Saturday, January 31, 2009
A Happy Day!
Today is a happy day for Zoey and her puppies. One by one each pup begins their new life with their families spread out over Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Raising these puppies is an experience our family will always treasure and remember forever. We also have good news about Zoey, she has a new family too! I'd love to keep this blog going if the new families would provide news and photos. Good luck to everyone.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Bringing Your Puppy Home
Please read the following article written by Chris Conklin regarding your new puppy. It was written for adult dogs, and also applies to puppies. This information will be valuable for a smooth transition into your home. This article and more can be viewed at this link:
http://www.michiganweimaranerrescue.com/Behave.html
Introducing Dogs Into Your Home
When you are bringing a new dog home, either for foster or because you have just adopted a new family member, how you interact with the dog in the first 24 to 48 hours is critical to the dogs' perception of its new family. Bring the dog into the home on leash. DO NOT let the dog run all over your house sniffing and possibly marking. This is your home and you want him to understand from the beginning that he will be required to respect it as yours. Make sure all existing family dogs are crated or shut away and don't parade your new dog past them. Children should be calm and respectful of the dog and his space and not crowd the dog or become over excited. Take the dog to the room his crate is in. For foster dogs this should be in a somewhat isolated area such as a laundry room or spare bedroom, but should not be in an area exposed to the general populace of dogs. (IF THIS IS A DOG DIRECTLY FROM A SHELTER, HE MUST BE KEPT IN THIS AREA 7 TO 10 DAYS). Let the dog stay in his crate to adjust to the sounds and smells of your household. If he is throwing a temper tantrum, let him, and IGNORE IT!!!!!! The dog is testing you. If you let him out now, you will have continued struggles with the dog and may have to return it to the foster home or area rescue coordinator. The dog should be taken out only for potty and exercise times. Often times, your new dog may have already met his new doggie brother or sister at the foster home. This is not the same as meeting your current dogs; please give your new rescue dog time to adjust so that he is not forced to show unwanted behavior like growing in either dominance or submission. Now is not the time to invite family and friends to meet your new dog or take him on a trip to the pet store. Give him a day or two minimum to adjust to his new home. Take him out on lead; this dog has not bonded to you yet. Do not trust him off line even in a fenced in area (use a long line). He needs to learn that the "come" command can be reinforced. Keep him on line for at least 30 days.If this is an adopted dog, he should be started in obedience classes after he has been in your home for 3 or 4 weeks. Give him a hobby. If Weims don't have a job to do they get fixated on their owner in an unhealthy way, possibly causing separation anxiety and/or other unwanted behaviors. Introduce current dogs one at a time in a non overwhelming way; don't let the dogs rush up to one another or intimidate. The dogs should not be alone together unsupervised in the house or yard until they know each other well. If you have cats in your home, keep your new dog on leash until you feel safe he will not go after them. Do not "show" the cat to the dog or try to introduce them.Feeding should be done twice a day in the crate. Food should be left out for 15 minutes or so then taken away. Your dog should have access to water when not crated. You have to use the crate as a ritual part of his day, when you are at home sometimes as well. Otherwise, the crate is associated with separation. The crate should be in a portion of the household you actively live in. (If you wouldn't go there to sit and read a book, he doesn't want to be there either). Be very careful about your tone of voice when kenneling. "Aww come-ooonn, you gotta get in your kennel nowww", won't work. Sounds like you feel guilty putting him in there. You should say "Kennel up!" in a firm commanding voice. Crate him at least 15 minutes before you leave. He should be left in the crate five to ten minutes after you get home. He should then be let out and ignored for two minutes. Don't let him out of the crate if he is barking. Ignore any behavior he exhibits in there as if he was invisible and you were deaf. Adopters, please maintain a leadership role with a maximum of routine and try not to give free love or cuddle the dog excessively the first 48 hours. Then your new pet will enter the household feeling like he must make an effort to belong to you. Much better than spoiling him with lavish attention and letting him think he can get away with anything. Most of all good luck, and have fun!
