Puppy Care - Part 5 - Crate Training

5. CRATE TRAINING:

As mentioned earlier, a crate or kennel is the best method of controlling the puppy and preventing accidents and destructive behavior. Crating is not cruel or inhumane and is a natural haven because it fits into the puppy's den concept. Crates come in plastic or in wire cages. We prefer plastic as they are warmer, darker and free of drafts. Get a crate that is just big enough for the puppy and make bedding out of a worn T-shirt or blanket (towels do not make good bedding as claws get caught in them) and place at least one stuffed toy in it. (pups love to be packed in). If the crate is too big, the pup may use one end for a "potty" place. As he outgrows the puppy crate, get one that will be suitable for his adult size. He needs to be able to stand up and turn around in it. The crate can be used as his bed for the rest of his life. Do not give in and take the pup to bed with you even once. If you must, put the pup, crate and all on your bed. It is not advisable to let a dog, even a grown one sleep on the bed with you. This may be one factor in the separation anxiety syndrome seen so much today. If you leave the crate available to him, he will often crawl into it to sleep on his own, or use it as a refuge when the children get too much for him. Teach children to respect his "space." If the pup falls asleep elsewhere in the house, pick him up and lock him in his crate. The crate is a handy and safe way to travel in the car. Start off with no more than 4 hours in a crate for a pup except at night. Do not leave food or water in the crate, but you can feed in the crate and remove dish. The crate should represent a happy secure place for the dog and never be used as punishment. NEVER OPEN THE CRATE DOOR WHEN THE PUP IS SCREAMING. This just rewards the screaming behavior. WAIT FOR 30 SECONDS OF SILENCE before opening the door.

Puppy Care - Part 4 - Biting and Chewing...

4. BITING AND CHEWING:

All pups bite and chew in play. Teach the pup to bite softly by loudly yelling "ouch" when he bites too hard and he will learn to bite softly. Some trainers prefer the command "no bite". Be careful of having puppies in your face. They do not discriminate between your finger and your nose. During teething, they will chew on practically anything. Your job is to provide chew toys and praise the pup when he uses them. Keep shoes and other unacceptable chewing objects picked up. Put Bitter Apple (available in pet stores) on phone and electric cords. Puppies, like human babies, explore their environment by putting anything and everything in their mouths. Make sure that they have a variety of safe toys to chew on.

Puppy Care - Part 3 - Those First Few Days...

3. THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS:

Your puppy is ready to learn at 4 weeks but teaching and learning require frequent repetitions of the same behavior, 100 to 200 times. The first days can be very trying for both the puppy and new owner and is similar to the frustrations felt when bringing a new infant home. The main challenges are crate training and house training. The main ones facing the puppy are learning to sleep by himself without the warmth and comfort of his littermates and finding out what his place is in the "pecking order" of your household. Remember that pups need a great deal of sleep so do not allow children to overtire him. Your pup is already used to a crate, "his den," but may cry and scream out of loneliness. Keep the crate beside or even on your bed for a while. Place some unwashed item of your clothing in with him along with a stuffed toy or two and a chew toy. The sterilized hollowed bones stuffed with peanut butter in the middle will entertain a pup for hours. You can also feed the pup in his crate. but do not leave food or water in the crate. NEVER REMOVE THE PUP FROM HIS CRATE WHILE HE IS CRYING OR SCREAMING. This just rewards the behavior. Make sure he is quiet for at least 30 seconds before opening the door. The first week or so, he may have to be taken out to eliminate once or twice during the night. Don't jump out of the bed on the first peep; wait to see if he is serious. Sometimes just saying a few words will reassure him and you will not have to get up.

Puppy Care - Part 2 - Feeding...

2. FEEDING: (Make sure that you check the list of Dog food brands that are affected by the recall!)

Feed only a dry PREMIUM dog food made especially for puppies, for example, Science Diet. Premium dry foods give solid nutrition and the hardest smallest stools. This not only facilitates pickup but a hard stool massages the anal glands and seems to prevent problems. There are other very good brands - check with your vet if you have concerns. If you want to switch, do so very gradually over a 10-day period or the pup will get diarrhea.

We urge you not to use grocery store brands of dog food as the ingredients used are of inferior quality. Do you want your dog getting its protein from "chicken feathers and heads" or from backs and giblets? Premium dog foods may seem more expensive but the dog consumes less, the food is highly digestible and there is less stool. Price wise, it evens out.

Feed large pups twice a day and tiny ones 3 times a day. Offer DRY food, as much as they will eat in 15 minutes and then pick up the food. Do not moisten or add canned food. Leaving food down all the time is not recommended because studies have shown the puppies fed this way consume 20% more food and this may cause bone defects and obesity in later life. It is better to have your pup a little underweight. Make no fuss about eating, it is a neutral and natural activity and should not be encouraged or discouraged. The "clean plate club" does not apply to dogs. Except in rare cases of illness, the dog will eat exactly what it needs with the above method. Pups will normally skip meals as will adults. KEEP FRESH WATER AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT WHILE IN CRATE.

