ATB: 7 week Puppy Update / WINCHESTER FIRST PICK PUP!!!

It's official!! Winchester will soon be traveling to

New York with Pete & Kira!!

Our Puppy Aptitude Testing occurred on Monday. All 11 pups were tested and observed by Pam and Julie.  John was the puppy taxi, bringing them back and forth into the enclosed kitchen space. It's important that this is done by someone not known very well by the pups so I watched and kept notes as the pups interacted with  our friends  as they interacted, played with, and did the actual physical testing with them. Truly there were no surprises. Confident personalities abound!  Every one of the puppies is extremely friendly and outgoing. Each pup showed little to no reaction to the sound sensitivity test (clanging two pots together). They did great on sight training using a wing suspended on a fishing pole. This is not a test for birdiness but it is fun when  you get a little puppy point. There were several teeny tiny points but the pups seemed to get bored with the game of the bouncing wing.  There are 3 specific tests to determine level of of submission, independence, and/or dominant tendencies.   A couple are not too enjoyable for the pups but only last 30 seconds or less. It is the raw and instinctive reaction we look for.  There were no disappointments. Some pups were a lot funnier than the others in regards to their reaction to all things new.  We did spend quite a bit of time laughing. The entire litter averaged at the 3 range, with a couple in the 4. (The PAT was developed by animal behavior specialists Jack and Wendy Volhardt) The test itself took about 3 hours.  Pam and Sam, John and I surprised Julie with a little birthday celebration after dinner. We'd all had a very long field trial weekend and it was just so nice to kick back and relax a little bit. 

I have started to work with each pup one on one away from their littermates and it is always surprising to see how different they are when on their own.  We enjoy watching them explore outdoors while on a leash and collar and they are doing well being on a lead.  We don't have the freedom to let them simply run in the yard because we do have hawks and eagles in the area. This isn't stopping the pups from having every chance to be outside though. There's a small outdoor puppy pen for them to enjoy and also we take them a couple of pups at a time around the yard. Upcoming will be their actual exposure to a live game bird which is always a lot of fun. They have played with frozen quail wings in their pen together, they just think that is a great game.

It's fun to observe them - and to know there's a really nice strong prey drive which has been passed down. Treasure and her mother Wish are known to take treats, toys, whatever - and run around looking for a place to hide them. If, when they are fed, they don't feel like eating they will try to stuff an object on top of their food dish as if to hide it from view. We cracked up during the tests on Monday when one of the puppies ran around the kitchen with a crumpled up paper (used for retrieving) in it's mouth. There was a small feeding dish on the floor in the corner of the kitchen. Pup tried to stuff the paper into the dish - it was just so funny. This week they are establishing the pack hierarchy but we really haven't seen any one pup rise to the top, they are all very well balanced on many levels. Their large puppy play pen reminds me of a playground as they pups all romp and play with toys throughout the day.

They are like little wind up toys - at first they are so energetic and bouncy, happy, playing running around. But all of a sudden, within a short time their energy runs out you see each pup, one by one, just crash sometimes right where they are.  It helps me plan my day better knowing I can predict these little puppy spurts. Makes keeping their area clean a little easier for sure.  The majority of the pups have trained themselves to eliminate in one corner of this room. We 'framed' a small area for them to easily identify their 'toilet'. Using shavings on the floor keeps them all fresh, clean, and dry.

Treasure has weaned them but she still enjoys spending time with her pups. We believe if mom is still happy to play and interact with her pups, then they can still be with each other. I think mother dogs can teach their own pups the most valuable lessons about respect and especially bite inhibition. Otherwise pups just don't learn or understand that their mouthing hurts. They need to be taught in no uncertain terms that biting is unacceptable and I firmly believe this lesson begins when their teeth come in and they try to bite mom while nursing. Both Treasure and her own mother have always been very strong in their maternal instincts. Treasure spends most of the day with John and I although we are frequently with the pups and she's alongside. At night she sleeps in the chair just outside of the puppy play pen and she can easily go in and out if she wants to.

We have had to add height now to the 'threshold' several times as they are little climbers who want to get up and over to explore. To add more fun to their daily activity and keep them busy and focused this week we will add the culvert tunnel to their play space. Pups have been dewormed 3 times with no evidence of anything seen in their stool. Today we took a sample over to our vets and it is negative.

This Friday the entire Triple J&A litter will travel to our vets for their health exam/certificate, interstate traveling papers and first puppy shots.  This will be the third time our pups will have been seen by a vet.  The first, within 72 hours of birth for tail docking/dewclaw removal, litter and mom exam.  The second, was when one visited by one of our vets who will be getting a puppy.  And the third visit of course this Friday.   I cannot believe they are 7 weeks old today and that it is nearly time for the first day of the rest of their lives. We are very happy with the families and homes which are anxiously awaiting their new arrival!!! Pups will be ready to leave 1 week from today so this is a very bittersweet time for me. I feel that is still so much more I want to do to help get these pups ready to spend the first day of their rest of their lives with people. I'm always asked what it's like when the pups go home, is it hard? When the car leaves our driveway and John and I turn to walk back towards the house, yes - there are always tears in my eyes... but those tears are just as much about happiness as they are about letting go. By the time one of our pups leave for their new life - I'm confident they are with exactly who they should be with. When they leave us, they are ready to begin their great adventure of simply 'being' a well loved Brittany. Most of them get to hunt in some manner or other. All of them get to be valuable, deeply desired and greatly loved family pets owned by responsible people. Either that, or they stay right here until such an opportunity presents itself.  And we have two such pups at the moment which we are currently still accepting and screening applications.  I am in no hurry to have the entire litter go at once as we are certainly set up here to hold on to pups until such a time as the most perfect situation presents itself. You know we do like to leave that in God's hands anyway.

I just emailed the waiting list as it as it currently stands. Please let me know if you see any errors. We are slowly but surely making our way down this list to provide the final selections, contacting those who need to be contacted. If you have any questions please let me know. Each person's selection/choice effects those who are waiting for their puppy so timeliness is greatly appreciated. We are also arranging pick up dates/times for the pups. Once I have gone down the entire list I'll announce puppy selections. Basically, you could put a blindfold on and pick your pup. They are all absolutely incredible. John and I are extremely pleased with the results of our first breeding back into our own line. We appreciate the opportunity to work with everyone and thank you for everything. Take care and God bless.. and yes I am tired, in fact I am exhausted!!!! John, Ann, and ATB (but as my vet says - it is something I brought on myself so I can't complain - he is right!)