This is a video showing the first steps to teaching leash walking in heel position. The puppies are 9.5 weeks old. I am about a week behind where I normally wish to be at this age but we have been very busy with work thankfully so catching up as I can. This is a Puppy Culture technique from the workbook Chapters 8-9-10. Thank you to Jodie B. for the idea of using the long cream cheese spoon trick instead of treats. It works much more easily for me too. All the puppies did so well.
Sure, there’s a lot to criticize here – handler error – but instead focus on what’s being done correctly and effectively and see how each puppy is focusing a little more with each distraction. We didn’t video the first session without a collar and using an adult dog in heel position and having the puppy follow along. This 2nd session used a collar first, then the leash but notice I haven’t yet picked it up. That comes tomorrow. Keeping each training session very short – watching each puppy to see how his attention span is to determine the length. Always using positive only in my voice inflection and tone, plus loads of praise and the clicker . . . . . and of course yummy cream cheese which is something they only get for the more difficult of training sessions.
Enrichment begins the day we are born. We are shaped by our surroundings, experiences, nutrition and anything which we encounter – with puppies those first few months are critical.
Amazingly enough tiny baby puppies are able to absorb and learn like sponges. We can shape behaviors (both positive and negative) in as short as a couple of minutes. Aside from the ENS, ESI, Avidog, clicker and PC protocols we also learn from experience to do common actions around baby puppies which may seem unusual to some.
These activities may include fly swatting, loud conversations and even yelling, folding/popping of laundry and playing thunder and fireworks simulators. Some of these have been known fear issues in adult dogs. By doing them when puppies are 4-8 weeks old its possible to desensitize them.
whelping box set up 2 weeks in advance. This shows three generations.
Day 40
Day 53
Comparing Nealie and Bay on same day. Nealie had 6, Bay had 4 with 3 surviving (grand dam and grand daughter)
Swimming on Day 54. We allow simple exercising up to due date as long as its not overdone.
Day 56
Day 57 keeping watch
Day 58 – she helped me with lighting for a photoshoot I had
Day 59 – can clearly see expecting 4 puppies of good size
Day 60
Day 60 still out in the field playing
Day 61
Day 62
Overnight on day 63 – stage 1 labor has begun
1st pup very stuck, car delivery
bone broth made from local grass fed organically raised cows
Young Living oils, eggs/broth and other items in whelping room
Three healthy boy pups with mama on day 1
day 1 finally trying to rest
bone broth and scrambled egg
Day 3 things are looking up
Boy #1 at birth – 11.7oz
Boy from last litter on day 3 – 6oz
Puppy Culture workbook
Puppy Culture
There are times I question why I decided to breed dogs.
This week is one of those times. If you follow this blog then you already know about our last litter – it was bittersweet, exhausting, expensive, educational and fulfilling all at once. Multiply those emotions and facts for this past few days and you will understand my feelings a little better. I have included some interesting (to me) photos above from this litter experience. If you think all breeders are alike then you must not follow this blog or you live under a rock. What I show/do/describe/experience doesn’t make me better/worse than other breeders. I write about what I experience mostly for my own sanity, but also in the hopes that readers can learn a little bit – about breeding, about Staffords and about me. I also hope it educates them on the ‘ART OF PUPPY BUYING’ and everything that can, and should be a part of it.
Above you will see how we take photos of each bitch and he progression in her pregnancy and we can compare her to generations before her. We keep detailed notes from the moment she is born, on each season, each mating and throughout her pregnancy, whelping experience and raising the puppies. It doesn’t stop there but this blog today is mostly about this particular breeding experience.
We knew the semen we used was of good quality and we knew the bitch was healthy and young. The veterinary clinic we use is one of the best reproductive clinics in the country with two board certified Theriogenologists on staff. We did all health testing, timing, driving, sparing no expense – we did a surgical AI using frozen semen shipped to us from Italy. It was of very good quality upon thaw. The bitch conceived and progressed as expected without incident. We fed an appropriate diet, supplemented as directed and kept her in shape, not over feeding. Check ups went well, ultrasound showed 6-7 fetuses, all normal. We knew she had resorbed some at the x-ray and saw 4 good sized normal looking lined up puppies waiting to be born days later. Stage one began as expected and progressed normally. I move into the whelping room with each bitch approximately two weeks prior to due dates. I like to get them accustomed to the room. We use a guest room so she can be away from the other dogs in the home, in a dark quiet space but not too far from my husband in our room. The night before her due date (based upon progesterone, LH, ovulation) I slept on the floor beside the whelping box carefully monitoring her as she progressed. I take notes and photos along her journey as well as using Young Living oils to diffuse and massage.
