+ Total hearing/visual capacity
+ Will investigate anything
+ Can't respond yet to name
Canine Socialization Period (21 - 49 Days):
THE RULES OF SEVENS
By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old (end of seven weeks) it should have:
1) BEEN ON 7 different surfaces:
3) BEEN IN 7 different locations:
4) BEEN EXPOSED to 7 challenges:
5) EATEN FROM 7 different containers:
6) EATEN IN 7 different locations:
7) MET AND PLAYED WITH 7 new people: including children & the elderly
5/23/2002 6am Pups are awake and ready to start the day.
Interacting with his mother and littermates, the pup learns various canine behaviors. He is now aware of the differences between canine and human societies.
Human Socialization Period (7 to 12 Weeks):
The pup has the brain wave of and adult dog. The best time for going to a new home. He now has the ability to learn respect, simple behavioral responses: sit, stay,
come. Housebreaking begins. He now learns by association. The permanent man/dog bonding begins, and he is able to accept gentle discipline and establish
confidence.
Carpet Concrete Wood Vinyl Grass Dirt Gravel Wood Chips
Newspaper Etc.
2) PLAYED WITH 7 different types of objects:
Big Balls Small Balls Soft Fabric Toys Fuzzy Balls Squeaky Toys
Metal Items Wooden Items Paper/Cardboard Items Milk/Soda Jugs Etc.
Front Yard Back Yard Basement Kitchen Car Garage Laundry Room
Bathroom Crate Kennel Etc.
Climbed a box Climbed off a box Go thru a tunnel Climbed up steps
Climbed down steps Climbed over obstacles Played hide & seek Go in & out
doorway with a step Etc.
Metal Plastic Cardboard Paper China Pie Plate Frying pan Etc.
Crate Yard Kitchen Basement Laundry room Bathroom X-pen Etc.
Breakfast outside in the puppy pen
Puppies will carry nearly anything they can get hold of, including your good shoes, gloves, the children's toys, and your newly-planted rosebushes. Severe scolding
now, or vigorously discouraging the retrieving instinct, will quite likely result in a dog hesitant to retrieve for you later in obedience training or field work. A much
better solution is to call the puppy to you (go to him when necessary), praise him gently for delivering and releasing the forbidden object, and immediately give him
one of his own toys to carry and play with. If you chase him while screaming and scolding, he will only run away with the object ... and next time, may just quietly
take it away to be more thoroughly "investigated".
One of the most characteristic features of the Retriever is the instinct to retrieve, and the commitment to carrying things around. Even if tennis balls and toys are the
only "birds" your pup ever retrieves, but especially if you plan to do any sort of hunting, field work, or obedience work, proper development and encouragement of
the retrieving instinct in your puppy will be a firm foundation for not just retrieving skills, but also the willingness to
work with and for a person.
Use a small, soft object that's easy for the puppy to carry such as a rubber ball, a knotted sock, a pigeon wing, or a puppy-sized bumper. Show it to the puppy and
move it in a wiggling motion that will entice her by awakening her chase instinct. Don't move it too quickly as puppies often don't follow movements that are too fast
or abrupt, and it is important that she maintain eye contact with or "mark" the object. While she is watching the movement of the object, or attempting to take a hold
of it, encourage her with soft but excited words such as "Where's the bird? Good puppy!" and toss the object a foot or two away. Use words of encouragement
such as "Fetch it up! Good puppy!" as you call her back to you with the object, hold her gently while you praise her again both verbally and physically, and don't
take the object away too soon. Many puppies are reluctant to give up their "catch", and run away from you with it instead of bringing it back. Resist the impulse to
run after the puppy, and run away from her instead, clapping your hands, and calling her by name; this should once again initiate her "chase" instinct. Take the object
from the puppy very gently (praising all the time), and let her retrieve again immediately. When the game is over (and two or three retrieves is plenty), take the
object
from her, hold the puppy there for few more seconds of praise, and then release her.
If you are thinking of doing any type of retriever work, or hunting with your pup and you don't have a clue where to start, I suggest finding a local retriever club in
your area. You can also purchase a number of good books and videos to help guide you.
One good online source of info on training a Curly is an article written by Jim Crosby of Backcast Curlies. TRAINING THE HUNTING CURLY by James Crosby
Jim had the pleasure of working
with Jet's brother Helvis. (SoftMaple's Velvet Elvis WC JH) and Jet's sister Hannah (CH SoftMaple's Crossing Delancy WC JH)
Once the sun moved the pups lost the shade of the trees. I clipped a nylon shade canopy over one part of the X-pen. I also put a vari-kennel half in so they could get additional shade.
The big dogs have a metallic tarp over part of the run for shade. Some of the nylon shade canopies are clipped to the sides of the fencing, and they have calf huts at
the end of each run for wind block and more shade. The puppy pen is in the woods, so it has trees for shade. A small puppy kennel is inside, for a wind block and more shade.
The other half of the vari-kennel I filled with water and set in the X-pen. The pups had been walking around in the water dish, but found out this had more room!
The ground slants, so one end of it had deeper water than the other. Its good to let the pups experience water on their own. They drank it, walked in, some ran
biting at the splashes.
