Wales Bans Remote Training Collars Over Hysterical Fear

If you want to learn how to effectively train a dog with an electronic dog training collar visit http://www.fastpupdogtraining.com or Contact University Place dog trainer Kate Johansson at (253) 569-0411

Words are so powerful. And I can think of few words dripping with more negative hysterical emotion than the erroneous and wrongly descriptive phrase "Shock Collar." Because of the moniker given to these devices in the 1960s (When they were crude and unreliable--nothing like the smooth exact instruments they are now) they remain controversial today.

Electronic collars use the same technology as a muscle stimulator one might use for (human) physical therapy. The technology is also used for (human) pain management. In fact, it is used in medicine and dentistry routinely. Ever see the TV commercials for belts that will help you obtain the coveted six-pack of abdominals? Same technology. On the low levels we use for training dogs, the stimulation feels like a little flick, similar to static you would get taking clothes out of a dryer. On somewhat higher levels, the stimulation feels like a tingle, similar to your arm or leg starting to fall asleep.

When we are asked as humans to use this technology on ourselves for whatever reason, we are never introduced to it as a "shock" device. We would never allow anyone to shock us. The word "shock" inspires fear. So a person needing to use the technology is introduced to it in a positive, intelligent way.

Electronic dog collars are used not only for high levels of training in dogs, but also for pet containment. With a containment system, the dogs (and cats) are carefully trained using negative reinforcement not to pass certain areas in the yard or house. This allows the pets to have the freedom to roam in the yard, yet keeps them safe from wandering into traffic or chasing a neighboring farm's livestock.

There are a number of different ways of using the electronic collars, also known as remote training collars. At Fast Pup Dog Training we teach people how to use the stimulation of the collar to gently associate the tickle or tingle of the stimulation with a command such as "come," "sit," "stay." Before we ever start training a dog with the collar, we have everyone in the family, including small children, experience what the stimulation feels like so that everyone understands and knows we are not hurting the dog. We use the stimulation on the lowest level to which the dog will respond. It is never about punishment.

We make sure the clients have a good understanding of how to use the equipment and how to stay positive and calm at all times. We never even let a client raise their voice and we teach them that they no longer need to pull on the leash. Usually during the very first session, we drop the leash altogether so that the client learns to use their body language and great attitude and positive tone of voice to facilitate learning in the dog. With most dogs we will be able to take the dog on an off leash walk after just three sessions.

Last week the principality of Wales in the United Kingdom banned the use of electronic dog collars. Anyone caught using an electronic dog collar will be subject to a fine of £20,000 or six months in prison. As I read the reports and watched the videos from the BBC website, I was amazed (shocked-pardon the pun) at the leaning of the reporters towards support of this ban. And there on the video were all the usual "morally superior" people who were so vindicated by the ban talking about how in today's world there is no need for any type of dog training that does not use "positive only" methods.

Duncan McNair, of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association, estimated that there were at least half a million electronic collars in Wales.

What a shame for the many dog owners who train with the collars. And what a shame for the many dogs who will now need to be imprisoned and kept always on a leash for their safety and the safety of neighbor's livestock. What a shame for the dogs who will be turned over to shelters and will be put to death for behaviors that can't be brought under control with the use of cookies.

And all because of fear and hysteria caused by the use of the word "shock." We need to be careful what words we use.

What Is Best Place To Buy A Puppy

A number of years ago when I had my first litter of Labrador Retriever puppies for sale I got a call from a woman who asked me all sorts of questions about the pups and then sniffed that she did not approve of "backyard breeders" before abruptly hanging up on me. I stared at the phone in astonishment. I said out loud to the phone, "Would you rather get your dog from a puppy mill?

This was my first litter of pups, but I certainly did not consider myself a backyard breeder. My dog was from a long line of field champions, master hunters and other highly titled dogs. So was the sire of my litter. Both parents of the pups had already earned their AKC Senior Hunter titles. Both parents were cleared through the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals on their hips and elbows. The pups eyes were checked by a veterinary ophthalmologist.

What's more, I had thoroughly socialized the pups, spending hours of time with them. They were introduced to retrieving, birds and water. They LOVED people and were smart little things.

Recently I placed a pup from my last litter with a very good friend and fellow hunter/ retriever trainer. She mentioned to me how much different this pup is from some of the others she has obtained from larger kennels. She noted that the pup from me did not ever bite at her like so many do when first brought home. And how eager to please he was and how he always retrieves and delivers a bumper or a bird to hand.

