Puppies First Easter - 19 Day Old

Wow... the puppies are waking up. I can tell they can see me as they track me with there eyes and they wake up and look around if they here a loud sound. The Early Nero Stim is over and we are approaching the critical week between 21 and 28 days. It also happens to be April vacation this week so the kids are home. It will be a challenge to keep them all separate.

Observation Day 15

Well the puppies are awakening... My independent Girl started opening her eyes last Friday at 10 day... the remaining three started at 11 days and by 12 days they were all open... although they had a very glassy look about them. Yesterday their eyes seemed to brighten up. By day 12 they were all standing and bearing weight on their legs and attempting to walk... today they take several wobbly steps on there own. They don’t even try to scoot anymore.

They are getting much more aggressive during the Early Neurological Stim... in fact, all have mouthed me during different points of the stim and they are getting much harder to control because they are so wiggly and getting so big so fast. At first they were very calm for the most part... but when there eyes opened... so did other things.

I have actually seen them playing and mouthing each other. It is so cute.

I have so much more reading to do. I am currently reading the Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods. After this is done... I have Advanced Schutzhund, Cesar's Way, Try Tracking, fun Nose work for dogs and Another Piece of the Puzzle = A lot of reading.

Questions about “The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior

Well I was relived to find out that the research in the book still hold true to this day and is practiced regularly buy trainers in the sport and working world. I also found out that it is true that a dog is destined to be a failure if raised with his mother until adulthood. The remedy to this is to keep them separate from 12 weeks until adulthood.

This does pose a challenge as I have always been the type allow my dogs (who have earned the privilege) to roam freely in my home. I do have one small male Sheba that is kenneled away from my children when the kids are home because he has shown aggression and once my trust in the dog is gone no amount of training can overcome that.

Since Marsha is my second shadow… it will be more challenging to keep the puppy and her apart after the puppy reaches 12 weeks of age. Marsha has become accustom to following me everywhere and since she is never been any trouble to have around or take with me… I haven’t seen a reason not to have her around. I actually prefer to have her around and it’s sweet, she has touched the heart of some many people that when I get calls… my friends and family always ask about her.

She did give me a swift kick to the curb when the puppies were born, but over the last couple days I have seem my girl coming back around. When she hears me grab my keys she is on my heels. She is also much calmer about letting people see the pups. The first couple days she was pretty nervous and even growled at a few people that came to see them. Now… she just lays back and loves it.

The female I call the independent one (she is the one by herself in the photo below) started opening her eyes last night. Her sister has started standing on all fours briefly. Last night when doing the Early Neurological Stimulation... the two boys were perfect, they never whimpered or struggled a bit. The independent female struggled on her back... which she never has done before and her sister struggled when flipped upside down. On all other tests the female were quiet and clam even the cold towel.


Last night I curled up with a new book, Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods. I was happy to see the Author started the book right off by referencing, summarizing and clarifying Pfaffenbergers and Dr. Scotts research and how it impacts other sporting / working dog training.

Critique of “The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior, by Clarence Pfaffenberger

Yesterday after reading the first 85 pages of “The New Knowledge of Dog Behavior” I was not very impressed with the book. I bought it to learn about dog behavior and a significant portion of the first 85 pages where devoted to the life history of the author. Personally I think these 85 pages could have been condensed in a couple of pages and included as a forward. The experience and education of the author is useful information, but 85 pages are, in my opinion, excessive and I nearly ditched the book for a more interesting read.

The book sped up at page 87 and was so interesting I could not put it down until I was done. It was a fascinating and educational read but I have to wonder if the findings still hold true after 45 years since publication. I will have to investigate this further. My other concern is that the Author's studies were motivated by the desire to produce excellent guide dogs and although the 4 stages of critical development are true for all dog species, I suspect the test he does for guide dogs would be significantly different for other working dogs like PPD, SAR, Shcutzhund, ASR etc…

It was neat that he was able to determine that dogs that possess the natural desire to “retrieve” prove to be dogs that have the strong desire and willingness to please their owner, which is an important trait for a GD and was the single most notable test administered to indicate whether a dog would become a suitable guide dog.

It was interesting that he was able to determine that dogs that initially tested well did not go on to pass the training if they were deprived socialization after 12 weeks when the preliminary tests were concluded.

I found it disheartening that a puppy raised with its mother to adulthood could never be successfully train as a GD… I would assume that would carry over to other fields of work. Since I am keeping a puppy for training, I have to wonder if my puppy is doomed from the start just because the pup will be raised with his mother.

The author explains that a dog needs to “learn to learn” in the first 4 months and if learning and socialization are deprived during this time, the dog has almost no chance of success even as a family pet.

I have a far better understanding of linebreeding now and how genetics play a huge roll in determining the success of a dog however; even the most genetically superior dog will fail if it is not properly raised during the first 4 months. According to the book once this window is closed there is no going back and the dogs natural abilities are forever retarded.

Overall the book was great…I learned a lot about the 4 critical stages of dog development, all which occur in the first 16 weeks of life, and the things you should do with the puppy to maximize it’s learning capabilities, but I have to wonder if further research over the last 45 years has changed any of the findings in anyway?

If all the research that was discovered back in 1960 still holds true, I would highly recommend the book

Nine Days Old

The pups are all doing about the same. One female still likes her independence but I am not sure if it is in fact independence of if it is really low drives as she is also the one that sleeps the most. I guess we'll see when it comes time for exploring.

The boys are still the big eaters, and all 4 are tolerating the Early Neurological Stimulation very well. They all seem to get the most squirmy and squawky when I tip them upside down. They handle the cold towel with little outward display of distress other then being wobblely and they are all are relaxed on their backs.

Last night I trimmed their toenails and the independent female handled it with the most grace... she squawked just a little but didn't totally fight it like the other three did.

I am getting excited for the fun playful days to come… and all the things I want to expose them to.

We took another short ride in the car yesterday and I started reading "The New Knowledge of Dog behavior". The verdict is still out on that book. I am halfway through it and so far the author, Clarence Pfaffenberger, has spent the entire time talking about his life. He has touch on Linebreeding a little... but otherwise I haven't read much about dog behavior.

Daily Observations Day 6

I have been doing early neurological stimulation and all the puppies for 3 days and they all seem to tolerate it very well. They get a bit squirmy on the cold towel but not unreasonably. They all lay on their backs very well… The first day I did this test the first born male was more squirmy and vocal then the rest but yesterday and today he was much more relaxed and quiet.

There is one female who seems to be the independent one in the group (not the female with white toe). I often find her off sleeping by herself while the other 3 stay grouped together when moms not around.

The two males eat a lot more then the ladies and they seem to stay closest to mom's belly while the girl’s frolic around mom's head and chest. They have all squirmed their way out of the closest at one point or another. I need to put up a gate ASAP.

Marsha is doing better too. At first no one except me could handle the puppies. Today anyone who came to the house was able to touch them and she didn’t seem to mind. We took a road trip today. I had to go somewhere and Marsha jumped up and met me at the door when I grabbed my keys. So I packed up the babies and off we went. I really want to socialize the crap out of them and expose them to as many noises and experiences as I can once they can see and hear. I have been vacuuming around them and they seem oblivious. I would love to find a really noisy cd with all kinds of different sounds like gun shots… horns honking… loud music… etc… When they get older I will expose them to water. Marsha hates water and I can only assume it is because she was not exposed to it. That will not be the case with the puppies.

I found a great link to some good ideas for working / sports puppy development.