Puppy Reconnaissance Mission Report

I just got back the preliminary recon mission report from my undercover agent, code name BabyDog (AKA Madeline Gabriel).  From the initial report it looks like The Great Puppy Search of 2011 is going to be more complicated than at first glance. Breeder #2's dogs have made a convert out of BabyDog.  They must have laced their saliva.

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Both the mom and the dad were extremely friendly, which is to be expected from this breed.  Dad wanted to play fetch with his kong as long as your arm could last.  Coming from someone with a dog who snubs her nose at fetch, this melts my heart.  After the game was over he was content to just get loves or play lap dog if you happened to sit on the ground.  I like hearing that he can turn the game off when you are finished and not beg to play all night long.  The mom is the kind of dog who leans in real close for pets and then lays at your feet to be near you.

Madeline was satisfied with the socialization effort Breeder #2 would be making. This I think says a lot since Madeline has quite of bit of experience as a trainer and being a mom herself she knows how important it is that the pups get around children and have a positive experience. She's not looking for a performance dog like I am, but does want to dabble in some sports, so I am still concerned about the exposure I want for an agility dog.  I don't think this breed is as likely to have the issues my terrier has, but it doesn't hurt to provide a good start.  I just have to decide how much I feel that start is important if Breeder #2 cannot provide the things I would like the litter to be exposed to. If she's willing and able than it evens the score a bit more.

Oh, decisions, decisions!!!

I was leaning towards Litter #1 and thought I has pretty much made up my mind last night based on the proximity of the litter and that hunting titles on the dam and sire.  What is more important?  Having the puppies at arm's reach so I can visit a couple of times a week and provide supplemental socialization and exposure and the parents are proven in the field?  Or a litter whose lines boast longevity, which is an issue for this bred, and whose breeder does everything she can to keep her dogs healthy?

I really like Breeder #2's practices, which are hard to find in a breeder (raw feeding being the main one).  The main thing holding me back is the lack of titles on her bitch. Her female is not titled in anything yet.  She has 8 point in the show ring (one 3 pt major) but due to the breeder's own health issues is not in the field or agility ring. The dad is an expert hunter (trained mostly using positive methods), but I am still waiting on the final report to see if he has any hunting titles. Most of the FCRs bred have titles at both ends and that's important to a lot of people in this breed.  They want their dogs proven in the ring and in the field.  And I understand that.  But is that enough for me to pass up such a great litter when everything else falls into line so perfectly?

Dad to Litter #2 posing for the camera

Dog Sports

Aside from being a family companion, my goal for our new puppy is to be a performance dog. I really enjoy training and working with dogs and find many of the dog sports to be a great outlet and a fun activity to do together.  I have dabbled in a few interesting sports over the years with my Rat Terrier, Indigo.

Indigo and I have a great time training for agility.  She gets a huge rush from running a courses and you can tell that it's naturally rewarding for her.  Rally obedience has been a lot of fun to train and has introduced new skills we had to fine tune such as backing up and pivoting left, both while in heel position.  I really like the control you need to master in this sport and it's great for working on Indi's focus and self control.  A new sport that Indi has really taken a shine to is K9 Nose Work (this is a kind of scent detection work).

When the new pup comes home he will be trained for these sports as well, with agility being my primary focus. In all my reading about FCRs and their owners I keep seeing the same theme.  The owners are just amazed at the sheer joy they see in their dogs when they are out retrieving in the field and doing the work they were bred for.  This has led me to look into field training and what is involved.  I know that most people use forced retrieves and shock collars for this kind of training, but that is not my style.  I'm not interesting in doing that kind of work with my dog and luckily it seems there are some people out there training for field work using positive methods.  There's not many, but they are out there and some have even written books on the subject.

My goal over the next few months is to learn more about field trials so I understand the rules and what is required of the dogs and to read about how to use the clicker or other positive method to teach these skills.  I'm not sure if this sport is for me, but it would be nice to do something so natural for my dog and to do it in a dog friendly way.

Oh, yes, and we might dabble in dock diving as well.  And I imagine a FCR would be great at therapy work.  How many hours are in a day again??

Preparing for Puppy

Over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about all the things I need to do to prepare for the puppy  You think I'd be perfectly calm and prepared since I've spent the last 7.5 years working with puppies and their owners, but for some reason I still feel the need to pour through my dog books and devour (again) everything that has to do with raising a puppy.  None of it's new and it's all things I say weekly to my clients, but I still feel the need to review it for myself since it's been 9 years since my last puppy.  And who knows, maybe raising this puppy will change some of the advice I give to clients.  I might find that someone sounds great in theory but it's much harder to do in practice and just not practical for the average pet owner.  Or maybe I'll learn a few tricks that are not in the books and I didn't discover the first time around.

