The Responsible Owner

I suggest crate training your puppy right away.  Many people put their new puppy in a crate next to the bed at night so they can comfort them.  With Joaquin, we did everything wrong.  We picked him up at 8 wks old, took him to a cabin with everybody else for a week.  He slept on the bed in a puppy diaper.  Got him home ... guess what... he wouldn't sleep in the crate.  augh.  He's still really bad about it.  There are times you'll need your puppy/doggy to go into a crate and not make a ruckous about it.  If your doggy has to go to the vets overnight, it will be twice as traumatic if they don't know how to stay in a carte sized area.  It's best to teach them right away, without traumitizing them, to sleep in a crate.  Think of it as a doggy den, they naturally like to be somewhere secure.  I keep ours guessing, someones they sleep in a crate, sometimes they can stay out, sometimes they can sleep in the very large crate with someone else (the big puppies), sometimes they are expected to sleep in their clean crate that has a toy and comfortable bedding that not too warm or too cool.  Just like grandmother's bed ... just right.

remember you are making habits that lasts their lifetime

while we are on the subject.  Dogs do not belong loose in a car.  It's dangerous for the driving and the dog  Either a doggy seat belt well secured so they don't get thrown into the windshield or in an appropriate sized crate that's secured down that's comfortable.  


yes, our dogs travel either in a crate or in a seat belt.  My backseat has a doggy seatbelt in case of an emergency I need to get them somewhere quick.  


In obedience class they said that if you are in an accident, the paramedics will dispose of a dog loose in the car to save the people.  Especially if the dog is deliarious of fright ... they will shoot your dog to save you.  Still think that having your doggy secure in the car is wrong... think about it.   All of this time and love you put in your dog can be over in seconds for someone to save you and your family.

blessings,
Paula 

Everad's Volhard Aptitude Testing when he was 49 days old

The puppies will be personality tested December 4th with an unfamiliar person and unfamiliar environment.  It's rather disorienting for such as young puppy, the only thing they can do is have a natural response.  An undisclosed place is given to the reservation list person's only.  Please immediate family only, please no young children, bring a chair and notepad for notes.  Jill will be doing the testing, we will support her make sure each puppy gets its best testing.

Sire Everad's scoring when he was 49 days old, it's fun for us to see how much he is like what they said he would be like.  Most puppies test well and have a good time, but there are those that do not like being tested ... Everad loved it!

Everad always looks through those deep brown eyes lovingly, he's such an awesome guy.  Only time he only thinks of himself is when he has a favorite toy, then it's my toy, not yours.  Otherwise, he gives lovings as much as he wants to be loved.  I can't say enough how much he fills both of our hearts with love.  He's the most gregarious, loving male dog I've ever lived with.  He's a pleasure always.

Social Attraction  Everad's Score 3

instructions:  place the puppy in testing area about four feet from the tester, tester kneels, leans backwards and coaxes the pup to them by clapping hands gently.

purpose:  degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.  Pack drive.

scoring:  (1) came readily, tail up, jumped bit at hands, (2) came readily, tail up, pawed, licked at hands, (3) Came readily, tail up, (4) came readily tail down, (5) came hesitantly, tail down.

Following  Everad's Score 3

instructions:  the tester stands up and slowly walks away encouraging the puppy to follow.  Make sure puppy sees you walk away.  Coax puppy to follow by talking to it and attracting its attention

purpose:  Willingness to follow a person.  Pack Drive

(1) followed readily, tail up, got underfoot, bit at feet, (2) follwed readily, tail up, and got underfoot, (3) followed readility, tail up, (4) followed hesitantly, tail down, (5) followed hesitantly, tail down, (6) did not follow or went away.

Restraint Everad's Score 3

instructions:  tester crouches down and gently rolls the puppy onto its back and holds down with light pressure with one hand for 30 seconds.

purpose:  Degree of dominance or submissive tendency and ease of handling in difficult situations. 

Fight or Flight Drive

(1) struggled fiercely, flailed, bit, (2) struggled fiercely, flailed, (3) settled, struggled and finally settled with some eye contact, (4) struggled then settled, (5) no struggle, no eye contact, (6) no struggle, straining to avoid eye contact.

Social Dominance  Everad's Score 3-2

instructions:  puppy sits or stands on crouching tester's left side as tester gently strokes puppy from head to back, continue stroking until a recognizable behavior is established.

purpose:  Degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.  Pack Drive.

