5️⃣ things to successful dog ownership . . .

Five things that we want pet owners to know about successful dog ownership:

• Crate train. Even if you leave your dog out when mature, crate train. Most issues with destruction, eating things dogs shouldn't, and many other issues are solved by crate training. And consider transporting your dog safely, stay overs at a boarding facility or the vet's, or needing to leave them in a room with a raw steak on the counter. Crates are the answer for that too!

• Socialization isn't about meeting other dogs and people. Really. It isn't. It's about exposing your dog to the daily world and teaching them to focus on you. Would you believe me if I told you my dogs have never been to puppy play groups, they never ever say hi to other dogs on walks, and they certainly don't say hi to people either unless permission is asked and given? That's actually normal! Let your dog have one or two friends and that's seriously good enough.

• Dog parks- we don't use them, but if you must, use extreme caution. Seriously. Go ask a long time breeder, sport handler, or working handler what they think of dog parks. If you absolutely can't imagine life without them, take precautions!

• Keep your dogs away from other dogs out and about. We don't care if they are friendly, and we don't care if they won't hurt anything. You and your dog don't have the right to interact with others, and you never know when a dog is sick, injured, training, working, or reactive. Use the leash, and don't come within 30 feet without asking first.

• All dog owners should learn the basics of body language. In my opinion, this is far more important than teaching a dog to sit. You need to know how your dog feels about things and you need to be able to read a situation.

• Bonus: Don't let your dog stare at other dogs. Bad plan. Even with the little ones. People always wonder why my dogs hackle at the little ones yapping and pulling at the end of the leash- those little ones are being confrontational. Help other dog owners by making sure your own dog is acting appropriately and focused on YOU.

Source: Manitoba Dog Training and Ethical Breeding Education

And then there were FOUR!

Cordie, Kim, Axel & Bella

And then there were FOUR! Baby "Axel/Blue Boy" (Moonlight Hearts Afire) went home with Kim and Bella and will be keeping his name. Their family had an empty space after losing "Dory" the Weim after a wonderful 14 1/2 years. They're ready for the excitement of raising a new Vizsla puppy, and I could not be happier where this special boy has ended up! Axel will be living the good life in Orange County surrounded by horses, open space and lots of love. We'll see him in the show ring one day, as well as on birds. In the meantime he's going to enjoy being a great little brother to Bella. Can’t wait for the next Moonlight Meet-up!

 Bye Bye Axel! We will miss you! 😘

Episode 1 of "Bringing Up Baby Theo" Introduction and Setup

Excellent informative video on preparing for a puppy -- many of these ideas are in my MV Puppy Supplies handout PDF.

If you are on Facebook, please take a look:

https://www.facebook.com/puppyculture/videos/178076949792256/

Reminders from Jane Messineo Lindquist from Puppy Culture

This is a global "Manding" post - we get more questions about manding than any other PC protocol, and it's also the most misunderstood protocol because it's so often confused with "sitting politely for petting" which is a completely different concept. So here are the links with all the information you need on manding:

http://bit.ly/IAABCMANDING - my article in the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants on manding which describes the history of the concept, its basic application, and benefits.

http://bit.ly/MANDINGFAILURE - my article on what manding is and is not and why puppies who are taught to mand will (and should) still jump up on people sometimes

http://bit.ly/MANDINGDISCRIMSTIM - my article on how and when to honor the mand, and how and when to let the puppy know that his opportunity for petition is closed at this time ;).

Original post: https://bit.ly/2ZpNcWE

Vaccination Protocol for Dogs

2016 DODDS VACCINATION PROTOCOL FOR DOGS - Moonlight's Recommendation: 

The following vaccine protocol is offered for those dogs where minimal vaccinations are advisable or desirable. The schedule is one I recommend and should not be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It’s a matter of professional judgment and choice.

9 – 10 weeks of age - Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV  e.g. Merck Nobivac (Intervet Progard) Puppy DPV

14 – 15 weeks of age - Distemper + Parvovirus, MLV

18 weeks of age - Parvovirus only, MLV Note: New research states that last puppy parvovirus vaccine should be at 18 weeks old.

20 weeks or older, if allowable by law - Rabies – give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines Mercury-free (thimerosol-free, TF). [Karen] I personally wait until pups are 12 months old.

