Notes on puppies versus dogs.

Why implement Natural Rearing and a modified "PUPPY CULTURE" protocol?

The Naturally Reared-Puppy Culture process:

The intention to raise the Perfect Pup starts before dogs are bred. Everything a Natural Rearing breeder does that precedes a breeding is with the end goal in mind; a life-long, mutually beneficial, human:dog bond for their puppies. They make sure they have sound temperaments, healthy whole-food species appropriate diets, and really good enriching lives. They make sure that mom is not too stressed psychologically, emotionally, or physically. This includes making sure to minimize whatever might alter the manifestation of healthy, happy, longer-lived genetics. Parents truly do pass on their genes based on their external environment. This is called epi-genetics. That being said...

Once a female has been bred, extra care is taken to supplement her diet with the appropriate foods and supplements that she needs to support healthy and ideal fetal development. We feed plenty of grass-fed and organic meat, as well as grass fed organ meat. She is praised and caressed often. She gets to enjoy her life as the queen while those babies are gestating (and always). If things are stressful for her, we avoid them. We do our best to make sure the pregnancy is not stressful for her because we want to honor her, and we want the puppies to be calm, sound, and healthy.

Once the puppies are born, we keep the environment peaceful and calm. We pay close attention to appropriate raw whole-food nutrition. We make sure she gets space from the puppies whenever she needs/wants. We make sure that she gets plenty of clean water and bedding. She is pampered excessively. She eats as much food as she wants each day while nursing her little ones. She creates plenty of milk, and the babies get fat and thrive quickly.

The pups are handled gently and thoughtfully. All efforts are centered on making sure that the pups are not too stressed. This creates more sound adults that are capable of handling the stressors of the world better. With my 2023 litter, I decided to forego Early Neurological Stimulation and the results have been striking. I have proceeded with prudence and good judgement . We do not let just anybody handle the puppies. The people who come to the house are honored guests who have the trust of the household and the breeding female, and who have proven willing to honor her needs as mama. They are also people who handle the puppies with utmost care and consciousness.

As the weeks progress, the puppies go through different developmental stages. Each stage requires a change in how we interact with the puppies. Their environment shifts from a 4x6 whelping box to a larger, more enriching 10x12 pen area when they are about 4 weeks old. When they are old enough to go outside, we take them out to experience the enrichment of the outdoors. As they grow, we introduce items and experiences that help their minds develop. We give them many opportunities for socialization (which by definition is only possible before 12 weeks of age. Anything after 12 weeks is "novelty." *See Puppy Culture for more on this). We work with them to help shape emotional responses and build the human-animal bond. They eat only the best in nutrition.

Puppies are assessed continually, from the time they arrive to the time they go home. We continually observe social interaction with one another and with people who visit. This assessment gives us an indicator of which puppies will do the best as working dogs, family dogs, or single-parent homes. We never want to send a puppy home to a family that the puppy has no interest in. This is why we prefer that you come and meet the dogs in person and interact with the litter. We are thorough and careful about observing the puppy's body language to indicate interest level in the humans that are interested in taking it home. Some puppies have no interest in the family that is interested in it. In that case, we prefer to choose a different family and a different puppy. However, we breed dogs that are capable of thriving in any home that is willing to provide all of the Perfect Pup principles for that dog. I did not meet Amira's parents or go to her breeders house, and I still love that dog beyond measure. Do I think she might have wanted another person to be her person? I don't know, because her personality gives me the opportunity to become a better person as I modify my behaviors to accomodate her needs. For people who are flexible and willing to give any puppy in the litter a good life, picking the puppy will be easy.

Puppies are allowed to go home at 8 weeks of age to accommodate for the very critical socialization period. Families who want the Perfect Pup will need to be conscious about how they will positively expose their puppy to the new life they will be living. We encourage families to take a few weeks off of work when the puppy comes home and to avoid any travel away from the puppy for at least the first few year while the puppy becomes adjusted to their new life. The more time spent with the puppy in active conscious training and positive exposure to new things, the happier the dog will be in their new life and the more well-adjusted they will become for the rest of their life. We have heard that if you can get a puppy through the first 18 months without adverse experiences, they will be a calm, secure, balanced dog for life! Once the first few years of full-time investment are accomplished, the dog will be easy. Their life will be happy. And you will feel very fulfilled.

CRITICAL developmental stages and the training ops that you can catch and use to your advantage:

There is a short window of a few months that a puppy is the most flexible and dynamic in its ability to receive the world around it without fear. We have the opportunity to influence the dog during this time to become the dog we want it to be in the future.

All dogs can learn. But a puppy can learn the fastest, for better, or worse. If we inadvertently teach them the wrong things and continually reinforce them without realizing it, we create a permanent behavior. That is why it is critical to start from the VERY beginning.

