We went to the pub! It was such a lovely weekend, we decided to take Ounce out for a drink. I knew there would be lots of people and some dogs around and I wanted to see how she would cope. Of course everyone thought she was very special. She enjoys the attention and really ‘sucks up’ to people, but I was pleased that she didn’t really jump up much.
She was also very polite with a dog who came over to say hello. I managed to distract her while one family walked past nearby, but she also ran over to people and struggled to come away – definitely something I shall be working on.
I have started to teach her to ‘wait’ which is the preparation for longer stays. At the moment this is simply getting her to sit still beside me for a few seconds. It’s hard work to even do that.
I used tiny lumps of cheese yesterday as her reward – it’s important to keep mixing it up and making sure that she has plenty of motivation for doing something.
This video clip is simply to reinforce what I was saying about the length of the walk. Someone said it seemed a bit ridiculous to only walk her for 15 minutes when she runs around in the garden for hours each day. Watch this bit of play with Busy. They are really running about, but then she stops. She lies down, to catch her breath. Busy immediately stops playing with her and leaves her to recover.
If I was out with her and she ran out of steam, what would I do? Keep walking? This is the difference between a structured, adult-led walk and a puppy playing, on its own terms.
I know some people who believe passionately that all dog breeders are irresponsible criminals and that ALL dogs should be obtained from rescue centres. Trouble is, if everyone really did do that, there would very soon be no dogs left. Also, if we could only get dogs from rescue centres, we’d be left with a load of miscellaneous mongrels.
I know that many dog breeders are responsible dog owners who care about the health and temperament of their dogs. These breeders pay attention to who takes on their puppies and do their utmost to support those owners as they begin their journey into dog ownership. If all dog breeders were like this, then all dogs would be better behaved and fewer would end up in rescue centres.
It starts with what we, the buying public, want from our dogs. Dogs have been part of our lives for thousands of years and over time our views on what we want from them has changed immeasurably. We do require dogs to perform a myriad of working roles, from search and rescue, to Medical Detection Dogs. We also want them to engage in numerous sporting activities with us, from agility, flyball to competitive obedience.
Ultimately though, our demands of our dogs are the same as they’ve always been; we want a companion, a friend, a pet. Someone to welcome us home and to soothe our troubles.
Supply and demand
We want more and more dogs and we have very specific criteria when looking for a dog. I have any number of people asking for a ‘classic collie’ or a dog with blue eyes. People want a dog at a very specific time, or they want one that doesn’t chew, or shed hair. They want one that is an exact size, or that slobbers, has bulgy eyes, or a curly tail.
The challenge is to produce the dogs people want, but to do that in an ethical and sustainable way. What makes people become puppy farmers? Not only the fact that there is good money to be made, but the fact that people demand increasing numbers of particular kinds of puppies.
What is this blog about?
I am going to try and unpick some of these issues and talk about them from my own experience and opinion. I would like to try and help future puppy owners to choose from a more informed perspective. I am going to talk about:
What makes a good breeder?
What is a puppy farmer?
What is a hobby breeder?
Should you breed from your family dog?
What makes a pedigree dog?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of a cross-breed?
What is the difference between a Working sheepdog and a Border Collie?
What should you look for in a stud dog?
Getting Started
Becoming a breeder is easy – you just need a dog. Well, of course if you want to do it ‘properly’ then you need a ‘proper’ dog. One that is healthy and has a great nature. Then the journey begins…
If you want to know more, why not FOLLOW ME? Then you will receive an email when there is a new post. Please CONTACT ME if you would like me to write about a specific topic? And feel free to COMMENT if you want to tell me what you think?
The big day is finally here, your puppy is allowed to go for a walk! It’s what you’ve been waiting for so eagerly. However, be prepared to be underwhelmed; your puppy will probably hate it! Even if you have managed to spend time around the house getting your pup familiar with your collar and lead, they still won’t want to go anywhere. If they don’t spend the whole time sitting down and refusing to move, they will just sniff the ground and take no notice of you.
Patience is the key when training a puppy
It takes time to train a puppy – remember that every day. Try not to expect very much at all, then everything will be a bonus. Did you notice and admire Ounce’s bespoke lead? Unfortunately the glitter tag and lead both weigh a ton, so she spent most of the work complaining that she couldn’t move :p
Length of Walk?
