J&A's Puppy Aptitude Tests & Photos

(Candid photos taken during testing follow the article!)

TESTS

As Holly and Bullet's  pups turned 7 weeks old  the Puppy Aptitude Tests and individual evaluations took place. Our good friend Paige Davis is a breeder of English Setters and she knows our dogs almost as well as hers. Paige came and spent a few hours here to perform the 'tests'.  It was a lot of fun for John and I to actually sit back and observe the pups individually in a new surrounding by a total stranger as Paige had never met them before. The results helped us reach our specific goal of fitting each puppy with the best family.  

The pups were extremely consistent at each level of the P.A.T.  For Social Attraction every pup came running to greet our friend,  bouncing up into her arms without being called to.  Each pup also happily followed wherever she went, jumping around and keeping their tail wagging the whole time, oh it was so cute!  The restraint which can sometimes be the most challenging (pup is held on the floor on it’s back for a full 30 seconds) resulted in little to no struggling.  If they did struggle, they quickly settled with some eye contact.  For the social dominance which immediately follows that test all the pups enjoyed the stroking, petting they received when they sat back up and some even climbed up into our friend’s lap and started to lick her face. Guess they forgave her for the restraint!  (It’s so important to remember – these tests are done at an exact and precise age and stage of development.  Sometimes people misunderstand the purpose of putting a puppy on their back and it can result in trauma!!  When it’s done as part of the P.A.T. there is a specific purpose as the outcome should balance the rest of the tests that surround it. The reaction of just putting the pup on their back and forcing it to remain there tells us nothing other than a human is bullying  a puppy. And maybe some trainers or animal behaviorists use it on adult dogs but truly it is totally old school and unless someone knows what they are doing – it should be avoided. I find this is so often misunderstood.) Then the elevation dominance follows. Over the years we have tested litters for other breeders of English Setter pups, Beagle pups and several others.  There is such a huge difference in the Brittany reaction to being elevated off the ground. (Cradle pup in our hands and let it hang there.)  Other breeds will wrestle their way out of our hands and make it nearly impossible to hold them!  These puppies were almost bored with that part of the test today it was just so funny!  We did the retrieving test.  This is ONLY intended to show the degree of willingness to work with a human and gives an bit of an idea of how much  will be involved with training your bird dog to retrieve.  Instincts are strong and while it was all about playing they did chase after a crumpled up paper ball that was tossed, pick it up and eventually (EVENTUALLY LOL) get it back to our tester.  Chasing it is just as important as returning with it,  but returning after chasing is a good thing too.  Now here’s an interesting thing about the touch sensitivity.  Pup was held and pressure was gently increased while pressing on the webbing of a front foot.  Not quite pinching but that’s the general idea.  The count is to 10 before stopping or, stopping when you get a response.  Let me tell you all that this litter is incredibly stoic because they averaged 8-10 counts before showing ANY reaction at all.  Sound sensitivity was next and basically while pup was on the floor in front of tester she picked up two puppy pans and clanged them together, making a sharp noise.  All the pups were curious and looked up to see where the sound came from but not one of them was afraid, no one ran, no one cringed.  The pans were then thrown across the floor making all kinds of racket and once again each pup reacted the same way by walking over, checking them out, and that was it ho-hum!  Sight sensitivity is for the purpose of intelligent response to a strange object jerked around them.  Well we have a little fun with this and attach a grouse wing to a fishing pole. This is NOT a test for true birdiness but it still was impressive to watch every single pup establish what is considered a flash of a puppy point!  Very stylish may I add.  It was just so much fun. (Speaking of birdiness, on the puppy development agenda before they go home is their second introduction to birds.  They have had a wing in the whelping box to explore and outside a pigeon set outside for the litter to find. Today or tomorrow they are going to be introduced to a quail, individually.  Can't wait!)

In addition to a modified version of the Volhart Puppy Aptitude Tests we also utilize components of the PUPPY PUZZLE by Pat Hastings, and the S.M.A.R.T. Puppy by Carmen Battagllia. We also incorporated aspects of the Puppy Culture and also Avidog.

J&A's Brittanys - "An 8 Week Old Pup"

We appreciate having the permission to share the following article authored by Dave Jones of Chief's American Brittanys

Caly (pronounced as cal - ee )

"She's only 8 weeks old, pointing and running bigger than you'd expect for the age! How can that be? Just the thought of her developing into a great gun dog is thrilling to me.

She conjures up old memories of what has been and what will be.