I have also noticed a big difference in pups I have bought that are raised in someone's house with a lot of time spent interacting with people versus pups that came from a very highly respected kennel where the time spent with the pups was a little less steady.

From the time my pups are three weeks old they ride on my truck with me out to the training grounds where they hear far-off gun fire. By the time they are six weeks old, they are introduced to birds and they are exposed on a regular basis to the sound of far-off gun fire. By the time they are eight weeks old, they are introduced to retrieving and begin to associate the sound of gun fire with the excitement of marks.

I think of the term "backyard breeder" and think of someone who does not compete and train with their dogs. They might have a male & female dog and just let them "get together" in hopes of making money off the pups. They probably don't know a whole lot about pedigrees and clearances. Not that the pups are necessarily going to be bad dogs. Not at all. Being a "backyard breeder" is not necessarily saying that the dogs are not going to turn out well, especially if the dogs are well socialized and well cared for.

Puppy Mills have received huge amounts of attention over the past twenty years. The plight of dogs in wire cages imprisoned and forced to breed puppies to be sold to pet stores is an emotional topic that tugs at most people's heart. There are many great people who rescue dogs from these mills when they are shut down by authorities. The dogs and pups coming out of these operations face many health issues. They also have a tendency to have problems with socialization. Dogs kept in isolation from people often exhibit fear of people--for good reason.

As a professional dog trainer, I recommend NOT buying a puppy from a pet store. Chances are that pup came from a puppy mill. The likelihood that the pup will be harder to train is huge. Plus, buying a pup from a local breeder that you can visit and interview will discourage puppy mills from being in business.

Dogs Carry Baskets at Meeker Days Puyallup

Puyallup Fast Pup Dog Training and Kate Johansson strut their stuff for the crowds at the 2009 Meeker Days celebration. Dogs carrying baskets of candy for the kids (young and not so young!) are always a big hit.



If you would like to have a dog that will be well-behaved even around the most severe distractions, please give us a call for a no cost, no obligation demonstration and a free assessment of your dog.

http://www.fastpupdogtraining.com/

Training for Marks with Gus

Tacoma Dog Trainer Kate Johansson works with Gus, an English Labrador Retriever on marking training. Gus was a board and train who stayed for three months. Gus came with no desire and left with tremendous desire for the retrieve. Check it out!



If you need help with your retriever, give us a call 253.569.0411

Trained Labrador Retriever Puppy For Sale

Fast Pup Retriever Training Tacoma WA 253.569.0411

Mojo is a three month old AKC Chocolate Labrador Retriever. Here you see him mark, retrieve, return to his handler and deliver a bird to hand. His four-generation Pedigree includes over 26 Field Champions and Master Hunters. Sire is AKC Master Hunter and mom is AKC Senior Hunter. He is a very affectionate love bug, in addition to his budding talents as a hunting dog.



If you would like more information about this little guy, please call Kate in Tacoma WA 253.569.0411
http://www.fastpupdogtraining.com/

Brutus English Mastiff Rest In Peace

Brutus, a 200 pound English Mastiff recently went over the Rainbow Bridge. Fast Pup Dog Training made this video of him as a tribute. He was only four years old and died of cancer. Rest in peace big boy. We miss you!



If you have a big, out of control dog or a little tiny Terrier or terrorist as we sometimes jokingly call them, give us a call. We can help!

http://www.fastpupdogtraining.com/

Beans' Swim By Training

Do you love to hunt waterfowl? Ever wished you could send your dog on a long blind or handle your dog to a cripple? It all starts with the trained retrieve, or force fetch.

Most retrievers will be able to handle a bird you drop right into the pond in front of you with little or no training. It is when things don't go perfectly, that the great dogs shine. A great dog has lots of drive--and good training.

Here you see Beans, a 14 month old black Lab on her first "swim-by" exercise. This is coming off a winter break and much time spent drilling on "wagon wheels," "lining drills," and "T-patterns."

The swim-by is one of the last steps of the trained retrieve.






For help with your dog, call Fast Pup Dog Training. 253.569.0411
http://www.fastpupdogtraining.com/

Rehabilitating Fear Aggressive Labrador Retriever

Fast Pup Dog Training Tacoma works with a young dog with a fear aggression problem. Check out this video of Lucy, a Chocolate Labrador Retriever who came to us for rehabilitation after developing a fearful habit of biting at only 7 months of age. After spending a month with us, she is doing much better.
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Lucy is a happier dog now that she is learning to live with a pack of dogs and humans along with her retriever training.

