Puppy Supplements

Feeding raw does require some supplements.

Here are some of the products that we use, but there are other brands and other product that are great also.

Some other stuff to use...

Plain high fat yogurt (cow or goat)

Spiralina

Raw Honey

Ocean Kelp

Pumpkin (canned)

Chia Seeds

Peanut Butter

Hemp Seeds

Cheap Entertainment

Because not all of you are gonna have a cat to entertain your new puppy, here are some cheap ideas for toys and entertainment (and little bit of training technique)...

You WILL need alot of things for your puppy to chew (instead of your hands, shoes, pant legs).  There is a long road ahead of teething and biting.  

But if you start right away and do it properly, it doesn't have to be as painful (literally).

Your puppy will get into nippy moods, this is normal, they are working on their survival skills, and their gums are probably killing them!  But do not let them bite your hands (or shoes or whatever it is, but especially your hands).  This is a great opportunity for you to discourage the poor behaviour, by introducing a toy for them to play with (positive behaviour).  Now you don't have to discourage, because they are suppose to play with their toys.  

This is 2 things...First your pup is learning what his/her toys are, and what he/she is aloud to play with.  Second, you are bonding with your dog by playing tug, or chase with the toy (and eventually retrieve with a ball).  You are showing your dog that their fun comes from you.  This will make them respect you more, which will make other training even easier.

Dog toys are expensive though.  Especially if you have a Staffy! I've watched many $5 toys be completely destroyed in 20 second.  Even if it says "Staffy Proof" it is not!  But, I know you love your dog and of course you are gonna buy some cute toys for them to have (umm probably more like shred).    

But like children, puppies usually like the box more than the toy that comes in it.  So don't feel bad to give your dog FREE toys, like empty milk cartons, yogurt containers (Nuggets favourite toy is still an old plant container), a dirty shirt, shoestrings, cardboard boxes, lacrosse balls (never tennis balls though), thin plastic water bottles, and anything else you see around your house that you don't ever need again!

New Cute Puppy Pics

Moose in Jail

Jersey won't take a nap

Olive, no pictures please

Jersey sleeps like a kitty

Rufus and Nugget snuggles

Olive plays with big sis Nugget

Moose old dirty dog snores

Brindle spooning

Test driving the new puppy bed, all aboard

Bear breaking in the leather of his new couch

Help us find a home for OLIVE

How did this happen?  The cutest of all the puppies is still looking for a home????

Tuff Love Kennels knows that we are responsible for bringing these puppies into the world, and so we are also responsible for their well-being.  Because of this approach, we have to make tough decisions sometimes.

We did not feel like one of our potential owners was a good match for our dogs.  So although we had all the dogs spoken for, we now have one left.

It's the little Olive.  She is darling and we are sure she will melt your heart.  She is a replica of our Nugget (the runt of the litter last year), and so we feel that we know her personality.  She is very responsive to people, will be easy to train, and very loyal.  She is very vocal, almost growly, but it is just her being tough, after having to stand up for herself to all her big litter mates.  Sometimes the runt is a little extra work, but they are always worth it, they just seem to love a little extra!

Please let us know if you know anyone that might be interested!

Puppies in a Box

First weekend retreat a success!

All the puppies got to do a day trip to their new homes, even Olive got an adventure.  The new owners were gushing about how great their pups were, and the pups were showing strong signs of house breaking already!!!

This coming weekend will be an over night adventure, and then the weekend after, they will be gone to their new homes for good.  Time flies...well kind of!

RAW Food Diet

Feeding raw, here's some info...
http://www.barfworld.com/html/barf_diet/barfdiet_specific.shtml

Puppy Day Pass

Puppy’s First Day Trip

This weekend the puppies have a day pass to their new homes.  It is a great opportunity for the owners and the puppies to get used to each other for a few hours.  The first time out alone can be scary for the pups, but with a day visit, they get to return to their mom and litter mates to de-stress,  and continue to build confidence!!!

For the owners it is a quick test run to make sure they have everything they need and are prepared for a full time puppy!

Here’s some things to think about when you bring your pup home...

DO YOU HAVE PUPPY SUPPLIES?

