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Time for a New Puppy Prior to choosing a performance puppy, it is important to talk to as many competitors and breeders as you can. Research the temperament, depth of working ability in the pedigree, health issues and structure of both the stud dog and bitch. K9data.com is a wonderful resource to use when researching pedigrees, but the whole story can only be found by talking with the breeders and individuals who own dogs from the lines you are considering. It is also important to take a look at your own level of expertise and be honest in your evaluation of your abilities and goals. In addition, evaluate your personal tolerance for the activity level that a performance pup might have. As you have narrow your search down to a couple of planned breedings or litters, it is a good idea to talk with the breeders about how the puppies will be raised while in their care. The more experiences your puppy can have while with the breeder the better. Ask about puppy testing and about early neurological stimulation as well as socialization and being introduced to birds. I would like to share my experience with two of my dogs. One was raised with very little exposure to things (Indy) and one that was raised with loads of experiences before he ever left the breeder (Skye). The difference in these two dogs was remarkable. Indy was concerned about almost everything and it took many, many months to work her through this before I could really start to train her. She was never completely comfortable at a show site and tended to stress easily. On the other hand, Skye was a confident pup from the very beginning and he easily handles any new experiences. These two examples show how important the first 8 weeks of your performance puppies life is and how this very important time can affect your future training and showing. Once you bring your puppy home, it is important that you continue this “education”. Expose your pup to all sorts of different situations that are non-threatening to continue to build confidence. An example, of this would be taking your pup on walks in the woods or playing on some puppy sized agility equipment. In addition, it is time to start bonding with your new puppy by playing games and starting training. Next month, I’ll share some games and early training ideas. If you have some games or fun things you like to do with your pup, please e-mail me at indy@centurytel.net and I will include them in my next column. Enjoy the journey! |
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