Wow, I can hardly believe that the pups will turn 9 weeks old tomorrow! The days have been just packed. However, we've been blessed with an amazingly warm fall, and for the past week, the pups have been able to enjoy a new outdoor run we finally finished building for them. We've had a few days of snow intermingled with above zero temperatures, so they've had some changing seasons to adapt to. But they're sure enjoying the extra space to play and experience a bit bigger world in a safe manner.
**with all videos, click on the underlined link, then click on the thumbnail to open fully**
In case you missed it, the DNA parentage test came back with Copper being the sire of all the puppies. Yaya! :)
Something that just made my week; I am feeling so blessed to have received this voluntary and very gracious commendation from a retired CFIA vet. He visited our place, met our pups, and is now the happy owner of Handsome (who still has siblings available...).
Thank you so much!!
Outdoor excursions
On Nov 1, the pups and I ventured down to the barnyard. Pups weren't allowed out of their crate, but they experienced the sounds of pigs and got to meet Jess (an Argos x Kohar gal) and Argos.
We then made our way over to Gemma, and the pups had an enjoyable frolic with her.
On Nov 3, we took advantage of the last day before a predicted snowfall to visit with Gemma again. Sadly, I somehow deleted that video before it uploaded, so only have a couple of screenshots from it.
Sat Nov 4 blustered into being with a drop in temp and snowfall, but it was our only window of time available with our testor within the date range for pups to have temperament tests. So, we ventured out. Many thanks, Lianne!!
And then in the herding portion (exposure to ducks), we discovered that we've got several gung-ho working pups in this litter, with all of them being capable of becoming active companions, farm, herding or sport prospects. My wonderful herding competition / breeder mentor from the USA once again gave me feedback on the herding tests:
I was very pleased with how the pups did with the tests overall!
*Temperament and Herding instinct test videos are available for viewing to serious prospective buyers.
Monday, Nov 6, 2023 the pups had their first car ride and vet visit.
The vet was very pleased with their 'pupalities', calling all of them 'healthy & happy'. In spite of some of these quick pics I took, the pups were exactly that overall. Some of them didn't like being held still on the table for me to snap a quick pic and Harmony slipped just as I took her photo. But, there were no 're-do's as I didn't want to take too much of the vet's time.
I very much appreciate that she allowed me to take the pics at all!
Since the last blog post, Oct 30th, we haven't done a LOT of sound desensitization, but the pups have had some intro to:
And used an app called Sound Proof Puppy Training - an app that I've used for many of my litters - along with whatever the radio is emitting in my absence or my phone is playing while present.
PUPPY WEIGHTS & MILESTONES
Hitachi only held his slight weight advantage for a few days. Hawk pulled out front again quickly, and has remained the chunkiest pup ever since. Hyacinth continues to grow along with the other pups but has remained the lightest built throughout, being 10.6 lbs on Nov 6.
(I weighed 3 pups today - Nov 18, 2023. Hero was almost 20 lbs! Harmony is 15.4 lbs, and Hyacinth 14 lbs. I'll add more on the next blog).
Marker training:
The past while has been so busy I haven't been able to do much marker training with the pups (although encouraging volunteer sits before being lifted to go outside or in the crate for various trips, or before the food trays are placed, or manding for pets - like here - is always part of the program).
However, I managed to record one session Nov 8. The biggest goal for that day was to introduce new obstacles and assess how the pups responded to them. Please find the links in the individual pup descriptions below.
Pics & vids of individual pups.
**PLEASE NOTE: Any pics / vids are glimpses of moments in time and cannot be considered as the full representation of all traits and temperament nuances. However, they aid in overall assessment of each pup.**
Pups are now almost 9 weeks old.
1) Hawk (m, tri color)
When younger, Hawk was generally one of the calmest in the litter, but indicated the most dislike of being alone in a crate at the 21 day mark. He is, however, very relaxed about being brought out away from the litter to spend time with me. He was not at all phased by being placed on a rocking chair in the living room for his pictures at 3 weeks, and kept coming forward, tail wagging, for pets. He appears to be a pretty middle of the road pup overall.
