Puppies and Children--Critical Care Issue

If you are considering a puppy for your family several issues need to be addressed. If puppies and children are not socialized with each other, large pitfalls loom in the future.
Socializing a puppy is not complicated; it simply involves short supervised play sessions with the children two or three times a day from the time the puppy is weaned from its mother.

I would not recommend bringing a puppy into a home with children under the age of two without a plan for serious socializing. These children are usually too young to grasp the concepts of sharing, being gentle and the difference between the puppy's playful and threatening behaviors. Puppys under the age of twelve weeks rarely will threaten anyone, except in the context of play, but a mindless nip with needle sharp teeth can send a toddler screaming for help and seriously hamper its relationship with the pet.

By the time a child is three they understand that play is a two way street, that puppys are helpless creatures and that

Puppy Update--Training 101

An Ongoing Discussion of Puppy Training Techniques

It got mighty quiet around our house yesterday. It was the day after all our puppies went to their new homes. Shea (now Baron) was the last to leave and I have to admit I got a bit teary eyed. He is in a wonderful home and I know he will be very happy.

So, now that I have this wonderful blog space to explore the canine world, I will turn my conversations over to discussions of Puppy Training Techniques that have worked for me.

And, if anyone has tips to add, please do so in my 'comments' section.

Warm Welcome ABC's

Attention in the form of love, sweet nothings in their ears and lavish praise is very important to make your new family member feel welcome. Excess in this category is almost impossible. This is the most productive bonding period in a dog's life. His love for you will reap huge rewards in how well he learns later lessons. The importance of a dog's desire to please its owner can not be overstated.

Blankets that the breeder provides which have been slept on by the mother and siblings are also helpful. Scent is the strongest attribute dogs have. Dogs relate to their world more with their noses than their eyes, ears or tongues. Having the mother's scent nearby is a wonderful comfort.

Consistency, ideally duplicating the breeder's routine, is also significant in raising a confident and well balanced dog. Begin with the breeder's routine for feeding, pottying, playtime and naptime and gradually adjust it to a schedule that works for you. Dogs LOVE routine...love knowing when to expect important events in their day. Not too different from children in this respect.

Again, please offer any tips that have worked for you in raising a happy, healthy puppy.

Shea's The Clone of His Papa

Just thought you might want to know what Shea will look like when he grows up. This is his Papa, Strider and Shea is his spittin' image.

The cuddly lover still needs a home!

Random Ramblings

How Do Dogs (and Humans) Think?

Here is a link to a Psychology class at Harvard that addresses the 'Cognitive Ability of Dogs-- Savant or Slacker?' I listened to the beginning of the first lecture and it sounds fascinating...plan to return to it ... might learn something. The professor said it uses he will address the cognitive ability of dogs to investigate the thinking patterns of humans. Love it already.

http://my.extension.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k40462&pageid=icb.page190267

If They Can Do It....

Please follow this link to a wonderful story about two very unlikely buddies. I loved it and would be curious to know what you thought.