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We purchase Diamond Naturals at:
Sanders Ranch Supply 20305 E Squaw Valley Road Black Canyon City, AZ 85324 623-374-5242 |
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Starting from the time they are born we are the center of the puppies’ world. We are there through the delivery for mom. Each puppy is given a ribbon with a color to track it’s birth order and growth. Red is first, then Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Grey, Black, Brown, and Pink if there are that many. The whole group lives in our bedroom right next to our bed. Mom is always watched to make sure she doesn’t accidentally sit or lay on one. For the first 16 days they each get stimulated to help encourage brain growth and coordination. In addition to mom’s milk they are given goat’s milk. The amount depends on the size of the litter and how hungry the pups are. Each baby is weighed and handled everyday to make sure they stay healthy and strong. At three weeks they graduate to our kitchen and a pen. Mom visits them to feed and play with them, but we start encouraging more bonding with the human members of their family. At four weeks they are given their first (more) solid meal. Puppy food and goat’s milk are made into a gruel they can drink from a pan. It’s a very messy, but exciting time. After a few days of getting use to the pans we introduce chunky soup. The soft noodles and bits of meat and veggies help them learn to chew and provide extra nutrients. Mom still feeds them regularly, but they eat just as much on their own as from her. By four weeks they are on a regular feeding schedule and have a litter box to help potty train them. We are very strict about their health and refuse to let them outside until they are old enough to get shots. This is why potty training starts with a litter box. The box is full of wood shavings and the smell and feel encourages them to use it. At five weeks they start to recognize when they have to go potty and we can start rewarding them for using the box. From five to eight weeks they are taken for group and individual romps around the house everyday. Training starts as well. They learn “Come” “Sit” “Lie Down” and “Good Dog”. We do not use “NO” with the puppies until eight weeks or older. It is important to encourage their curiosity and exploration. “NO” can lead them to be fearful of their natural desire to explore and in that way create nervous, scared dogs instead of confident, well adjusted adults. All our training is on a reward based system. When we ask them for a behavior they are rewarded for responding correctly. If they respond incorrectly, we help them understand how to respond correctly and reward them for the correct behavior. For example, when teaching a puppy (or any dog for that matter) to sit first take them to a place with very little distractions. Then pick a reward, puppies respond well to food rewards. Show the puppy the food in your hand, say “SIT” and move your hand back and up over the head so the puppy naturally brings his head up and back slightly, this will cause his butt to go down and him to sit. You do not need to apply a single hand to him. Once his butt hits the ground, say “GOOD” and let him have the food. By teaching this way the puppy does the action himself and there for learns more quickly what “SIT” means. If he does not sit, do not release the food until he does. Some puppies take more encouragement, such as a gentle hand behind them so he doesn’t back up, but never force the puppy into the action. That only teaches him your hand, not your word means “SIT”. I repeat this type of training for “Lie Down”, “Stand”, “Come”, “Stay”, “Shake”, and “Rollover”. Any type of behavior can be taught this way. By eight weeks the puppies get their first shots and are ready to start finding their homes. Even though the puppies have started training, they are still babies, without constant reinforcement and work they will forget their learned behavior. They also make mistakes, especially in potty training. Until their first shots they are not allowed outside at all. This means most of them have learned to associate boxes with bathroom. It is important to teach the puppy through rewards that outside is a better place to potty. They will have accidents, they will chew shoes and carpets and other items left out. Remember, the best way is not to punish, but reward for chewing on puppy toys and keep shoes put up so they do not tempt. Desert Haven is always here to answer questions and help if you need it. |
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To contact us: |
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Phone: 623-214-8017 Email: DesertHavenRottweilers@yahoo.com |
