Loving her Vets

Breeze had two exciting vet appointments today.  Her first was for a booster shot at our regular vet clinic.   At her first well-puppy check two weeks ago, Breeze was pretty tired and very relaxed.  Today she was wide awake.  Visiting.  Investigating.  Wondering why Dr. Cumming was making funny noises and kissing her nose.  Having a mild tantrum getting her shot and then brushing it off.

We came back to the training center where Breeze had her first visit with our chiropractic vet (Dr. Patti Schaefer).  Dr. Patti sees clients at our facility every other Tuesday and works on my adult dogs on a regular basis to keep them in tip-top condition.  (I give Dr. Patti a lot of the credit for helping Walker achieve his American & Canadian breed championships at such a young age.)  

Immediately after her puppy adjustment Breeze was moving better (as in gaiting for the breed ring).  Breeze, like many puppies, wants to jump up and stand on her hind legs.  She's also a crazy girl in the back yard.  As a result, little things get out of whack (toes, hocks, backs, necks, etc.).    Regular chiropractic appointments will be part of Breeze's life as she prepares to be a performance dog and show dog.   I'm also teaching her to trot nicely on a leash, to build her trotting muscles as she grows up.

Breeze's Big Weekend

Breeze and her buddy, Spencer, hanging out at the training center last Thursday before I started teaching classes.  Spencer's family also has a Sky Acres Terv (Kitty) and mom, Christine, is a Family Dog instructor.   Spencer is a terrific puppy socializer.  He follows instructions and is very gentle with the puppies!  

Breeze had her first "dog show" experience this past weekend when we visited the Terv Specialty at Auburn Game Farm Park.  Although technically too young to officially visit a dog show, Breeze and quite a few other puppies from other breeders were along and kept at a respectful distance back from the rings.   (This is one of the nice things about small specialty shows!)

Breeze's brothers (orange and red collars -- I don't know if they have names yet!) came to visit as well.  Breeze had a brief play session with her blue collared brother, but the play got way too rough (Breeze is a brat with her littermates) so they were soon separated.  Interestingly enough, Breeze shows good respect for her elders...but she definitely wants to beat up her littermates whenever she has the chance.   I cannot allow her to do this; it's not good for her ego to continue to inflate and it's not good for her brothers!   I'll be searching for the appropriate play partners for Breeze...she needs to learn that she's not always going to be top dog, but in a safe and appropriate way.

Breeze spent time learning to entertain herself in a wire crate under Mary's canopy.  This allowed Breeze to watch people and dogs, take a nap and chew on bones.  Several times over the course of the afternoon she came out to visit and go for walks, although I had to stay on my toes to keep other dogs away from her.  (She was a good girl and went potty on leash at the show!) It amazes me that some people think it's okay to allow their adult dogs to simply walk right up to puppies!   Breeze is too young to meet dogs that I don't know.  She needs to continue to have the "right" experiences.

Fortunately people did ask before petting Breeze and by the time the day was over, she had made lots of new friends.

A couple of people have expressed concern about taking puppies away from home at this age (Breeze turned 12 weeks on Saturday) and whether or not puppies this age are too young for puppy classes.  I am of the belief that there is more potential harm done to a puppy by sequestering it for 4 to 6 months, than enrolling it in a proper puppy class where the facility is cleaned and disinfected regularly.  

I also believe a puppy has greater chance of getting sick from going for walks in the park or neighborhood, than going to puppy class.  When Breeze attended the dog show, I used common sense and kept her away from dogs we didn't know, and took her off in the distance to go potty.

At 12 weeks, socialization is critical for Breeze's proper development.  Not just any socialization, but carefully screened situations where she gets to meet new people, children and trustworthy, healthy dogs.   Over the past 35 years I've seen way too many dogs (herding breeds in particular) end up with serious behavioral problems (usually fear aggression) because the owners waited too long to start socialization and puppy manners classes.

