We are all assigned!

Hello,

It has been quite a day.  This morning, the second round of temperament testing was completed and each one of you were called about the 'match-making'.  As I stated in many posts, ALL of these puppy's are VERY soft natured.  This means they need lots of confidence building experiences and THAT means POSITIVE not negative experiences.  So the following should be followed:

• Use a positive based training facility/trainer (no choke collars, 'hard handed' techniques, or negative based methods).  Be sure to check with your choice that they use positive methods only.
• Don't smother your pup or try to protect them from what they might fear.  Instead, coax them using treats to confront but do so slowly and look for the smallest improvements.  If they fear a hydrant, let them approach it at their speed.  Don't force the introduction.
• Do not allow people or animals to run up to them.  Ask people to use low voices and sit down to allow the pup to approach them on their terms.  Give people a treat to give your pup and wait until your pup has more confidence to happily trot up to them to get a treat.
• Don't coddle!  If your pup shows any type of fear of anything, don't pick them up and coo to them!  You are re-enforcing the reason why they 'think' they should fear this person/thing/sound.  Yes, you can pick them up, but go in a different direction and put them back down.  Get a special toy to interact with them if it is a sound so that they realize the 'sound' does not hurt them but it DOES initiate playtime!  If they fear a dog, pick them up and move away from the dog that is scaring them but use a normal voice of confidence.  
• Lots of interaction with social dogs would be great but NOT dog parks!  You never know what type of dog is at a dog park and one bad experience could be very detrimental to your pup.  Stay away until your pup has built up enough confidence to not be overwhelmed.  So visit friends with friendly dogs; go to Petco to meet and greet with other people and dogs; go for walks; car rides; Home Depot allows dogs; garden centers are fine with dogs; and always make your excursions positive ones.
• Car sickness:  Short trips at first.  Sometimes just placing your pup in the car in the driveway and giving it treats for a few days is all you should do.  Then a treat after you drive around the block; and lastly a short trip to get an ice cream.  All positive until they get very excited when you say 'Let's go for a ride'!
• Whining - expect it.  They are not going to have their siblings with them anymore.  They need to make new friends but it will take some time.  Be patient.  Place a blanket over their crate if it gets too loud but don't give in.  If it is very loud and pitiful, wait for a split second that they are not whining to take them outside for a potty break, etc.  DO NOT PUT THEM IN BED WITH YOU!  Worse mistake you can ever make.  Puts them on an equal plane with you and they lose 'respect'.  This is very important.  When they are trained fully, then you can invite them up on your bed for a cuddle.  :+)

This afternoon, we all piled in the car to go visit the CERF vet in Portsmouth, NH.  The ride down had some harmonizing going on, but not for very long.  A couple vomited because I fed them too late, - my fault but we were still discussing placements earlier.  It was a warm day and we had to wait in the car so they drank a lot of cool water.  The exams themselves went very well and they were very good patients.  The ride home was uneventful and quiet.  :+)

We now all have names!

• Red Girl is now 'Charlie'
• Pink Girl is 'Good Golly, Miss Molly'!  aka Molly 
• Black Collar Boy is 'Murphy Tucker'
• Teal Girl is 'Luna'  

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

Joyce