(1) jumped, pawed, bit growled, (2) jumped, pawed, (3) cuddled up to tester and tried to lick face, (4) squirmed, licked at hands, (5) rolled over, licked at hands, (6) went away and stayed away.

Elevation Dominance  Everad's Score 4

instructions:  the tester cradles the pup under its chest with both hands fingers interlaced, palms up and gently lifts puppy two feet off of the ground, holding it there for 30 seconds.

purpose:  Degree of accepting dominance while in position of no control.  Fight or Flight Drive

(1) struggled fiercely, tried to bite, (2) struggled fiercely, (3) struggled, settled, struggled and settled, (4) no struggle, relaxed, (5) no struggle, body stiff, (6) no struggle, froze.

Retreiving Everad's Score 4

instructions:  tester crouches besieds the pup and attracts its attention with a crumpled up piece of paper.  Then the pup shows some interest, the tester toesses the paper (no more than four feet) in front of the puppy, encouraging it to retreive the paper.

purpose:  Degree of willingness to do something for you.  Together with social attraction and following, a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.  Prey Drive

(1) chased object, picked it up and ran away, (2) chased object, stood over it, did not return, (3) chased object, picked it up and returned with it to tester, (4) Chased object and returned w/o it to tester, (5) started to chase object, lost interest, (6) did not chase object.

Touch Sensitivity  Everad's Score 1

instructions:  tester locates the webbing of one of the puppy's front paws and presses lightly between his index finger and thumb.  Tester gradulally increases pressure while counting to 10 and stops the pressure when the puppy pulls away or shows discomfort.  (do not pierce with fingernail).

purpose:  Degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.

before response:  (1) 8-10 counts, (2) 6-7 counts, (3) 5-6 counts, (4) 2-4 counts, (5) 2-3 counts

Sound Sensitivity  Everad's Score 4-3

instructions:  the puppy is placed in the center of the testing area and an assistant stationed at the perimeter makes a sharp noise, such as banging a metal spoon on the bottom of a metal pan (loudly).

purpose:  Degree of sensitivity to sound (also a rudimentary tet for deafness).  Prey Drive.

(1)  listened, located sound, walked toward it, barking, (2) listened, located, barked, (3) listened, lcoated, showed curiosity and walked toward sound, (4) listened, located the sound, (5) cringed, backed off and hid, (6) ignored sound, showed no curiosity.

Sight Senstiviity  Everad's Score 3

instructions:  the puppy is placed in the center of the testing area.  The tester ties a string around a bath towel and jerks it across the floor two feet away from puppy.

purpose:  Degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels.  Prey Drive

(1) looked, attacked and bit, (2) looked, barked with tail up, (3) looked curiously, attempted to investigate, (4) looked, barked, tail-tucked, (5) ran away, hid.

Stability  Everad's Score 1

instructions.  an umbrella is opened about five feet from the puppy and gently placed on the ground.

purpose  Degree of startle response to a strange object, Fight and Flight Drive

(1) looked and ran to the umbrella, mouthting or biting it, (2) looked and walked to the umbrella, smelling it cautiously, (3) looked and went to investigate, (4) Sat and looked, but did not move toward the umbrella, (5) ran way from the umbrella, (6) showed no interest.

Structure (conformation)  Everad's Score Good +

instructions:  the puppy is gently set and held in a natural stance and evaluated for structure in the following categories:

*  straight front

*  straight rear

*  shoulder lay back

*  front angulation

*  croup angulation

*  rear angulation

purpose:  Degree of structural soundness.  Good structure is necessary.

(1) good, the puppy is correct in structure, (2) the puppy has a slight fault or deviation, (3) the puppy has an extreme fault or deviation.

(first published in the AKC Gazette, March 1979, an article by Melissa Bartlett)

Everad's personality is out of his skin in love with people.  He is probably what you would call socially dominant.  He's very good with other dogs, loves puppies, 100% without a doubt loves people and kids.  Everad is fast as lightening, look forward getting him back to agility training to show him.  He loves it.  Everad is almost a UKC champion, only thing that holds him back is my show quality grooming.  If it were solely up to him, he would be finished, he's a beautiful boy.  Everad turns three November 24h. 

