Raising Puppies
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From the Beginning
Puppies are whelped (born) indoors in our home. The first several weeks we spend the night in the whelping room with the pups and moms to make sure we are there if they need us. Mom's nurse naturally and have constant access to food and water. They receive additional pampering and nutrient dense meals. Mom's and puppies are monitored by video and us in person. We have a puppy NICU in the event a puppy or litter needs extra support or warmth. This gives us control over the ideal environmental settings to best support the puppies. Moms are involved with their puppies the entire time they're here with us. They are allowed to parent and raise their puppies as they want to. We have a variety of methods we use to prepare your puppy for life away from us.
Early Neurological Stimulation AKA Battaglia's Method
Early neurology stimulation (ENS) begins within the first week of life, and is followed up with desensitization to textures, sounds (including fireworks and banging noises), images (included hats, glasses and beards), and objects. ENS, also known as Battaglia's method is a 5 step handling method to introduce mild stressors in a controlled and safe environment. Often starting at 3 days old and lasting until 16th day old. The method was created by Dr. Carmen Battaglia for the US military for their dogs.
The 5 Steps:
The Rule's of 7 is a method of exposure to a variety of textures, rooms, environments and such in sets of 7. It is crucial to desensitize puppies between 8-12 weeks old especially once they're in their forever homes to reduce fearfulness and anxiety. Another method exactly like the Rule's of 7, is Puppy's Rules of 12 (https://wiseadvice.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/puppys-rule-of-twelve/) in which the puppy experiences a variety of exposures in 12s.
https://www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/early-neurological-stimulation-dogs/learning-center
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/puppy-socialization-series-2/
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/seminars/early-neurological-stimulation
http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/training-advantage-from-the-superdog-program/
https://breedingbetterdogs.com/article/early-neurological-stimulation
The 5 Steps:
- Hold the puppy's head up.
- Hold the puppy's head down, gently, no swinging.
- Hold the puppy on his back.
- Put the puppy's belly down on a cool towel.
- Stimulate the bottom of the foot with a cotton swab.
The Rule's of 7 is a method of exposure to a variety of textures, rooms, environments and such in sets of 7. It is crucial to desensitize puppies between 8-12 weeks old especially once they're in their forever homes to reduce fearfulness and anxiety. Another method exactly like the Rule's of 7, is Puppy's Rules of 12 (https://wiseadvice.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/puppys-rule-of-twelve/) in which the puppy experiences a variety of exposures in 12s.
https://www.revivalanimal.com/pet-health/early-neurological-stimulation-dogs/learning-center
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/puppy-socialization-series-2/
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/seminars/early-neurological-stimulation
http://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/training-advantage-from-the-superdog-program/
https://breedingbetterdogs.com/article/early-neurological-stimulation
Temperament Testing
Puppies will be individually tested for their base temperament. This testing is usually performed on young puppies. Studies that have tested various temperament testing methods have used a variety of age groups, mostly from 6-8 weeks of age. Testing can be done as early as 4-5 weeks, when puppies are first starting to explore outside of their whelping area, depending on the developmental milestones the litter has progressed to.
We use the Volhard Puppy Aptitude method, as it is more reliable. The Campbell method assigns letters for personality groups, but is only accurate when predicting more outgoing puppies. Studies show it favors male dominance and female submission and isn't as accurate for those pups who fall into more calm or placid personalities. Each puppy will have a copy of their score sheet in their take-home folder.
We use the Volhard Puppy Aptitude method, as it is more reliable. The Campbell method assigns letters for personality groups, but is only accurate when predicting more outgoing puppies. Studies show it favors male dominance and female submission and isn't as accurate for those pups who fall into more calm or placid personalities. Each puppy will have a copy of their score sheet in their take-home folder.
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These tests have limitations. A dog's individual life experience will shape his/her behavior and personality. These tests are not to be taken as a "set in stone" assessment. Rather, these are more of a general guideline to the puppy's nature. Training, socialization, exposure, trauma, and such will shape the personality and temperament of a dog. Puppies go through many social, emotional and mental changes as they grow and mature much like how we do as we grow up. Remember, how a puppy scores during it's assessment may not be how he/she is as an adult. A puppy that loved going on walks may learn to hate walks if a trauma happened during one walk, such as a loose dog attacking it. These are just an assessment of how a puppy is NOW to help predict how it will be in the future.