What can I expect from this wonderful Brittany pup? Love, attention, quiet days afield and fireside memories. Memories of our 'oneness', of old friends, of days that pass too quickly.

Summer 2005 with JackDog as a puppy bringing up the rear!

A whole world is ahead for the tiny puppy. Imagine how this unguided creature would fair without my careful guidance? I have a huge responsibility that makes normal duties such as her safety and welfare pale in comparison.
I shall take her afield and have pleasant memories with her. She will challenge me but I will know that in the end, we will merge...we will become a team. I shall endeavor to properly introduce my young charge with all that is good. I will hold her and comfort her when she becomes sick, injured and old - I know this will happen and I will be there. I will always be there for her. It is my job as her master to be there. I do not take this responsibility lightly.

Many breeders before me have taken this charge and carried it out dutifully. How many countless hours afield have her ancestors spent afield? Not to mention those 2 legged hunters who have logged lifetimes finding the perfect pup, breeding the best to the best.

I try to imagine way back in time, the time of wolves and prey. Wolves, true hunters who pursued game through wit and physical prowess. I marvel at how man harnessed this primal instinct and formed it into such a magnificent animal.

We will offer one another mutual kinship. On days when she must remain behind, she will send me off with a wistful look in her eye. When I return home, she will greet me as if I truly am the king of the world. I must be royalty....watch how she worships me and loves me unconditionally. I have many faults but she will not know or care.

My new puppy thinks I am the bird god. I give her an exciting wing to attempt to catch in her early days. Watch the intensity on her face! She races to catch it but misses. Within a few flights of the wing, she instinctively begins to creep ever so slowly towards the twitching wing...then POUNCE, "Darn, missed again!" she must think. Now she slows even more and OH, how beautiful!...She has raised her tiny right front paw and paused in mid-step. Her ears are forward, head up and tail high! Why can't I make it last forever? I don't have my camera and even if I did, the picture wouldn't do justice to the moment.

I take my young prospect afield and make sure there are birds to be found. When no birds are found, she does not blame me. I think she regrets that she has somehow let me down. How can I communicate to her my shortcomings and inability to always take her to where there are birds? This is not 1000 years ago with abundant game, where all one needs is wit and power to catch dinner. We fool our young charge into thinking that we are the ones with wit.

Then, as suddenly as I daydreamed of her skills afield, I think ahead, just briefly, to the day when she will breathe her final breath. God, can we go together? Is there a way that we can at least continue this hunt, this friendship, in the everlasting? Why God, did you create such a magnificent creature that cannot live as long as humans? Am I selfish? I rue the day of her passing. I know I will weep for days, caring only for my own selfish feelings, feelings of having been left behind once again by yet another wonderful dog.

What does a Brittany feel that has lived a full and rewarding life with a devoted master? Are they like some humans who have lived full lives and are ready for the hereafter? I have contemplated what might be their last thoughts and always pray they slip peacefully away with no suffering. I wonder if they think "I have served my master well as he has served me. I would like to hunt just once more in my mind but my body says it's time to go. Thank you master."

"Live today like there's no tomorrow" some say. This is so true when speaking of a companion gun dog. I have books by my fireside that remind me of others great dogs but somehow, no stories compare with my own thoughts of what was and will be....I pale in comparison to real writers for if I were a real writer, I might be able to impart just one ounce of what I feel for my baby, an 8 week old Brittany that is already showing the fires of what will be...

Y'all take care and give your dog a fancy treat for me."

Used with permission given by author Dave Jones of Chief's American Brittanys.

J&A's Brittanys - Catching Up, Sort Of!

  

All of our scheduled puppy visits with new owners from both litters are all but completed.  We have one more to go!  The timing for these has been perfect as the pups need for interaction with people grows stronger every day.  It's really fun to see pups begin to actually focus intently on a human face and make lasting eye contact.  They are well versed in 'dog communication' thanks to the most basic litter dynamics and of course by the time spent with their dams.  Holly's 7 week old puppies are fully weaned.  Toph's 5 week old pups are almost to that point.

