Pups enter the fourth stage of socialization - the period of environmental awareness. Pups work on refining behaviors and learn the right behavior for the right time. Pups continue with socialization, and activities are designed to be easy on the pups as they continue thru the 'fear' period. Pups also recieve their first vaccination, recieve a critical conformation evaluation (Hasting's evaluation) and visit a second vet for a bite and patella check! All in all a busy week!
Date(s): 7/14 thru 7/21. Album by RatpiT Kennels. Photos by T. Baker and R. Heller. 1 - 15 of 159 Total. 728 Visits.
1 "I like this one!" D'marra visits 57 day old Zenith.
2 Swath of destruction! The gates does little to contain shredded toy messes when the adult dogs steal the toys and shred them in the puppy free zone!
3 58 day old pups crated up! The pups are in two crates for their 2nd vet visit. This visit is an exam and a vaccination, and the longest car ride the pups have had.
4 Can you do me a favor? I have asked the receptionist at the vet's to do a quick temperament test for me. Each pup is held securely and tipped back and then the reactions noted. Correct temperament is a relaxed pup, while a pup who clutches the arm with whites of the eyes showing has a fearful temperament. Here the Duke is relaxed but looks away and won't keep eye contact - he is more aloof that his siblings. Such an aloof temperament will NOT make an obedience dog - but may work out fine for agility (and of course as a general pet for loving!)
5 (Temperament continued) A temperament check can be done at 8 weeks, and for the most accurate reading should be done in a place strange to the pups, and by a total stranger. Under such conditions the "core" temperament is most easily observed. And about the guy.. He just showed up at the clinic with a RAT! He said "Chunky" is a diabetic and blind, but is a great dog purchased from a local breeder 11 years ago. Nice rat!
6 Paper trained! I always impress Dr. Fred with my paper trained pups. Its nothing, really - just conditioning! It comes in handy tho, when we visit the vets! AND, prior to stepping foot into the vets we asked the reception staff if they had seen parvo pups- nope! And prior to turning the pups loose in the room we checked again with the Doc - and he said 'no!' It never hurts to check and double check to be careful! "absolutely, always double check, dou..." View Comments...
7 Elroy's turn.. For a general puppy exam. Bite looks OK!
8 "Thump-thump" Heart has no murmur!
9 Astro! Astro is put thru the exam paces. Bite looks good!
10 Heart is good! Its hard to remember to stop talking to the doc so he can LISTEN to the heart!
11 Now the poke! We have abbreviated this series of pix, but you can bet each pup recieved a bite and heart check and was checked for hernias along with that first poke!
12 Hasting's evaluation time! A Hasting's evaluation can only be done at 56 days, give or take 3 days either way. During this narrow time frame the pups structure is proportionally as close to that of the adult form as it will ever be - then the growth spurts hit and the pup will look goofy for months! This exam does not count - a breeder cannot do this objectively - but for training purposes I gave it a go! First, suspend the pup by holding it by the bones of the jaw and pelvis. What you want to see is the pup in approximately show stack while hanging.
13 Next, check notes! I have notes to follow, but the mirror is essential for proper viewing feedback. I am speaking as I go, and my voice is being recorded on the video as I go over each point on Bennie.
14 Next, stack and study! Now stack the pup and look at the overall picture for balance and conformation per the breed standard. Bennie is standing goofy in this pic. If you compare to the previous pic where he is standing naturally, vs this pic where he is contorted due how I am holding the cheese, you can get an idea of how *hard* this is to do properly!
15 Checking the head... I am trying to check the head proportions to see if the muzzle is of equal length to the skull. I have been critical of the shape of Bennie's head, but after taking an objective look (as objective as I can be anyhow) I think he head is better than I first thought! Indeed, I think it'll do!