http://www.michiganweimaranerrescue.com/Behave.html
Introducing Dogs Into Your Home
When you are bringing a new dog home, either for foster or because you have just adopted a new family member, how you interact with the dog in the first 24 to 48 hours is critical to the dogs' perception of its new family. Bring the dog into the home on leash. DO NOT let the dog run all over your house sniffing and possibly marking. This is your home and you want him to understand from the beginning that he will be required to respect it as yours. Make sure all existing family dogs are crated or shut away and don't parade your new dog past them. Children should be calm and respectful of the dog and his space and not crowd the dog or become over excited. Take the dog to the room his crate is in. For foster dogs this should be in a somewhat isolated area such as a laundry room or spare bedroom, but should not be in an area exposed to the general populace of dogs. (IF THIS IS A DOG DIRECTLY FROM A SHELTER, HE MUST BE KEPT IN THIS AREA 7 TO 10 DAYS). Let the dog stay in his crate to adjust to the sounds and smells of your household. If he is throwing a temper tantrum, let him, and IGNORE IT!!!!!! The dog is testing you. If you let him out now, you will have continued struggles with the dog and may have to return it to the foster home or area rescue coordinator. The dog should be taken out only for potty and exercise times. Often times, your new dog may have already met his new doggie brother or sister at the foster home. This is not the same as meeting your current dogs; please give your new rescue dog time to adjust so that he is not forced to show unwanted behavior like growing in either dominance or submission. Now is not the time to invite family and friends to meet your new dog or take him on a trip to the pet store. Give him a day or two minimum to adjust to his new home. Take him out on lead; this dog has not bonded to you yet. Do not trust him off line even in a fenced in area (use a long line). He needs to learn that the "come" command can be reinforced. Keep him on line for at least 30 days.If this is an adopted dog, he should be started in obedience classes after he has been in your home for 3 or 4 weeks. Give him a hobby. If Weims don't have a job to do they get fixated on their owner in an unhealthy way, possibly causing separation anxiety and/or other unwanted behaviors. Introduce current dogs one at a time in a non overwhelming way; don't let the dogs rush up to one another or intimidate. The dogs should not be alone together unsupervised in the house or yard until they know each other well. If you have cats in your home, keep your new dog on leash until you feel safe he will not go after them. Do not "show" the cat to the dog or try to introduce them.Feeding should be done twice a day in the crate. Food should be left out for 15 minutes or so then taken away. Your dog should have access to water when not crated. You have to use the crate as a ritual part of his day, when you are at home sometimes as well. Otherwise, the crate is associated with separation. The crate should be in a portion of the household you actively live in. (If you wouldn't go there to sit and read a book, he doesn't want to be there either). Be very careful about your tone of voice when kenneling. "Aww come-ooonn, you gotta get in your kennel nowww", won't work. Sounds like you feel guilty putting him in there. You should say "Kennel up!" in a firm commanding voice. Crate him at least 15 minutes before you leave. He should be left in the crate five to ten minutes after you get home. He should then be let out and ignored for two minutes. Don't let him out of the crate if he is barking. Ignore any behavior he exhibits in there as if he was invisible and you were deaf. Adopters, please maintain a leadership role with a maximum of routine and try not to give free love or cuddle the dog excessively the first 48 hours. Then your new pet will enter the household feeling like he must make an effort to belong to you. Much better than spoiling him with lavish attention and letting him think he can get away with anything. Most of all good luck, and have fun!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Trip to the Vet
We had a wonderful visit with Dr. Joe at Briarwood Veterinary Hospital this afternoon. The doctor was so gentle when he gave us a thorough examination. We were very well behaved and got little doggie cookies. The most fun was untying Dr. Joe's shoe laces. He was a good sport about it.
Pudding.
We've grown alot in the past seven weeks, and haven't missed a meal yet! Our weights are:
- Chip 8lbs. 4oz.
- Fudge 9lbs. 10 oz.
- Mousse 12lbs.
- Truffles 10lbs. 15oz.
- Kisses 11lbs. 3oz.
- Sprinkles 11lbs. 11oz.
- Cocoa 12lbs. 5oz.
- Pudding 14lbs. 14oz.
Mousse on the exam table.
Kisses.
Pudding. Saturday, January 24, 2009
Food
The puppies have been eating Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Rice Formula:
Each pup gets about 1/2 Cup to 3/4 Cup per meal, soaked with water.
They currently eat at 6:00 am, 2:00 pm and around 9:00 pm.
I call puppy, puppy, puppy when I feed them. This will be useful when teaching your pup his/her name. Just add pup's name to the end, puppy, puppy, Sprinkles, and so on. The pups associate something good when hearing puppy, puppy, puppy!
Each pup gets about 1/2 Cup to 3/4 Cup per meal, soaked with water.
They currently eat at 6:00 am, 2:00 pm and around 9:00 pm.
I call puppy, puppy, puppy when I feed them. This will be useful when teaching your pup his/her name. Just add pup's name to the end, puppy, puppy, Sprinkles, and so on. The pups associate something good when hearing puppy, puppy, puppy!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Boys & The Girls
Zoey's puppies are six weeks old today! Here are some group photos taken on this grand occasion ...
The three boys are Fudge, Mousse and Chip.
The five girls are Sprinkles, Cocoa, Pudding, Kisses and Truffles.
The three boys are Fudge, Mousse and Chip. The five girls are Sprinkles, Cocoa, Pudding, Kisses and Truffles.Sunday, January 11, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Chip Gets a Manicure
I got a manicure this evening. My foster mom was very gentle with the nail clippers. I didn't like it too much, but was a very good boy and held still.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
New Toys!
Our foster mom and her daughter got us some new toys! It's about time. I had so much fun batting the kitty cat ball around the rim of the tugboat. I couldn't help myself, it kept rolling and jingling. Rolling and jingling... rolling and jingling. I was hypnotised! My sisters, Sprinkles and Cocoa played with the squeaky squirrel and fudge bar so much that they fell fast asleep with their new treasures.
... Reported by Chocolate Mousse
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sprinkles Great Escape
Busted! I got caught by the surveillance camera! Then I was promptly returned to the safety of the big blue tugboat aka the whelping box. *Sigh* I'll try again later ... Miss Chocolate Sprinkles.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Now we know what little puppies dream about!Friday, January 2, 2009
Chocolate Truffles & Siblings Photo Shoot
Truffles says, "I really had a great time at our photo shoot this evening. My siblings and I sampled Chicken & Chicken Broth baby food from a teaspoon--how tasty is that!? Check out our portfolio at 3 1/2 weeks of age."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year 2009 from Zoey & Her Pups
Pudding says to look for new photos tomorrow. We all partied too much celebrating the new year.
Mousse is still sleeping it off. Talk to you tomorrow.
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