Pups undergo puppy aptitude testing this week, followed by the infamous "Fear Period". Pups continue to work out the dominance order and friends continue to visit!
Date(s): 7/8 thru 7/14. Album by RatpiT Kennels. Photos by T. Baker/R. Heller. 1 - 30 of 89 Total. 948 Visits.
T. you are the Queen of Pictures for sure! I really enjoyed looking at you fury family. That Bennie is a heart breaker, I hope you keep him. - DR, Wed, 24 Jul 2002 5:47PM
1 Let the testing begin! My puppy aptitude tester brings out the first pup! This type of testing requires a person who has not met the litter, and must be conducted in an area new to the pups - in this case my neighbors basement!
2 The materials..... The table is laid out with the test score sheets that I have copied direct from "The Art of raising a puppy" by the Monks of New Skete; I prefer that test over the one in "How to raise a puppy you can live with" by Rutherford & Neil - but both tests will work.
3 The testing grounds! My kind neighbors basement! As long as the room is new to the pups it is fine. You cannot reliably test pups in a different but unfamiliar room in your own house, as the room will still smell like home. An offsite location for testing is essential for the most accurate reading.
4 Cheat sheets....... Instructions for each step of the excercises are taped in place for easier viewing. Along with the cheat sheets a stop watch is provided for the timed exercises and other props such as a crumpled paper ball to chase, a ring of keys for noise, and a white towel on a string are included.
5 50 day old pups play .... Pups must be lively and wide awake for accurate test results. I supervise the pups to make sure they are awake for their testing. A sleepy pup will not give an accurate reading for the testing, so its essential that pups are active and lively when tested.
6 Into the hole... Pups waiting for testing race around the back yard and investigate the den dug by Sonja and Xena.
7 Its DEEP! Ruby goes down the hole with Xena looking on. The burrow has a rather steep ramp that slopes down about 4 feet with another 2 feet of burrow that ends in a small chamber.
8 Working in the heat and bugs Puppy testers go over tests and firm up notes making sure they are on the same page with how each pup tested and scored. The testing area is hot, and while its much cooler outside the bugs are just ferocious!
9 Hot dogs! The adult dogs wait while the pups are let in. The pups all scored in the 3's and 4's range. 3's indicate a friendly outgoing pup that may be too much dog for the elderly or children; 4's are milder pups more suited for kids and elderly. Last year when Ruby was tested she scored 2's and 3's - way too much dog for your average Joe, requiring experienced handlers only! Good thing we kept her!
10 All tuckered out! 50 day old Bennie is done with his test, scoring 3's and 6's, indicating an outgoing, friendly guy that is a tad on the independant side.
11 51 day old Bennie on the ramp. The room is cleaned and re-papered, and the ramp - as always - has interesting toys at the top that must be checked out!
12 And the winner is.... Bennie makes off with the toilet paper roll! The ramp forms your basic A-frame, and the pups have no problem chasing up and down it, or jumping off of it!
13 Still working it out! Nova tromps the Duke. The pups continue to work out the dominance order, with Nova making serious bids for top pup while the Duke, despite his best efforts, seems to hold the bottom rung.
14 Top dog! Xena (aka the 'PIN') ranks below Conan and Sonja, but among the pups she is King Pin of the Min Pins! Here Xena guards a chewie stolen from the puppy room.
15 That boy Elroy! Elroy checks out Goliath. Goliath is drawn to the pups, but Sonja has kept him away. Now that she is behind the pen he takes the moment to interact with the pups.
16 Chow down! We feed the pups off a variety of plates and bowls in various rooms so they remain flexible and do not get hung up on strict routines and thus require the same bowl in the same location.
17 Later that night... The pups nurse on Sonja while waiting to come in. The day has turned to rain, and the pups are experiencing a light rain. I have been calling the pups to me and interacting with them in the rain. The pups must learn that a little rain won't hurt - a bonus for when they must one day need to go potty while its raining!
18 Playing tug-o-war.... We avoid using our hands for tug-o-war, as it may condition the dog to use hands as chew toys. We think tug is an excellent game when a toy tied to a rope for tugging.
19 On guard! Xena watches the pups from behind the barrier as she guards her stolen chewie. Xena is playing a role in teaching the pups the dominance order by making clear to all pups that this is HER chewie, nevermind that she really isn't interested in chewing it!
20 More theft! The pups are rampaging around the room and Conan has stolen into the nursery to steal all the treat balls.
21 Sonja gets in on it! Sonja works a biscuit out of a kong, while Elroy seems to be working on her elbow!
22 Goliath is in on it, too! The adult dogs aren't the only ones in on the theft action! Goliath will search the puppy room for puppy food and edible treats too!
23 Beating the heat! 53 day old pups beat the heat with a late night walk.
24 Pups follow the pack leader... Xena handles well off leash but is on a flexi only in case we see cops! I figured they would go easy on us if they saw the big dog on lead even tho the pups were not. We were lucky, no cops no stops!
25 53 day old pups sniffin'! The pups just drink the scents in! Sure, walking a dog gives it excercise, but to REALLY walk a dog you must walk its nose, too!
26 Quit looking at my butt! And watch these pups!
27 See them go! Right on up the stairs!
28 Come up on Astro! I am amazed that such small pups have mastered the stairs at this young age!
29 Praise and petting! Good job, pups!
30 Now go down... Just as quickly as the pups made it up the steps they come on down. Again, I am just amazed at the pups mastery of the steps both up and down!
