Jilly and Her Puppies

08/12/2022

Puppy Summit coming in October!
Interviews with expert speakers all about puppies!
Watch for details about how to register for free.

07/29/2022

Know the right things to do for your dog and then do them...

07/18/2022

“Did you hear that?” Dottie wants to know who’s paying attention.
She’s too cute with one ear up, don’t you think so? 💜💖

07/09/2022

Dottie and Rosie working on bully sticks.

06/10/2022

These little guys are sooo adorable!! They are so aware of everything aroundthem.

06/08/2022

Dottie, Rosie, and Patrick visit the vet in their favorite little red wagon.

05/27/2022

Puppies are not quite in adolescence yet. However, patience is a good idea at any age because puppy impulsiveness is simply normal, not naughty.
They're now 10 weeks old and into that notorious jumpy bitey stage. But they have a foundation that hands bring them good things and they can ask for what they want with four feet on the floor. They learned that they have more than one way to get affection and attention.
They're discovering how to choose four-on-the-floor because it pays better.

Image description: A brown GSP dog with a collar and lead staring intently behind the camera.

Text reads: Adolescence is a time for patience, not push. The frontal cortex is still developing during adolescence and so a young dog’s ability to control its own behaviour is not yet fully developed. This can be mistaken for naughtiness.

05/07/2022

When dog moms ask for help with their dogs, they speak from their hearts. They're clear about priorities. Harmony in the family and kindness to the dog.
However, they need help closing the gap between harmony and kindness. Because it isn't an either/or situation.
Although the circumstances for every dog, dog mom, and family are unique, looking at the common threads is a good way to start closing the gap between harmony and kindness.
So in honor of all you dog moms on Mother's Day, I singled out three common threads, three things, to understand about your puppies and dogs.

THING #1 about your puppy or your dog: CURIOSITY
Dogs are born hardwired to explore. Mere minutes after birth they're already sniffing out their food source. They can't see, hear, or walk, and yet their sense of smell enables them to survive and thrive.
SNIFFING, hunting, and exploring are as natural to dogs as breathing. Puppies are so curious about smells that they'll dig up, crawl under, climb over, and tear up whatever is between them and the thing that they smell. Discovery (whatever it takes!) is its own reward for puppies.
For humans, on the other hand...maybe not so much.
CURIOSITY IGNORES BOUNDARIES. So your puppy steals your stuff.
It's easy to let your emotions get the best of you when your puppy is in possession of something unsafe or expensive! But behavioral psychology teaches us that reacting with punishment is the least effective prevention and is most likely to maintain the behavior rather than stop it.
If you've tried punishment, you know it can only work by instilling fear. It will never lead to harmony or kindness.

OK, so raising a puppy or living with a dog can sometimes try the patience of a saint!
HERE'S A STRATEGY to save your sanity: play the "This For That" game.
To play "This For That", teach your puppy how to trade. But don't make the mistake of trying to teach it when you're desperate to take back a stolen item!
An even exchange means both parties walk away satisfied. When you play the "This For That" game with your puppy you offer value for value. The puppy exercises choice.
You teach your puppy that what you offer in trade has as much value as the thing he possesses. You close the value gap.
When you and your pup master the "This For That" game, you become the source of all the good things that dogs value. That includes ATTENTION, COMPANIONSHIP, AND AFFECTION not only food and toys.
REMEMBER:
->Teach the game intentionally in a calm environment.
->Offer even exchanges such as special high-value treats in exchange for a toy.
->It's teamwork, not a competition.
->The real power of this game is that the dog always has free choice and is never forced.

05/01/2022

WHY DOES MY PUPPY…bite my fingers?
Puppies are not too well-coordinated and need to have experience taking food from your hands. The biggest mistake I see people make is to sn**ch their hands away before the puppy has a chance to take the treat. Of course, the puppy will try to grab the treat before it gets pulled out of reach and often bites the hand when all he wants is that treat you promised. Don't be like Lucy with the football!
Give treats with an open hand or better yet, deposit the treat into the puppy's mouth so he doesn't have to lunge after it!
The puppies wait their turn and have figured out that they will get their treats more quickly if they are sitting. The puppies are 6 weeks old.

04/23/2022

Their new hammock bed is comfy and roomy but apparently not everyone is convinced 😉🐶❤️

04/23/2022

Five weeks old and a busy day for the puppies. Today they were weighed and wormed and nails trimmed. And they got a new growing-up bed. They outgrew their baby bed. I’m seeing the benefits of early neurological stimulation and the Puppy Culture protocols. They take everything in stride and are curious and brave about exploring.

04/14/2022

Four weeks old already!!

04/14/2022

Bedtime for her babies.

04/13/2022

The Socialization period is a window of opportunity that's open for only a brief time. During their socialization period, puppies require gradual exposure to novel experiences. The individual puppy's emotional response is more important than the socialization "agenda". Puppies must always feel safe and know how to use the "exit ramp" to opt-out of an experience that feels scary. It's the responsibility of human caregivers to make sure that happens.

This is a good illustration of puppy socialization needs, shared from Good as Gold Training, but I would also add that all of the listed exposure and experience needs to feel *safe* for the puppy. If s/he is nervous, tentative, or fearful the fear should be handled by backing off a little and reintroducing very slowly and with lots of praise, food and patience. Sometimes, for the sake of "socialization", owners push their puppies too far and too fast, and it can backfire. Good socialization requires that we "read" our puppies and help them feel safe as they navigate the sounds, textures, people and animals in their new world.

04/12/2022

04/11/2022

04/07/2022

Puppy snuggles. The babies are 3 weeks old and so the fun begins!

04/04/2022

We’re gonna need a bigger bed.

03/31/2022

Two weeks old. Saving their energy for toddlerhood! Almost ready to start investigating new things, exploring the unknown, and discovering how to get what they want.
Puppies "wake up" to the world at about 21 days - you know they're awake because when you look into their eyes they look back at you and recognize you for the first time. I love that moment - it never gets old.

03/31/2022

2 Weeks Old~
Eyes beginning to open.
Crawling out of the box!

03/27/2022

If week-old puppies cry, mama dog silently nuzzles, feeds, &
licks, because the babies can't hear yet.

03/26/2022

Puppy pile. Could they be any cuter?🐶🐾🥰

03/25/2022

Cuddling newborn puppies helps them to grow- tough job but somebody has to do it!

03/23/2022

Seven days old. Eyes not open and ears still sealed. At this stage, puppies can sniff to find their food source, crawl there, and suck. Their movement is exercise for their tiny developing muscles. Lots of gentle handling at this stage is preparation for socialization to people later on.

03/23/2022

Newborn puppies can't see, hear, walk, regulate body temp, or eliminate on their own.

03/22/2022

Early Neurological Stimulation: Tactile, Thermal, Motion
Day 3 - Day 16

03/22/2022

Lavender Collar Girl. Early Neurological Stimulation Exercises.

03/22/2022

Purple Collar Boy. Early Neurological Stimulation Exercises.

03/22/2022

Early Neurological Stimulation:
1. Tactile Stimulation
2. Head held erect
3. Head pointed down
4. Supine position
5. Thermal Stimulation

The US Military developed this method to improve the performance of their military working dogs. Their research confirmed that between day 3 and day 16 neurological stimulation in the form of mild stress increases the animal's capacity to learn, explore, and solve problems. Studies show that early stimulation also strengthens immunity and resilience.
The five exercises when done with each puppy once a day during the window between day 3 and day 16, prepare the puppies to be calmer and less fearful.
In the video, I'm doing the stimulation exercises with one of the puppies: Blue Collar Boy.