The fairly long litter hierarchy assessment I did on Nov 8, indicates that he's most likely the top pup in the litter.
All pups (& babies) have moments of vocalization. However, Hawk is the most verbal when he's frustrated. That being said, after a bit of extra shaping through use of the crate, he's learning that if he's quiet and sits, he gets let back out and can join the rest of the crew for whatever we're doing. (Often impatience for supper to be served is Hawk's weak point, so this protocol is enforcing the quiet sit over the impatient whine or bark.) I also find that once a pup has one on one attention of his own with consistent rules, there's less frustration, and therefore less noise than when a pup is trying to be seen amidst a group of siblings. One of the best pups I've produced was the most verbal in his litter and was sold to a working sheep ranch where he has reigned supreme and has been a nurturing, quietly happy worker ever since (over 7 years now...).
Hawk retrieved on the temperament test. I haven't tried him with a tug yet.
2) Hitachi (m, shaded sable, piebald)
Hitachi was a pretty middle of the road pup at 3 weeks of age. He was similar to Hawk except for less fussing in the crate. However, by almost 6 weeks of age, Hitachi was a very smart, confident pup, with a 'tackle the world' attitude. He's the only pup who demonstrated a bit of a Houdini trait (to get to his mom only).
He loves to make eye contact with me. (Most of the pups now do that, too)
Hitachi was the only pup to respond to the first time hearing a loud drill noise by moving towards the sound - tail up - at only 4 weeks of age! Of course, once he saw everyone abandoned him, he then joined them, but that wasn't his initial response.
He also can be seen recognizing his name and responding to my sentences appropriately - at 37 days old - towards the end of Hyacinth's informal marker training video. So very smart!!
In fact, when I mention something and he does it... he looks at me intently to ensure I've seen it and that he expects his reward. If I don't notice in a timely manner, he'll give a short woof of frustration to express that the 'King' hasn't received his just due. (All of the pups - except maybe Harmony - also occasionally attempt this... but Hitachi just takes the look to another level) However, I do not acquiesce if he demands, lol.
All of the pups love affection, and most lean into my hand now. But Hitatchi was one of the first pups to be more demonstrative that way as a youngun. He would just lean into my hand when I stroked his head and ears. And, of note, he accepted my correction of him being too harsh with a sibling at 4.5 weeks of age without any sign of even thinking of challenging me. (In most litters there's a pup or two that take an exception to a correction and have growled or attempted to nip me - any of which is quickly quashed early on so that they don't even consider it going forward.) But Hitachi just relaxed and was good with it. This was borne out during his temperament test at 7 weeks, where he didn't fight the restraint by the strange tester. He's a really sweet, energetic boy with a lot of verve.
I think this boy will be an amazing dog when placed in the right home. He's sweet, and has no apparent leadership aspirations with humans. And after only a couple of corrections, he's learned to chill in regards to the other pups as well. That being said, the person who owns him needs to be an effective leader with consistent, fair rules, as he'll be rambunctious and likely willing to scrap with other dogs if he's not consistently held to appropriate manners.
Hitachi retrieved on the temperament test. I haven't tried him yet with tug, but I suspect he'll like it.
3) Hero (m, shaded sable)
Another basically chill pup, Hero wasn't usually much disturbed by ENS or by being in a crate alone.
He quickly adapted to the new space, raising his tail with a slight wag, and willingly focused and worked with me without needing a lot of exploration first. He grabs his food off my hand like his grandpa, Laddie. He was one of the few who went up on the new obstacle from the side without me having to change positions.
This boy was the only pup that didn't immediately make friends with the tester. A bit more reserved, he took a few moments to get involved and start to wag with his tail up.
That being said, a week later when we had a strange man here to pick a pup, all the pups crowded around him right away to meet & greet, including Hero.
While he didn't retrieve for the stranger during the temperament test, Hero has retrieved for me and enjoys the tug (first intro). He has started to sit and down in the video area on command, and I added a 'touch' command to his repertoire today and he picked up on it quickly.
