Trey, Spot, Copper & Blaze 'manding' at almost 7 weeks
I can't believe it is now almost time to do the 8th week blog! It's been so busy!
Please NOTE **with all videos, click on the bold green link, then click on the thumbnail to open fully** We left off the previous blog waiting to hear about the pups' first visit to the cow pasture. On Jan 26th the weather cooperated once again - and this time not as blustery - so in addition to a wintry photoshoot, pups had their first introduction to the cows. Once they were no longer focused on dinner, a couple of them noticed the bovines and showed some mild interest.
I was VERY pleased that Misty was completely relaxed even so close to the cows with her pups. She knew the fence was there and obviously did not feel any need to be defensive. She notices detrimental changes in animal behaviour very quickly and can go from placid to rapid response if I or her pups need help, so I love her wonderful gift of discernment!
We've been marker training since day 28. However, I haven't had time to set up an 'official' marker training videography session. So, I ended up just throwing together an informal take Monday morning, Feb 9th. As you can see, they're not perfect, but if you look back on previous litters' early marker training vids (like this one from 2020), you'll have an idea how far they've come from wobbly pups needing to build confidence in overcoming obstacles, to eager, agile, and - for the most part - willing participants. PLEASE SEE THEIR INDIVIDUAL marker training vids in the Puppy Description at the bottom of this blog.
I added some new toys to the play box when pups turned 6 weeks old.
Vid 1 You probably noticed that I picked up the chain during that particular little episode. As a preventative, I looped it up higher so it can still clatter but not catch anybody in the eyes. And Spot took some time out of his toy drive to come visit me.
Vid 2 Blaze regularly chooses to come out of the melee to visit me. The degree of confidence they are all developing towards chaotically moving, noisy objects that arbitrarily run into them from a variety of different sides is phenomenal. Even Blaze has improved considerably, although it's not his favorite. Wish I had been able to set one of these up years ago.
Vid 3
I really like this video because it does show that there is a definite temperament difference between the trio versus Blaze. He's not cowed but he definitely has had enough and chooses to remove himself from the situation. It's good that he learns that he is able to make good choices with which he's comfortable; that chaos can be nearby and that he's still okay. And I like that he also gives me good eye contact. I find it fascinating that Trey, who can be sensitive towards new things, is not fazed at all when something is fun in his books & he's in higher drive.
Sound desensitization continued during this time period. I do need to mention that Copper is not usually so uninterested, but he had managed to overcome the coyote roller and stuffed his face on his mom's food , so he was full and halfway into a food coma for that session, lol. He was back to full, avid attention for his marker training Monday morning, however. I haven't done as much sound desensitization work as I did with Opal's litter, mainly because I have been supplemental bottle feeding the LGD litter these days as well. However, pups are getting exposure to different sounds every day. Here's a clip with urban traffic noises.
As well, pups continue to be exposed to different items:
Vacuum cleaner (they now love to clamber all over it while I'm using it, lol)
The Herding Instinct test was completed Sat afternoon, Feb 5, as were the Temperament tests.
My herding competition connection & fellow ES breeder, Caroline Betts of Middle Tree Farms ES, kindly perused the Misty x Laddie pups' herding instinct test video for me. Here is her response (see pics).
I took the pups to the vet at exactly 7 weeks of age for their shots, deworming and vet check. The vet said that she has "absolutely no concerns with any of them." Yay! :)
We took another trip to the barnyard this week, just experiencing sights, sounds, smells.
Then, I took them down for their first introduction to goat kids.
L-R Spot, Trey, Blaze
Spot, Copper
They're still very baby and the goat kids were nervous of them and got rambunctious and noisy at times. However, Caroline Betts once again perused them for me, and stated:
Puppy weights 7 wks, Jan 31, 2022:
Copper is the heavyweight with Trey runner up. Spot remains the lightest.
VS
Puppy weights 5 wks 1 day, Jan 24, 2022:
The pups are amazingly uniform again this week. Spot is still the smallest.
Pups had nails clipped, continued full body handling (feet, tails, bellies, ears), and they were dewormed in weeks 5 and 7.
Misty is such a good mom that she was still regularly nursing her pups even at 7 weeks of age! So I had to take steps to wean her from her pups this week so they'd be ready to go to their new homes!
Pics of individual pups
PLEASE NOTE: Once again, these videos are a glimpse of a moment in time and not the full picture. Take them along with the other videos, pictures and descriptions you've seen to form a more well-rounded idea.
1) Blaze (m) Black & White (B/W) - Reserved. All the pups have greatly increased in confidence in the past couple of weeks. He has continued to grow in confidence as he has been exposed to more stimuli. He is not as reactive to change anymore, but still not completely zen. Neither he nor Trey enjoy being picked up - although that has definitely improved - but are cheerful and communicative on the ground, wagging and making eye contact. He prefers not to be slammed by mobile toys when his brothers are really going at it, but walks among them with aplomb otherwise. He is personable and interested in working with me. Blaze tends to be the pup that is quieter within the pack; he's lower in the hierarchy in the litter yet showed reasonable confidence for his age with stock and was quick to investigate the new area for the temperament test. He ran, tail up and wagging, to the tester. He has shown decent herding instinct. He also had a more sensitive nose - very interested in all scents during ESI.