Avoid feeding table scraps (if you must, they should not consist of more than 10% of the diet). REMEMBER, THE SMALLER THE DOG, THE LESS THE TREATS. Do not feed commercial dog biscuits as training rewards. A very small portion of Jerky will do. Watch the intake of rawhide chew toys. GIVE TREATS ONLY AS A REWARD FOR OBEDIENCE. DO NOT GIVE ANY BONES EXCEPT STERILIZED BEEF KNUCKLE BONES. DO NOT SUPPLEMENT WITH VITAMINS, COTTAGE CHEESE, MILK OR EGGS. These old beliefs are not only unnecessary with today's balanced Premium foods, but may cause a host of skeletal and cartilage defects. They may also decrease phosphorus, iron, zinc and copper absorption and may cause crusty and scaly skin. CHOCOLATE, ONIONS, GARLIC AND CAFFEINE ARE HIGHLY TOXIC TO DOGS.

Puppy Care - Part 1 - General...

1. GENERAL:

Your puppy has been given the finest possible start in life because it has been:

• Born of fine tempered, healthy parents.
• Wormed and fully immunized for its age with "state of the art" vaccine.
• Kept indoors, warm, clean and free of pests.
• Fed the highest quality diet.
• Provided with veterinary supervision.
• Had dew claws removed for safety
• Given plenty of loving attention
• Provided with training experiences and socialization that coincide with its developmental stages.

As responsible breeders, we are always interested in feedback on our puppies and are eager to answer questions, discuss training procedures or just provide support to the pup's new family. It is only from your feedback, positive or negative. that we can judge the type of dog that we are producing.

Starlo's Ginger Snap 'n' Jim Dandy's 5.14.07 Litter Update...

Starlo's Ginger Snap 'n' Jim Dandy's puppies are now weeks old! Here they are with their eyes open!!

Starlo's Ginger Snap 'n' Starlo's Jim Dandy's Litter...

Hi.. I made it in last night...but was way to tired to call. :0(( I will call ya today after chores are done. While I was gone Ginger had her babies...Darla helped bring 7 beautiful babies into the world. I will give details today. :-)

Chocolate 'n' White Female Placed...

This little cutie has been placed, too!

Sable 'n' White Male placed...

This little sweetheart has been placed. He may turn out to be Chocolate 'n' White...not sure yet!

Puppy Update...

Starlo's Dublins' Black, White 'n' Tan Male is placed...

Starlo's Noels' Red Male with the BLUE DUCK is placed!!!

Starlo's Noel 'n' Starlo's Trapper Brown's Litter...

Cool Slideshows

On Friday, May 4, Starlo's Noel gave birth to seven tiny little cockapoos! Debbie was away on a puppy delivery, so her daughter Darla helped Noel with the birthing. Noel now has 2 sable 'n' white males, 1 sable male, 1 black male, 2 red males, and 1 chocolate 'n' white female.

Seven new Starlo's Cockapoos!!!

Starlo's Noel went into labor this morning and seven new Starlo's Cockapoos were born! I received this email from Debbie:

I got home early, due to the fact that Noel started having her litter this morning.. so headed on home.. she has 7 beautiful puppies... 2 sable/white boys ( or choc/white) hard to tell at this stage.. 1 chocolate/white girl. 2 red boys... 1 black boy... 1 sable boy... all are doing good so far...

Gilli's sister...Sara Adelman!!!

I know you know but ...........Sara is such a wonderful dog.........she travels so well and I am always getting stopped and asked about her..........she is always right with one of us never misses a thing! Hope all is well with you and your family!!!

Michelle Adelman ~ Bend, OR

May 2, 2007

Note: Sara is the daughter of Starlo's Creamy Oreo & Starlo's Classic Sally: Sara and Gilli are sister and brother!!!

Gilli Buchman...A Starlo's Cockapoo!!!

We have had Gilli for about three months now, and he is just the best. He is just super smart and fun and loving. He is especially good at walking on his back legs. His other special talent is singing. Whenever I play the clarinet or piano, he just has to be there, howling to the music. Carolyn is taking him to training class so he will be good around other dogs. I've been training him to find and retrieve our cell phones when they ring. We take him on walks on the horse trails in Palos Verdes, but he is really an indoor dog. He loves to 'swim' on the carpet. He'll lay sideways and sort of stroke with his paws. He has three different beds that he lounges in. He'll lay his toys out in a perfectly straight line. He likes belly rubs any time.

Harold & Carolyn Buchman ~ Torrance, CA

May 2, 2007

Note: Gilli is the son of Starlo's Creamy Oreo & Starlo's Classic Sally