But things to talk about. Sharon Concannon, and AussieBoard member from Massachusetts, came to visit the pups with her daughters Heather and Amy this morning. That was fun. It was like re-meeting a pen pal. We'd met before in the darkness of the New Jersey campground we were both staying at where Fury qualified for Most Versatile Aussie in 2007's Nationals. :) Fond memories. It was fun having them all sit on the couch with oodles of quiet puppy love going on.
I have noticed that the puppies are now relieving themselves without Fury's assistance so the "keeping the whelping box clean" plan is about to go into full effect. They're also getting big enough to get out, I think, so I will have to puppy-proof the area and when all systems are go, we'll take off the front panel and spread some chips down help teach them to housebreak (more on that later).
This morning Yishai asked me a question about beyond the box. "Do you have any books I could read about how to raise this puppy? (The one he keeps)" he asked. I don't. I told him that no, I just learned through trial and error. And, knowing me, he says, "I don't believe that." Which is true. I have read every dang how-to dog book under the sun, and my method of dog raising is an amalgamation of all of it. I was fourteen and attending dog behavior seminars. And I keep thinking that a book is silly, he has me, but I also like that he wants to take a more active role in puppy raising, so I went onto my paperbackswap.com account and ordered him one that sticks out for me among them all: "Great Owners, Good Dogs" by Brian Kilcommins. I use most of his methods in training and though I haven't seen the book in years, I still remember it. I think it might very well be the best puppy raising book I know of.
have you read the one with the monks and german shepherds? the art of raising a puppy or something. you like that one?
ReplyDeleteIt's okay. I am not as in love with it as the other one. It's more old school. :)
ReplyDeleteAn old Golden breeder I know of really loves the "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With". I can't personally vouch for it and I think there is some outdated stuff in it, but it's something else to read at any rate.
ReplyDelete