Initial puppyhood - Page 1

I am starting this for a good reason.To anyone that breeds...Can you give in detail once the pups are weaned.What do you do for the pups?

your question is not very clear.

if you mean general care then i will list what i do

i worm my pups @ 2 5 8 weeks

claws clipped twice weekly

fed 4 times per day reducing to two meals at 8 weeks

weight charts filled in weekly

vet checks at 5 and 8 weeks

vaccinations

microchipped and tattooed at 8 weeks

flead at 8 weeks if necessary

basic training IE potty sit down bite inhibition heel work etc.

i could go on for ages

What do you expose them to at 4 weeks of age..once weaned?

Different walking surfaces-wood, carpet, linoleum, grass, dirt, etc.
Our resident cat who loves puppies and interacts and plays gently with them
Different noises (nothing drastic in the beginning-dropping of things mostly)
Wearing of a collar
Gentle grooming, feet & ear handling (nail clipping) & bathing
Dad if he's on the premises (not all studs will allow this-use your own experience to make sure its safe),
The sweeper running by their cage and other noises associated with everyday in-home living (our pups are whelped and raised in our home right with us from before they arrive, so they get their start as being indoor dogs right from the beginning). Our pups often watch the sweeper and pounce back and forth, wanting to get to it-NOT afraid, but funny to watch. They look forward to routine sweeping.
Other extended family members of our household for trustworthy new people to see and visit them in our home
2-3x daily cleaning of their premises and blanket change/washing
LOTS OF TLC and loving handling-puppies are a 24/7 job!

When they're older (5-7wks), we expose them to different toy textures (soft, hard, burlap, cotton), leash dragging(supervised),  and toy sounds. We begin young puppies eating a warmed gruell mixture at 3 weeks old and keep it going but gradually backing off heating it and then the liquid part until pups are 6 weeks (licensed vet checking and 1st shots at 6wks -but NEVER allow puppies on the vet's floor and have them spray down the exam table in my presence just prior to letting puppies out of our crate for checking). We aim to get puppies on hard puppy kibble and drinking water by 6 weeks, but litters vary, so it could take more or less time to do this depending on the breeding and advancement of the litter. You must worm them routinely to keep them healthy and parasite free. Watch their poo daily and make sure nothing seems amiss; watery poo can indicate a potential Coccidia or Giardia.

that is of course if the bitch has weaned early and she has had the freedom to teach each individual..enough is enough naturally.Far ahead of weaning there are obstacles I place to judge a pup.Interesting things.The dam always takes notice in her den but she as well watches her pups.The den was not just 4 boards in square. I created a perfect den for the dam for privacy.The way it should be.Once she led them out to the new world in grass etc.I had already set up obstacles for them.Something to climb..go through..hide under if need be.Something that would rock if one stepped upon.A metal coffee can..a plastic bottle filled with rocks.A small rope etc.A pvc pipe set very low in height.I sat back and just watched the pups.I am wondering if anyone else has done this with their litter and know each pups achievements within the litter at an early age.

Rainhaus

I know the breeders at starkepfoten do the same stuff you are describing. I have seen video of there litters getting exposed to enviroments like what you speek of.

We had multitude of things set out for exploring through, over , and under.  Getting used to water (big flat pans filled with water), slush (big flat pans with water and shaved ice), metal grating and stairs (enclosed tight hallway stairs)  are another big things.  Many stairs and walkways are metal grating that can been seen through, some dogs are not good about that when they have not been exposed early.  Ramps, poles to walk (jump) over, chain link fencing laid down to walk over for a different surface.   Various flooring, slick, carpet, tile, different color surfaces too, etc.  Also kept a radio playing 24/7 and would switch around volumn and stations so a great variety of sounds and noises.    Met the house cats and learned they weren't fluffy chew toys.  Many people do that with their litters, it should be the norm.  Others have touched on most of the what to do's tattoo, mocriochip, vet wise, etc.  I also AKC registered them before they left, not just supply forms so the new owners could take care of it.

the simple answer is as much as possible

Yes it should be the norm animules.Thanks for adding about the radio.I wonder if anyone plays the TV as well.Say for instance..putting in a dvd of war sounds...Bullets fired etc etc.With your experience.Have your pups been shy of water?

None of my dogs I raised have been shy of water.  I have a sheep stock tank they can splash dry in no time, not to mention their water buckets.  As pups they played in water.  And living in the Pacific Northwest all are very used to rain and mud puddles...... 

There is a place to order CD's with any and all various noises and sounds an animal may be exposed to depending on what you do.    I could try and find the site again but it's been a while.....   Besides, playing the radio (or TV) is much cheaper........