Vetting
Left: proper alignment with short toenail. Right: angled alignment because of long toenail. Image property of Dr. Lisa Kluslow
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Puppies will leave nails trimmed, Trimmed nails help keep your pet healthy. Nails left too long can damage not only the toe joints, but all the joints. Long nails are equivalent to wearing shoes that are too tight. It is important to keep nails trimmed where they don't clack on the floor. Some clicking is okay depending on the shape of the dog's foot. Small, tight, cat-like feet are more likely to click some.
https://www.dogheirs.com/how-to-trim-dogs-nails/ https://moderndogmagazine.com/articles/why-keeping-your-dog-s-nails-trimmed-way-more-important-you-think/91767 https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/nail-clipping/the-importance-of-clipping-dogs-nails/ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/nail-neglect-can-lead-to-health-problems-for-your-dog/ |
All puppies will be microchipped between 6-7 weeks old with Fi Nano microchips and registered with AKC Reunite, given their core vaccinations on schedule, started on flea control, started on heartworm prevention, and dewormed biweekly. Vaccines are important in building up defenses to common canine diseases and ailments. puppies are vaccinated every 3 weeks on schedule. Vaccines, parasite prevention and microchipping are not optional. Puppies receive their first vaccine at 4 weeks old; the Nobivac Puppy DPv (providing the first step of immunity against canine parvo virus and canine distemper virus). They receive their Bordetella/Kennel Cough vaccine between 3-5 weeks old. They receive their 1-DAPPv or 1-DAPPvL2+Cv core series vaccines at 6. The recommended AMVA vaccination schedule is as follows:
- 3-4 weeks Bordetella, Influenza
- 6 weeks- Parvo, DHPP
- 9 weeks- DHPP
- 12 weeks- Rabies, DHPP, +Lepto, Coronavirus, Lyme
- 15 weeks- DHPP, +Lepto, Coronavirus, Lyme
- 12 months/annual- Rabies, DHPP, +Lepto, Coronavirus, Lyme
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Our Program
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All litters are whelped and raised indoors. Puppies are exposed to a variety of textures, faces (including eyeglasses, beards, hats), sounds, and to my children. Puppies are usually weaned between 3-5 weeks, depending on their mother. Mom's self-wean and are allowed to nurse as long as they want. Puppies are introduced to mush (a kibble, formula, water based mixture) around 3.5-4 weeks old. By 7 weeks they will be eating kibble independently. Puppies will move from blankets and puppy pads to a more absorbent bedding (such as corn or dust-free paper) and introduced to raised beds. Puppies will be allowed outside starting around 5-6 week sold, depending on weather. They begin crate and leash introduction/desensitization at 7 weeks old. Before leaving every puppy will have a nose to tail puppy health evaluation by our veterinarian.
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Puppies begin socialization the moment they're born. Puppies are handled daily and introduced to a variety of exposures, environments, textures, sights, sounds, and sensations. Puppies are not raised to just be friendly and happy, they're raised with a focus on coping strategies and traversing and adjusting to what life experiences they will encounter. A socialized dog is more than being sociable. A socialized dog is a dog that is confident and relaxed in itself, it's owner. and it's environment.
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Docking & Cropping Puppies
Tails are docked and dewclaws are removed between 2 and 5 days old by a veterinarian or under veterinarian guidance. While under anesthesia for their crops puppies receive an exam making sure their tails are properly docked (no bone fragments and skin is loose enough for proper closure and healing) and to ensure dewclaws have been fully removed, leaving no bone fragments left. Any bone fragments left could potentially get infected or work their way out later down the road, risking a corrective surgery. Tail corrections may be made during ear cropping surgery and will take between 1-2 months to fully heal. Dew claw corrections are usually healed within 2 weeks.
Cropped puppies will remain with Jackson's Kennel until their stitches are removed. Typically, puppies are cropped at 7 weeks and can leave 1-2 weeks post-surgery. Occasionally, puppies aren't able to be scheduled at 7 weeks and may need to be cropped later (8-10 weeks old) depending on the cropping vet's schedule and work load. We do our best to get puppies cropped timely and within your requested timeline. Puppies will not be released to their new families with stitches in or ears still raw. The healing process can be 1-3 weeks after cropping and will need to continue healing once at home. Stitches are removed 7-10 days after the crop. Puppies are only cropped by experienced, skilled vets trained specifically in cropped breeds and whom know how to do both show and companion crops. We do our best to schedule with Anne Midgarden DVM, but due to her high demand we may have to use other equally skilled vets such as Dr. Kim Forthofer-Braun, Dr. Amy Johnson DVM, and Dr. Serena Hagerfeld DVM.
Cropped puppies will remain with Jackson's Kennel until their stitches are removed. Typically, puppies are cropped at 7 weeks and can leave 1-2 weeks post-surgery. Occasionally, puppies aren't able to be scheduled at 7 weeks and may need to be cropped later (8-10 weeks old) depending on the cropping vet's schedule and work load. We do our best to get puppies cropped timely and within your requested timeline. Puppies will not be released to their new families with stitches in or ears still raw. The healing process can be 1-3 weeks after cropping and will need to continue healing once at home. Stitches are removed 7-10 days after the crop. Puppies are only cropped by experienced, skilled vets trained specifically in cropped breeds and whom know how to do both show and companion crops. We do our best to schedule with Anne Midgarden DVM, but due to her high demand we may have to use other equally skilled vets such as Dr. Kim Forthofer-Braun, Dr. Amy Johnson DVM, and Dr. Serena Hagerfeld DVM.