Tacoma's Fast Pup Discusses Sled Dogs Iditerod

Kate Johansson from Fast Pup Dog Training, Tacoma will host Dog Talk Radio on KLAY 11.80 am on March 10th discussing the Iditerod Sled Dog Race that is taking place from March 6th through March 17th in Alaska.

We will be interviewing Kim Tinker, from Cascade Sled Dog Club in Oregon about all the fun and inexpensive activities you can do with your dog such as Dog Sledding, Dog Scootering and Skijoring. Kim will be explaining how to train your dog to pull in a harness, what an Alaskan Husky really is, and how you control a whole team of dogs.

The show airs Wednesday, March 10th from 12:00 -- 1:00 pm and on Saturday, March 13th from 1:00 -- 2:00 pm.

Fast Pup Retriever Training: Teaching The Blind Retrieve

Take your dog out in field with you to plant blind. Have them sit and watch you plant a pile of bumpers

Photos by Danny Phillips

For a green dog, stop and face pile a short distance back. Repeat the send from a short distance at first, then move back toward line and send again

Line the dog up, making sure he indicates with his body language that he wants to go in the direction that the blind is located. When you look at your dog, he should be facing the direction you want him to go.

Handler should have a definite cadence and timing for the send. "Dead Bird!" That's It!" "Back!" Same rhythm as "On your mark, Get set, Go!"

All training should be "training for success"

Dog should carry the bumper or bird all the way straight back to handler at line

And deliver to hand.

Tacoma's Fast Pup Retriever Training

Erin lines Presleigh up for a blind retrieve past a gun station

Photos by Danny Phillips. Shown here are Erin and Presleigh.

Don't want to send your dog off somewhere far away for two or three months for retriever training? Well, at Fast Pup Retriever Training, we work with owners and teach them how to do the retriever training exercises themselves.

A well directed dog will run toward the blind confidently

All higher levels of retriever training start with a "trained retrieve" program also known as "force fetch." Force fetch starts with "hold" training and continues through the "fetch" training. Training should continue through "walking fetch," "fetch to a pile," "T-patterns," "swim-by," and "cheating singles." A well balanced program will fold in lots of fun "marks," "wagon wheels," and "baseball." During the program, your dog should be introduced to birds. Pigeons, pheasant, duck at a minimum.

Presleigh has picked up the blind at tree line and returns past gun station where she had mark earlier

Fast Pup Retriever Training out of Tacoma, Washington provides several different programs to help amateur trainers learn how to do their own training. One program is a 10 week board and train where we keep the dog and finish the whole force-fetch program.

Presleigh enthusiastically returns with her "bird"

Another program we provide is a short program where the dog stays with us for two to three weeks and we teach the dog the "hold," and the "fetch" on command. Then we instruct the owner on how to complete it.

Presleigh delivers her bird and sits waiting for Erin to take it out of her mouth

With both programs, we highly encourage the owner to come out any time to watch what we are doing with the dog. We want the owner to learn how the training is done. We also encourage owners to join us for retriever training when we are doing marks and blinds. We will have a new handler run a seasoned dog to facilitate learning the timing and cadence of handling a dog. (There is more to it than most people think!)

Many families struggle with the idea of sending their beloved family member off to live in a kennel far away while they receive their basic training. If you want to keep your dog closer and be more involved, consider Fast Pup Retriever Training as an option.

Give us a call today at 253.569.0411

How To Turn Puppy Into Kujo Aggressive Dog

All pups have sharp teeth. All pups are mouthy. One of the biggest complaints we get from clients is that the pup is biting them too hard. (In fact, at seminars we do we frequently get people holding up their scarred and scabbed hands as evidence of their problem.) If you treat your puppy like a human child or baby and do not take the role of pack leader (or the pup's real dog Mom) and the puppy begins biting too hard, nipping, lunging at people and generally getting away with bad behavior, there is a very real possibility that the pup will learn to bite people.

Recently we heard about a 7 month old chocolate lab who had bitten her owner several times (hard--drew blood) and a number of other people recently. We ended up bringing the dog home with us after she bit Kate as she put the leash on the dog. It was too serious a matter to leave the dog in her own home environment because the behavior was escalating and the family did not have the experience to know how to react properly with this dog.

