and visit the puppies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Parents with good temperaments go a long way to having pups with good temperaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShesaLikeableBiBear Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 As with Rebanne, the temperaments of the parents are important. We don't allow any visitors prior to three weeks. A puppy is not likely to take much in before this and we feel that this time is for them and Mum. When we say visitors, we mean friends of ours, and we insist that they take their shoes off and wash their hands in anti-bacterial soap before picking up a puppy. We live a relativley quiet life-style, and we would probably have less than 6 visitors per week, bar on a Sunday. We don't allow anyone e.g. prospective puppy buyers to visit prior to the first vaccination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 I do the ENS(early neurological stimulation) program with my pups, which goes from day 3 to day 16, they move from the whelping box/room to the lounge room during the day at about 2 1/2 weeks, in an Xpen set up... they have toys to crawl over and interact with a like a range of toys from squeaky toys to tug toys to plush toys, you name it they usually see it... i like to change they toys every other day or so, also gives you a chance to wash them if needed... i change the xpen set up around each day, there is a small crate in there with a bed in, from 3 1/2 - 4 weeks i may also put a balance disc, in with them to crawl over as well... while in the lounge all the other dogs are around... from 3 weeks i allow visitors, i like a range of visitors from kids to adults of both gender... at various times during the day from when they move into the lounge i play a sounds CD.. sometimes i play this later at night... once a day i will open the xpen up and let them explore( all other dogs are outside) it is fun to watch how they do when given more space... i open the back door and let them go out if they choose.. i like them to explore and be confident about it, i think by allowing this early on helps them deal with new places much easier while growing... from 4- 4 1/2 weeks, they are outside in the day pen (which has a section under cover and on concrete where i place all the bedding, and a grassed area) i start them off in the under cover area, and let them explore and find the grassed area on their own, usually takes maybe an hour... this also encourages them to toilet on the grass and it literally takes 1 or 2 days for them to go out to the toilet... the day pen is just a bigger Xpen set up with lots of things to stimulate their minds, toys, empty bottles, things hanging down, wobble boards, tippy boards, tunnels, etc... once again i change it every other day, after a few days in the day pen, i open the gate and allow more exploring of the back yard... this is usually a daily occurence and we usually get further out each day, i am lucky i am on 2 acres, so when they are confident enough and have found there way to the back gate, our daily adventures lead us further and further... i will start travelling with my pups from 4 weeks, they often come on a ride to training, but dont get out or if they do i will set up an xpen with blankets on the grounds, people are allowed to visit but not other dogs... i like lots of activity around them and noises, i will mow the yard, work with power tools etc, i also like them to feel different surfaces under their feet, my place is tiles and concrete indoors, grass/dirt & gravel outdoors... oh and i will play with them lots, i love playing tug with puppies and as most of mine can be destined for performance homes, this is not a bad thing.. i will play group tug sessions and one on one sessions with them nearly everyday... those that have been chosen for performance homes i will put a little more into with their tugging... mine have tugged from 4 weeks old :), on our daily outdoor adventures i love to get them to chase me as well as each other, my other dogs are also milling around on our daily explorations as well... WOW! So much info! Thanks! Most of mine are going to performance homes too so I want happy, confident, outgoing little guys! Looking forward to hearing other people's methods :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seita Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Parents with good temperaments go a long way to having pups with good temperaments. Very true but I think there are things breeders can do to help develop those temperments. I've seen too many of my breed that are shy, nervous or uncertain and while the genetics may play a part I don't think that's the sole reason. I am more than happy with the parents' temperments, it's just that I want to do everything I possibly can to ensure these pups develop confident, stable and social temperments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temperamentfirst Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Ours pups are born and raised in the family room. We only breed from dogs who themselves have great temperaments, so the pups have a great start. Keeping them in the family room happened by chance when we first bred - we had set up a quiet room etc, but the mum insisted that she have the pups in the lounge room, and that she raise them there! We gradually lengthened the time the pups were in the house until now they sleep in the family room until they go to their new homes. We find that the pups are exposed to so much noise and activity as they develop that they just aren't bothered by much. Of course, the mum being part of the human family means she doesn't give any scared or anxious signals to the pups either. The pups have a huge day run that they have access to whenever the weather is fine, and a smaller one that is covered during wet weather. They are handled from birth by immediate family and later by friends, all of whom the mum knows, so again she isn't signalling stress to the pups. The pups get heaps of stimulating activity, even a mini agility course to play on, and enormous amounts of human interaction. Now our kids are adults, we get neighbours kids to come in so pups get used to kid movements and noises. When they are about 6 weeks, the pups also get pack discipline form the other adult dogs - we are very fortunate that all our dogs are very good with puppies. Actually, the other dogs are in the family room except during the shelling, but while the pups are tiny the other dogs are never in unless we are there to supervise. We believe that the pack discipline at home makes a great difference when it comes to older pups interacting with other dogs at the off leash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha bet Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Born under the dining room table - basically they live in the box with mum coming and going - she is the one who tells the other dogs when it is okay for them to come and meet the pups. We pick them up and cuddle them into our necks from the moment they are born... this is done often thru the day with friends and family getting to enjoy them as well. Even newborn pups have the ability to smell and feel - much like with imprinting of a horse, the more they are handled by humans the better their connection. By three weeks they are crawling out of the box and we might carry them out to the grass under a tree on a good day. Now they have lots of interaction with our own dogs and with a few friends trusted dogs. This is when we start hard feeding. By three and a half weeks we take 2 or 3 pups at a time out to visit at friend house, this gives them a chance to have many new smells sounds and even some new dogs. This happens a few times a week. At four and a half weeks I take them into our puppy group - we run two groups a week so generally can get my own bred pups into 2-3 classes before they go home to their family at nearly 9 weeks. Whilst writing this I have 9 x 5 week old puppies lying around the lounge room floor with 4 dogs and 3 cats. All have been sold now and we encourage visits, usally we have a couple of sundays (when pups are 4 weeks and 6 weeks) when we have most of the families come and visit. Most bring friends with them so sometimes have 20-25 people up on these days. I have been really lucky to have probably two pups a litter sold in general area so they have continued in our training school first in pups and then in adults. It is great to see my own breeding growing and developing. We have raised 8 litters in this house using these principals. Each litter I gain more confidence in this socialising work. Pups are born with Maternal Antibodies from their mum - this keeps them healthy, as long as they are feeding of mum even just a little drink a couple of times a day will keep the MAB's high enough. At 8 weeks we have seperated mum and pups are then vaccinated and microchipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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