Beanwood
Administrator
Better get cracking on this now River is 10 weeks old today... 
No doubt about it River is a sweetheart, brave, bold and curious. Just like her mother at that age but with extra sprinkles of super fuel! Jeez! River flies around the place, bum tucks into doors, tables, walls the other dogs without a care... just shakes herself ... and off we go again! I get dizzy, the dogs get dizzy.... the cats have left home! ( no, not really... but close... ). Bless the gang, they are so tolerant. The big surprise is Otter, she has decided she is "Auntie" and is very serious about it, lots of nuzzling, gentle play and of course stealing River's toys and taking them to her bed!
The last of the Bramblettes left for home last Friday, this did hold things up a bit in terms of transitioning River from "litter puppy" to "our puppy". This is because we had a very set routine for the pups, and they were all treated exactly the same way. Moving River to living as part of the gang meant a bit of change around in how we do things, getting used to a day crate for example, and more careful management with the dogs, as well as a more intensive toileting programme. We had an on-going life-skills activities with all the Bramblettes, so River wasn't really missing out on anything. Mr Black though was ready to go, and we were itching to bring Miss Pink into our family.
So what had River experienced so far?
Being the breeder has been such a fascinating experience, what an opportunity though! I mean, I don't have to think about did the breeder do this or that.... I know! It has also meant we started as early as possible on things like habituation to novel sounds, sights, surfaces.. play, problem solving as soon as the pups could see and hear, so around 4 weeks old. The feedback from the new owners really demonstrates how bold and curious these pups are. In most cases, the pups have correctly identified "the sofa" and claimed as their own within around 5 minutes of entering their new home. I kid you not! Of course, you all know about the dishwasher pre-wash assistants. That was Benson's job and he trained them Bramblettes well!
Lifeskills continues, along with having fun with the gang. The focus at the moment as she is so young, is helping her become comfortable with the harness, with lead trailing. No big deal, just harness on, we play games or she is fed. All good there.
Mat Magnetism ... such a useful game that you can progress really easily into lots of things from learning to settle outside to advanced place board training. For now though, it's all about making the mat attractive and learning a great place to be.
Reflex to name, think we have have got this. Name "River!" means treat. We will start with a new game today, a more dynamic version of reflex to name, where I am moving, just a few feet, away from River, as she moves towards me she get a click and a treat. This isn't working on recall, more about rewarding River for orientating towards me... that movement... of turning towards me... getting reinforced.
A few videos...
A very brief clip, as the big dogs had come in from a walk. The gist though, is working on the mat being a great place to be. I am not using a marker word, or clicker because all I want her to do is be on the mat, clickers and a lot of verbal praise for me can seem a bit alerting. Mat training is the start of working on static behaviours.
Look at that tail wag when she spots Otter!
Working on reflex to name with the gang...
I am just a small puppy! Sucking up to Benson..look at all those calming / appeasement signals...
No doubt about it River is a sweetheart, brave, bold and curious. Just like her mother at that age but with extra sprinkles of super fuel! Jeez! River flies around the place, bum tucks into doors, tables, walls the other dogs without a care... just shakes herself ... and off we go again! I get dizzy, the dogs get dizzy.... the cats have left home! ( no, not really... but close... ). Bless the gang, they are so tolerant. The big surprise is Otter, she has decided she is "Auntie" and is very serious about it, lots of nuzzling, gentle play and of course stealing River's toys and taking them to her bed!
The last of the Bramblettes left for home last Friday, this did hold things up a bit in terms of transitioning River from "litter puppy" to "our puppy". This is because we had a very set routine for the pups, and they were all treated exactly the same way. Moving River to living as part of the gang meant a bit of change around in how we do things, getting used to a day crate for example, and more careful management with the dogs, as well as a more intensive toileting programme. We had an on-going life-skills activities with all the Bramblettes, so River wasn't really missing out on anything. Mr Black though was ready to go, and we were itching to bring Miss Pink into our family.
So what had River experienced so far?
Being the breeder has been such a fascinating experience, what an opportunity though! I mean, I don't have to think about did the breeder do this or that.... I know! It has also meant we started as early as possible on things like habituation to novel sounds, sights, surfaces.. play, problem solving as soon as the pups could see and hear, so around 4 weeks old. The feedback from the new owners really demonstrates how bold and curious these pups are. In most cases, the pups have correctly identified "the sofa" and claimed as their own within around 5 minutes of entering their new home. I kid you not! Of course, you all know about the dishwasher pre-wash assistants. That was Benson's job and he trained them Bramblettes well!
Lifeskills continues, along with having fun with the gang. The focus at the moment as she is so young, is helping her become comfortable with the harness, with lead trailing. No big deal, just harness on, we play games or she is fed. All good there.
Mat Magnetism ... such a useful game that you can progress really easily into lots of things from learning to settle outside to advanced place board training. For now though, it's all about making the mat attractive and learning a great place to be.
Reflex to name, think we have have got this. Name "River!" means treat. We will start with a new game today, a more dynamic version of reflex to name, where I am moving, just a few feet, away from River, as she moves towards me she get a click and a treat. This isn't working on recall, more about rewarding River for orientating towards me... that movement... of turning towards me... getting reinforced.
A few videos...
A very brief clip, as the big dogs had come in from a walk. The gist though, is working on the mat being a great place to be. I am not using a marker word, or clicker because all I want her to do is be on the mat, clickers and a lot of verbal praise for me can seem a bit alerting. Mat training is the start of working on static behaviours.
Look at that tail wag when she spots Otter!
Working on reflex to name with the gang...
I am just a small puppy! Sucking up to Benson..look at all those calming / appeasement signals...
To say we are both rather tired and sporting some rather interesting battle scars is an understatement. 
River already has delightful social skills under her belt, and I love the fact she is intuitive and gentle with Casper.