The dog is a sweet tempered dog almost all the time. Typical Labrador Retriever. Except when she feels threatened or is being pressured to do something she does not want to do. The first time she bit the owner in a nasty way, she was only about 5 months old and her owner needed to wash the mud off her paws before going in the house. The "correction" that was given to the dog at that time was for the owner to yell "No!" and turn his back on her. (This advice came from a "trainer" at the obedience class at a big box store.) So the dog won that battle. Turning your back on a dog is NOT A CORRECTION!

Now this sort of behavior does not just suddenly appear. This undoubtedly started in puppyhood. At about 5 or 6 weeks, the breeder should be taking over slowly from Mom the duties of caring for and disciplining the puppies. (Caring for a litter of puppies is VERY TIME CONSUMING and if done correctly should set up the pups for a successful life.) This is a very big reason to get your pup from a reputable breeder and not a pet store where the pups most likely came from a puppy mill.) It is very important for the pups to stay together as a litter until at least 7 weeks. If the pup is going to an only dog home, I recommend that the pup stay with it's litter mates as long as 10 or 12 weeks. From 3 weeks to 4 months is a very critical time in the pup's life. The more time the pup can spend with other dogs in the early stages, the better the pup's chances of being well adjusted.

When the pup bites Mom, he will get an appropriate correction. She may give a little shake on the scruff of his neck and after he learns that lesson, all it may take from her is a look and a warning growl. We see the pups take a submissive position to Mom and other older adult dogs when they get a correction from them. Often the vocalize to "cry Uncle." This may look to a human like a really sad, pathetic thing and it might be tempting to feel sorry for the pup--or even "save" him from the situation. Wrong! Dogs are not furry humans! Dogs are not "politically correct." Dogs speak dog and conduct themselves the way they need to in order to have a well balanced and effective "pack." What we humans need to do to be successful puppy raisers is to study the pack behavior and take the role of pack leader.

The breeder should be knowledgeable and experienced enough to be able to give proper dog-like corrections to the pups after Mom turns over the duties. If the pup bites the people feeding him and cleaning his quarters--even though the bite might be playful, he should get a little correction. When the new owners take the pup home, they should be willing to give appropriate, dog-like corrections too.

This is where so many new dog owners get into trouble. If people are not willing to give their pup a correction for transgressions like biting too hard and are not willing to be pack leader around food, then the likelihood that a behavioral problem like aggressive biting will develop increases. And once the dog becomes a mature adult, the problem becomes much more difficult problem to fix.

Luckily for Lucy, the 7 month old Lab, she is still enough of a puppy that her aggressive biting behavior can be changed fairly easily. Our job is not finished though with fixing Lucy's behavior. In order for these changes to stick once she returns home, the people in her life must be willing to change their behavior. They must learn how to deliver swift, appropriate corrections to this dog when needed. Otherwise the dog will return to old habits and the bad behavior will become worse.

Most aggression that we typically see is a direct result of human ignorance. In order to live well with dogs, we must understand that we must give them what they need. They need us to be good pack leaders. In the absence of leadership, dogs are hard-wired to step into the leadership role. It is not something they "decide" to do, it is something that kicks in through instinct. A dog "leading" humans is a recipe for disaster.

In Memory Of Silverbrook's Ginger Lei Senior Hunter

Silverbrook's Ginger Lei SH went over the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. She was only 10 years old.

She taught me a lot over the years. She was my first pup that I got for hunting & retrieving. Boy, did I have a LOT to learn. For the last couple of years she had been teaching people new to the sport of retriever training how to handle a dog on marks and blinds. A good handler makes it look easy on even a green dog. A great dog makes a green handler look good.

Ginny continued to help teach new handlers until almost the very end. Good-By Gin Girl. We miss you so much and we will see you on the other side.

Human Components Of Dog Training Can Be Challenging

Tune in to KLAY 11.80 am this Saturday at 1:00 pm pacific time for a discussion with Kate Johansson, Tacoma dog trainer, on how a handler's expectations, attitude, body language and heart can influence dog behavior. If you want your dog to be different, YOU need to be different!

Recently some members of our training, picnic trial club wanted to change the rules of running in the mock trials we put on several times a year for our retrievers. They wanted to allow "training equipment" to be used while running the dogs. The reasoning went that everyone knows that dogs "know" when they are at a trial. That is why they act so much more excited and are so much more difficult to control. There is something about the excitement of a trial and all the many trucks and the more formalized waiting for a turn in front of the judges--having to wait behind all those holding blinds, etc.

