Three weeks old and all kinds of stuff is happening in the Puppy Nursery.
This is the first in a series of sound habituations that expose 3-4 week old puppies to sounds that are known to cause anxiety in dogs later in life. Exposure to these sounds during this crucial 3-4 week period (and then continued periodically during the next several weeks) significantly the maturing pup avoid anxiety during these events as it matures. FYI: Not an actual window, just a big screen with YouTuBe channel .
Sound Habituation continues with young 3 weeks puppies to habituate them to sounds that tend to cause anxiety in dogs. This early exposure does have significant results in diminishing this type of anxiety for dogs as they mature. Today is an introduction to Fireworks played on a large screen TV. It starts at a low volume. If puppies show no fright or stress, then volume is increased slightly. This is played for about 1 hour 2x a day. Volume then increased tomorrow.Expanded Puppy Pen includes low ramp and extended potty areaYellow boy and Lime girl using new potty areaFirst experience with Puppy food gruelYummy Gruel
We also have been exposing puppies to loud sudden sounds to test their “startle & recovery” response.(Hopefully, I can remember to video when we do it tomorrow!) Each day, a new sudden loud sound is done 3x consecutively about twice a day (usually in morning and then after dinner). We started with just a loud hand clap, then a loud rattle of their pen, and today a wooden spoon against a pan. All our doing great. Some don’t even startle by the 2 or 3rd “bang”, and even when startled, all recover immediately and do not demonstrated any true fear and anxiety. This is a great sign!
The following are individual videos on each pup which included a couple temperament activities: come directly when called with enthusiasm/excitement, eye contact while in a “cradle” position, chasing a wing on a string and then one not attached (retrieve), individual boldness at play and interaction without littermates in play area, and being restrained on their…
Manding is an exercise from Puppy Culture which is the beginning of teaching a Puppy some positive reinforcement with treats as well as beginning social politeness training (specifically, not jumping up and deMANDING attention or treat). The MANDING exercise is often done with a clicker and treat. We don’t do clicker training, so I pair…
These 4-5 minute video “walkabouts” of each puppy are observation for us and you to see, again, how they do separated from the others but within hearing and sight of their pack. Observe their curiosity, independence, willingness to explore, use of their nose to investigate, but also note the acknowledgment for the human leader by…
Blue Boy: Brittany Country’s Scree Rayo (Scree) Scree is living with his new dad, Darrick, on a family farm in Eastern Washington and is already learning to be an awesome hunter (getting his first practice as soon as he got to his new home on wild pigeons and already demonstrating a great fetch!). Darrick says,…
For the next 14 days, we will do these five exercises 1 x a day with each exercise lasting only about 3-5 seconds: 1) Puppy held upright in secure hold 2) Puppy held upside down in secure hold 3) Puppy tickled between toes with Q-tip 4) Puppy laid on its back (Of course this is…