As of late it has been especially endearing to observe Holly and her puppies.  In the early neo-natal stages she physically loved on them through her constant nurturing, kissing, and nursing. She would not leave them unattended at all and had to be coaxed to even go outdoors to relieve herself.  At the magic turning point of 4 weeks old that all changed as weaning was in full force and she turned the 'clean up in aisle 9' to John and I.  It was not so enjoyable to her for the pups to nurse due to their size and aggressiveness. In the evening though, I would bring one pup at a time to her. Not to nurse, but for the two to simply enjoy each other. By doing this I've seen her play more with them, engage them, and show deep affection once again.  To dry her milk up she has to be away for several days in a row but once that has happened, they can enjoy being together in a new way. Momma dogs teach pups about bite inhibition. They are all going to be mouthy and teething.  While they learn bite inhibition from the reactions of their littermates, it is the dams who draw the line and help establish boundaries.  There are things a mother dog can teach puppies that humans cannot replicate.  

Toph is away from her pups the majority of the time but she is still permitted to let them have a brief 'snack'.  We have one more change to make on her behalf to the point the pups cannot climb over to her.  Although it is very cute to see a pup or two curled up next to her that have managed to scale the great divide between the puppy pen and her own space.  All that I described taking place above concerning Holly will be repeated with Toph.  

Each puppy needs, deserves, requires, and gets complete one on one attention several times a day. The older pups are much more active thus their needs demand more of our time.  It is not enough to

simply feed them and keep them clean although that in itself is a full time job.  But their minds are like little sponges ready and eager to learn. Already their desire to please humans is just so very strong.  I can't let them down! By the same token, Toph's pups who are 2 weeks behind in development are experiencing their awakening and discovering that there is so much more life beyond their puppy pen both indoors and outdoors.  All pups from both litters are happy, bold, confident, energetic and highly intelligent.

I've tried to apply some of Karen Pryor's "Clicker Training a Litter" techniques.  No parlor tricks, just laying a foundation for learning, for shaping behavior that results in a puppy responding with a desired result.  Holly's pups are really showing me the success of my attempts.  Toph's pups are just beginning to put the pieces together.  

It's pretty simple. I start by clicking when I am about ready to lay a pan of food down.  They're hungry and equate the clicker sound with something positive - eating!  Then as they grasp that, I no longer click! click! click! for the food pan.  Instead, I pay attention to the precise moment each puppy bows it's little head to take a bite of food.  Click.... click.... click... !   That goes on for a few days and then I begin to use the clicker at other times, most notably when I approach the entire litter. In their excitement they happily jump up to greet me, standing on their back legs and forward with their front ones.  Should a puppy be rewarded for that behavior though by being picked up?  It is at this point that I stand in their midst and ignore them but with a handful of treats in one hand and a clicker in the other.  The treats are soft mini-treats and as the pups begin to settle they may (or may not) sit down on the floor in front of me. The SECOND I see one pup sit I click with one hand and  put a treat in that pups mouth. Or try to.  Believe it or not it takes a few tries for them to successfully take a treat!  So a puppy that sits down in front of me hears a click and is rewarded immediately with the treat.  I think they take notice of each other.  I'll ignore the other pups that are still jumping.  This progresses. The next thing I have done (and AM doing now with the older pups) as I approach I just stand and wait for them to make eye contact WHILE sitting. But no clicker.  They hear instead the words "good puppy" and I reach to gently pet them briefly.  After a few days of this, I can expect that one of their initial responses to greeting me will be to sit down in front of me and wait to be told they are good and get rewarded with a touch.

I'm not saying this will be a permanent behavior. It could be!  But, more important it has indeed laid the foundation and set their highly intelligent wheels in motion.  Some of the pups become like butter in your hands and there are others who will be open for more challenges.

The first time I ever saw clicker training I was at a Flyball tournament with my dear friend Julie. You know, "aunt Julie" who crochets the beautiful puppy blankets!  I was sitting in a semi-circle with some of the Flyball MAINEIacs team and one of the coaches was talking clicker training. I listened and then watched, totally fascinated by what I was about to see.  There was an empty insulated cooler in front of us with a hinged cover.  I believe the woman's dog was a Lab that was sitting there.  The dog started to offer different behaviors and was clicked/treated for each one.  No words, commands, or human guidance given.  If the dog was not treated with for a previously offered behavior it would do something else to get the coveted treat.  Within 10 minutes and I kid you not, that dog was opening the lid to the cooler!  Eventually it even jumped inside. And I was totally sold on the benefit of clicker training.  You can use it in a multitude of ways once you get the basics down. Some people even incorporate it with gundog training!  I have used it successfully in helping a dog to pose/stack naturally in the dog show ring.  Hemi was trained to sneeze on cue when he was a puppy and Holly learned to roll over.

Speaking of Hemi, here's a cute video of him at 14 weeks. This was post clicker training for him when I was getting ready for his first dog show match in 2011.