We've been hearing this for years. How dogs "know" when it is a trial and act differently. So, if we could just have a "trial" and use "training equipment" the dogs would learn not to behave differently at a trial.

Problem is that the dogs are NOT reacting to the different atmosphere of the trial. We humans are. We are in competitive mode. We are being judged. There are spectators watching us. We had to get up in the middle of the night and drive a long distance to get there. We had to pay a significant entry fee for the opportunity to be judged. We might have had to get a hotel. We have a LOT invested in this trial. We have been training for months or years for this opportunity. And now its show time!

And the dogs look at us and sense something is different--about us. If we want our dogs to act the same way at a trial that they do in training--we need to learn to act and feel the same way we do in training. The only way to get comfortable at trials and tests is to enter our dogs in a lot of them. The more "line time" we get taking our dogs to the line in front of the judges at trials, the better we will get at doing it.

Trying to trick the dog into thinking he is at a trial while still being in training mode might give the trainer/handler a false sense of accomplishment. But when that handler gets out of his truck at a real trial next weekend, his dog is going to know something is different. Because that same old feeling is going to come back to the handler.

We see this problem in pet dogs too. The problem of owners/handlers having anxiety, nervousness, and negative emotions while dealing with their dogs. Many, many dog problems are really confidence problems with the owners. And that is where so much education comes in to play with dog training. Training dogs is easy. Teaching and building confidence in the owners can sometimes be more challenging.

Fast Pup Dog Training at Tacoma Home Garden Show

Tacoma dog trainer Kate Johansson and Fast Pup Dog Training will be at the Tacoma Home & Garden Show Wednesday, January 27th through January 31st. Today we will be holding a discussion about "Puppy Basics," how to start your puppy off on the right "paw." Please come by and say "hello," to the dogs!

Kate Johansson Talks Search Dogs NDSDF KLAY 11.80 am

Photos by Denise Hess











Today on Dog Talk Radio, Tacoma dog trainer Kate Johansson will be interviewing Bill Murphy of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation out of Ohai, California about selecting and training search dogs as well as discussing the on-going search in Haiti for surviving victims. NDSDF has a number of dog/handler teams on the ground in Haiti and they have found and helped save numerous victims of the earthquake.

Catch the show on KLAY 11.80 am Tacoma at noon on Wednesdays and at 1:00 pm on Saturdays.

Don't let New Years Celebrations Screw Up Your Dog

Occasionally we get inquiries as to how to "fix" gun shyness.

I always urge everyone to make sure your dog is properly introduced to gun fire in a very positive way. Since I have always taken great care with this issue, I have never had a dog in my care who developed the problem.

If you buy your pup from a reputable gun dog breeder, the breeder should have introduced the litter to all kinds of loud noises as well as bird wings and live birds. Your job as the new owner is to continue to expose your pup to loud noises--but carefully. Guns at a distance. (We recommend using a starter pistol that uses the same kind of ammo as a commercial grade nail gun. You can buy different strengths of ammo, the lighter of which produces a softer noise.)

Always associate the sound of gun fire with the excitement of a mark (an object thrown by a helper in the field who will fire the pistol at a distance away from the pup.) We train at a field that is next to a freeway, and the freeway noise muffles the sound of the gun fire quite a bit. We introduce guns there and then move out to more wide open spaces where the guns can be heard more clearly. Once our dogs are extremely birdy and used to closer and closer gun fire, we can expect to shoot over them with no problem. If properly introduced, the sight and sound of a gun should produce giddy excitement from your dog--not fear.

Fireworks can frighten a dog. Since we will have a hearty helping of fireworks tonight to welcome in 2010, be sure to minimize how much your dog can hear them. Having a radio or television on will muffle the sound of the celebrations. Make sure as the owner, you act as if nothing at all is wrong. If your dog shows any kind of distress, add some more background noise and IGNORE the dog's discomfort. If you fawn over your dog, petting her and telling her "It's OK," you will be rewarding the behavior and shining a spotlight on a problem. While it makes sense to comfort a frightened child, comforting a dog who is exhibiting stress will have unintended consequences.

If you have a dog that for whatever reason is noise or gun shy, GunDogSupply.com sells a two CD set called

Noiseshy Cure Thunder & Fireworks 2-CD Set

that uses music and recorded thunder & fireworks sounds for desensitization and behavior modification. You can also order a blank starter pistol from these folks. We have done business with this outfit for years and the customer service is top-notch.