I wont post the actual whelping photos here because for me thats personal for my experience and comparisons for each whelping. I will tell you that with each litter I gain experience and education that I never knew I lacked. In past blogs about the last litter you read we learned to tube feed, give oxygen and FFP and sub q newborns. With this litter I learned about stuck puppies (how to get them delivered and also how sometimes you just can’t), new (to me) resuscitation methods (including but not limited to accordion method, DeeLee catheters and CPR).
I also learned that sometimes the vet you choose to join you on this journey can be so invaluable! I always loved and trusted Dr Ana and she has made puppies from nothing for us – she is fantastic and words cannot describe how much respect I have for her. This time we worked with her colleague Dr. Bob and wow did we connect! He is another veterinarian whom I hold in admiration and have a tremendous amount of respect for as well. I consider myself quite lucky to have developed a good working relationship with both of these talented and kind doctors. I also learned that my local emergency clinic can be amazing! We have used them in the past with mixed results but there is one Dr there we have worked with a few times now who was a HUGE part of this delivery, Dr Houghton. Our fourth and final puppy was stuck and our bitch was suffering dystocia. I knew something wasn’t right with the puppy and that I would not be able to free her. Dr. Houghton was kind, understanding and helped me through the tears of losing the one bitch in this litter as she removed her from the birth canal. The puppy was stillborn. She understood how we did not get a bitch last litter, lost one of the two puppies last time and had three boys this time, the first one being stuck himself. She spoke with Dr. Bob (who was on a day off I need to add and who answered his phone at 5am anyway) and together we made sure our bitch was safe and would be ok. She was our main priority.
We took everyone in the next day and Dr. Bob assessed all was well – we did sub Q for everyone and added Arnica 6c and more probiotic. With another 12 hours of constant monitoring and care today on day 3 we are doing well. The three handsome boys are gaining weight, Bay is being an amazing mama ad finally getting the sleep she desperately needs. I am still in the whelping room (as I type I can hear her snores in the box next to the bed) and I will remain here for the next two weeks.
Our wait list consisted of extremely patient people who have been waiting through three litters now and two families who already purchased puppies from us. All wanted girls.
Why did I decide to become a breeder? If you could hear the snores and squeaks I am listening to right now you would totally understand.
So here you are waiting for a puppy from the breeder you have developed a relationship with after a lengthy search. You both have agreed that your expectations and theirs are a good match. You have passed the breeders detailed interviews, home checks, reference checks and enjoyed many lengthy conversations over the last few months or years possibly. Now what?
Now is the time for you, and your family, to continue the education you began when you first researched the breed you were seeking. Does your breeder offer mentoring and education materials? If so take advantage of these! I cannot stress enough that NOW is the time to immerse yourselves in any and all education materials offered to you.
Now is also the time to be proactive – reach out to your breeder and talk about questions, concerns you may have. Now is the time for all adults to speak to the breeder. Now is the time to discuss your childrens puppy experience. If they have none or only a little – educate your children now! Do NOT wait to bring a puppy home to teach your kids the correct and safe way to interact with puppies and adult dogs. Now is also not the time for bravado and machismo to take over. Your kids do not know everything you think they know. Explain to them the importance of being safe, gentle and kind to dogs. No screaming, sudden wild movements, no loud noises, no jerking, poking, pulling. Sit down to hold puppies. Be gentle with puppies. Teach your kids to be patient. A little good parenting now will pay off later. Your breeder is more concerned about the puppies experiences than your kids, trust me on that.