TuffLove Kennels will send you home with:

-Food

-Treats

-A Toy and a Bully Stick

-A Puppy Pad (if you need)

You will need to have:

-Food and Water Bowl

-Collar and Leash (not totally necessary as they will not walk on a leash anyways)

-Blanket

-Dog Bed

-Crate/Kennel

-Baby Gate (if necessary)

-Paper Towels

-Vinegar (it is a safe cleaning agent and can help in house breaking)

-Poop Bags

-Puppy Pads

-Toys/Rope (encourage play with toys instead of shoes or couches)

-Clicker (may as well start...click treat, click treat, click treat)

IS YOUR HOUSE PUPPY PROOF?

Before you bring your puppy home make sure that you have gotten on your hands and knees and viewed your home from the puppy’s point of view.  If there is 1 thing that you have forgotten, they will find it!

Puppies will put anything in their mouth, so we must protect them from danger.  

Look for:

Electric Cords

Table Clothes (they will grab it and pull everything off the table)

Ropes or Curtains

Objects on low Coffee Tables

Knick-Knacks on bottom shelves

Stairs (they are starting to get them, but they usually end up smacking their little chins on the bottom one)

Anything of value to you...yup they will eat it!

Put all Poison away:

Cleaners, bug spray, insect traps, oil/gas, antifreeze, paints, medicine, vitamins, hair care products, makeup items, nail polish/remover, pens, laundry products.

IS YOUR YARD PUPPY SAFE?

If you have a yard, review it the same as your house.  

Look for:

Plants that might get dug up

Holes in the fence

Poisonous plants (there are quite a few so look it up)

Blue? What is Rufus?

Here is a note on breed standard, and how it has changed:

1935: Colour: May be any shade of brindle – Black – White – Fawn or Red or any of these colors with white. Black and tan and liver not to be encouraged.
1948: Colour: Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any of these colors with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and-tan or liver colour not to be encouraged.
1987: Colour: Red, fawn, white, black or blue, or any one of these colors with white. Any shade of brindle or any shade of brindle with white. Black-and tan or liver colour highly undesirable.

Notes:
1) ‘Blue’ was not part of the original Standard. The old timers who ‘invented’ the Breed would probably have considered what we call ‘blue’ today actually as ‘liver’.
2) ‘Not to be encouraged’ was changed to ‘highly undesirable’ in 1987.

The Secret Life of Dogs

Last night we watched a great documentary on the CBC called "The Secret Life of Dogs", which follows the relationship between dogs & humans, from birth to puppyhood to adult dog. What an awesome film!! If you are thinking about a puppy or are just love canines, don't miss this...

From CBC: Why do dogs love humans? Spectacular cinematography & new science reveal the complex, extraordinary relationship between humans & dogs, & the superpower senses that help them save our lives.

If you're in Canada, you can watch the full doc online (for free!) here:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/The+Passionate+Eye/ID/2339876969/

Some Good Reads

Once you bring your new puppy home, you will figure them out real quick...how, you just don't have a choice.  They will cry and you will figure out whether they are hungry, need to poop, or just need a little attention in their new home.

But as much as you can rest assured you will just figure it out, here are some books to help you get started.  They range from health to diet, training your dog to understanding your dog, and agility techniques (Agility worked wonders for us with Clover, in fact, I dont think she ever actually listened until we started to challenge her with it).

I definitely enjoyed 'The Other End of the Leash.  Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs", it reminds us that it is us that need training, not the pups.  It helps us to look for cues and understand how our behaviour makes the dog behave.  BE SMARTER THAN YOUR DOG!!!! Isn't always as easy as it sounds!

Dog Literature:

The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook

By: Betsy Brevitz, D.V.M.

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog

By: Wendy Volhard & Kerry Brown D.V.M.

The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs

By: Patricia B. McConnell Ph.D

What all Good Dogs Should Know:  The Sensible Way to Train

By: Jack Volhard & Melissa Bartlett

Canine Good Citizen: Every Dog can be One

By:  Jack and Wendy Volhard

The Complete Dog Book

By:  American Kennel Club

Be the Pack Leader

By: Cesar Millan

Agility Training for You and Your Dog

By: Ali Canova & Joe Canova & Diane Goodspeed