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The Litter's Early , Week 7 Note: The following information, unless otherwise noted, is taken directly from the Web pages Cathy created for this litter. It is reprinted here with permission.
Week Seven (Days 43-49) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES
Canine Socialization Period (21 - 49 Days): Interacting with his mother and littermates, the pup learns various canine behaviors. He is now aware of the differences between canine and human societies. THE RULES OF SEVENS By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old (end of seven weeks) it should have:
Human Socialization Period (7 to 12 Weeks): The pup has the brain wave of and adult dog. The best time for going to a new home. He now has the ability to learn respect, simple behavioral responses: sit, stay, come. Housebreaking begins. He now learns by association. The permanent man/dog bonding begins, and he is able to accept gentle discipline and establish confidence.
November 20, 2001 Well, we are at the first day of week 7. This is a week when a lot happens in a puppy's brain. The pups have started developing unique personalities, and this will continue even more this week. The pups play harder and more often. They compete for the best toys and the best spots to sleep. Pack order is developing. Some of the pups that I would not think of as dominant are trying to move up the pecking order. At the end of this week we will do puppy evaluations. I'll tell you more about this as we get closer. Yellow collar black girl tends to try to take on the larger boys. She has latched onto Green collar boys ear several times! I notice she likes to do a sneak attack... while he is occupied with a toy or sibling. Red collar liver girl tends to only pick on her own size. She and pink girl hang out together a lot. If the gang is particularly rambunctious, they will go in the swing and watch. They both aren't opposed to biting someone's tail as they run by! Yellow collar liver girl is more interested in any person in the room than with her siblings. The two liver boys have not jostled for dominance at all. Both of the black boys are about even, but don't seem to pick on each other. The pups still nurse on Gabby occasionally. They have very sharp teeth! She only lets them while she is finishing off the puppy mush. She will jump on top of the overturned vari kennel to get just out of reach, but still be with them. The pups have some meals with watered down kibble, some with the puppy mush, and also are given dry food to play in... I mean eat! I wormed the pups again today. The biggest ones weigh over 10 lbs now.
About the Temperament Test This is just one type of temperament test. We observe the puppies very closely until 7 weeks of age and usually we have formed our own opinion about their temperaments. We use the Puppy Aptitude Test (P.A.T.), developed by Jack and Wendy Volhard, to confirm our observations. The test is supposed to be done at 49 days of age. The test is performed in a situation which is new to the puppy and must be carried out by a person who is a complete stranger to the puppies. Another terrific temperament test is the PAWS Working Dog Evaluation. PAWS stands for Possessiveness, Attention, Willingness, and Strength and is an excellent test for evaluating the drives of older puppies. November 21, 2001 Here are all of the pups at age six weeks and two days.
(Day 44) Today we took a trip into town. (approximately 30 minutes each way) where we took our first set of stacked puppy pictures. The pups not being photographed spent time in an X-pen in an unfamiliar building. The whole outing took about 3 1/2 hrs. Considering standing for pictures in a stacked position is not anything the pups are used to, and is not fun, I think they did very well. To make it easier to tell who is whom, I kept the collars on, and stood the boys on a blue towel, the girls on a pink one. Click on any pups picture to see a larger image. Only one pup made a mess on the trip into town. No one made a mess on the way back. Everyone was quiet and sleepy on the trip home! (not so on the trip there!) This is good practice for the pups first trip to his or her new home. Tonight I took a vari kennel half, and put about 3 inches of warm water in the bottom of it. Threw in some toys, and let the pups explore. Some just lapped at the water, some went in after a toy. It is not deep, so the pups can easily walk, splash or dig at it. Some pups will submerge their muzzles up to the eyes and blow bubbles, or slap the water with their paws. Some will do this in the water dish too!