I'm sorry for lack of current pictures. I do have them but I'm experiencing such a learning curve with the new laptop.  The photo editing program I relied on has been discontinued and I've just been too busy or too tired to transfer from phone or camera to laptop. I sure hope to get a nice group of 5-7 week photos of the pups this week. Videos are being shared live on Facebook, it's just easier that way.

Monday last puppy visit for Toph's pups.  Tuesday puppy evaluations for Holly's.  Wednesday - Friday puppy selections determined.  Sunday - Holly's pups can go home.   WOW

Thankful for the wonderful new owners preparing for the first day of the rest of the pup's lives.  This has been an amazing summer for sure.

Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittany

J&A's Weekend Wrap Up

And a good time was had by all!  

It would be silly to say it was a busy weekend because what weekend ISN'T busy around here lately? My brief recap would include a visit from Maryann and Ayden who brought me a lovely essential oil diffuser for my birthday which was Saturday.  Usually the whole family gets together to celebrate but I told John let's just put that off for awhile.  I have wanted one for awhile as I use lavender essential oil a lot of ways and it works especially well in the puppy room. That was nice.  Ayden enjoyed some one on one puppy time.

Over in Hopkinton NH there was a training day for the upcoming fall AKC hunt tests offered by various dog clubs around New England.  Our friends Christine and Bo of Merrymeeting Brittanys were there with their beautiful Skye and stopped in to visit the puppies on the way home. Skye is a daughter of Hemi and Luna, she's full sister to Toph but is white and orange. Because of the rain we couldn't go outside to the puppy play yards but we had a good time inside.  Chris was especially attentive to Miss Toph who loves to be the center of attraction! They both  enjoyed all the pups. Chris surprised me with a beautiful beaded bracelet for my birthday which she had made. It was very thoughtful of her.

Later that evening John and I went out to eat at "Ted's Fried Clams."  I enjoyed a scallop dinner and he had shrimp.  It was a splurge for both of us as we have made major changes in how we eat and fried food is a rare thing for us.  We even had onion rings!  It was perfect.  Saturday night Toph's pups had their second full solid meal. They are doing
great on the Purina Pro Plan for Puppies.  When they go home they

will have a sample size bag courtesy of Purina along with Purina Puppy Kits full of coupons and lots of good information as well as a way to keep track of records. The puppy gift bag is full!

Weaning is actually going well for both litters.  I could say Holly's pups are fully weaned at 6 weeks of age but she will still give them a snack.  We let the mothers make the decision when it comes to a cut off point.  Unlike Toph who is still with her pups the majority of time, Holly is only with hers at night and there is not much nursing going on, just cuddling, playing and also a bit of discipline as only mother dogs can do! Especially important is for them to understand bite inhibition. They figure it out among themselves when they rough house.  I rarely intervene in their squabbles.  They learn from each other that biting is painful. They also learn it from me because I will gently correct them when I get nibbled on and I don't mean maybe.  

We de-worm at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks.  We use Pyrantel Pamoate for all but the 4 week de-worming.  I like to use Panacur at that time.  This way we cover all bases.  Pups' stool is evaluated courtesy of our vet on a regular basis. Mother's are dewormed prior to breeding to help reduce the risk of passing any parasites on to the pups. I know, I know this is gross stuff but it's normal! 

Today John took Toph's whelping box out of her puppy area. We use indoor/outdoor carpeting as a base over linoleum that is covered with absorbent puppy pads.  Every other day a new one is put in. We power wash, disinfect and hang the one we've replaced out in the sun to dry so there is always a new and clean one for the puppies. But they were peeing gallons or so it seemed and after awhile you just can't keep up.  As Toph (like Holly) has reached that stage where "okay, they are all yours now!" our focus is on keeping the puppies and their surroundings clean.

Tonight a litter box filled with alfalfa pellets was added to Tophs side. We've been extremely successfully with Holly's pups so hopefully we'll see the same results with Toph's!

The best part of the weekend for me came early Sunday evening.  We'd been trying to figure out an easier way to get the pups to the puppy yard.  You see, we have so many eagles and hawks here where we live that it's way too risky to do the fun thing and let them run wild in the yard.  That's why we have set up things the way they are!  Nothing I love more than playing catch me if you can with puppies but we just can't do it anymore.  So tonight we introduced them to traveling in a car by crate!  It was only across the front yard but it worked and saved us a lot of time and energy.  Carrying 19 puppies back and forth in high humidity is not fun for anyone!