Class demo puppy

First, to follow up from the last post, Breeze had a small temper tantrum on the grooming table for her first round of nail grinding (with a Dremel tool, coarse sandpaper disc), but settled right down when I made it clear that she couldn't escape.  I praised her when she relaxed and "contained" her when she struggled.  (A lot of novice owners "restrain" the dog.   Restraint causes the dog's muscles to tighten, which creates opposition reflex.   "Containing" the dog, thereby allowing minimal movement, is more effective.  The dog doesn't struggle as much.)

Breeze is now coming out of her x-pen at the beginning of my sets of classes (3 or 4 hours in a row), as students are coming in with their dogs.  I have her on leash and my goal is to keep her engaged with me and the tug toy, regardless of the distractions around her.  I am also working to build her drive (stronger grip and more intensity for the tug toy) and concentration (a few seconds longer) with these distractions.   I want her default behavior to be paying attention to me (rather than paying attention to other people and other dogs.)   I want her to believe playing with me and interacting with me is a lot more fun that those other people and dogs.   Breeze gets to "go visit" when I give her permission to do so.   When I do selectively allow her to go visit people and/or dogs, I know in advance that the person will handle her appropriately, and the dog will be tolerant of her puppy behavior.  I would never put Breeze in a position to have a bad experience.

After we tug for a minute or two and I talk to the class, I take the toy away and Breeze goes back in her x-pen.  It's important to end the game on my terms, and to leave Breeze wanting more.  If I played the game for too long, she'd get bored and the game would lose its thrill.

After an hour of chewing on bones and entertaining herself in the x-pen while I taught the first class, Breeze came out for the breed ring class.   It was her first time being a real "demo" puppy!   She showed the class how an almost 12 week old puppy can start to learn freestacking with bait, gaiting on a wide collar (so she doesn't choke), and the "judge" command.   When I whisper "judge" to my puppies I want them to look at the person approaching with ears up and tail wagging, anticipating a treat for standing still.   This lays the foundation for the judge's exam.

My pretend "judges" are instructed to only feed Breeze when she's standing perfectly still and her ears are up.  If she jumps, sits, moves around or puts her ears back my "judges" wait until she offers the correct behavior...then they quickly stick a cookie in her mouth!

This morning I found an old retired metal scent article and tossed it for Breeze as a toy.   She chased it and brought it back a couple of times...so it's now in her x-pen along with her real toys.  This will help her get used to metal objects, in preparation for learning Utility scent articles on down the road.

Grooming Table Time

I had a few extra minutes today so Breeze had a grooming table experience.  She took it in stride as I brushed her gently and used my other hand to help her stand still.   Since her future includes the conformation ring, it's really important that she enjoy being on the grooming table and understand the "rules" for being on the table.  The primary rule she must learn immediately is to not jump off!

Later today we'll have our second toenail trimming session.  Our first one went very well.  I anticipate more rebellion this next time around.   (The first session was way too easy!) All puppies go through phases where they challenge their owners over nail trimming.   We just have to work through it!

Breeze also had some one-on-one time with Tory this morning.  (He was off leash and she was on leash in the back yard.)  She is very brazen; immediately jumped up and put her paws around his head.  He was a bit taken aback and ignored her until she removed herself from his neck.  Then he wagged and interacted.    Flame was also loose and chose to totally ignore her.  There's plenty of time for Breeze to learn lessons from the current alpha bitch in my household...but the time isn't right.

Breeze's female role model for now is Kadee, Barb's wonderful GSD bitch.  Kadee was aloof at first, but now allows a certain amount of appropriate puppy interaction.   She's more tolerant than Flame would be at this point.  I trust Kadee to slowly teach Breeze to respect her elders using GSD body language...which is much different from the Belgian method!

Introducing "Breeze"

Walker listens intently to instructions from Breeze.

Born June 4, Breeze is the newest addition to the Lang Gang.  She is a Belgian Tervuren from breeder Michelle Edling in Oregon.  In this photo she's "talking" to 3.5 year old Belgian Sheepdog, Walker.

I brought Breeze home six days ago.  She's adjusting beautifully.  Yes, we still have the occasional complaining when she's first crated, or left alone in her puppy pen, but it's nothing like the first couple of days.  This girl has quite the set of lungs!  