Fast Pup Dogs Experience Freedom At Car Show

At Fast Pup Dog Training we want every owner to experience peace of mind about their dog's behavior and every dog to experience the freedom that comes from being reliable off leash.

Check out the new video of our dogs attending a car show in downtown Puyallup.

Imagine being able to walk down a busy street with your dog off leash! Trusting your best friend to walk with you on the sidewalk and not having to worry about traffic!

This Makes House Training A Snap

These four week old puppies are already getting used to a crate

If you want to make house training your puppy as easy as snapping your fingers, you need to use a crate. And not just any crate. The biggest mistake we see people making in terms of selecting a crate is that they go down to the big box store and buy a HUGE crate--one that will be big enough or even too large for their puppy when full grown.
The crate needs to be SMALL. Just big enough for the pup to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. Then as the pup grows, replace that really small crate with another that is just a little bit bigger. Think of the size of the crate as a comparison to the size of a bed you would get for a human baby. We don't have human babies sleep in a king sized bed. The baby feels (and is actually) safer in a small bed such as a crib or play pen. But don't make the mistake of humanizing your puppy and trying to keep them in something like a play pen. Dogs need to feel safe by being inside something.

Yikes! "Isn't putting a puppy in such a small space cruel," we always get asked. Nope. Not at all. Dogs naturally den. In the wild, they seek out or dig a small, dark place for safety, to sleep and have pups. Just a couple of weeks ago, when our dog was getting ready to whelp pups, she kept clawing her way under a small twin bed we keep in the office for the dogs to lounge on. That is where she naturally felt safe. In such a small space she could barely get in and out of.

Using the dog's natural instinct to den gives you a great advantage in house training, making your life easier and to giving the dog what she needs. People make the mistake all the time of thinking of their dogs' needs in terms of human needs, which are not the same. Giving your dog what she needs will ensure successful training and make your dog feel much safer at the same time.

Another advantage of using a correctly sized small crate from the beginning is that it is easy to move the small crate and pup around with you in the house. Dogs are pack animals and they have a strong need to be with their pack. When I am raising a pup, she stays with me as much as possible for bonding, but she stays in her crate a great deal of the time. She is right there next to me as I work on the computer or tidy up the kitchen. I can talk to her and she can let me know if she needs to go outside, but at the same time she is contained in a small space that she won't soil.

Keep the pup on a schedule. You can either pick the pup up and carry her outside to eliminate, or you can move the crate to the outside door, opening up the crate and encouraging her to go out on her own. You should always give the dog plenty of outside time after she eats and drinks. Then, take her out every couple of hours or when she acts fussy.

If you will progress from smaller to larger crates for the first couple of months, and you stay very consistent about using the crates, you will find that your dog will become house trained effectively by about five months or so.

Training Starts at Birth for Tacoma Dog Trainer Johansson

New! Puppies in training!


Pups shown here are Joanie & Litter Mates. Our pups are less than two weeks old as of this posting. Watch for new pics as they grow!

Joanie, our five year old black Lab, AKC SH (Senior hunter)
blessed us with a rainbow litter on December 13th, 2009. Joanie was bred to Max, a Master Hunter (AKC) who is also the chief duck dog for a hunting club on Sauvie Island outside of Portland.

There are two chocolate females, a chocolate male, a black female and black male and a yellow female. The dogs were born in our guest bedroom and spent the first three days snuggled with Mom on blankets in a small plastic wading pool. Then they were transferred to the whelping box in the garage under a heat lamp.

The pups are handled by Kate on a daily basis, even when first born--without eyes open. Today, Christmas day, the pups' eyes are starting to open. By next week, we will be spending more time playing and interacting with them. They have already started riding in the truck inside a crate. As they grow, we will be putting them through tests to see how they react to challenges of problem solving. We will be introducing them to toys, balls, bird feathers, and even birds as they get a little older. They will be exposed to loud noises and introduced to far-off gun fire and duck calls. By the time they are ready to go to their new homes, they will be crate conditioned and used to sleeping through the night in their crate.

They will be ready to go to their new homes between 7 & 8 weeks of age. One or two will be staying on to be trained as gun dogs by Kate. The pups who stay on will begin their obedience training between 7 & 8 weeks old. They will first learn to sit and wait patiently for their food. (The pups will be at the bottom of the pack and will get their food after everyone else has been released to theirs.) They will start learning to sit, stay and come. They will learn the "place" command by age 3 months. They will also be introduced to marking and retrieving birds and bumpers.