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

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/

We love coconut oil for dogs 🥥

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

Vizsla illustrated standard by the Vizsla Club of America

Excellent resource for everything Vizsla!

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

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.

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

Dogs Should Be "Unleashed" to Sniff to Their Noses' Content 👃

"Dogs' supersensitive noses are legendary, so much so that their approach to life could be summed up as 'sniff first, ask questions later.'”  "With 300 million receptors to our mere 5 million, a dog’s nose is estimated to be between 100,000 and 100 million times more sensitive than a human’s."

Entire article at Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animal-emotions/201902/dogs-should-be-unleashed-sniff-their-noses-content

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 🍼

More photos!

Alfred

L to R: Axel, Aya, Ainsley, Alfred, Addie

Axel

Addie

Vet visit -- tail dock ✓ and dew claw removal ✓

On Wednesday, 5/15 the pups made a road trip to Chino Hills Animal Hospital. This time it was for tail docking and dew claw removal. 

Cordie came with us for the trip as it is best to let her nurse before and after the procedure. She stayed crated in the car but was evidently missing her pups as she did not want to eat the food I left for her while I went inside to discuss the tail length with Dr. Williams.

The babies had no issues with the procedure and all look good and are growing and gaining weight. 

Car rides are no big deal! 

Puppy Stage : Birth / Neonatal to 2 Weeks

Puppy Development: Neonatal (Day 1 to 2 weeks)

• Newborn puppies cannot regulate their body temperature and must be kept warm. If allowed to chill they can develop infections, pneumonia and digestive issues. The temp in the room is set to 76-80F degrees. Puppies were born and spend the first three weeks of their life in a temperature controlled nursery (i.e. upstairs spare bedroom). 
• Their eyes and ears are not open, and they depend upon smell and body temperature to find their mothers to nurse. 
• They sleep 90% of the time and when awake crawl in a circle, moving their heads from side to side to find their mothers. 
• It is paramount at this stage that the mother is not stressed so she can focus on the needs of her puppies. Cordie is a fabulous and doting mom. Eventually she will know it's okay to take a break from the pups to come visit the rest of us (and I encourage that) or take a quick spin outside to burn off some energy/go potty. Right now she is focused on the pups and I have to beg her to go outside to potty. 
• Newborn puppies can not relieve themselves on their own. Their mothers have to lick their bottoms to stimulate them to go potty (#1 and #2).

Introducing the Hearts Afire litter . . .

The babies are here! On May 13th we welcomed the Tanner/Cordie babies -- 2 boys and 3 girls. Under the expert care and guidance of Dr. Beckie Williams DVM, we did a c-section to deliver the babies. Cordie's temperature dropped to 98F for 24 hours into Sunday, yet she was not showing any real signs of labor. Her progesterone had dropped indicating the puppies needed to arrive sooner, rather than later; and a c-section ended up being the right decision at the right time.

Myself and whelper-helper/sanity saver extraordinaire, Denyse, spent a marathon day at the Chino Hills Animal Hospital while they triaged a variety of ER cases before performing Cordie's surgery (finally) around 12pm. She came out of anesthesia and we wasted no time trying to get the babies to nurse. SUCCESS! Cordie took to them right away and immediately started loving and cleaning them. Couple hours later we arrived home to welcome them to the puppy room where she's perfecting her mothering instinct. She is a fabulous mom!!! (see Facebook post for more info: https://bit.ly/2VEMpDO) which she absolutely loves, and is producing milk for the babies. She is also eating organic roasted chicken, eggs and cottage cheese for calcium. 

Can't wait to watch these babies grow! Introducing the babies who all have "A" names, i.e. Hearts Afire 

Boy - "Alfred" Black/White Collar (coming soon)

Boy - "Axel" Blue Collar (coming soon)

Girl - "Ainsley" Yellow Collar (coming soon)

Girl - "Addie" Pink Collar (coming soon)

Girl - "Aya" Aqua Collar (coming soon)

They're here!

Quickly wanted to share that Cordie delivered five gorgeous 💙💙💗💗💗 puppies via c-section, two males and three females. Thank You to Dr. Beckie Williams and the staff at Chino Hills Animal Hospital. 

More updates to follow!