Jane Killion has mastered this. Her life has been devoted to the betterment of the English Bull Terrier and she has incredible insights that she teaches masterfully in her videos and on her website https://www.puppyculture.com/

I have learned from her and from many others as well. What I can tell you is that even though your work seems tedious and slow at first, the process of habituating your perfect pup will finally take hold and the dog's brain will think differently and its body will react differently because you have taught it what to do by repetition and habituation.

We have so much influence on how our dog behaves, but most of the shaping of our dog occurs when we are unaware and perhaps when we are not intending to shape our dog. This is the critical time to understand our dog's way of thinking, and what it needs. (Also, a good time to understand our own way of thinking, and what we need!) Once a dog has a set of responses to the world, it is like a habit. If it is a set of good habits, then we are set for a long happy life. If it is a set of bad habits, its time to dive into the process of habituation again to retrain the behaviors that prevent the dog from having a happy and well-adjusted life with YOU. Having someone coach you from the time you are looking into getting a puppy is best. If you already have your dog, it's never too late to start.

Below is a link to an article on "Puppy Personality Development" by Ian Dunbar that pretty much sums up what I want to say about puppies.

Puppy Personality DevelopmentAll owners hope that their young pup will develop into a happy-go-lucky, well behaved, good-natured adult dog that above all, lives to a fine old age. Without a doubt, appropriate puppy education is the single most important factor to ensure this outcome. The nature of the puppy's socialization and training depends very much on the changing physical and mental capabilities and constraints during the various stages ofpersonality development from birth to maturity.,

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT PUPPIES

PUPPIES BECOME LIKE THEIR MOMS and DADS:

When Axel was 8 weeks old, there are a few things I would have done differently. First, I would have noticed that when I went to pick him up, his mom was out with the sheep and barking non-stop as we walked by. She was doing her work. The same work that her line has been doing for thousands of years. All the same, I should have recognized that what Axel would do as an adult was the same as his mother... BARK! Non-stop, until the perceived threat distanced itself or was removed. If I would have understood and accepted this one truth, I would have left Axel, that insanely adorable puffball of white, right there, on the farm, where he belonged.

PUPPIES ARE LIKE A FULL TIME JOB:

Puppies honestly require about the same amount of time as a part/full time job for at least the first year, and likely the first two years. That's at least 20 hours a week of time with your puppy one-on-one. These are social creatures and pack animals. If they are left alone and under-stimulated, they resort to instinct, which is to occupy themselves by chewing up their environment or developing destructive behaviors, against your or others wishes. A puppy that develops into your dream dog of 10-15 years requires multiple walks a day, and training sessions throughout. If they are neglected or abused, or put in a kennel in the garage for hours on end so their owners don't have to "deal" with them, they become insecure, withdrawn, and depressed, and are permanently emotionally damaged. After all, they are social animals. If you put in the time, you will enjoy a richly rewarding relationship. If you don't have the time, wait until you do, or until you can realistically sacrifice that much time even with your busy schedule. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH. I know so many people who say they can't believe how much time and work a puppy is. It truly is like having a kid, if you are committed for the long term and want to develop a family bond with the little biting, peeing, pooping, puking, stinker. But when all is said and done, the things in life that require the most work, also can bring us the most satisfaction, and there is nothing quite like a bond with your dog that you have sacrificed so much time and money to build a relationship with.

PUPPIES MUST RUN:

Exercising a puppy is really important. Stimulating their mind is even more important. A lot of people think that running a dog until it can barely walk, each day, is the best way. "A tired dog is a happy dog," right? Well, to an extent, I agree, but, an injured puppy is a life-long tragedy. Dr. Peter Dobias has some really important insights on this. He notes that far too many people are choosing dog sports for their dogs that involve repetitive motions that a dog or puppy would not be doing in a natural, dog environment. Wolves or foxes do not run for 16 miles straight, especially as pups. We can avoid having permanent injuries by doing more age and species appropriate activities. Jane Killion has some great insight for age and size appropriate exercise for puppies. Keep in mind; double ACL surgery costs upwards of $5000, and recovering from paralysis after injuring a spine is ... well... hard, and it's not always an option to pay for that surgery.

A WORD ON BREEDING:

If all puppies that we adopt and raise come from "backyard breeders," street dogs, or puppy mill dogs, what are we to expect for the future of dogs? The world needs GOOD breeders. Is it possible to find a perfect breeder? No. But finding one who has the best interest of the puppies, and the humans that are adopting them in mind, is definitely the kind of breeder who should be breeding puppies. That will probably look different for everyone, but for me, I believe the world needs more good, sound dogs! And I believe that starts with the breeder. The first weeks of a dog's life determine their destiny, and if they can start out with that much more the advantage because of an engaged and thoughtful breeder, they are going to be much less likely to end up in the shelter to be euthanized or to be re-homed due to behavior or other issues. So, the first person with the responsibility of the dog's life on their hands is the breeder. And the second, is the adoptive family. We can work together to have successful, life-long outcomes, and in turn, make the world a better place for dogs and their dog-lovers.

