Raising Ginger from 9 week - 14 weeks of age

Here is some big news.  After 10 years of breeding dogs I finally kept one of my puppies!   People are rather astonished when they hear this.  Why would you buy a dog from someone else when you have such wonderful puppies of your own?   Well the answer is quite simple   To keep one of my puppies as part of my breeding program would require me to have a different stud dog with a totally different genetic background then her father. 

So the exciting news is that we have a new Red Miniature Poodle named Jasper...Jazz for short.   So I have a second stud, and I have kept one of Winnies girls for my own.    That puppy is Ginger, from Winnie's litter, and I am excited to share her story of how I raise her with you!

Ginger at 14 weeks soon after her first "puppy cut".

Given the fact that my kids attend 4 different schools, ( grade school, middle school, highschool and college!) we had kids starting at all different times through the month of August, and it was a super busy time for me.   So I wouldn't say it was the best time for me to start training an 8 week puppy, but like many of my customers....life is busy, and you need to do your best. 

I thought it would be helpful to all our new puppy customers as well as potential puppy customers to outline the training and socialization that I have done with Ginger to possibly give you some ideas of how to  incorporating a new puppy into your life.

8 Weeks:
Between 8 and 9 weeks of age, all of Ginger's litter mates were going to their new homes.  It was time for Ginger to start the next phase of her life too as an official member of our family.  As soon as Ginger turned 9 weeks of age, I took her to the veterinary for her second set of shots (3 weeks apart from the 6 week set of shots).   With those shots taken care of my comfort level with taking Ginger out in public would be much greater!

9 weeks
 Unfortunately, my family was scheduled for a week vacation at the beach on Aug 4...and I had not counted on a new puppy at the time that we booked the house.   So just like many of my puppy families during the month of August, I was scrambling in my head to think of who I could trust with Ginger.   I already had a college student lined up to house sit, and watch my adult dogs.....but I did not want to overwhelm him with the responsibilities 4 adult dogs....and a 9 week puppy.

Lucky for me, I have a friend who has a lot of experience with dogs who was able and willing to take Ginger for a week.   So at 9 weeks of age Ginger was starting fresh with a new family, just like her litter mates.   During the week at my friends house, she had quiet time in her pen with her Ugodog, as well as outdoor potty breaks and playtime out on the lawn with my friend and her other pets.   When I got home after the week, Ginger was thrilled to see me!   It felt so good to be loved and remembered!   I was not sad that I had left her.   Because I knew she had had a really great week experiencing a new place, with new people and new pets.   Her socialization time (after her litter life) was off to a great start!.

10 Weeks:
My puppy was now a week older.....I could see that during my week away, Ginger had made great strides in her outdoor potty habits.   She was going potty as soon as we took her outside, and was doing great holding it inside during playtime.   She had also got really good at climbing out of her pen, so I immediately ordered a pen with a lid so I had a secure spot to leave her when I was away from home.  During the day Ginger prefers a 24 inch wire crate that I keep in the kitchen.   She settles down happily in the crate and watches the family go by, or naps until it is time for her to go potty again.

Car Rides:   The car rides are very short at 10 weeks.  I drop my son at the bus stop, so we are home in less than 10 minutes.   Its a very gentle way to  make her very comfortable in the car.

Potty Training
I have Ginger on a Outdoor Potty schedule.   She can use her Ugodog in her pen, when she is there, but mostly she would rather go outside.   She will cry pitifully if she needs to go potty.   And I immediately take her outside and she does her business roght away.   After that I can let her run around the kitchen with the big dogs for 30 - 45 minutes...I still supervise her playtime.....and then she goes back to the crate for about an hour.

At night time, I put Ginger's crate next to my bed.   She used the potty tray until she was 11 weeks old.  But by then she was easily climbing out of pens.  So it was just easier to keep her in a wire crate where she could not escape.  By 11 weeks she was also holding her bladder from 11 pm to 6:30 am....so I was Ok with taking her outside to potty.  If I want to sleep in...I take her to use the potty and then put her back in her crate and go back to bed.   She doesn't start her day officially, until I start my day.  And she sits in her crate quietly watching me get ready.   She is so good.  She lets me take all the time I need to shower and get ready in the morning.   She doesn't make a peep.  When I am ready to go down and start my day, she comes along with me.


Commands
This week I am training Ginger to SIT.  I give a hand signal and lift the treat slowly over head.  When she sits I give her the treat.  I will train her with the hand signal first and then add the word "sit" when the visual cue is already learned.