Five minutes per month of puppy’s age: An 11-week old puppy should only be out for up to 15 minutes. That’s why we started and ended our first walk with her in the Pet Sling.
What did I do first? Let her off the lead of course! My sister rather anxiously asked if I wasn’t worried about her running off. I wasn’t worried then, which isn’t to say I won’t be worried in a few weeks’ time. I need to let her off the lead and work hard to get her paying attention to me, thinking I am really exciting and wanting to come back to me. I will then be able to cope when she does start to realise that the world is exciting and there are other things to do.
What else did we do?
At this age, you want all your puppy’s attention on you, for some of the time. So we practice retrieve and down. These video clips show the initial stages of both of these activities. With the retrieve, we want the puppy to go to the toy and sniff it. When she does this, I make sure she knows by saying “YES!” Then we do it again until she picks it up and brings it back to me.
Finally, we practised a bit of going into a ‘down’. Not to be confused with ‘get down’ when they are jumping up, for which I say “off!” Just like teaching a child to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ this is one exercise that needs to be done a million times. To start with we use food to bring the puppy down into position, with the hand as a strong cue. When I’ve done this a few hundred times I start to say the command at the same time.
Of course it’s not all hard work! There must be time for play and cuddles as well.
And they’re off! Finally, all the Rainbow Litter are in their new homes, settling in and adapting to their new lives. They have gone off happily and full of confidence.
I have now started writing about Ounce’s Adventures as she gets out and about and learns new things.
I’m also going to start a new blog about being a breeder, what that means and why I do it.
One happy family
Please let me know what you’d like me to talk about in the Training Pupdates? And if you SUBSCRIBE to the website, you will receive an email every time a new post is published, so you won’t miss it!
Ounce is my seventh collie, the sixth I have had as a puppy and the fourth I have bred myself. I realised as I sent Chester off on Friday and as I’ve watched the pretty good 10 puppies and us on TV that it is a pretty daunting task, bringing a puppy home.
I receive a great deal of feedback from the new puppy owners, from the ridiculous “how do I know when my puppy is doing a wee” to the more sensible “does he always eat slowly”. So what do I do with my new puppy?
I think the first thing is to have a bit of peace and quiet. I work very hard on socialising my pups, so they will have met around 100 different people and been handled by most of those, in their first 8 weeks of life. That means that life has been a bit hectic. It’s nice to calm down and have a bit of time to ourselves.
see Equipment page for more details
It is good to get out and about too. I’ve bought a Pet Sling Carrier this time, so that we can carry Ounce around more easily. Although she will very quickly be too big for this, it is useful before she has her second vaccination, so that she can get out and see different places and people. It also means she can come with us when we all go out, when she can run around for a little while, but then pop back in for a rest.
Mainly what I am doing with Ounce now though is familiarising her with our normal family life. When we get up, what time we all eat. She needs to cope with being left while we go off for a walk with the others and when we go shopping. Of course we are working on toilet training (going pretty well). We are working on her recall all day long, with me calling her to me from around the house and garden.
Ounce is learning various words, including ‘in’ (come into this room with me) ‘out’ (go out of this room – not to be confused with Ounce lol) ‘mind’ (you are in my way) ‘off’ (don’t jump up) and ‘wait’ (until I let you move). I also have to learn her words for “I’m hungry”, “I’m bored” and of course “I need to go out”. If I pay attention to her, we are less likely to have problems.
Finally, Ounce is encountering all sorts of strange things, including this beetle. She ate it, in the end!
Ounce has been out and about again this week, another agility lesson attended and another coffee shop enjoyed! I was so busy paying attention to how I carried her and whether I had my purse, that I forgot how adorable she is, until everyone (and I mean everyone) in the cafe started oohing and ahhing. But I was a bit taken aback when several people asked me what colour she would ‘end up’. Er, the same colour as she is now? Lilac and white was her colour at birth and that’s it. Someone even said, will she be black and white? Lol.
Here is a picture of Busy at the same age. First of all, she looks exactly like Pixie, doesn’t she? (see below, last week’s post)
Secondly, she looks almost exactly like she does now, doesn’t she? (Yes I know it’s a terrible, blurry photo) Of course ears are a bit of a ‘thing’ in collies at this age, as they start to come up. They change day by day, but hopefully end up symmetrical, although this is by no means guaranteed. Just like their eye colour, collies are all about the variations.