For our new owners, we have this incredibly detailed website chock full of articles, blog posts, book lists, puppy raisingprotocols, nutritional and natural rearing information, essential oils, health, exercise and training advice and more! Read about Breed Specific Legislation and Breed Bans. They exist and are very real. We give everyone a copy of the suggested exercise schedule written by Puppy Culture. We also upload 100’s of files pertaining to the breed, the litter, health testing documents, history and advice for our buyers to print, download and read on a FB group they have the link to. We have The Stafford Knot , rescue fund raiser pages and SBT Mentor websites and FB pages. These are excellent places to learn more about the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We post a book list we suggest new owners to read from. We make suggestions on safe breed appropriate toys and warnings about those that can be ingested causing obstructions or broken teeth. We are here to answer any and all questions for the life of your dog so please – take advantage of this!
We suggest they join other groups on FB as well. Examples of these groups include a debates page where you can follow along with many topics pertaining to the breed from fellow owners in America. There is a page for Stafford Rescue and Re-homing which all SBT owners need to participate in. We need help with transport, breed ID and foster care. There are fun pages such as Stafford Ink where you can show off your SBT related tattoos.
Do it! Now. Now, before you take home a puppy.
We ask that all buyers purchase and watch Puppy Culture – you can live stream so its super convenient to watch anytime you have free time. You will want to follow along each week with your puppies PC experiences and by watching the videos it will make more sense to you and make it easy to continue when you bring home your new puppy. We ask buyers to go online and read past issues of The Stafford Knot online magazine to see photos and read about the history of this breed. The more you know now, the easier it will be later. I cannot repeat this advice strongly or often enough.
If you follow this blog then you already know about a ‘litter’ we had eight months ago where two puppies were born and we lost one at 36 hours old. We were faced with the new challenges of raising a single male puppy using all the protocols – Avidog, ENS, Puppy Culture, etc.
Aside from all the struggles of the first two weeks keeping this precious baby boy alive we had to really stay on track with all the daily interactions required in order to raise a well socialized, confident and happy puppy who had no siblings to interact with. In past blogs we wrote about the details, such as enjoying interactions with friends litters of the same age, the struggles with scheduling simple actions such as when to sleep, nurse, train, etc. A singleton has no reason to eat when you want to feed – no competition for the teat or the food – loading a clicker was a real challenge – in fact this puppy has no sense of urgency whatsoever when it comes to food or meal time.
We survived all the challenges of the first 6-8 months at home and now ‘Smithy’ was ready for his new home on the opposite coast. We traveled with him in the RV up to Illinois where he had many firsts. The travel was new. The dog show was new. (he even picked up a reserve winners dog to a 5 point major!) The entire experience was new. Since we were also traveling with our other dogs, one of whom is pregnant, it was all new for him. He no longer could simply run out the door to potty, but instead was leash walked. Thankfully we had attached a potty command and this was no problem. Riding in the RV was no problem. Walking into a show building, no problem. Seeing the dock pool, no problem. In fact, walking into a show ring was no problem for him either! He was a wiggly puppy at first and I allowed him to have fun in the ring. He stood like a champ by the last day.
We met his new owner towards the end of the ten day adventure. It was love at first sight for everyone. There may, or may not have been goosebumps and tears. This was the perfect match! I try to explain to people who contact us for a puppy to please find your BREEDER and then wait for your PUPPY. This was why. Kristin was like family from the moment we met. She and Smithy were meant for one another. There was no ‘transition’ time. There was no ‘take it slowly’ time. They met. He was her puppy. She was his owner. PERFECT! All the hard work, long hours, love and patience paid off. According to Kristin Smithy was totally chill the entire adventure westward. Nothing phased him. He rode in hotel elevators, he saw new places, heard new sounds, smelled new smells, met new people – nothing at all was a problem for this young dog.
Below are photos of their very long drive home from Illinois to Oregon. We cannot wait to see them again in the Spring. Smithy truly IS This Charming Man!
Saying goodbye
his first day with Kristin, totally chillin
at a rest area
hanging at a park
Got himself a new toy
He wanted to get on the garbage truck
no fear
Road trip
Roadside attractions
Meeting his first bison
At Corn Palace
zoom in to see Smithy
at the famous Wall Drug
Continental Divide
Smithy and his new ‘sister’ Maeby wait patiently for their lunch