One side there are tunnels and mazes and an big area to run.  The other side has the fort and the activity center.  I lay a blanket down on the ground with Toph's

pups and they all came over to me. They snuggled up and even fell asleep next to me.  I could have dozed off myself!  The Patriots are beginning to wake up to the reality of how much fun life can be.

This time has passed way too fast though.  It always does.  This week brings the beginning of visits to Toph's pups and also the microchipping of Holly's puppies.  Their final health check is also scheduled as well as their Volhardt Puppy Aptitude Test after which time puppy selection will be determined. I know everyone is waiting for that! 

In the meantime, we're in good shape despite the busyness.  I believe the saying is don't be so busy that you forget to stop and smell the roses.  Well, in this case it's don't be so busy you don't stop and inhale puppy breath or make time for puppy snuggles and kisses! 

And that's a wrap!  As always take care and God bless you and yours - John, Ann and All Things Brittany

J&A's Saturday Morning Ramble

Zuko (Bullet/Thistle)  Summer 2014

The puppy room is truly a flurry of activity!  We've managed to sleep through just a few nights lately as long as you don't count the midnight and 2 a.m. puppy check.  It's all good and some breeders will say they can't wait until the puppies leave, that's certainly not the case here.  Years ago I complained to one of our vets how totally exhausted I was by the time pups reached 6 weeks of age.  Well let me just say he was NOT sympathetic and said 'Well, Ann... you brought this all on yourself!"  Humble pie hit me right smack dab in the middle of my face.  He was right.  And breeding is not for the faint of heart at least not if you plan to take full responsibility for a litter of puppies. This responsibility begins long before the actual breeding does take place.  The scout motto 'be prepared' surely applies to all things dog breeding!  There is a specific purpose for bringing two animals together and it sure helps to personally know the background of the dogs involved several generations back and not just on a paper pedigree. Pedigrees tell you a lot though and all of that information is important.  I shun away from those who tell me they don't care about the pedigree or if a dog is to be registered.  Some believe that you should only breed show champion (CH title on pedigree) to show champion. I do want to see titled dogs and health information listed in a paper pedigree though. And for our own program, I strive to see a CH title more often than not because it does us to remain true to the very important breed standard.  We have produced 7 champions and 1 grand champion in our gundog program since in the last few years. I'm happy to say that a pup from each of the litters will be shown, and maybe more than one!

Why is the breed standard so important?  Love it or leave it, the standard is the plumb line as to whether a dog is truly built well enough to sustain the demands and the rigors of what it is expected to do, how well it does it's "job".   Do all of our dogs meet the standard?  Well, you can look at our crew and figure that our yourself.  We started with strong field trial lines and (some may not like this) but when there have been few show champions in a field line, my experience is that often they are going to be bigger unless it's a dual champion. Their height will be near the top or over the 21 1/2" limit for Brittanys. ( It's a fact and all anyone has to do is look at the cover of some, not all,  American Brittany Club magazines to see some very extreme examples.) Even so, one thing we've deliberately done in our own line is work to improve conformation where it needed improvement. Actually, every time you breed you should be hoping to improve upon what is already there. We've been successful in our endeavors and once again, it shows.  There are clearly several pups in each litter that are show quality and I am thankful for those who are willing to give showing a try as well as those who already have.

You do know by now that our primary focus is on the natural inherent hunting instincts that surface at a very young age in our puppies. Our program is purpose driven!  This is why we want our puppy people to test them in AKC Junior Hunter at the age of 6 months and not older.   It's why we encourage participation in NAVHDA.  Hunters and non-hunters alike can have fun with this and also with field trials.  We're here for those new and also for those who need refreshing. In fact we're here from the first breath to the last breath of a beloved Brittany. Let's get these pups ready for those tests!  They've already been introduced to grouse scent, and the older litter to a live bird.

So this is just an early Saturday morning ramble.  Enjoyed with a cup of coffee as I try out a new laptop. I have yet to decide if I'm keeping it or not but time will tell.

Puppy families can expect another email to come out this weekend indicating the schedule for the next month here.  We'll outline and remind everyone of the timeline.

I am looking ahead myself to new adventures as I consider and contemplate whether or not I keep a puppy.  Lots to think about!

In the meantime, have a great weekend, take care and as always God bless you and yours.  John, Ann and All Things Brittany

ATB - As Time Goes By...

Timeless Treasures meet the Patriots, so cute.