WORDS FOR MY PUPPY FAMILIES

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE:

In other words, the time and money you invest in your puppy; from the point of purchase to the point of maturation where you and your puppy can both start to feel more relaxed.

If you can do as much research as possible NOW, preparing your homes and minds for the critical first few weeks that you will have this little soul in your home, you will have set your family up for success. DON'T WAIT! Start looking into training styles and puppy classes. Find well balanced dogs that your friends own who you can introduce the puppy to. Plan out positive encounters and make sure to have many back-up options for a young puppy who might not be ready for the world as you know it, just yet. Treat your new puppy as you would a newborn child; with patience and flexibility. You don't have to follow old-school styles of training and handling that require you to isolate, kennel, and/or dominate your puppy. You don't have to abuse or harm your dog to get it to do what you want it to do; it won't work, and it will damage the dog, and will expose you. You can learn to engage in positive ways and encourage your puppy without aversive training techniques or tools like intimidation or force through the use of shock/prong/choke collars. (This IS abuse and it is wrong. I see it all the time up her in Alaska.) Also, some believe socializing is throwing your pup "to the wolves." I have seen it countless times. This can cause irreparable psychological damage. You don't have to let your puppy play with aggressive dogs, or even intense dogs (and in fact you shouldn't insist upon it). You don't have to let your puppy play with intense or aggressive people. Think of how you would like to be treated as an 8 week old baby and allow your puppy a "pass" on experiences with people, dogs, and situations that aren't positive for you either. You don't have to stop and say hi to every dog in the pet store. You don't have to greet every dog on leash (in fact I wouldn't greet any for the first few years simply because it is highly likely that dog is not properly socialized and leashes often trigger aggression.) If you are working with a personal trainer (Professional Dog Trainer) then you can decide when and how to approach each situation safely and in a way that sets you up for success.

What I think is important is to note that a positive experience or encounter simply means a positive association. If your puppy sees a giraffe and gets intimidated and somehow feels good instead of bad, that is a success. Find a way to help your puppy succeed by feeling good about dogs and people and every thing that it might consider scary or intimidating. DO it with play and with treats and with anything that is individually specific to that puppy that helps it feel confident and happy. DON'T FORCE THE PUPPY to do ANYTHING. Let the puppy mature at the rate it is capable of. BE prepared. Be FLEXIBLE. Sometimes the best answer is to simply walk away.

A WORD ABOUT THE DANGERS OF HAVING A PERFECT PUP:

There are so many unbalanced dogs in this world. You WILL encounter them in your neighborhoods and on hikes and adventures. You will encounter them in parking lots and at coffee shops. You can find them everywhere, and they are as varied as their people. Keep an eye out and know, there will be heartache involved with owning a dog that you have invested your heart and soul into. This is a hard one for me! When someone else's dog attacks your dog without warning and you have to pay the vet bill... When someone else's dog traumatizes your puppy at the off leash park... When your neighbor's dog is an imposing and intimidating fence fighter... These are all situations you will have to deal with. Be prepared! Think out how you can work through it to your greatest advantage. Feed the next door neighbor's dog steak until he is your friend. Watch for loose dogs on scene when you arrive at your play destinations and watch their body language and their owners body language before you let your dogs out of your car to go hiking. Move on when you notice your puppy is feeling overwhelmed by the play style of another dog or human. If you can, COMMUNICATE with the owners in these situations and let them know that you are trying to train your puppy and that you aren't comfortable with their dog's behavior. This world is crazy, but with a few tears and sometimes some extended heartache, continue to surround yourselves with great dogs and great people and you will enjoy the richness of owning a Perfect Pup.

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT ADOPTING DOGS

Dogs develop their perception of the world at a very young age:

When you adopt a dog, there are various things to keep in mind. What was it's background? How was it treated? Are you capable of learning to adapt your life to that animal's needs? Some prefer getting a dog that is already potty trained. Depending on the dog you find, you might be able to find the perfect dog that simply needs a new family because it's owners are moving out of the country... this happens a lot in Anchorage because we have a transient community here. Dogs that were raised around kids might, or might not, like being around children. Ask lots of questions. And try to see the dogs home environment so you know what you are going to be working with. All new relationships take time and energy. Relationship building is a skill. When you get any new dog, regardless of it's age, it will be a transition process for you both. Have patience and remember, what you put in is hopefully what you will get out. Seek out a Professional Dog Trainer who has mastered counter-conditioning and operant-conditioning and be ready for some tough moments when your new dog displays behaviors you could not have anticipated. Your dog can become the Perfect Pup. It's mostly up to you.

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