Leash Training:  
I got Ginger an Harness in size Small.  It is better for her not to be jerking her little neck in getting use to the leash.  I do not drag her along on the leash.  I patiently wait, taking a few steps until she starts to follow me.  I do not drag her along or yank her.   There is no rush here.   If I have to get somewhere with her, I pick her up.   Usually I do some time letting her follow me on leash and some time walking with her in my arms.   My first trip to Petco was an uncomfortable place for her.  She would just sit down or try to pull away.  I just picked her up for a few minutes.  And went about my business.  A few minutes later I let her walk some more.  When she stopped and sat, I picked her up for a few more minutes.  It was fine.   She was developing a comfort level with the new place and it requires patience.

Grooming:
I have trimmed Gingers nails several times over the weeks.  I gave Ginger her first puppy cut at 10 weeks of age. (Sept 9) I did not cut the fur too close.  It was a super quick trim with the shears.  She didn't like it too much and tried to gnaw on the grooming shears...which is what puppies do.   But it was not agressive biting...just the puppy play biting.  I had my daughter hold her still and did a very quick all over trim of her body and legs.  (the photos are of Ginger after her puppy cut)    I gave Ginger her hair cut, to get her use to the grooming process.   After I was finished, I missed her fluffy puppy coat.   If I had it all to do over again, I would instead use  a large attachment comb on the shears to give Ginger the grooming experience without taking off any of the fur.    Oh well, she is still cute...and fur does grow back pretty fast.

SOCIALIZATION:   It is super important that you spend the first few months with our puppy exposing her to as many new POSITIVE people, pets, places and experiences as possible.  At this age everything is new for Ginger and I watch her closely to make sure I am not presenting too much too soon.   If Ginger appears stressed by whining, yawning or hiding,  then I pick her up and take her to a more comfortable situation.   

The list below what I documented for this week with Ginger:

The Car:  Short Car Rides to the bus stop daily

The World:  Visit to Parking lot, and Petco store:   4 adults, 2 children.

Kid Playtime:   4 children from the neighborhood come to play with our puppies regularly.  I also visit the play ground regularly so she can meet a ton of new children.

Adult Playtime:  I have had 10 adults and 4 teens come over to the house week and interact with the puppy..

Puppy Play time at Petco:   2 adults 1 child and 1 other puppy (4) months old Collie)

Field Hockey practice at the park -  4 adults, 6 teens, an Puppy meets a dozen people and experiences a new place

Pet Store:    3 adults and 1 other puppy (10 mths old Golden Retriever)

Ginger still has a lot of training for the months ahead.  I hope that this blog post encourages you not to waste anytime socializing your puppy while he or she is still young.

Winnie's puppies go to their homes

The past few weeks Winnie's puppies have been going to their new homes.  I am so grateful to all the wonderful people who have chosen one of my Schnoodles for their own.  Although it is bittersweet to say goodby to these little puppies that have been such a big part of my life over the last 2 months.   I am overwhelmed with joy to experience the excitement of the new families as they come to take their little companions to their new home.

The time is right for these puppies to leave the stage of litter socialization and begin to learn the social cues of human interaction.  They need to bond with their new families and experience the world in a broader way now.

Thank you again to all of you who have made this wonderful puppy journey possible for me and my family.  As I say good by to your little furry friend I am already excited for the new litters to come!

Coco (Lilly) goes home to Hampton, VA

Emma (Violet) goes home to Maryland

Gerkin (Daisy) goes home to Washington, DC

Yoda goes home to Florida

!

Winnie's 6 week Puppies

Winnie's litter are already 6 weeks old now!  Their fur has grown thick and curly, and they are full of fun and energy.   Nothing makes them happier than to go outside to play.  They run about chasing each other and exploring the bushes.   This is such a fun age for a puppy!

Last Saturday they had fun meeting their new families.  Yes, all these precious pups are sold!  But you can always get on the Waiting list for our next litter of puppies!

 On Monday the puppies saw the Veterinary.  All the puppies were reported in great health.   They also received their first set of shots and were wormed.   The pups are now fully weaned and eating dry dog food.   So now they just need another week of growing and they will be all ready to go home with their new families.   We will miss these cuties for sure!

