Due to (human) illness, we are a few days behind in “charging the clicker” and getting more official training started. This is the first time the puppies have been in this room, been this far away from their litter (alone) , and heard a clicker. We’ve been working on taking treats in their pen, but now we’re getting down to business. This is the start of my favorite part about raising a litter - seeing who they are and getting an idea of where to place them ❤️
Just a short clip from today. Teller went “Winners Dog.” He’s only 11 months old and I can’t wait to see how he continues to mature
Allie and the babies have an arrangement- they make a mess and toss their kibbles around so Mama Allie has to come come clean up and they can visit the milk bar.
I needed to vacuum during the puppy pen reset. Happy to report no one was overly fearful and a few even came closer to investigate! And while their “world” is still quite limited, it’s really important to vary the layout and items in their pen *daily.* This will help the puppies adjust to changes, transitions, and novel/scary things down the line. I will post about how their pen is evolving later today. Stay tuned!
I was just going to post one video, but then Kevin…
Today’s Lesson… puppies don’t care if you’re sick! So, we kept today’s novel item simple with a sound mat
Kevin never disappoints. He’s always game for a new toy
Puppy pen update! These little chunks are movers and groovers! They have demonstrated that they no longer need the lower sided litter box (which was a large boot tray). So, we’ve transitioned them to regular litter boxes. There is also an airline kennel with the door removed. We are starting the process of getting them used to crates and different environments. We are still in the middle of the battle between giving them more space but also setting them up for success when it comes to using the litter box. When they wake up, most of the time, they only have a few steps before they start going potty. 90% of our poops are in the box. The other 10% is just outside (more than likely their front halves were in the box, but the back half didn’t make it). Very rarely do we have a “pee” on a bed, but they aren’t as consistent with getting to the boxes to pee. As they improve, their primary space will expand. Until then, they go on short trips around the house to expose them to anything and everything. For me, this is when all of the super fun stuff and training starts! And don’t worry! We didn’t forget about their 4-week photoshoot! More to come this evening ❤️
Couch snuggles with Jovie
Nursing looks a bit different these days. But, Allie is beyond tolerant, still choosing to nurse them throughout the night and a few times during the day ❤️