Timeless Treasures graduate to the obstacle course, what fun! Great grandma Pippin sits nearby.

Well, we knew the time was going to fly by but sure didn't expect it to pass this quickly!  The Treasured Dreams pups of Bullet & Holly are going to be 6 weeks old this weekend, and the Patriot pups of True & Toph will be 4 weeks old.  As crazy busy as it has been here for all the right reasons I would like to freeze these fleeting moments in time just so that they would last a little longer. 

Personalities are clearly seen and recognized in Holly's pups. Toph's puppies daily show us who they are.  Each day is a new adventure to make sure there is something fresh, new, exciting and fun for them to discover.

While I know there are some of you who do not use Facebook and understandably so, that is where the most recent photos have been uploaded. This is because my laptop had to (once again) go in for repairs. I have loved Dell Inspirons for years but the honeymoon is over. Consequently my most recent photographs have all been shared on the All Things Brittany Facebook page. Alana was here for a few days to help us out and we took a nice group of photos showing body and faces of the pups for easier identification.  

All of the new families that are getting a puppy from Holly's litter have visited us.  It was a wonderful sort of busy over the past 2 weekends.  There were reunions of ATB Family as well as very enjoyable first time meetings of those who we have just been getting to know.  I know God's in this because already I feel so close and drawn to the new puppy families. You know who you are! Next week we will begin to get together with the families visiting with Toph's puppies. I'm not naming names but along with those getting their second J&A's Brittanys is one of our veterinareans.  Blessed with several great relationships with vets in the area, this just puts a smile on my face.  

And speaking of vets, our pups just had their first in house well puppy exam.  This was for eyes, ears, lungs, heart, testicles (boys), and general overall health.  They passed with flying colors.  They will be seen again when they are vaccinated and microchipped at 7 weeks. Wow - that's not too far away for Holly's pups!

Tonight both litters were in the puppy pen albeit not together.  The older pups have graduated to the tunnels and impromptu obstacle course. What a riot!  It didn't take too long before Polly, Beth, Dudette, Dude, Legend, Dolly, Mo, Star, and LJ were chasing each other through the tunnels!  The younger pups enjoyed their second time in with the Little Tykes play fort and the puppy activity center.  Patriot, Hamilton, Betsy, Spangle, Banner, Rocket, Sam, Hope, Franklin, and Revere may look sleepy in the photos but boy oh boy - do they come alive when introduced to something new!

Thanks to Alana loaning me her CD player I have been able to incorporate the Library of Sounds Sound Effects into the pups development focus.  There are streetcars, horns, people laughing, applause, horses, tea kettles whistling, train, gunshots, etc.  I play this CD when the pups are eating.  We have also been shaping the pups a bit for clicker training.  As we bring their food pan to them we click several times in a row before setting it down.  Then, as each pup begins to eat, they get one click.  So now they associate the sound of the click with something positive, in this situation food!  Many pups are not food motivated but for just the basics with pups this young it works.  Tonight with Holly's pups I took it a step further.  Without a food pan involved I went in and simply stood over the pups to see what type of behavior they would offer. After the initial jumping up on me they began to sit down, one by one.  Up until now I had been ignoring those who jumped but patting and praising the ones who sat quietly.  Tonight however, as they sat down I clicked and treated! It amazes me how intelligent pups this age can be because within just a few minutes, and I kid you not, they were sitting and expecting the click/treat!  Next? I'm going to teach them "watch me".... eye contact with me will be the behavior that gets rewarded.  

Is clicker training new to you?  It can be used in just about if not all training situations.  I highly recommend that you look into it.  There's a lot of information. Karen Pryor is one of the founders and that's where I started to learn about clicker training a litter.  YouTube has many videos on the subject.  Clickers are not expensive at all.   Check it out!

I'm tired (wonder why?!) and I know this post is boring and seems to drag on. I have so much I'd like to share but I do prefer to have photos to go along with it. I'm just happy that weaning is going so well for both litters, that the puppy pen WAS a great idea, that our new families are all I could have hoped them to be, and that all is well.  

I'm enjoying the correspondence, the questions, the feedback and just knowing that everyone is 'doing their homework.'  Don't forget John is such a wonderful resource and one thing for sure - he loves to get together with anyone who can be at the training field by 7 a.m. on a weekend morning! (Or weekday for that matter).  

And with that dear ones, I shall have to call it a night. Or, a morning as it is just 10 minutes to midnight!  Please take care and God bless - John, Ann, and All Things Brittany