Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

great post victoria.  i have something to say about the
socialization/shot period.  there are places where puppies can be
taken that are low dog traffic so they can be socialized away from their
home environment.  being on the instructor end i sure get tired of
having 4 to 9 month pups come into class that were kept home until they
were 4 months old "until the shots were finished".  just
use common sense:  don't take it to public parks, if traveling don't
let it out in the 'doggy area' of rest stop, go down another exit or two
where there is nothing and potty the pup there.  i've known dogs
that never, ever left their homes get parvo -- you can bring it home on
the soles of your shoes and tires of your car.  

the best book i've read about raising a puppy, and we gave it to our
puppy buyers before they got their pups, is HOW TO RAISE A PUPPY YOU CAN
LIVE WITH, by Rutherford and O'Neal and published by Alpine Publishers in
Loveland, CO.     it goes through the mental
development stages of the puppies, you'll find they are ready to go to
their new homes emotionally and make the strongest bond at 7 weeks, also
at 7 weeks they are ready to begin learning and if you don't teach it
they will learn on their on, usually bad.  the primary socialization
period is from 4 to 12 weeks, grafts have been made by dr's scott and
fuller who did all the research into mental development stages, after 12
weeks the ability to properly socialize the pup starts to slide down
hill, after 16 weeks it is very difficult for some to make any
headway.  

Ask Susan G -- she bought 2 of our border collie pups, still has the last
one, and she had to read the book before she came to get Solo.

karen