1 year oldDistemper + Parvovirus, MLV. - This is an optional booster or titer. If the client intends not to booster after this optional booster or intends to retest titers in another three years, this optional booster at puberty is wise.

1 year old - Rabies – give 3-4 weeks apart from other vaccines 3-year product if allowable by law; mercury-free (TF)

Perform vaccine antibody titers for distemper and parvovirus every three years thereafter, or more often, if desired. Vaccinate for rabies virus according to the law, except where circumstances indicate that a written waiver needs to be obtained from the primary care veterinarian. In that case, a rabies antibody titer can also be performed to accompany the waiver request. Visit The Rabies Challenge Fund for more information.

W. Jean Dodds, DVM
Hemopet / NutriScan
11561 Salinaz Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843

https://www.hemopet.org/dodds-vaccination-protocol-dogs-2016/

8 Weeks already!

The pups had a fabulous weekend in Simi Valley running around, meeting new friends, seeing new places and meeting their grandma Zene and Uncle Sal. Lots of videos were posted on Instagram. Some favorite photos here:

Axel

Addie

Ainsley

Axel

Alfred 

Alfred

Aya

Ainsley and Aya

Addie

Axel

Addie

Ainsley

We love coconut oil for dogs 🥥

Link to entire article: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/top-7-reasons-to-use-coconut-oil-for-dogs/

Like clockwork -- 7 weeks old and mischievous!

Post escape -- nap time! 

Today's panic attack 😟 brought to you by Nest cam. While on a work call to China, I flipped to the puppy pen cam and realized there were THREE escapees! Luckily, I only work 6 minutes away...pretty sure I broke a land speed record 😲

All is well with the pups who turn 7 weeks old today!

REMINDER - Puppy pen (baby gates, etc.) are for litters, not for containment once a pup of 8+ weeks goes home. The best strategy is supervision (two eyes on the puppy) or crate training for their safety. 

Vizsla illustrated standard by the Vizsla Club of America

Excellent resource for everything Vizsla!

Link: https://www.vcaweb.org/download/VCA_Illustrated_Standard.pdf

Snuggle party!

Calmness is a learned behavior 😇

This video is a tutorial on how to teach your puppy or dog to be calm.

Some dogs need help to learn how to relax. Calmness does not come naturally to some breeds .By reinforcing your dog for being calm, your dog will start to choose calmer behaviors in the future and actually enjoy being calm.

Tips for teaching a Default Settle:

• Don't drop treats if the dog looks up at your hand as you move to give the dog the treat, instead try again later.
• Don't cue the dog "down". It works better if the dog figures it out on his own and CHOOSES to lay down.
• Use high value treats like real meat or cheese for such a wonderful behavior.

Puppy Party Palace is open!

The A Team graduated to their "Puppy Party Palace". . . 

it has toys / play area . . .

. . . and a toilet!

Axel

Alfred

Puppy snuggle pile!

Ainsley

Snack before bedtime (organic goat's milk + probiotics)

Mugshots 📸 4 weeks old

Mugshots 📸 4 weeks old

• Left/Boys - Alfred & Axel

• Right/Girls - Aya, Ainsley & Addie 

We got a potty box 🚽🧻

Post playtime group nap

The A Team is now 3.5 weeks old, they are getting more mobile and growing and growing. Now is the time that I introduce the "potty box". The potty box is pressed wood pellets covered with a washable pee pad. The puppies naturally want to avoid soiling their bedding area. Hopefully, you've watched the Puppy Culture films for more on this method of potty box training. Providing the puppies with a designated potty area starts them off with the foundation for housebreaking which makes transitioning to their new home a breeze. 

Hello potty box!

Alfred (Black Boy) climbs over it ;) 

Addie (Pink Girl) decides to taste it first ;) 

The pups are taking to their potty box (at first they wanted to chew it) and the wood pellets will transition to fake grass which is a bit easier to maintain (keep clean). 

By the weekend, they will have their first meal of goats milk, Honest Kitchen mush and gruel (ground up kibble) they will also be introduced to minced raw meat for those who raw feed.

Puppy Culture - Enrichment & Socialization "Something New Every Day"

The puppies will continually exposed "Something New Every Day". Some great ideas below, let me know if you think of anything else!