Tips for a Safe and Humane Summer with your Curly
Prevention is the Best Medicine
Never take your pet with you in the car if it will be left unattended for any length of time.
Even with the car windows slightly open, the temperature inside the car can reach 120º in just minutes!
Provide an outside dog with access to cool drinking water
Ensure he has access to lots of shade other than a tree! As the day goes by, a tree does not always provide shade.
When away from home, always carry water with you on hot days and give your pet small amounts frequently.
Signs of Heatstroke
excessive panting
salivation
vomiting
an anxious or staring expression,
a fast pulse rate and high body temperature
Solutions
Immediately immerse the animal in cool water or pour cool water over the animal
You can also put ice packs on the animal’s head.
As soon as the animal cools off, take it to the veterinarian for medical treatment.
Factors that increase an animal's risk of developing heat stroke include:
- water deprivation
- excessive humidity
- obesity
- exercise
- cardiovascular disease
- lack of acclimatization
When The Heat Is On
Even when the sun’s not out, summer brings hot weather and family vacations. Your pets will be affected by both. For a healthier, happier summer for you and your pets, follow these tips:
Never leave your pets in a parked car, even if the windows are open. Ten minutes could be too long on a hot day. By then, the temperature inside the car could reach 160º. That’s hot enough to cause a dog to suffer heat stroke.
Pets don’t perspire as people do. They cool themselves by panting. With only very hot air to breathe, your pets could suffer permanent brain damage within moments. If emergency care is not given, your pets could die. They may want to come along, but it’s much kinder to leave your pets at home with plenty of fresh, cool water and shade.
Provide a sprinkler or wading pool on very warm days. Mist your Curly with a spray bottle and water.
Check the temperature of the sidewalk before you take a stroll with your Curly. If the weatherman says its hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk, think of what
that does to your curlies feet!
Most people who do summer shows with their curly know about reflective tarps, crate fans, jelled cooling crate pads, spray bottles, etc. Use them!
Check your pets regularly for fleas, which are more common in hot weather. For flea control to be effective, your pets’ entire environment must be treated, including the yard. Never use flea control products for dogs on cats, as they may ingest the powerful chemicals while grooming.
Without the proper planning, your dream vacation could become a nightmare for your pets. If they are staying behind, make advance boarding reservations with a veterinary clinic, reputable kennel or pet sitter; or make arrangements with a responsible friend.
Your pets should always wear collars with proper identification tags (rabies and/or license) and be kept under control in accordance with local leash laws. This is even more important when vacationing, as pets can easily become lost in a strange environment.
Never take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for her to drink. Rinse her off after she has been in salt water.
July 5th is the busiest day of the year at animal shelters. Dogs are found miles from their homes, confused, disoriented, and exhausted. People call hoping to locate a missing dog that, terrified, crashed through a window, jumped a high fence, or broke its leash or chain.
An Ounce of Prevention
If fireworks upset your dog, make sure someone stays with him.
Keep her inside, safe from loud noises.
If you wish to tranquilize him, consult with your veterinarian.
Or call an animal behaviorist to work with your pet, but call well in advance of Independence Day.
Insect stings are another potential summer hazard for dogs, particularly for puppies and playful ones who can't resist trying to make friends with bees flying from flower to flower, or who gobble up any insect they find on the ground. Bites and stings tend to be on the head and mouth area, and if your pet is stung near its mouth or in its throat it may swell and restrict breathing. Some animals may also be allergic to bee and wasp stings and quickly collapse. If you think your dog may have been stung in the mouth area, check that the airway is clear and take it to the vet's surgery immediately.
Bee stings are acid. Remove the sting and bathe the area in bicarbonate of soda.
Wasp stings are alkali, and the sting is not left in the skin. Bathe the area in vinegar as the sting is alkaline.
There is danger from some chemicals which are sprayed onto plants, lawn treatments and pesticides such as slug pellets, which are a particular danger as dogs appear to like the taste of them.
The symptoms of poisoning depend on the substance involved. Rodent poisons for example can cause internal bleeding. Many poisons cause vomiting and diarrhoea or affect the central nervous system causing convulsions (fits) and even unconsciousness.
If you think your dog may have been poisoned contact your vet immediately and give him or her as much information as you can.
Try not to use poisons in your garden, and if you must, make sure they are laid only in places not accessible to your pet.
Prevent your dog from hanging his head out of a moving car or truck window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, small pebbles and other debri can injure his eyes, and he is also at risk of jumping out of the vehicle. Also, closing automatic car windows while your dog is hanging his head out of the car window can cause him or her serious harm.
Pickup Trucks
Never allow your dog to ride in the back of an open pickup truck, unless he is safely secured by a padded harness to the center of the pickup "bed" with specially designed tethers. (Also, make sure to provide a thick comfortable padded surface or dog bed to prevent any injury or discomfort to your dog's joints.)
Swimming Pools
Each year, puppies, dogs and small children accidentally drown in backyard swimming pools when left unattended. Your Curly may be the best swimmer around,
but may fall into a swimming pool and not be able to get out if the water is lower than the deck, or if it gets tangled in the solar cover. To help prevent such a
tragedy, always keep fenced-in pools locked securely when not being used, and keep companion animals and small children away from unenclosed and unoccupied
pools
5/24/2002 Day 44