When the weather turns warm and you introduce your pup to water, don't force the issue. Never throw your pup into the water, or push him out of a boat. This is not the way to get him to love the water! One of the most effective methods of introducing a puppy to water is to bring along an older, water-loving dog as a demonstration tool. (as long as you supervise and make sure the older dog does not play rough) Puppies will generally follow the leads of their elders, and will be reassured to see that the strange, wet stuff doesn't seem to hurt their friends. But in the absence of an older dog you will do the trick. Wade out into the water yourself. Chances are your pup will want to follow you. Use a favorite toy and throw it parallel to the shore once he is in the water up to his belly. Don't throw the object out into deep water the first time. Let him get used to the feel of the water. The most important thing to avoid, is to allow your puppy to have a “bad experience” when introduced to water. Make sure the water is warm enough the first time. (water temperature over 50 degrees) You may want to get a child's wading pool and throw some floatable toys in it for the pup. Place a non slip tub mat in the bottom if it is real slick. Don't take the pup in the first time to a body of water with steep drop offs or water that has lots of "scary" objects. Remember your pup may be going through a fear stage, and submerged logs or stumps may give throw him off. November 22, 2001 Happy Thanksgiving! The dogs all get a special treat today. The larger dogs got some organ meat, turkey necks and backs with their meals. The pups got to experience some leg bones and larger wing bones. Their sharp little teeth aren't strong enough to chew through those bones yet, but they had fun gnawing on the cartilage and any remaining meat clinging to the bones. They also got a little bit of ground turkey in the normal food they eat. You should not overdo it on the holidays. Some holiday food can do much more harm than good, and is not worth the brief pleasure it gives your pet. The cooked turkey bones can lodge in the animals' throats or puncture the esophagus, stomach and intestines. The string from the turkey or roaster bag is also a potential hazard. While a little bit of meat -- beef or poultry -- won't hurt and would be appreciated, treating your dog to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings can make them very sick. Rich, fatty foods, like gravy or grease, can cause problems ranging from stomach upsets to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas resulting in pain, vomiting, and dehydration. Pets with this serious condition often require hospitalization for treatment. No one is saying your pet shouldn't enjoy a special holiday meal, too, but limiting the kind and amount of special food will ensure that it is a treat -- not a trouble. The pups got very competitive over the bones. Some readily shared with siblings, others tried to hide in a corner of the shark cage and keep the treat all to themselves.
Keep your holidays safe, healthy and happy with these tips:
The puppies got first set of shots today. I give my own shots. (Did I mention I used to be a Vet Tech, and am now an RN?) I don’t recommend giving your own shots unless you know what you are doing, know what the signs and symptoms of a vaccine reaction are, and know what proper storage and handling the vaccines need. I do not vaccinate at home to save money. I do it to limit the exposure of the pups that may not have adequate immunity. My Vet knows I do my own vaccinations. I do them during regular office hours in case a pup has a vaccine reaction. The pups hardly notice that they are getting the shots. Only one whimpered at all. Some tried to scratch at the site a few minutes later, then soon forgot all about it. I picked each pup up, cleansed the back of the neck with alcohol, pulled up the loose skin in the shape of a tent, and injected into the area under that loose skin. Every pup will go home with a shot record with the date, type of vaccines, manufacturers name, lot number and expiration date.
A lot has been said recently about vaccinations and immune systems in dogs. Every vet will have a different protocol of vaccinations that he or she thinks your new pup needs. Every area of the country is different. If you're going to kennel your dog, you should ask your vet about kennel cough or bordetella vaccine. Ask your vet if Lyme's disease is an issue where you live. If your pet spends a lot of time in grassy or wooded areas where deer or field mice hang out, you will want to vaccinate for Lyme's disease. Leptospirosis is another vaccine that should only be considered if the disease is common in your area, and it likes to spread via contact with stagnant water such as ponds or puddles as it is eliminated in the urine of infected wildlife. Many vaccinations come in a combo shot- you may hear them called Canine 7, Canine 5, etc. These vaccines often are administered together in a "cocktail." Some of these vaccines contain leptospirosis, coronavirus, adenovirus cough, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus. I don’t like to overvaccinate. I used to give two sets of shots before the pups left, I have since cut that down to one series, and let your vet pick up from there. I give a vaccination without Lepto or corona. Why do we repeat vaccinations? The pup get passive immunity from mom when nursing. They pick up her antibodies through the milk. This immunity will actually interfere with the pup's ability to make its own immunity from the vaccine challenge. Here is just one vets sample of a vaccination schedule:
November 24, 2001 Another nice day the pups spent outside. Later, I stacked them all on the grooming table to get them used to it, then clipped nails. That's 160 toenails to clip! If dewclaws were left on, that would have been another 20 nails. When the pups were younger, the nails were soft and easy to nip off. Now they are more like dog toenails. Tougher, darker. Harder to see the quick or vein in the center of the nail. With 160 nails to clip, I only nicked one quick. I use Kwik-Stop coagulant powder to stop the bleeding. The pup didn't seem to mind. (Yellow girl) She was more interested in the attention, getting petted, and the treats. I like to get a young pup used to having his feet handled often. Don't just grab your dog and go to town clipping his nails! Get him used to you touching his feet, touching his nails, spreading the webbing in the feet. Leave the clippers out where he can sniff at them, check them out. You may even pretend to do your own nails with the clippers to get the dog interested in them. Get your dog so you can just touch the clippers to each of his paws. Reward the pup when he lets you. Get the pup used to you touching each toe with the clippers. Reward and praise. Make this a pleasant, positive time. Its easier to take the time and condition your dog to having his nails trimmed than to fight your dog each time. Here is some more information about nail clipping... Nail clipping—the mere mention of this task can strike terror in the hearts of many dog owners! Fighting a dog while wielding a sharp instrument is no one’s idea of fun, but it does not have to be this way. With some practice nail clipping can be a quick and painless operation! Start Young The best way to ensure that your dog will accept nail clipping gracefully is to start desensitizing him when he is young. Dogs tend to dislike having their feet touched, especially if they are not used to it. As soon as your new little fella moves in, start handling his feet. Your job is to get him used to it, and if not like it, at least tolerate it. When you are playing with or petting your puppy, handle his feet. Hold the paw, touch the nails and feel in between the toes and pads. Make the pup sit quietly while you do this, but keep the session short, as pups have short attention spans. Praise the pup as you are handling him and give him a little treat when you are finished for a job well done. If your dog is older, you can still work to desensitize him to having his feet touched. Just as you would with a puppy, hold his paws, touch the nails, and feel in between the pads. If he fights this, keep the session very short, just touching each paw briefly and giving lots of praise and a treat afterwards. With a very difficult dog, ask someone to help you by holding the dog still. Keep the session calm—a big fuss will only serve to reinforce the dog’s notion that paw touching is taboo. Build up the time that you can touch his paws over time. Eventually, he will not mind having you do it. Do not underestimate the importance of getting your dog used to having his feet touched. Even if you choose to have your vet or groomer clip your dog’s nails, your dog will experience much less stress if he is used to being handled. Also, if your dog ever has a foot injury, it will be easier for you both if you are able to examine his foot. Equipment Do not use scissors or human nail clippers on your dog. They are not designed for the task and can crush the nail causing your dog some pain. Your vet or local pet store carries several types of clippers designed for the dog nail. Make sure you have the right size for your size dog and keep the blade sharp. The guillotine type has a replaceable blade that can be discarded when it is no longer up to snuff and are the easiest to use for most dog owners. It's a good idea to let the dog get used to seeing the nail clippers. Bring out the clippers and lay them down. Do nothing with them, just let them lie there. Have them in a spot where the dog can't help but notice. Leave them out for a few days so the mere sight of them is no longer so upsetting. Some owners like to use a small grinding-tool to keep the nails short. These work well, but the dog must be used to them as the sound of the motor can be frightening. In case of bleeding, have on hand a styptic pencil or Kwik-Stop powder. These will immediately stop the bleeding when applied to the nail. A nail file designed for dog nails will put on the finishing touch. The Nail If left to grow too long, the dog’s nail will cause the toe to turn up and the dog will not walk on the foot properly. If you hear the nail clicking on the floor, it is time to clip. Nails that are too long can catch on things such as fabric and the struggling dog can hurt himself. Additionally, dogs with long nails can scratch their human companions. Many dogs have a dew claw, that is, an extra toe and nail, higher up on the leg on the inner side. These claws do not touch the ground and therefore do not get worn down at all. They can grow quickly and if left unclipped can catch on things causing harm. The nail can grow completely around if left unchecked. The dog nail has a blood vessel, or "quick" that extends part way down. If you inadvertently cut the nail, the dog will feel pain and will bleed. If you are lucky enough to have a dog with white nails you can easily see the quick, but if your dog has dark nails you will have to gauge how far down the quick goes. How to Clip the Nails