Our 2013 Litter (Cordie in Pink) drinking from a hose

- Music Mat
- Sit N Spin
- Baby slide
- Crackle toys
- Squeaky toys
- Plush toys
- Walk on grass
- Walk on tin foil
- Play in kiddie pool
- Bubbles
- Cold toys (teething)
- Paper towel rolls
- Empty box
- Mirror
- Yoga block
- Walk on gravel
- Introduce bumper bed mat
- Grooming tools in box
- Stand on grooming table and eat treats
- Be brushed with pupy brush
- Show stack and eat baby food / yogurt to hold still
- Walk on carpet
- Walk on tile
- Introduce puppy mush
- Have friends come to visit
- Have trusted adult dog of friends visit
- Meet cat (if applicable. I have one.)
- Listen to classical music
- Listen to Puppy sounds CD
- Introduce small tunnel
- Puppy playmat with dangling toys
- Play with a ball that rolls (beach ball or something light)
- Introduce dremel (just hearing seeing, touching toes with dremel off)
- Introduce actually dremeling toenails (8 weeks)
- Clip nails
- Ball pit
- Car rides
- Walk up and down steps
- Loud noise - i.e. lawn mower
- Moving objects - car, bicycle
- Meet other animals (goats, rats, horses, etc.)
- Watch kids jump on a trampoline
- Play in a dry bathtub
- See or go in a Tent
- Plastic milk bottles

- Large bubble wrap (before they are big enough to eat it)
- Change of environment - move to new pen or visit new areas of the house
- Vaccum cleaner
- Lawn mower
- Broom
- Washing machine
- Various food puzzle toys
- Empty plastic bottles and cans in a ball pit
- Skateboard or toy that moves if they get on it
- Wobble disc
- Sound toys
- Electric toothbrush to simulate being clippered/groomed
- Banging pots/pans
- TV on various channels
- Different kinds of music
- Turning on ceiling fan/window fan
- Plastic bags, the kind that blow in the wind

- Children of all ages
- A fan on the floor outside of the pen blowing in

Best mom ever!

We've got eyeballs 👀 and we're mobile!

The A Team will be three weeks old tomorrow (June 3rd). Their eyes are are open (some eyes opened sooner than others) which is completely normal. They are also more mobile and starting to vocalize, this will only increase over the next week(s).

We're cruising! 

Aya and Addie

New toys - Alfred (right)

Bitey face - puppies explore the world with their mouths - Aya and Ainsley

 Puppy pow wow

Aya

Ainsley

Two weeks old today!

Long weekend but wanted to share there are *NEW* photos in the puppy album: 

https://karenlake.smugmug.com/Moonlight-Vizslas/2019-Tanner-x-Cordie-Litter/Tanner-x-Cordie-Week-1-2/i-hVszkgc

Pups are gaining and growing (and fine) and Cordie is a fabulous mom. Breeding always brings challenges but having a great team of friends and fellow breeder/mentors really helps. 

Puppy Stage: Transitive Period Week 2-3

Puppy Development: Transitive Period Week 2-3

• This is when brain development quickly ramps up to bring the pup out of the neonate stage. Mentally, the change is as drastic as a caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly, or a tadpole’s transformation into a frog. It begins with the pup opening their eyes at approximately 14+ days of age, and is shortly followed by ears opening five to ten days later.
• These experiences a marked increase in brain activity during this period, showing a stark contrast with the activity of the neonate. The puppy can now crawl forward and backward, and can finally attempt to take their first steps. They will also begin moving beyond the nesting area to eliminate without the assistance of his mother, and his interest in solid foods will increase, even though weaning won’t occur until seven to eight weeks of age. 
• The pup will engage in play fighting and posturing throughout the transition period. He will also begin to practice using social signals, such as growling, pawing, and tail wagging. Much to the dismay of his owner, the puppy will also exhibit signs of distress for reasons other than being cold or hungry. At this time, being separated from his littermates, being introduced to a new environment, or accidentally wandering too far from the nest will cause him to cry. Additionally, his ability to learn from training won’t reach full capacity until around four to five weeks of age.

Pupdate!

The "A" Team aka Hearts Afire Litter is ten (10) days old today! Some milestones to share:

• Everyone has more than doubled their birth weight 🐷
• They have had two nail trims each with baby nail clippers 💅
• Multiple ENS sessions (see prior post) 🧠
• Learning to scoot around the whelping box to find mom 🍼