Puppy Raising from Birth
Handling a Rutlands baby at only a few days old
Puppy Socialization Starts With the Breeder.
Early socialisation is crucial to the development of any dog. Outside of the usual puppy socialisation protocols, there are two early puppy stimulation exercises that are desirable puppy experiences from birth.
Early Neurological stimulation (ENS) and
Early scent Introduction (ESI).
Early Neurological stimulation (ENS) and
Early scent Introduction (ESI).
WHAT IS ENS FOR PUPPIES?
ENS FOR PUPPIES involves brief but gentle exercises during the first two weeks of life to stimulate the nervous system which enhances their resilience and coping mechanisms for the rest of their lives. These exercises focus on tactile and other positional stimuli. For example-
1. Holding each puppy for a few seconds cupped securely in the hands with its little head securely held and pointing downwards
2. Laying each puppy on its back, also securely held in the hands
3. Holding the baby puppy with its head pointing upwards
4. Gently tickling between the tiny paw pads with a Q stick
5. Tactile stimulation can be as simple as providing materials that differ in their 'feel' for tiny paws to experience for example a rolled up towel scattered here or there, or pee pads.
These exercises may sound too simple to have any effect on future life, but they have been studied for a number of years now and results of the trials are now accepted world wide. In fact I myself was involved with Monash University's initial trials as far back as 2009.
1. Holding each puppy for a few seconds cupped securely in the hands with its little head securely held and pointing downwards
2. Laying each puppy on its back, also securely held in the hands
3. Holding the baby puppy with its head pointing upwards
4. Gently tickling between the tiny paw pads with a Q stick
5. Tactile stimulation can be as simple as providing materials that differ in their 'feel' for tiny paws to experience for example a rolled up towel scattered here or there, or pee pads.
These exercises may sound too simple to have any effect on future life, but they have been studied for a number of years now and results of the trials are now accepted world wide. In fact I myself was involved with Monash University's initial trials as far back as 2009.
Early tactile stimulation
WHAT IS ESI for puppies?
ESI FOR PUPPIES IS Early Scent Introduction
The ESI process involves placing a scented item near the puppy, allowing it to investigate and familiarise itself with the scent. This can range from natural smells of such things as soil or grass, to human made ones. During the first few weeks of a dog’s life, its brain undergoes rapid development. Introducing varied scents during this phase can influence a dog’s neural pathways, making them more easily adaptive to different smells throughout their lives.
Breeders should be committed to the health and well-being of their puppies, from pre-birth all throughout their life. Dogs are famous for their keen sense of smell, which is vastly superior to that of humans, and dogs' noses play a critical role in how they look at the world and interact with it. One method to highly develop this ability is through Early Scent Introduction (ESI).
Benefits of ESI
ESI FOR PUPPIES IS Early Scent Introduction
The ESI process involves placing a scented item near the puppy, allowing it to investigate and familiarise itself with the scent. This can range from natural smells of such things as soil or grass, to human made ones. During the first few weeks of a dog’s life, its brain undergoes rapid development. Introducing varied scents during this phase can influence a dog’s neural pathways, making them more easily adaptive to different smells throughout their lives.
Breeders should be committed to the health and well-being of their puppies, from pre-birth all throughout their life. Dogs are famous for their keen sense of smell, which is vastly superior to that of humans, and dogs' noses play a critical role in how they look at the world and interact with it. One method to highly develop this ability is through Early Scent Introduction (ESI).
Benefits of ESI
- Enhanced Cognitive Abilities: Just as early childhood experiences shape human brain development, ESI helps in the cognitive growth of dogs. Regular exposure to new scents stimulates their brains, which may result in enhanced problem-solving abilities and adaptability in unfamiliar environments.
- Temperament and Confidence Building: Dogs introduced to a diverse array of smells from a young age are often more confident and less fearful in unfamiliar situations. This can reduce stress-related behaviours and make them more resilient to changing environments.
- Preparation for Specialised Roles: Dogs trained for specific jobs, whether in search and rescue, police work, or service roles, benefit immensely from ESI. An early introduction to various scents can lay the foundation for their specialised training, making them more efficient and adept in their respective roles.
- Improved Socialisation: Exposure to diverse scents, especially those associated with humans (e.g. makeup, toiletries, perfumes, lotions etc), can enhance a dog’s social skills.
How relaxed can you be?
ESI is also the reason that at around 2 to 3 weeks of age, Rutland's litters have their cosy whelping nest divided in half with pee pads. At first, potty incidents are by accident, then as the puppies' bladder and bowel control develops further, the babies start looking for the pee pads when they feel the urge to 'go'. Gradually, these pads are moved further away from the nest until they are in the designated area. By the time they are 3 to 4 weeks old, the puppies seek out the designated area and they are well on their way to being potty trained.
