from birth to 8 weeks?? - Page 3

Sorry about that, the links work when I click them.  I'm not sure what the issue is.

Oh, BULL****, Yellowrose.  SM has been asking questions for days and the board has been extremely helpful, totally putting aside all her asinine OT threads in order to help with DOG issues, and in return for that help SitasMom asks for help yet again, and people help!  but when not enough help to her satisfaction, when we all don't leap to respond to her wants within 60 MINUTES of her starting the thread she insults the rest of the board.by saying that the rest of  us "do a big flat nothing" with our puppies.

She's the one jumping down peoples' throats because we all didn't drop what we were doing to provide her with information as soon as the precious princess spoke. 

For the dogs' sake I tried to post specific things that breeders have told me they do - when you see the puppy tests you know what kind of stimulation the breeders have been giving.

mollyandjack, thanks for the suggestion,

The original link that I provided had a time table and a bunch of stuff to introduce the puppies to........cap guns, vacuum cleaner,  radio ........a whole list of things to do at certain ages..............I was asking if anyone does similar things........only michael49 answered......in that he does similar things........



I should just go back to my OT topics, they're more civil......

I'll take a shot at this, #1 Puppy new born to say the time sight and hearing become evident.Everthing is about touch and scent to this point, thats all he has developed. Touch being as I handle the pups several times a day,to examine,remove from whelping box to clean and replace bedding,handling gets the pup familiar with my touch and scent not just his mothers.Handling and gentle stroking increasing in length. I don't use any other scents at this time,Iater when the pup developes sight and hearing I will add others .

When I notice the hearing start to develope I,ll introduce subtle noises in the room with the pups, a radio at low volume, a ticking wind up clock  with bell type alarm that can be set at different volume levels,wind up wind chimes, battery operated
sound toys for babys ect. Nothing loud and frightening, I don't want fear involved here in any form. Daily household noises are a part of the pups life already, vacuumn cleaner,mixer,carpet steam cleaner,telephone,tv,barking of house dog,ect.TV is my favorite at this point because I can introduce a lot of different sounds at the volume level I choose,with a remote no less and observe the pups reactions at the same time.I simply start out household noise level with a closed door,opening wider as I move along. A cd or tape with all these noises and more can be effectively used in a whelping room.

When I see sight develope,not talking about eyes opening here I'm talking about sight developement when they can follow the movement of my hand. I introduce movement to the pups,again subtle movement, I,m trying to stimulate developing prey drive,also being developed naturally by movement of litter mates, again nothing extreme no fear wanted here either, just natural curiosity , confidence and strong nerve is my goal here.I use wind up toys with low noise levels and slow movement,prescription bottles,small tennis balls,anything the pups can stimulate movement in by themselves.

4 1/2-5 wks pups are moved to an out side inclosure by this time, noise levels and sounds are increased slowly but continually from here on. Small bottles are replaced with empty plastic soda bottles, small lengths of pvc and galvanized pipe,copper tubing.In addition I add other scents at this time leather,jute,raw meat,feeding just a little of the meat.

5-8 weeks hang a stuffed toy or two from the ceiling,high enough that the pup can't choke himself.Introduce new surfaces,I like to use a 4' x 4' piece of high gloss plastic laminate glued to a piece of plywood, I place a little raw beef,cut in very small pieces in the middle of the laminated board,they'll overcome fear of different surfaces with no trauma this way,its natural ,hunger driven.

5-8 weeks, Now is the time I teach the pups to climb. I have two plywood boxes both are 18 " tall, one is 48" x 48" the other is 16"x16" I place them about 3' apart to start with increasing distance over time.I connect the two boxes with a 12" wide board spanning from one to the other.I have a ramp,also 12" wide with 1/2x1/2 inch toe boards tacked across it so the pups can get a foot hold.This ramp is attached to the smaller box so they can climb up and and walk across on the walk board  to the larger box where I place the beef  in the center,they have to climb to eat ,hunger driven.Just use the beef to lead them up and across a few times,they'll catch on pretty quick, they fall off a few times, but its not high enough to hurt them.As they catch on,Narrow the width of the ramp and walk board and increase the distance between the boxes,this increases agility. Soon as they grow they'll quit climbing and learn to jump up on the box to feed.I've never had the need to increase height, its imprinted,And that was the purpose. I also make rubble piles out of bricks,rocks,chunks of concrete,fence wire, scrap metal anything and everything, food in the top middle of the pile bait them a little with the beef and they'll do the rest by themselves. Mark the pups,keep an eye on the litter,keep an accurate logbook you've imprinted your pups and should be able to evaluate  each pup for placement in the right home.Ragwork can be started as soon as the pups can follow the movement effectively.I like to work pups with them still in the puppy pen and me on the outside,thats the way I imprint frustration in the initial ragwork.                     Michael                                                       

Very nice "direction" Michael49.......great post.
One other thing that we do is....we always have a radio or TV going in the whelping room from birth......the "sounds" that come also from the TV can help stimulate the puppies early on.......ie...screems, sirens, bangs, laughter, crying....etc....you kinda get it......
Robin

 

crhuerta,thank you ,I whelp my pups in my home,in a spare bedroom so the tv is always a part from the beginning.

YEP...in my home also.....3rd bedroom.....then after 6 weeks, when no longer nursing.....downstairs to our finished family room-(basement), in 4x6x12 "dog run"...so they have tons of room, when we're not home.
Robin

Thank you so much for the directions................I'm forever greatful

Sitasmom,

We had the trust of our bitches to enter the whelping pen and handle the pups from birth, and to assist in the birthing. We were able to assist in feeding them, swtching the pups on the teats and bringing them out of the pen to spend some time sleeping on our laps, chests, etc. before their eyes open. After their eyes open and they get their footing, and begin to play with each other, we toss a rag into the pen and sooner or later the pups begin tug-o-wars. I have actually had eight week olds on sheep and moving about forty head about a pen.

From birth to 8 weeks,
I'm glad I do things differently.
I may handle pups but not for the first few days, the first few weeks belong to momma.  (limited handling)
Let puppies discover new things on their own terms together.  Part of the next few weeks belong to litter mates.
Sounds and smells are best served up from a distance, textures surfaces come later.
I let mom decide when to stop nursing and let the pups climb their first wall that separates mom from pup.
When they can climb over I take mom away and then they can leave the kennel to play with mom outside. (beginning of discovery of the outside world)
By six weeks more time can be spent one on one with individual pups.  But they need the litter interaction now more than the outside stimulus. (toys and pulls have been in place but now they start to use them).
At eight weeks everything changes, time to separate and bond with humans,  this is a good time to just be a puppy.
Play time becomes learning and now you can use balls rags, tugs or whatever.  Teach the most basic of things first.
Let puppies be puppies, observe carefully every move and reaction.  The test is you seeing whats there.
Take your time and be patient, don't rush or push.
There's plenty of time for tests if you watch for the opportunities.   First get to know your pup, then the rest is simple.
Better raised pups have more confidence and learn faster, less stress is always better.
Knowing your pup is the key and no tests can compare to that.
Be patient and it will all be easier.

Moons.