SoftMaple Fall/Winter 2002 Litter

SoftMaple's Fairway Explorer CGC (CR-CA74/16F/S-PI CR-EL98F28-PI CR-642G28F-PI, CERF) bred via Artificial Insemination to SUCH Ringlets Constant Wind (Cardiac clear, Hips A/B, Eyes clear) from Sweden

12/25/2002 8:00am: Pictures of the pups

Week Three (Days 15-21)
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES

+ Teeth begin to erupt
+ Puppies stand up and start walking
+ Begin to lap liquids
+ Defecate/urinate without stimulation
+ Start becoming aware of environment
+ Start playing with littermates
+ Develop sense of smell
+ Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves

 Puppy Toddlers (3 - 6 Weeks) During the Toddler period, puppies emerge on their own from the litter. They venture into the surrounding environment. This emergence from the litter is a gradual and continual learning experience. During this stage of development puppies learn basic behavioral patterns specific to dogs. While playing, they practice different body postures, learning what the postures mean and how they affect their mother and litter mates. They learn what it is like to bite and be bitten, what barking and other vocalizations mean and how to make and use them to establish social relationships with other dogs. Such learning and activity tempers their own biting and vocalizing. From the age of five weeks, the mother teaches her puppies basic manners. They learn to be submissive to her leadership and what behaviors are acceptable. If necessary, she growls, snarls, or snaps at them as a form of discipline. When weaning the litter, for instance, the mother will discipline her puppies so that they will leave her alone. Because the mother disciplines them in a way that they clearly understand, after a few repetitions, the puppies will respond to a mere glare from her. If a pup has not learned to accept leadership (and discipline) in its early interactions with dogs, its training will be more difficult. Puppies that are removed from the nest too early tend to be nervous, more prone to barking and biting, and less responsive to discipline. Often they are aggressive with other dogs. Generally speaking, a puppy taken away from it's mother and litter mates before seven weeks of age, may not realize its full potential as a dog and companion. To maximize the mental and psychological development of puppies, they must remain in the nest with their mother and litter mates until seven weeks of age.
NO CHRISTMAS PUPPIES!
The fantasy of surprising your loved one with an adorable puppy under the tree on Christmas morning may seem like the perfect gift....but is it really? Humane societies, shelter workers, veterinarians, the American Kennel Club, reputable breeders and rescue groups resoundingly say NO!

Animals should never be given as gifts at any time of the year and the holidays are, in fact, the worst time to bring a dog of any age into your home and your life.

New puppies and dogs require extra attention and a stable environment which the holiday season does not permit. Caring for the puppy's round-the-clock feeding and housetraining needs as well as finding time to comfort and reassure an insecure pup amidst the holiday chaos is an impossible task.

Your puppy's experiences of leaving its mother and litter-mates, and its arrival in its new home and introduction to its new family, can permanently affect its ability to bond with and trust humans. The puppy needs to be introduced to its new home and family during a relaxed and quiet, gentle time, with a minimum of loud noises, flashing lights, and screeching children, ringing phones, visiting company, and other types of general hub-bub. Christmas morning is absolutely the worst time, in terms of the puppy's developmental needs, for introducing this newly-weaned youngster to its new family.

No matter how much you think your loved one would enjoy this "surprise", you should never presume to make this decision for another person. Getting a pet is a lifelong commitment. Given that most breeds, including Curlies, can live well into their teen years, this is a major decision requiring emotional stability and financial responsibility -- it can not be taken lighty.


TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
And ma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Knew he was cold but didn't care about that.

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Figuring he was free of his chain and into the trash.

 

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus - and his eyes full of tears.

 

He unchained the dog once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present, now painfully thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dogs name.
And the dog ran to him, despite all his pain.

 

"Now DASHER!

Now DANCER!

Now PRANCER and VIXEN!!
On COMET!

On CUPID!

On DONER and BLITZEN!!
To the top of the porch!  To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home where he's loved by all"

 

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa Claus had made one thing quite clear ...
The gift of a dog is not just for a season.
We had gotten the pup for all the wrong reasons.

 

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing that we missed.
A dog should be family and cared for the same.
You don't give a gift then put it on a chain.

 

And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight,
"You weren't given a gift!  You were given a life!"

 

Author Unknown   

2:00pm pictures:

12/26/2002 Day 16


SoftMaple Curly Coated Retrievers
Mark and Cathy Lewandowski
8282 Soft Maple Road
Croghan New York 13327

softmaple@curlycoat.org