Daisy at 6 weeks of age

Ginger at 6 weeks

Violet at 6 weeks of age

Lilly at 6 weeks of age

Yoda at 6 weeks of age

Benji at 6 weeks of age

Winnie's 4 week old puppies

Daisy

Lilly

Benji

Bandit

Winnie's 2 week puppies

The 2nd week of a puppies life is so exciting because that is the time that puppies eyes open!   I always get an up to the minute report from my youngest child.   One day I get up in the morning and the first thing I hear is, "Mom!  Come and see!  One of the puppies eyes is opening!"  And the next day, "Another puppy has his eyes open!"   And through the day their are reports until all the puppies eyes are open.   It is such a big event for my 8 year old.  He must keep checking on the puppies constantly!   Ha ha! 

Benji and Bandit at 2.5 weeks of age.

Of course, I do not blame him.  The opening of the eyes signals the wakening of the puppy to the world around him.  The timing corresponds to the opening of the ears and the puppies learning to stand up and walk on all four feet.  Yes, their legs are shaky at first.  And there mobility is for very short bits of time as they gain their strength.  Likewise vision and hearing start out rather fuzzy and get better every day that goes by    And of course, the puppies look so much cuter when you can see their eyes!   So I do like to wait to take the second week photos until after their eyes have opened.

Just for clarity sake, I will start with the photos of  Winnies 2 boys, Benji and Bandit.

Bandit

Bandit

Benji

Benji

Below are the photos of Winnie's girls, Rosie, Violet, Daisy and Lilly.

Rosie

Violet

Daisy

Lilly

Winnies 1 week old puppies

This week seems to have gone by so quickly.   Winnie and her puppies moved out of my bathroom (the most quiet far away place in the house) to our nursery room.   The puppies have spent the week eating, sleeping and growing!   If there is anything that marks this first week for the puppies, it is that they have grown so much and gotten visibly chubbier.  The color pigment is coming into their noses...so they have lost the soft pink color and are almost completely black.  Their eyes and ears are still closed, but they are very active and move about the whelping pool very quickly to get to their mom.

Here are the photos of the girls (below)...

The girls (photo 2)

The girls (photo 3)

And the photos below are the boys....

Benji (left)  and Bandit (right) 

Winnie's Litter born June 1

A few hours after giving birth to 6 puppies, Winnie needs to sleep.

I am so excited to share the news that Winnie had her litter of puppies!   The litter was born Friday night, June 1, 2018.   There were 6 puppies in all....4 girls and 2 boys.  Yah for girls!   Not that I have anything against boys.  But I do believe this is the first time in my history of Schnoodle breeding that I have actually had more girls than boys!   It was uncanny how the boy genes always won out.   So yes, we have lots of little girl puppies.  And I am sure it will make some of our customers very happy!

The puppies came super quickly.  The first 4 pups were born every 15 minutes, and the last 2 puppies were born 30 minutes apart.   2 hours for 6 puppies is a very fast delivery!    Happily the little darlings are all very healthy and strong.   They had no problems finding their way to their mom, and started nursing as soon as they were born.  

Winnie is a very good mom.  She keeps her puppies very close to her.   I love this picture as you see one little puppy has snuggled up under Winnie's chin.  So sweet!

Look at that tiny face!

It took a few days to actually get a photo of the whole group of puppies (below) since Winnie was hovering over them so closely.   Yesterday when Winnie ran outside to use the potty, I finally got a photo where you can see all of the pups side-by-side.   I labeled the boys so you could see which pups were what gender.

I am so pleased that the puppies were all born without any trouble, and that the whelping went so smoothly.   Thank the Lord for a safe and healthy whelping!

How to Prevent Eye Stains and Beard Stains on White Dogs

Do you have Red or Brown stains on your dogs beard, face or fur?   If you do, I would like to share some solutions that work really well for my white Schnauzers.  I have owned white Schnauzers for 10 years so it has been a learning process.


We have all seen dogs with ugly brown staining under the eyes, or beard.   Most people just think the dog is dirty and needs a bath.  But it usually cannot be washed off.  People think it is a white dog problem...but it can be a problem for any dog.  It is most visible on a white dog.   Dogs with long growing fur are more susceptible since the fur can grow into the eyes and wick moisture onto the face, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast.  The same is true around the mouth.  Thick fur around the mouth can stay moist and also be a breeding ground for bacteria and yeast overgrowth.

What causes Red Stains on the fur?

The strain of Yeast that causes the Red Stains on dogs is called Pityrosporum or Malassezia  (and commonly mispelled in articles as Ptyrosporin.)   Yeast thrives in warm moist areas.   The problem is often seen in dog ears where fur can trap moisture and create an environment that is perfect for yeast to thrive.   Dogs that tear from teething, or allergies, or tear duct problems often have Yeast overgrowth under their eyes.   The area around the mouth and beard on the White Schnauzer is a very common area of staining..   And when dogs lick their paws because of allergies or boredom, that too creates a breeding ground for yeast.   Finally the skin of a dog is also a place where yeast overgrows.  IF your dog has itchy flaky skin and especially a somewhat orange tinge to their fur on their back, that is possibly a Yeast problem.   Although fur stains are most obvious on a white dog, Yeast overgrowth can be a problem for a dog with any fur color.   If you suspect your dog has a problem with yeast read on....