I have a checklist started for all the things I need to buy and set up.  I haven't purchased much yet, except for a tab leash and a clip and go leash since they were on sale.  Since I have several months I'm looking around for the best prices before I start stocking up.

My list:

• Crate - I currently have one with a divider that should last several months.  After that my boss has a large one she can loan me
• Chew Toys - Puppy Kong, several normal kongs, nylabones (edible and nonedible), bullysticks, antlers, marrow bones, Monster Mouth
• New water bowl - Indi's dinky one isn't going to cut it for a large water loving dog
• Big rug/mat - goes under the water bowl since wood floors and a water loving dog do not always mix well
• Leash and collar - I'd like a matching set, but might have to wait until he's finished growing
• Toys - Tennis balls, tug toys, soccer ball to supplement Indi's huge toy box
• Shampoo - he's going to go through a lot more than my short haired 20 pound terrier
• Clickers - you can never have too many
• Food - I need to stock up on raw food
• Treats - who knows if he'll like the things Indi likes, which is mostly string cheese
• Large square piece of vinyl flooring - to put under the ex-pen so the wood floor doesn't get scratched up by the pen or messed up from spilled water or any accidents

I'm probably forgetting something obvious...

I have my socialization checklists, which I'll post later on, but they include all the things to expose the puppy to so I do not forget something. I also put some of my friends with kids on notice that I will be emailing them at the end of summer for some puppy parties.  What kid wouldn't want to come play with a puppy, right? I should have the toddler and preschool age down pat. Every time I drive somewhere I am scanning for new areas I can take the puppy so he gets out in the world as much as possible.  I think about my day and where I might need to go and if the puppy will be welcomed to come along.

I have been reviewing my friend's puppy blog to see all the good things she had done with her pup. 

I've been reading my Agility Right from the Start book and reread Dr. Ian Dunbar's puppy books.

I've realized I need to put away some things around the house that will be too tempting for a pup.  I also should clean out the garage so we can eventually buy a freezer like we've been talking about, since this puppy is going to need a lot more room for his raw food.

My friend Madeline sent me this video today so this has now be put on my list of things to do with the puppy.

Hannah, mommy to Litter #1

Litter #1 Confirmation

The ultrasound today showed 6-8 puppies in litter #1!!  The breeder is looking to keep a female and I want a male to balance out Indigo, so chances are good there could be a puppy in there for me and my family!

There's still just under two weeks until litter #2 is confirmed.  I have two undercover agents traveling to Breeder #2 to visit with the dam, sire, and some grandparents this weekend.  I feel very fortunate to have two dog trainer friends who can be my eyes and ears and report back their thoughts and opinions on this breeder and litter.  I'm not able to make the trip myself but have the utmost confidence in these two to make an informed decision and bring back good details.

Just a preview of the cuteness that will be taking over my life in a few months.

The Great Puppy Search of 2011

The Great Puppy Search of 2011 really began many, many years ago as our female Rat Terrier, Indigo, was reaching adulthood and I began contemplating a sibling for her. The Search was postponed when we added a human sibling instead. Being a dog trainer and a sane human being I felt it was wise to not try and juggle an infant/toddler and a puppy. It was a good choice seeing that Indigo's "quirks" increased over time and our daughter's temperament and activity level would put any Border Collie to shame.

Almost 5 years later, our daughter is now about to enter elementary school and I finally will have time during the day to devote to training a puppy the way I feel is best. Indigo still has her issues, but they are getting better and I am more skilled at managing them and not putting her in a bad situation. And finally at 9 years old she's starting to slow down a bit.

Over the years I have added and deleted many different types of dogs from "my list"; some making the list only to be toss off again multiple times. I have considered purebred puppies from reputable breeders, puppies from bred specific rescues, young purebred adults from rescues and the run of the mill mixed puppy or adult dog from the local shelters. It's a tough decision to make with many factors to weigh. In the end, I have decided on a pure bred puppy from a reputable breeder, which is much harder to find than it sounds.

As for the breed? Well the pendulum finally stopped swinging this way and that, from Border Collie, to Beagle, to a field Lab, and has pointed to a Flat-Coated Retriever. This is where most people say, "A what?" and give me this look o_O

This is a Flat-Coated Retriever (in black; they also come in liver)




As luck would have it, there's a breeder only 15 minutes from my house. Her dogs are lovely, well accomplished in the show ring and out in the field, and she and her husband are extremely nice. There's also a breeder in Northern California who looks very promising. Both breeders will have litters close to my perfect time frame. I feel fortunate to have two breeders to choose from considering that this breed is relatively small. Tomorrow Breeder #1 has an ultrasound appointment for her bitch to confirm the pregnancy and number of puppies. In just under two weeks Breeder #2 will be doing the same thing. We should know within a couple of weeks if we will be bringing home a FCR puppy at the end of summer!