So, things I've been thinking about - the stimulation program I outlined on day 3 or 4 is working nicely. My puppies are all happy about being held, all don't mind being put in funny positions, and can sleep anywhere, trustingly. Yishai particularly has a knack at making puppies feel comfortable.
Here we have Firma taking it easy. I also want to give a shout out to the tiny fuzzy sheep that appears in this photo. I've been having a dilemma about homes - who should get what, and why I would give a home a puppy. I keep trying to balance that "these are primarily stockdogs" with "but they are cute and I want forever homes." I got a box in the mail yesterday from one of the puppy buyers (do you want me to out you?) full of puppy toys. That, my friends, is the kind of home my creatures deserve.
Reid, the most difficult to placate, decides that Yishai's hands are cozy and gets super cute.
And, as I said, we are opening up the home to puppy visitors. Todd, the guy in the work pants, is a semi-stranger. Fury's seen him a couple times, but they are not on good terms. She wanted to bark at him for a long time but settled out pretty well (enough that she looks pretty happy on the red couch) until he decided to sit with all the puppies, and then she was pretty worried about that. But again, settled out. Goooooooooooood dog.
Before you call puppy abuse, please note that I'm pretty sure (I think that is Fie) is taking it well. Yishai has always had a penchant for "bitable ears." Fury's are not - too hairy. One time he did it to someone's husky at the dog park after asking, and the guy who owned the dog admitted to liking that too. I don't even know.
Anyway, thought this was a nice segue into something else I'm pondering. I've been doing a very gentle stimulation method compared to the one that's in "Training and Working Dogs." Seeing as how the puppies are totally unphased by the stimulation exercises now, I am wondering whether I should incorporate Lithgow's recommendations:
1 minute of gentle shaking the body while keeping the pup's feet on the table and a little physiotherapy-style bending of the joints of the body
1 minute of swinging at arm's length
1 minute of bodily immersion in cool water
1 minute of rubbing and drying with a towel
He considers this a milder version than the one he learned which comes from Michael Fox (not "J"). I may just try it. I like the stimulation/relaxation program he outlines and the reasons why. I think dogs handling pressure and then knowing how to relax is a damn good thing. Accounts for a lot of the reasons why I think temperament issues come up in dogs as well as people - have too sheltered a life and . . . cannot deal with the real world and new things. With working dogs, this can be a real problem. Don't want an alligator on stock, and don't want a fearful animal.
So, I'll try it with someone like Moto and see how he does and then go from there.
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