How to STOP Yeast overgrowth from within....

The best way to stop yeast from growing is to remove the Yeasts Food Source!
What does yeast grow on?   Sugars and Carbohydrates that change to sugars in the body.  Therefore, you MUST remove all carbohydrates from your dogs diet.  Switch your dog to Grain Free Food and treats.  I like Petco's Whole Hearted Grain Free Dog Food.   For treats I like to use real food.  I cut up real liver, or chicken and freeze them to have on hand.   Once you change the diet, the yeast will start dying off within days.  You won't see the stains disappear immediately.   They are stains, so you have to give the fur a chance to grow out.   Give yourself a month and you will see noticeable results.   Cut away the stained fur if you like, and it will come back nice and white.

Is eliminating carbohydrates healthy for a dog?   YES..
Most inexpensive dog foods are full of carbohydrates because they are a cheap filler. But carbohydrates are not very good for dogs nutrition.   Experts say that the dogs digestive system is not meant to break down carbohydrates.... "Since dogs do not have flat grinding teeth, a long digestive tract, or amylase in their saliva, they have a difficult time digesting diets high in carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates tend to stay in the dog's digestive tract longer, which slows down the digestive process and can cause spasms and irritations in the large intestine as the dog labors to process them."  Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Lew Olson, PhD.

So again, the best way to get rid of Yeast is to take out the sugars and carbohydrates that convert to sugars.  This will give you the best results with the least effort and expense.

 The next step, Proper Grooming around Eyes

Regular grooming is necessary for reducing eye infections and yeast.  Fur that pokes into the eyes, will cause moisture to wick out of the eyes.  Build up of debris at the corner of the eye is a breeding ground for bacteria.  So yes, keep your the area under the dogs eyes clean by occasionally removing any build up and washing your dogs face to keep it nice and clean.

Other products that I have tried....
Before I thought to change my dogs diet, I also tried a multitude of products.  They worked to some extent and can be used in conjunction with a diet change to help stop the Yeast growth faster.    But used alone the methods below are really just band aids on the problem.   It is still best to solve the problem from within.   

1) Angel Eyes Original. -  The active ingredient Tylosin Tartrate is a low-grade antibiotic.  It really works to eliminate Yeast...but in 2014 the FDA banned the sale of products containing Tylosin Tartrate without a veterinary prescription.  There is the concern that continually giving a dog an antibiotic will develop an antibiotic resistance that will be a problem for a dog.   Nonetheless, this product does work.  And will reduce the yeast in your dogs system.  Most people use it over a period of 3-4 months.   It is not as fast as a diet change.  But it does work.  

Angel Eyes Natural - This product has no Tylosin. I have NOT found this product to be very effective in my experience.  But I did not use it for very long.  Perhaps it needs to be used for a longer period of time.

2) Organic Apple Cider Vinegar -  The idea is to put a little in the dogs water.  Organic Apple Cider vinegar is unfiltered unpasteurized vinegar and has beneficial bacteria in tact.  It is beneficial in creating an environment that is inhospitable to yeast.   So I have used a solution of 2 cups water and 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to soak paws and to rinse the back of a dog with yeasty skin.  One can also put a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in with your dogs water it is a healthy supplement for people and for dogs.  Not only is it good for the system.  But it will change the acid level of the saliva around your dogs mouth and beard... and the yeast will have a harder time growing there.   

3) Eye Envy for Dogs has been a good product that I have used to clean under the eyes of a dog with staining.  The product recommends that you clean the dogs eyes every day and some people do it more than once a day.  It does remove some of the red yeast.  It is a bit expensive.  With daily use it will help a lot.  I use this in conjunction with a grain free diet on new white puppies that have stains from teething.   It really helps to stop the yeast stains quickly.  



