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Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3154

05/05/2010 5:25 AM
I recently got into a conversation with some friends about buying puppies...We ended up debating at what age would you expect that some training has been started on the pup. For example if you didn't buy the pup at 8 or 10 weeks old. For example if you bought a 14 week old pup would you expect that some house/potty training has been started? Or would you not expect that till a little older or not at all? I know some breeders keep outside kennels and the pups don't go into the house so if you got an older pup would it be hard training it for the house?

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

05/05/2010 6:50 AM
Both the dogs we have now came to us at 4.5 and 3.5 months old - not one once of training. Both great dogs and I am happy with the overall outcome of the breedings. An important aspect of any breeding must be cooperation - have this and the road is not so bumpy. There is an upside to no training - you get to see the true dog - which can be useful info.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3154

05/05/2010 7:03 AM
That is a good point. I have never gotten an older dog or pup...always have gotten mine around 8 weeks old, so I had no idea if it made it harder or not...

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7922

05/05/2010 10:19 AM
I expect that the dogs, even those I get at 8 weeks, to have been raised in the home and have been started on potty training and simple introductions to different experiences like varied surfaces, introduction to different people and kids, lots of interaction with a variety of toys, first introductions to birds, some leash and collar training, etc. As soon as I get them home I also start them on basic obedience games and fun types of training that get them ready for more formal training in obedience, agility and field. In addition, I work to socialize my pups and build a strong foundation with them. For older pups I would expect the breeder have build at least a strong foundation with good socialization. Since the period between about 5 weeks and 6 months is so important, I want to make sure my dogs have that strong foundation. If anyone is interested, there is an excellent book on the stages of puppy development and the types of things you should do at each stage to build a good foundation. The name of the book is Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development by Pat Hastings and Erin Ann Rouse.

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3154

05/06/2010 12:02 PM
I have always bought pups from homes that have had children around them and they have been brought inside the home and outside and most of my dogs were born and raised in the house. Where I bought Blitz and Donner from the dogs had sheds and then they had run pens attached with doggie doors. However the pups were brought into the house for all different reasons like sheds/kennels getting cleaned or just play time. The breeder said that as they got older she noticed that mama dog would teach the pups to use the doggie dog and go to the outside run to do their business and that when she would bring them in to clean the kennels they would not just squat and go where ever. So it worked really well with me I have not had complaints and I brought them home at 8 weeks old. A girl I ride with her brother (high school) has raised 2 labs (male and female) with intentions of breeding them while in high school and selling the pups to make money for college (I think his intentions for life are to get into the breeding business, so these are baby steps towards that). So he lives with his parents on a farm. The pups were born in the barn and have been living in a room of the barn in a "box" (you know what people will make for the mama to have the pups in and raise them). They were born Feb 25. They pretty much been only in that room of the barn till recently the last 2 or 3 weeks he lets them in the yard for an hour or so after school. They now only have 2 pups left, but they are getting older and I have told him that I think he may want to start training them. I don't mean serious dog training but minor things. His parents won't allow them in the house so I am sure potty training won't happen, but I think some kind of work needs to be done with them. He has never even put a collar on them. Most people I know use the ribbon system for keeping track of pups, but he never did that, just said he knew which was which. The pups have been around people cuz whenever I would go riding I pick my friend up and while we get the horses ready my kids would go in and play with the pups and anyone who would stop by would play with them too. So they aren't afraid of people or anything like that. I guess I am wondering if there is anything specific I could suggest for him to do with the 2 pups since they are about 2 1/2 months old and not sold. I think that at some point if I bought an older pup I would want some kind of training, but not sure what cuz I always bought at 8 weeks...

trueblushorthairs User is Offline

MH
Posts:129

05/11/2010 7:09 AM
So splat, are these breeder dogs field tested, do they have field titles, preferably Field Champion or Master Hunter titles, are they hunted hard every hunting season and have they proven their worth as retrieving dogs, are they temperament tested and have their hips been OFA'd, theireyes tested, their thyroids tested? I assume these breeders know quality Labs when they see them. That they, themselves, have enough experience to know which dogs should be bred and to know genetically which dogs should carry on the line of their kennel name, right?? Puppies I have raised are not brought in the house but at birth and a very few times prior to 7/8 weeks. They have been around horses, kids, seen a few pigeons to chase, they have had kids play with them extensively, and are typically afraid of nothing by this age.

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3154

05/13/2010 5:27 AM
For the labs...I am talking about a kid who is in the future wanting to be a breeder so he is pretty much starting from scratch with dogs he chose to buy to start his breeding program (I don't know what his requirements were went he bought them). I am not sure what all test he has had done on the sire and dam at this point or even what training he has done with them cuz I don't know him that well. He had just asked me that since he still had the 2 to sell and they are getting older if there is anything he should do...he asked me since I had GSPs...I don't think he hunts with the sire and dam but I could be wrong... So basically he doesn't have to worry about people wanting potty trained pups once they get to a certain age...Just basically make sure they are getting socialized still...

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4474

05/13/2010 6:47 AM
There are many things to learn about breeding, some are about which dogs to breed and why, some are about the breed history, some are about breed shortcomings and faults, some are about breed genetics and still some more to learn. Does this young man have a goal for his breeding program? This will help decide which direction he will lean as these unsold pups get older. If he is breeding for pet homes he will have a more desirable older pup if it is house broken, knows basic commands and has manners. Even better for his program is health tests. i know many,many pet buyers are clueless about genetic faults within their breed choice - truth is, so many people buy a cute dog and not a "breed". It will help him leaps and bounds to rise above the backyard breeder and into the hobby breeder profile - if he hasn't already. These 2 unsold pups area good lesson for a beginner. He will learn what type of pups he produces and be better equiped to offer sound training advice to buyers, he will see the conformation and the temperment. He will also learn why so many pups end up in shelters between the ages of 6 months and 3 yeards old. Good luck to him and hope he finds joy in his breeding program.

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Splat

Illinois (Northern)

MH
Posts:3154

05/13/2010 9:59 AM
Great points...I will have to talk to him more as to what he is going for in his breeding and mention health testing in case he hasn't done so with the parents and such...then tell him that where ever he is going with the breeding program would help him decide how to go about training these last 2. Thanx!

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