4) Hyacinth (f, shaded sable, piebald)
At the 3 week blog Hyacinth was sometimes a bit less confident, but pups go through various developmental stages. She had her eyesight a couple of days before several of the others, so appears to be developing at a faster rate than some, which takes her through some fear stages first. At that time, she was realizing that the world is a much bigger place than she originally thought.
Hyacinth has matured a lot and is now the most confident of the two females.
Hyacinth's Oct 15th individual outdoor video is tacked onto the end of Part 2 of the 2nd outdoor excursion.
Hyacinth was one of the easiest pups to get to focus on me in the new room for the Oct 26 marker training video. She's a sweet pup. Although both she & Hitachi regularly vied for position in the pack, neither is the most submissive, nor the pack leader. (after a couple of corrections from me a couple of weeks ago, these two relaxed and have become far more peaceful. I actually did a fairly long but informative assessment of litter hierarchy Nov 8, 2023).
Hyacinth tested as having the greatest herding traits in the herding instinct test. Normally pups that just follow a duck and show interest in it at 7 weeks of age is considered a reasonable amount of instinct, but she went around it, naturally balanced off me, and headed the duck off, turning it around. Amazing for such a young girl, having never been around ducks in her life before, and having only been introduced to that area for the first time in her temperament test only a few minutes prior.
Hyacinth retrieved on the temperament test, also likes the tug, and quickly picked up the additional 'touch' command today.
5) Harmony (f, shaded sable, piebald)
Harmony was the most chill pup during the DNA testing crate separation time, settling in quietly to sleep. Also the more chill of the 2 females with ENS (imo, partly due to being supplement bottle fed, so had more positive association with being held)
She is still the quietest, softest pup of the litter. There's no jockeying for position at meal time, she just quietly sits eating her food and moves if needed.
Harmony explored briefly, tail low - although not tucked - but was perfectly content to just stay near me and do the work for her marker training video Oct 26. Harmony marker training Oct 26 at 39 days old
I suspected that she might be cowed when I took her outside Oct 27, but instead she was off to the races, thoroughly enjoying exporing the big outdoors! And her temperament & herding tests on Nov showed a fairly outgoing, explorative pup.
That being said, she again indicated discomfort when by herself while marker training in the video area Nov 8. During play and tug time, however, as with the duck herding, her tail came up and she was happy. I suspect she'll need some extra play and pleasant experiences and / or a working environment that will build her confidence in positive ways so she learns to be cheerful & confident during the less exciting / less distracting-from-her-discomfort times. She will probably also do best in a quieter home.
Harmony ran up to the temperament tester, tail wagging. She didn't retrieve for the temperament tester because she was distracted by a sudden outburst of barking from the peanut gallery, but has retrieved for me and enjoys the tug. She quickly picked up on the 'tug' command today.
6) Handsome (m, light shaded sable)
This gorgeous, happy, friendly boy went to his new home at 8 weeks.
(Nov 17, 2023 photo courtesy of his new owner)
Other than Hitachi, none of these pups liked being restrained by the stranger on their backs. (Hitachi tolerated it). The pups weren't nasty, but did want to escape being held in that position. That shows that they all have a slight amount of leadership aspirations, although being handled by a stranger is a different thing than being handled by a trusted person. Imo, all pups regardless of temperament should be reared with NILIF (Nothing in Life is Free); and regular, clear, fair, and consistent handling with pleasant, confidence building socializing experiences, but it's especially useful in subtly establishing leadership over a pup that may occasionally otherwise consider challenging one's position.
OF NOTE: I don't view any of these pups as aggressive dogs. Almost all were eager to befriend the strange tester immediately, and even the most retiscent did within moments. All of them are sweet pups, any of which can be taught to settle (lie in a submissive position) and be handled completely all over (see Hawk's 'settle' video as an example) but some will be easier than others.
Pups manding Nov 18, 2023
Harmony, Hitachi, Hero
Hyacinth, Hawk
We currently have 3 males and 1 female available.
Anyone interested in a pup from this litter, or being on our wait list for future litters (we must have enough interest before we'll deliberately breed again), please contact us & fill out our application form.
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