Note on Puppy Litter

One of our readers who has litter trained adult Shitzu dogs commented on an earlier post of mine concerning litter training.  He remarked that the Wood pellet litter is good for young puppies but that it is good to transition to Second Nature dog litter as the puppy gets older.   The problem is that the sawdust being so fine gets tracked around the house on the puppies paws.  The Second Nature litter is a paper product and does not create such a mess.  So on his recommendation you may wish to be prepared to transition your puppy to the less messy product when you bring him home.  Another recommendation, is to put a rough doormat outside the litter box to help catch the mess while you are using wood pellets.

Here is the link to the Second Nature Litter website if you want to read up more about it.
http://www.doglitter.com/GetPage.aspx?D=28924995&T=5957901

The importance of Socialization

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION -- 3-8 weeks

The period of time in a puppies life from 3 weeks to 8 weeks old is a very important time for them to socialize with their litter mates and their mother.   Their mother corrects them with a Yip or a bark when they get out of line.

Their puppy play is fun and games, but also teaches them about how hard they can bite before it causes another puppy to squeal and other important lessons of interaction.

At 7 weeks their socialization with people is important, but it is still secondary to their socialization with their litter.  That is why a puppy should stay with its litter until 8 weeks of age.   Taking the puppy to soon can create behavior problems for the puppy, in his later interaction with other dogs.  A good breeder ensures that a puppy has everything he needs for this early socialization....but socialization is not finished at 8 weeks!

HUMAN SOCIALIZATION   : 7-12 weeks

When you adopt your puppy, it is now your turn to continue to plan for the puppies socialization. 

At 8 weeks of age, begins the time when bonding with their family is of primary importance, this is the best time for a puppy to go to his new home.  Bonding with your puppy is easy since you will spend a lot of time with him/her.  You will replace his litter and he will want to be with you as much as you are able to be with him.

But spending his time with his own family is not enough.  It is very important that you not forget to give your puppy the opportunity to interact with other dogs and people.

Do not take your puppy into public areas before they have completed their puppy boosters, but do invite friends over to visit your puppy and ask them to bring their friendly dogs that are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

A Puppy Kindergarten Class is a great way to schedule time into the puppies life, that not only teaches basic commands, but also allows them to socialize with other puppies and people.  As soon as the shots are complete, it is highly advised that you take your puppy out whenever practical.  Trips to the park, the Petstore, or any where where they can meet other people and pets, will help your puppy to grow up to be as friendly as when you first met him.

Dogs who are not taken into public except to see the vet, or groomer are likely to be suspicious of strangers, and even hostile.  Why would a dog be positive about meeting people when at this critical stage the only strangers he saw gave him shots and did unpleasant things to him. In this current society, people live very busy lives and puppies are unlikely to get out much if we don't think ahead and plan for it.

Paying close attention to your puppies early socialization needs will ensure that your adult dog is the best he can be.

Here are our Girl Puppies and their Families

Now that all the families have chosen their puppies I am announcing which puppies will be going home with which family.  The puppy on the LEFT will go home with the family pictured to the RIGHT of them.

Peaches

Ginger

Scarlet

Here are the Boy Puppies with their families

 Here are the pictures of the boy puppies with their people.  The puppy on the LEFT will be going home with the family pictured to the RIGHT of them.

Toffee

Tigger

Taco

Family Visit #6

Our sixth family visit was this morning.

The puppies were very energetic and playful.  They were so excited to race about it was hard for the girls to hold them long enough for a pictures!

Family visit #5

Today was our fifth family visit.  The outdoor temperature was still a bit cool so we had our visit indoors.

The puppies were a little less active mid-morning, but they always exude charm without even trying.

It was such a joy to meet another wonderful family that is so excited about meeting the puppies.

On Monday we will have our sixth and final family puppy picking visit.  At that time we will announce the puppy that each family has chosen.  I know everyone is very excited for this moment so I will try to place this post before the days end!   In the meantime, Happy Easter to All!

Family visit #4

Our fourth family visit was Thursday afternoon.  The children were thrilled to meet the puppies.  They were the first family to be on our waiting list, so these little kids have been waiting a very long time!

Toffee is just the right size to hold.

Shortly after taking this picture to the right, I asked Camden what he liked best about Toffee.  He said "I like that he licks my face!"  I am still laughing about this, since my 5 yr old son said the exact same thing and so did 5 yr old, Adam, who had visited last weekend! (Adam was with the second family visit)


Camden and Adam happen to be cousins, who live a few doors away from eachother.  The two related families are both bringing one of our puppies home.  It is so great to know that their puppies will be able to have puppy play dates throughout their life.

Family visit #3

Pups from left to right are Scarlet, Taco, Peaches and Tigger

On Thursday we had our third family visit.  Like many of the others they enjoyed each puppy so much they  hated to have to choose one over the other.  I heard many people say the same thing, "If you handed us any one of these puppies we'd be happy!"

Scarlet

Peaches and Scarlet bounding about!

It was a gorgeous Spring day, and the it was great to sit on the lawn and let the puppies run to their hearts content.

Tigger gets some puppy love!

Peaches

Our Schnoodle litter at 5 weeks old!

Playtime in the puppy pen.

Tigger observes my camera.

Ginger, Taco and Scarlet

Peaches, Tigger and Ginger

Toffee in a perfect puppy pose.

Toffee and Scarlet

Scarlet

Scarlet

Toffee lookin' awful sweet!

More puppy love!

Babies and puppies...theirs nothing cuter!  I just had to add a few pictures of our own puppy lovin' moments!

Family Visit #2

On Saturday we had the pleasure of introducing our puppies to another one of our beautiful families.  Little Adam and Ella came with their Mommy to choose their puppy preferences.

I was so impressed with how gentle and careful both Ella and Adam were with the little puppies.  At 2 years old little Ella already shows distinctive signs of being a lifelong doggy lover!

It was so much fun to meet them and see how ready they are to give one of these puppies a place in their hearts.

As usual one of the puppies decided to be a show-off.  This time it was Toffee who decided to show off his Beanie Baby hunting skills.

Family Visit #1

Next to the birth of the puppies, the most exciting time has begun...when families start to pick their puppies!   Yesterday we had a family come to pick puppies.  They are second on the list so they had a first and second choice to make. Mom and Grandma brought their twin girls, and 3 yr old boy.

They had been counting down the day for this moment.  The excitement was huge! It was really hard for the kids to choose, as the puppies were exuding cuteness.  They had to hold each puppy to try them out.  In the end, their first choice was a girl, the second choice was a boy.  But we won't reveal their picks until the first family on the waiting list has made their choice.  (The puppies in the pictures were those they happened to have in their lap at the moment the camera was ready.)

This was one funny moment.  The puppy here was actually grabbing Mom's shirt and pulling it..."Pick me!  Pick me!"