Zuflucht K9s

06/19/2024

Puppies are 6 weeks old! This week is a very exciting but busy one. This week, we're starting clicker training. We are building a connection between sound and focus for a reward. We use this each morning and evening during their manding session. We're also introducing crate training this week. Until this point, a crate has been inside their play area, and they have had access to going in and out freely. This week, each puppy will have solo time outside of feedings in the crate to introduce them to the process. We work with them going in and out of the crate without us putting them in there and reward them each time they go in. We do this several times a day for 5–15 minute sessions to get them used to the process. We will continue to build on this exercise until they go home.
Puppies will also be going to the vet for their first set of vaccinations, full health exams, and microchips. As I said, this week is going to be a busy one!

06/19/2024

The puppies had their first pool party today! This doubled as our socialization exercise today. We had water play for the first time. It took them a short time to warm up to this game, as they didn't quite understand why they were standing in the water and not drinking it. After a few minutes, they were hopping in and out and enjoying all the stimulants. It was adorable and a great way to beat the heat. We ended when it started getting hotter out and finished the day with yogurt popsicles. I'll be posting next week on how to make those delicious summertime treats for your new pups, so keep an eye out!

06/17/2024

Valkyrie vom Zuflucht's first pro soccer game

06/15/2024

Paddleboarding with Hazel vom Zuflucht! This team is always so much fun. You never know what they are going to train for next! CGC ✅, Farm Dog ✅, Therapy dog ✅, now they've tackled paddle boards for extra summer fun. Bravo!

06/12/2024

Our puppies are 5 weeks old, and this week we have a lot of fun activities and games planned for the puppies. We have introduced low-climbing objects to the pup's environment, including the soft balance disc and teeter. This week's texture is tarps. It makes loud sounds with every step, moves under their feet, and requires concentration to keep their balance. One of our favorite games starts this week. It's called the barrier challenge. We create different barriers and the pups have to find their way around them to the food. This will continue to grow each week until puppies go home and goes a long way laying a foundation for scentwork.

06/10/2024

These aren't the best pictures. We took them early and had the artificial lights, which didn't work out too great.
Puppies are doing great this week, we're adding new low-climbing objects, including the teeter and wobble board. The puppy's new favorite item is the wobble board. They all took turns climbing over it and I snapped these pictures while laughing at their antics. I have a couple videos I'll share on YouTube as well, so keep an eye out.

06/09/2024

We set up a food station for our puppies. This helps us prevent resource guarding and helps us monitor who's eating what and how much. Each week, we'll have a different texture. They'll walk over and stand on it while they're eating. Check out more videos on their playlist below.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVQbKbpTVlIZqSELGlPdcpzP6Jf73uENs

06/08/2024

Marston received his CGC title last night. He was showing everyone at the Food Truck Festival how dogs should act. So proud of this team! Great Job!

06/04/2024

Our "Q" Litter has moved to our larger Puppy play area this week!
Go to our YouTube channel to check out more videos of these little ones!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVQbKbpTVlIZqSELGlPdcpzP6Jf73uENs

06/04/2024

Our Puppies have moved out of the whelping box and into the puppy play area. They are loving the additional freedom. They are starting to play more with each other and the environment around them.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVQbKbpTVlIZqSELGlPdcpzP6Jf73uENs

06/01/2024

Muffina's primary job is scent detection for her handler. She checks each food item to ensure it's safe for her handler to eat.

05/31/2024

This is a very fun week. You begin to see a lot of their personalities come out in weeks 3–4. They are moving more and playing with their littermates. Puppies are all starting to hear and have a good startle response to sound. They are really starting to explore their whelping area, and all have made it over the whelping box.

05/31/2024

05/30/2024

We had a great training day today with 1-year-old Arkon vom Zuflucht. Our goal was to work with the younger kids on handling a big dog with a lot of outside stimulation. As my kids are getting older and looking less like children, I recruited my niece and nephews for several of the exercises. They, in turn, brought some friends along to help with distractions. Check out the videos on our YouTube channel. He was handled by children 7-14 yesterday and did amazing!

05/29/2024

Our puppies are 3 weeks old, and this week's early socialization exercise is TEXTURES! In this exercise, we're connecting texture with positive rewards and desensitizing them to different textures under their feet. We do this while they are nursing to create a positive connection to the exercise. (Watch with sound on)

05/28/2024

Our upcoming "R" litter has been confirmed. Mia is pregnant! The puppies look great, and mom has already gained 6 lbs since her last check-in last month! Unfortunately, we can not get a puppy count from ultrasounds as the sacks move. Take a guess in the comments below on how many you believe will be in the litter and if they will be male or female.

05/27/2024

Muffina is showing off her mad skills as she takes on the helicopter (check out her video below for the live-action). We were so blessed to be able to do this training exercise, and we look forward to doing it again next year.