Puppies are 4 wks old today

Now that I'm feeding them twice a day and can pick a puppy out of the group by what they look like, I will add my comments of what they seem like to me.  Please remember a puppy can change completely right before the testing.  It amazes me how much the puppies are like the testing.

tough picture day... I needed a few more sets of hands

Finn

Finn has reminded me of his dad since time began, he melts my heart.  His color, size and personality is just like Everad's.  Maybe not Everad's energy level ... which some might say is a good thing.  Finn rolls his eyes up to look at you like Everad does.  I'm very curious how Finn tests on the Volhard aptitude testing December 4th, he is his daddy's son.  Always sweet and huggy.  Getting more outgoing now that he's four weeks old.  This little puppy will be surprising, beautiful, warm with lots of ability and love to give.  He's usually the first puppy in momma's face, licking and kissing her after nursing.  He has that loyalty and lovingness like Everad that Jim and I both adore.

 Finnie has food on his face, sorry baby

Fanny

Fanny is another just like Everad puppy in a girl form.  She may have more of momma in her than Finn, little more independent like Grace.  She's looking, doesn't miss much.  She's a natural at starting to eat food.  She runs towards me when I come into the room.  She's gregarious and loving.  She picks up her head to look, great eye contact.  Her body is staying small, she has that interested happy poodle attitude about her that I love, she's a beautiful little girl.  She cuddles and then off with everybody else, don't worry about her, she sees someone that needs to be told a thing or two.

Fiona

Fiona is outgoing and personable, runs towards me.  She's an "I'm first little puppy".  She looks into your face to communicate.  With her color and personality, she's probably the girl puppy most like Grace.  She can be loud and fierce with the others, she's not a push over and doesn't want anyone to think she might be.   Grace is large enough and strong enough that a stranger will say ... oh, she's a poodle?  She's a tough girl but also loving and wonderful, Fiona will be like that ... not as much as Grace ... or ... not as large as Grace ... but is and will be a wonderful poodle.  She has the high poodle intelligence about her.

4 weeks old today and her face is changing to silver

sometimes sleeping is good pictures, right now?  she's climbing on top of momma and decided to hang out on her neck.  She's a character.

Fabien

Fabien is the largest of the puppies, not as rumbunctous as he was a couple of weeks ago.  He's becoming calmer.  He was the most active, now he's starting to act like Florian, kind of relaxed and knows when it's feeding time, he will get enough.  Maybe the big boy of the group attitude.  Will be interesting to see how he tests as well.  He's very personable like Fiona.  He's a silver, cuddly, sweet warm brown eyed wonderful boy.  He will look and act like Grace but I think he has that affectionate, warm loving way like his dad.  He's a beautiful affectionate boy, easy to pick him out of the group to hug and cuddle.  Evenings are cuddle time, I think he anticipates the hugs.

Fifi

Oh my gosh she's a sweetheart.  I see her standing over a sibling displaying dominance which is what the puppies should be doing at this stage, and Fifi has no problem with that.  She is the smallest of the litter and doesn't actually physically challenges any of the other puppies.  She rarely fights back.

Fae

Fae is the cream of the crop.  She's an extraordinary cream small standard puppy (very small standard by the way).  She's out there in front, not particularly bossy, but displaying dominance towards her siblings which is perfect at this age.  She got that intelligent poodle to her, she's well balanced like Florian.  She's strong and confident but also sweet and cuddly.  By her birth weight I would have thought she would be larger at this age.  Whatever grown size she will be, she's an awesome beautiful cream puppy.  Will be great for training, loving and being part of the family for a very long time.  She's a keeper, really a beautiful girl.

Florian

Florian is a perfectly balanced puppy.  He has great eye contact, very personable, and a relaxed great little guy.  He doesn't get too rumbunctous, but isn't a push over.  Practicing his dominance traits at this age, he's a strong bigger boy and he knows it.  But he's got that sweet lovingness about him like Everad does.  He loves to be hugged and cuddled.   shh, don't tell anyone, I pick him up just to cuddle with him and carry him around the house, he likes it.  Florian was named after the french cupcake guy on the food network.  He is keeping his namesake up by being a sweetheart of a guy.

Florian and Fae

remember me saying Fifi was calm and reserved, she's coming into her own now

the darker cream girl is Fifi the pink collar girl is Fae, the black boy is Finn

they are all playing with the others sleeping

here's the lucky people waiting to pick their puppies

Reservation List

#1 Margo in Washington

#2 Rosie in California

#3 Holly in California

#4 Linden & Kimberly in California

#5 Annette in California

#6 puppy is available

#7 puppy is available

the people on the reservation list have an idea of which puppy they have fallen in love with so far, nothing is official until after the personality testing when each person on the reservation list has their time to choose forever companion.