November 25, 2001 Bath Time! Why is it that from the instant the first drops of water spill out of the tap, from the second you reach for the bottle of shampoo, your dog starts making his way to the darkest, quietest and most hidden corner of the house? The dog who doesn't hear you when you scream, "Get off the couch!" is able to pick out the magic word when you whisper, "I think the dog needs a bath." Your dog disagrees that he needs a bath! Like most dogs, he's content to live his life in dog-smell heaven, a place where water is for drinking or swimming in and never has soap added. Too bad. We make the rules, and dog-smell heaven is no paradise for us. A good attitude can go a long way, but a bad one can go even further. If your dog knows how much you hate bath time, how can he get a positive, or at least tolerable, opinion of the process? Keep your attitude high and don't let up on the praise. It’s great if you have someone to help you the first few times. Many a dog has jumped out of the tub while the owner was pouring the shampoo.... This can lead to a wet dog chase through the house! A dog should be groomed before you bath it. Curlies don't need a lot of grooming, but if your curly is shedding, you may want to use the undercoat rake on him before you start the bath. Check under ears, neck, tail for small mats. Mats stop the shampoo from getting through the coat. Also if you wet hair with knots it only gets worse and can be quite sore for the dog. Knotted hair twists and becomes more knotted, pinching the skin as it does so. Bathing should not be done too often as this removes the natural oils from the skin. If you use shampoos not suitable for dogs then you may damage the coat and skin. The oils that are in the coat are there for a reason, to help in waterproofing and insulation. Use a mild shampoo made for dogs. I like a hypoallergenic shampoo, or an oatmeal based shampoo. Don't use people shampoo, the PH is different. These dog shampoos also lather less and make it easier to rinse from the coat. This is a godsend if your dog doesn't like standing in the bath for too long. If you are bathing your dog in your own bath make sure you put a non-slip mat on the bottom. Not only does this stop your dog from slipping and sliding, it also protects your bath from being scratched. If your dog is wearing a leather collar remove it before bathing, replace it with a nylon type one. You have to make the first baths positive, and a dog that slips in the tub, falls, makes you grab at it.... not a positive experience. The water for bathing your dog in should be lukewarm. Make sure you wet the coat thoroughly before adding the shampoo. When your curly has his adult coat, you will find it may take some time to soak the coat through. A lot of the water will run right off! A spray nozzle attachment is the easiest way to wet the dog, and rinse after. When wetting the coat you can help to steady the dog by gently putting your hand under the chin. Talk to the dog to reassure it, it helps to keep everyone calm.
Start shampooing at the top and work down. Firstly along the back and neck area then the tail and bottom next the legs and feet. Lastly wash the head area. Most dog shampoos don't cause much irritation if they get into the eyes, but do try to avoid doing this if possible. The dog may want to shake itself while it is being bathed, if you notice that this is about to happen then place your hand on the back of its neck, the scruff, if necessary gently lift the scruff. This action should be enough to stop the shake from occurring.
Once you are sure that you have washed the dog all over then it is time to rinse. Again top to bottom. Start with the head, tilt it up slightly, and work backwards. Repeat the rinsing process until you are sure that all the shampoo has been washed from the coat. Once you think you have rinsed enough, rinse again! Nothing is more irritating to the skin than dried shampoo left in!
Use your hands to gently squeeze the coat to get rid of the excess water. If you do not do this, the dog will come out of the bath and shake, soaking everything in its path. Pat the dog with a towel. If it's warm enough, I let the dog run around outside to dry. If not, I put them in a crate until they are just about dry. A word of caution -- they love to roll once they have a bath! November 26, 2001 We took stacked photos again today. Another long car ride into town. The pups settled down much quicker this time. No accidents in the crates. I wouldn't say they behaved better with the stacking though! We caught them at a squirmy stage. Blue boy was racking back, Red girl didn't want her face touched.... generally naughty puppies! I changed around the tentative schedule a bit. Instead of the Vets today, we did the ride and pictures. We are scheduled to do health checks Wednesday morning. Tomorrow is the litter evaluation. It will be done by a neutral person the pups have not met. I can't be in the room, but will try to sneak some pictures through a window! Mary Fowler of GraceFarm Kennels will be doing the evaluation. Mary has been breeding Labrador Retrievers at Grace Farms since 1979. She trains retrievers for hunt tests, and teaches all breed obedience and agility classes. | Next page | Diary Home | List and Site Owner: Melissa Alexander, mca @ clickersolutions.com |