The benefits are two-fold. No only does this keep the nest smelling sweet and clean, but it also makes potty training a whole lot easier later on. During this stage, toys which differ in touch, feel and scent, are strung across the nest at just above head height of the puppies. This keeps the toys clean and prevents cross contamination from anything deposited on the pee pads before we have the chance to remove them and replace with fresh ones.
Puppies are born inside our home and are handled multiple times daily for early ENS and ESI neural stimulation and massage. The baby nursery is adjacent to my home office so during the long night vigils pre-whelping, during and after, I can get on with my emails and chatting with you on FB Messenger while keeping an eye on what's going on in the nursery. It's usual too for the other girls to station themselves nearby as well for moral support of their besties. So sweet!
Patient vigil for moral support
Night time view from my office
WORMING.
Puppies are wormed regularly from 2 weeks old until they leave us at 9 to 10 weeks of age to homes within Australia or twelve to 16 weeks old overseas depending on individual countries' regulations.
The life cycle of ascarids (the common puppy worm) is 21 days and treatments kill only the hatched larvae, not the eggs, which is the reason such frequent worming of young puppies is necessary and is also why a stool test of your new puppy may show some worms present.
Puppies are wormed regularly from 2 weeks old until they leave us at 9 to 10 weeks of age to homes within Australia or twelve to 16 weeks old overseas depending on individual countries' regulations.
The life cycle of ascarids (the common puppy worm) is 21 days and treatments kill only the hatched larvae, not the eggs, which is the reason such frequent worming of young puppies is necessary and is also why a stool test of your new puppy may show some worms present.
Eyes and ears open at around 2 weeks old and pigment is usually through on noses, pads of paws and eye and lip rims. Now they get extra playful and want to go exploring, so it's a good time to begin accustoming them to new sights, sounds and experiences.
Crates should never be used in our opinion, as a correction or time out for unwanted behavior. A crate should always be a cave of pleasure and rest. From 3 weeks of age crates are left in the nursery with doors open so the puppies soon learn that the crates are not scary places to be afraid of.
By 6 weeks of age the puppies are spending most of the day time outside in the Adventure Playground, and are fully established on their solid food diet. They'll continue getting drinks from their mama until they're vaccinated and microchipped at 6 to 7 weeks of age and theymight come back inside at night or in inclement weather.
Lamb, veal, chicken or turkey fresh raw bones
1st solid meal is plain Greek Yogurt at 3-4 weeks old
The crate is a happy place
Outdoors supervised fun
By this time, their mother will most likely be teaching them to leave her belly alone, by growling at them, snapping and flattening them to the ground until they pay attention. Once they accept her discipline, she'll be happy to patiently play with them for hours on end while they chew her ears and tail and climb all over her. The very best dogs come from a mother who instils respect in her puppies when she is weaning them. She will never hurt them so although she might snarl and snap at them we always allow a mother of this breed to use her own discretion.
Vaccination and Microchip
These are carried out at the same time and occur at about 6 to 7 weeks of age.
These are carried out at the same time and occur at about 6 to 7 weeks of age.
MDBA REGISTRATION
Once Microchips are done and everyone has a home eagerly waiting for them, then the litter is Registered with the MDBA (Master Dog Breeders and Associates), the only Registry in the world authorized to register the Australian Cobberdog.
Once Microchips are done and everyone has a home eagerly waiting for them, then the litter is Registered with the MDBA (Master Dog Breeders and Associates), the only Registry in the world authorized to register the Australian Cobberdog.
The six weeks old puppies have already learned that the crate is a happy place to be and to wear a collar. They'll spend time outdoors and indoors as well, where they watch the TV, meet the noisy vacuum cleaner, new people, and go for short walks outside on the leash.
By 8 to 9 weeks of age, your puppy will have received all that human hands and the mother can offer, and it will be time to soon transition into your care.
By 8 to 9 weeks of age, your puppy will have received all that human hands and the mother can offer, and it will be time to soon transition into your care.
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WHAT YOU GET WITH YOUR NEW RUTLANDS PUPPY
- Medical records including vaccination, and microchip details
- MDBA Certified Pedigree (may not be ready in time, if so it will be posted)
- Transfer to your local council (within Australia)
- Detailed instructions on how to care for your puppy
- Guarantee that if not satisfied for any reason within 7 days will take back and refund
- Rutlands time honored processes and friendly approach
- 2 months' Free Insurance from the time your puppy leaves here or you collect.
The books below are a twin set that you'll want to have on your shelf. The first one traces the development of the breed from it's early cousin the Australian Labradoodle and the second is purely Australian Cobberdog. Both are hand books with different tips and tricks for owners .
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