Anyway, Chester and Ounce have had a great time playing, joined by their mum, who is loving having playmates.
We did some gardening at the weekend and Ounce was really helpful, as you can see.
Just took a final few pics of Chester, before he heads off on Friday. And yes, he will stay this colour :p
Finally for now, I would just like to let you know I have updated quite a bit of the website, including the Home Page and the information about me, The Breeder, and Luna and Aura’s pages.
I have also created a new page, offering Equipment Advice for new puppy owners. I am excited that I have been able to include links to my absolutely favourite bits of kit, including the beautiful collars and leads by Dogs & Horses. I have been fortunate that they have made Ounce her very own grey collar and lead! I’d love you to tell me what else you think a puppy needs?
This is why it is not advisable to have two puppies at once! They spend all day playing and running around together, getting up to who knows what. But if you try and take one away to do some training, it is quite a challenge. These two already don’t like being parted, and if they were together permanently, would become inseparable.
Fortunately, Dentbros Blue Monday** – Chester, is only here until next Friday, then he will be off having his own adventures. Isn’t he gorgeous? Just like his dad. He’s a super boy, really easy going.
We said goodbye to Dentbros Black Betty** – Roxi, last Friday morning.
Roxi has gone off to a life of luxury in two homes, one local to me here and one in Essex.
Here is Roxi with Maya. Most of the pups from this litter will have other dogs in their family, which is great.
Over the weekend we had a lovely time seeing our nephews, who really enjoyed playing with the dogs and the pups.
Then bright and (very) early Sunday morning, Sarah and Hollie came to take Pixie home.
Dentbros Golden Brown** – Pixie. Just like her mum.
So what now? Well yesterday I snuck Ounce out for coffee with friends! She really enjoyed herself and was as good as gold, so I think this is the beginning of a hedonistic new lifestyle for me and my puppy. I shall be continuing the pupdates, as I am hoping to demonstrate the training progress we are making, along with the adventures we are having!
My Rainbow Litter are 8 weeks old today! They are so fluffy and cuddly now, it’s hard to leave them alone :-).
We were pleased to see Charlie Brown, from Aura’s litter last year, who popped in with his family. Part of the joy of being a breeder is seeing the pups as grown up dogs, doing really well and enjoying their lives.
I realise I have never properly introduced the pups to you.
This is Dentbros Back in Black** – LennyAnd this is his mum and dad, getting ready to take him home.
I already know that he is settled and happy, doing really well. Hannah has sent me some lovely feedback, which I have added to the testimonials page.This is Dentbros Blackbird** – Robbie. Isn’t he stunning? He has gone to a very special and loving home, helping to look after bees.Now there are only four left, one of each colour. I’ll tell you about three of them next week, as two are going over the weekend. Chester is staying a bit longer, which will be good for him and for the remaining puppy..
Dentbros Lilac Wine** – Ounce. I feel that I formally took ownership of her today, as she had her first vaccination. Of course I’m keeping her! She was mine from the minute she was born =D
7 weeks have gone so quickly and the puppies have changed so fast. They have been spending much more time indoors over the past week or so. This is partly because the weather has not been so good, but mainly to make sure they are used to normal household life.
Meeting cats
hello cat
The cat (Tatsu) is very tolerant of puppies as he has been brought up with them, so he is a good introduction to cats – they are not for chasing!
Meeting other dogs at 7 weeks
The pups have also been introduced to ‘strange’ dogs, as Archer was very well behaved when he came to visit with his mum.
Of course they are familiar with the other dogs in our household and so they know that not all dogs have milk(!), nor that they automatically love puppies – Sunny is especially grumpy, teaching them to have respect for their elders.
Visitors come round now the schools are on holiday, with these boys giving lovely cuddles. Roxi giving some love and Chester chillin’ as he does.Of course they have continued to grow – so I will have to make sure that they don’t escape over the wall.. And this time next week three of them will have gone! Starting with Lenny..
Lenny
Buy the Workbook
The Workbook – A Year With Your Puppy is available to buy. This book is a hands-on, interactive book for you. It will help you survive the first year with your puppy, but also act as a memento of that time and the journey you have been on. You can write notes and stick in pictures of your puppy throughout the year. Lovely!