For EAR infections:

4) Pet King Brand Zymox Otic Pet Ear Treatment with Hydrocortisone. This product combats bacterial, fungal, and yeast infections in the ears.  It works without antibiotic.  The enzymatic action naturally cleans and disinfects while destroying even the most resistant microbes.   When a dog is shaking his ears and miserable from the itchy yeast in his ears, you should get this product immediately.  I used it on one puppy that came to me with terrible Yeast overgrowth in her ears.  I took her to the vet but the antibiotic they gave her only made the yeast worse.  Two weeks later I was about to go back to the vet  but bought the Zymox Otic Ear Treatment instead..  It cured her itchy ears so quickly and saved me a second trip to the vet. The 5 stars from 7,300 people on Amazon are no lie.  If your dog has Yeast in his ears this will take care of it!

For Skin:
5) Moosh Natural Dog Shampoo... Bathing a dog with itchy skin is the most under-utilized treatment for skin problems but is the very effective.  Moosh shampoo is antibacterial and antifungal so it will reduce the yeast that is causing itchy flaky skin on your dog.  Veterinarians recommend washing the dog every 2 days.  Because this shampoo does not have detergents it will not dry out the dogs skin.   I have used this shampoo and found it very effective.  But washing a dog every few days is a LOT of work!  So hopefully when you change the diet you won't need to bath your dog so often. 

Conclusion:    I have owned many white dogs over the last 10 years.   All of my dogs have experienced yeast overgrowth at some point in their life and occasionally during pregnancy.  I have taken my dogs to the veterinary for the problem and the antibiotics they prescribed did not do much to help the problem.  The best thing I have found to reduce staining is to feed my dogs a GRAIN FREE diet.   All my dogs have done very well not getting yeast problems once I made the switch.   The grain free food is also the healthiest way to feed your dog anyway.  

When I first changed my dogs diet, Winnie was still a puppy and had a very terrible yeast problem in her ears and under her eyes.  After the diet change, I literally could see the white fur growing in on Winnie's face and the Red Stains growing out as clearly as night and day!  The happened within weeks of changing to a grain free diet.  The Yeast in Winnie's ears disappeared and never returned.    My dogs have never looked so beautifully white before.   So if your dog has any staining on his or her fur, I do hope you will try a Grain Free diet.  Take Before and After photos!   Let me know how it works for you!   

Introducing Winnie the Pooch!

I would like to introduce Winnie for the first time.   She is one of our four Schnauzer girls who we breed for Schnoodle puppies.   Winnie is expecting her first litter very soon.

Winnie is 18 lbs and stands at 14 inches at her shoulders.   Her fur is very thick, soft and wavy.   Her coat is gorgeous, but when it is kept long it does need to be brushed 2-3 times a week to prevent knots from forming.

I took these photos a few weeks ago.  Winnie is expecting her first litter, but was not overly round, that she still looks nice in photos...

Winnie is what I would call "smitten" with me.   She follows me everywhere and when I sit down she is the first to leap into my lap.   She turns her body to face mine, so she can gave lovingly at me.   It is absolutely precious.   I think I am smitten with Winnie too!   

Winnie is super responsive to training.    When I took her to puppy classes she was a stand out in the class.  The trainer would show her once what she was asking and that was just about all it took.  I had a few different trainers over the course of her classes and they all were rather amused with how incredibly focused she was.   Other dogs in the class were all ADHD...but not Winnie.  She sat there with her gaze fixed on me waiting to find out what was next.  When the trainer was showing something to another dog, she would watch them so she would know what she would need to do next.   What a fun dog to train!!!

The photos below are what Winnie looked like at 5 weeks of age.   What a baby she was!

These next photos are not so clear, but I thought they were useful.
This first photo shows Winnie being held by my 6' 4" son.   He picks her up like a Teddy Bear, and  she is the biggest of all my girls.

This last photo is what Winnie looks like in her long Winter coat.   She is like a Sheepdog with all that fur!

Finally I want to share all the funny names we call Winnie.   Her registered name is "Winnie the Pooch".  

My 8 year old calls her "Winnie Wheats" since his favorite cereal is Mini Wheats.   

I like to call her  "Winnie Widi Wici" which is the Classical pronunciation for "Veni Vidi Vici", a quote from Julias Caesar meaning, "I came, I saw, I conquered!"   Now my son did not believe me that you pronounce V's as W's in classical Latin...but it is true!    (and I think this quote fits Winnie perfectly!)

Winnie was bred with Blaze (our awesome Red Mini Poodle)  on Mar 26, 2018.   Her due date is May 28, 2018.   She is now past her due date, so we are expecting puppies to arrive any day now!  We are super excited to share the story of Winnie's Schnoodle babies.  These will be the highest quality Schnoodle puppies you can find.  They will be beautiful, super smart and well socialized in an active household. We are so excited to see the new babies!  Be sure to check back for updates!