2) Trey (m) Tri-color - Available
Like Blaze, he is not as reactive to change anymore, but still does not really enjoy being picked up. He is a sweet softy who likes nothing better than to cuddle up to me and gaze soulfully into my eyes while I pet him. He is more outgoing in strange places (he voluntarily approached and went nose to nose with the duck in the herding test) than he is to strange objects within his familiar zone, although with some encouragement, he adapts. (please excuse the mess; it was mid cleaning). That awareness of normal in their own territory is very much a herding dog trait - they are very attuned to changes in body language and known surroundings. This gives them the ability to react appropriately to stock and other situations. That being said, that trait is a bit stronger in him, and he'll require a quieter, stable home willing to work on building his confidence and thoroughly socializing through pleasant new experiences both at home and elsewhere to take him to his full potential. EDIT: I introduced both a muffin tin and a cardboard box tunnel during marker training Feb 15, expecting Trey to have some hesitation with them as he had with other new items at 6 weeks of age. However, he has come so far in regards to confidence levels that he was absolutely unfazed, clambering all over and through. I guess after facing down a duck and a couple of goat kids new things on the floor no longer bother him, lol He ran to the strange temperament tester and cuddled up to her with a very waggy, submissive down. He retrieved during his test. He has some toy drive. He LOVES food. He is interested in working with me & likes to make eye contact. And, like Spot, he was a mid-range pup for scenting during the ESI protocols.
A couple of days ago Trey was doing a one on one time with me while I cleaned the puppy pen and re-vamped it's dimensions. His bros were getting some crate training practice. Trey was playing during that time and had just chased his tail. He barked a bit, but chose to sit and be quiet when I verbally corrected him. Good boy!
3) Copper (m) Shaded sable - Available with conditions
This boy is a bit faster moving than his bros - and was more agile on his feet for turning, etc, during marker training up until this week - most of his brothers are now almost caught up in their agility. He's the least reactive to new situations thus far, although there is a flip side to that - as this 5 week vid shows, he was more likely to get himself into trouble with his explorative nature at that young age, and can be a bit harder than his brothers to deter from his goal. (Most of his bros are now on par with the exploration - ALL puppies need supervision -just like little children - to keep them out of trouble until they learn their area and understand the dangers.) Persistence is a key ingredient with a working dog; he simply needs to be guided to be persistent towards the desired goal(s). He also had the least sensitive / reactive nose (neutral to almost everything, with the exception of a few) during the ESI protocols, although he definitely uses his nose to investigate things. He is social - outgoing and friendly with known people. A bit more aloof with strangers now, he will likely be more discerning in making friends rather than a complete social butterfly like a golden. He has a slightly more independent streak than his bros (He's still very much in tune to working with his owner, so NOTHING like truly independent breeds); he gradually warmed up to the temperament tester. He retrieved during the test. This boy is self-contained (yet playful); something the tester said about him was, "he's so calm". So, while he can get excited and happy and active, he's also laid back at other times.
As you've probably noticed in the various informal videos of all the pups - he's bossy and pushy with his bros; he wants all the attention, but is learning that he can't get his way. I suspect he'll be dominant with other dogs. However, his temperament test did not indicate any interest in challenging people. He will absolutely blossom into an amazing dog with an experienced dog owner who knows how to be the kind yet firm and consistent leader he needs to shape him. Imo, he will walk over anyone who is a pushover. He is exceedingly smart - always the first to troubleshoot a scenario and figure a way out. He has the most instinct with stock of all the pups. (In addition to ducks, he was the ONLY one who ventured to try to meet & sniff the goat kids on his own and voluntarily moved them briefly several times. He'll be a lot of dog, but so worth it!
Copper is preferably being offered to a stud home willing to keep him intact for me to use. Otherwise, he'll be available for a pet home.
4) Spot (m) Tri color - Reserved.
This boy was the quickest to interact with the mobile play box, and tackled the toys with gusto. He works with me during marker training and generally takes new situations well - not quite as calm as Copper, but more extrovert than Trey or Blaze. He wags his tail when I'm holding him. He eagerly greeted the tester, tail wagging. He retrieved in the test, and has some herding drive. A middle of the road pup in regards to ESI. This boy also possesses potential breeding quality. He's a nice, even keeled, friendly, thinker type of pup.
Spot marker training He got distracted by my phone ringing partway through, but came back to it.
We currently have 2 - puppy spots left available. Anyone interested in Trey, or being a stud home for Copper, or being on our wait list for future litters, please contact us & fill out our application form.
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