Since all my dogs come to work with me, Breeze has impressed some of the classes with her vocalizations, the longest of which timed out at 30 minutes on Thursday morning.  Unrewarded behavior does extinguish itself...the first of many lessons Breeze will learn in the next few weeks.   She eventually settles down to chew on a bone or entertain herself with a toy.

Breeze and her littermates got off to a great start at breeder Michelle's house.  The puppies received lots of love, attention and the right kind of socialization.    Michelle is like many breeders (myself included) who match puppies to owners based on owner personality, puppy temperament, family lifestyle and future goals for the puppies.   

Breeze loves her flying squirrel toy.

My hope for Breeze is to earn her conformation championship and obedience, rally, agility, herding and tracking titles.  In addition, she will be a housepet, companion and "demo dog" for the classes that I teach.  

The past week has been full of change for Breeze.  She left her siblings and breeder to join my pack.  A new house, new dogs (all black!), new yard, the training center, meeting lots of new people, adjusting to a new schedule and routine.  Before bringing her home I had a plan in mind, so it was easy to integrate her into my life.

Breeze sleeps in a crate in the bedroom at night...and at 11 weeks she's now sleeping through the night.  Housebreaking is progressing well because I'm being proactive.  She's learning to potty on grass as well as river rock.  (I have a 30 x 60 river rock potty area that I prefer the dogs use...especially when we get home late at night from work.)  

Because my back yard is pretty large, and the other dogs are very energetic, Breeze has a 20 x 50 play yard made of exercise pens.  This allows all the dogs to get to know one another in a safe manner, and I can monitor their body language and dog communication.   It will be a while before she's allowed to run free with one or more of the other dogs; right now there's just too much risk of injury (running too hard, playing too rough, etc.).  Her little body is growing and her muscles are developing. 

At the training center Breeze has a double size x-pen at the edge of the training room floor where she can watch the action (and I can watch her).   She plays, naps, eats and hangs out.  In between classes I get her out for play and socialization.   On Wednesday night she did a brief demo for my conformation handling class.  She showed everyone how she's learning to walk on leash, pay attention, stand still with ears up for treats, retrieve toys and play tug with me when she's "off duty." 

I picked a time when she was tired for a pedicure and trimming the hair on the bottoms of her feet.  She fussed a little and then realized it wasn't worth the effort.   Good girl!   (I fully anticipate some temper tantrums in the future, if she's a typical Belgian.  I'll be prepared with reinforcements as needed!)

I'm careful to socialize Breeze in a way that builds her confidence and sets her up for success.  I prefer that no one pet her without permission.  (One person wanted to pet her while she was having a temper tantrum.  Had I allowed the petting, Breeze might think "you scream and fuss and people come pay attention to you."   We waited until she had been quiet for a few minutes so we don't reward the wrong behavior.)

I also prefer that people wait for my puppies to approach them and that puppies are petted under the chin (so the ears stay up and alert).   Breeze even met a few children this past week, and they were asked to sit on the floor and wait for her to crawl in their lap.   That allows her to get used to "little people" in a positive way.

When she's on her Flexi Leash and people walk by, Breeze wants to chase them and herd them.  I'm careful to alert people to watch out for her, and I need to make sure she doesn't grab clothing, so I'm encouraging her to carry a toy when she's on her Flexi.   Redirecting her mouth is working well so far.

Breeze had her first well-puppy visit to our vet this week.  She was so relaxed she fell asleep in my arms in the waiting room.  She was happy and relaxed during her exam and eagerly went with Dr. Cumming when it was time for her microchip.   The staff at Spring Glen Veterinary Hospital is wonderful and takes extra time to make sure puppies have good experiences when they visit the clinic.

The first few weeks with a new puppy are always fascinating.  I love to just sit back and watch.  I can learn so much by just observing. Raising a puppy is rewarding, challenging, a whole lot of work and a great deal of fun! My latest journey has only just begun. My plan is to share the adventure through this blog.  -- Kathy