The 8-week sprint is done :)

We have 8 puppies in their new homes and settling in fantastically, I'm incredibly proud of these pups and so delighted with their new families I just can't describe. My attention has been on home-day preps and making sure everyone has had the support they need to ensure a smooth transition so I've been a little slack with blogs....

I'll share a quick summary of tips I've sent before but will have blended with the background and honestly who wants to read when you can look at pics of cute puppies... so now that there's a more urgent need I'll touch on them again :).

Potty training:

Pups are pretty much potty trained in that they won't want to soil their living areas. For that reason, some pups didn't poop for a while: if they didn't have a nice big grassy area or an area that was far enough away then they were holding it. All have worked it out by now but that's the reason!

Pups will pee often when they're outside and able. They're not practiced at holding their bladders but they can once they know they'll be taken to a spot regularly to relieve themselves. For this reason we encourage taking pups to this spot on overkill and then you can space these visits further apart and they'll automatically start holding their bladders. So I recommend taking the pup on this cadence: wake up/potty, play/potty, potty/crate, crate/potty... Then all that aside, potty breaks every 30 mins. You cannot have too many potty breaks. Once pup gets into the habit of potty in that spot he will hold out for that spot, but you have to give him the habit to start with.

Crate training:

There's been lots of success here! But I also know there's been lots of consistency and persistence. To quote from one of my toddler training books: How do you get a toddler to keep his hat on? Its simple- he takes it off, I put it back on, repeat. How do I get my puppy to keep his chew in his crate? He brings it out, I put it back, repeat. Eventually he works out that if he wants his chew he needs to be in the crate. (funny true story- I'll never forget Xander trying to sneak out his chew, I look up from across the room, he stops like if he doesn't move I won't notice, then slowly backs back into the crate..."nothing to see here...."). Same with napping in the crate. If puppy falls to the ground outside the crate, I take him to crate and rest him there. He leaves and falls down, I take him back to crate... repeat. Eventually he works out that sleeping is only possible when he accepts being in the crate. Repetition and consistency is key. Using sleep and chews and favorite toys as incentives to be in the crate and get used to it is easier than "controlled crying" but controlled crying is a fast way to do it too - if your nerves are up for it. Choose your battles :)

Feeding:

Puppies will be fat in the morning and skinny by nightfall. They are growing at a huge speed and using every bit of food so don't feel like your puppy is in danger of eating too much. We recommend 1/2cup three times a day but if he's wolfing this down then keeping adding until he stops eating. If he leaves some don't take it away if you don't have to- he may graze on it until the next meal. I always top it up each meal even if there's leftovers. And incorporating bits of your own dinner leftovers is completely fine- key word is incorporating: don't replace a full kibble meal with something else as that will impact his digestion, but snacks and top ups of a variety of foods has always worked for me. Remember to steer clear of chocolate and spice, but otherwise they'll let you know if it's not to their palate. Point to remember here is that it's easy to underfeed so offer as much as your pup will eat, he will use it all up in his growth at the moment.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!

Quick reminder that your pup was not protected against ticks or fleas when they left the property. Our dogs have been on a flea and tick program for several years and with no other dogs on the property we have killed their cycles. But I completely forgot that on leaving the property these pups are suddenly exposed. Next time I will start pups on a program at 7 weeks to avoid any pickups on potty breaks on the way home and encourage you all to have your vet recommend a prevention program asap.

I think that's all I can fit on the page for now :). I will finish off again with my appreciation of all my families taking such great care of these pups, I feel the same as when my kids ventured into the wide world: I'm super proud but it's awfully quiet and I stalk a lot of social media :D.

Wait I do have one more... Our Laddy (Silver) is still at home with us, pending a family of his own. We have had some lovely applicants who we've had to advise just aren't properly set up with the space or time to take on a BBS puppy, so he will stay with us and continue his training for now, feel free to share! Now, please enjoy some pics of our puppies waiting for pick ups....