Get Those Puppies OUT

New pups, at the low end need, to meet about 100 new people before it is 16 weeks old.

Here is a list to get you started.

An infant held by an adult

An infant in a car seat

A toddler in a car seat

An toddler held by an adult

Girls, between 2 & 6

Boys, between 2 & 6

A small group of kids between 2 & 6 (no more than 5)

Calm girls, 7 or older

Boisterous girls, 7 or older

Calm boys, 7 or older

Boisterous boys, 7 or older

A small group of kids 7 or older (no more than 5)

Calm girls, 12 or older

Boisterous girls, 12 or older

Calm boys, 12 or older

Boisterous boys, 12 or older

A small group of kids 12 or older (no more than 5)

A small group of kids playing with a ball

A man with a beard or mustache

You in a hat

You in sunglasses

You with a bike

You on rollerblades

You on a skateboard

You in a wheelchair

You with an exaggerated gait

You using crutches or a cane

A friendly stranger in a hat

A friendly stranger in sunglasses

A person with a bike

A person on rollerblades

A person on a skateboard

A person in a wheelchair

A person with an exaggerated gait

A person using crutches or a cane

A woman and a man whose skin color is radically different from yours

A person in uniform

You carrying packages

A person driving a truck

A person carrying packages

You wearing a flowing skirt or dress or wrapped in a sheet

A person wearing a flowing skirt or dress

A stroller

A balloon

An umbrella

A camera (obscuring a person's face)

Musical instruments

An automatic door

A mirror

A bus (loading/unloading passengers)

An 18-wheeler (you can often find these parked behind grocery stores)

A grocery cart moving past you and your dog

Walking between two parked cars

A vet's office (enter, give a treat & leave)

A cat with attitude

An older, well-socialized dog (meeting off leash in a neutral, safe environment)

A pet store

Lift the dog up onto a table-like surface

"Brush" the dog's gums with your thumb

Gently separate & hold each toe

Flapping movement, e.g., a flag or shaking out a towel

A sudden soft noise like a magazine dropping

A sudden scary noise, such as a pan dropping (use a helper so the dog doesn't associate this with you)

A bath

A lawn mower

A sprinkler

Puppy Raising

Lab Puppy Raising Videos

Duckhill Kennels Puppy Headstart Program (I think they are missing all the in house stuff a puppy needs to see, but the other stuff is very impressive.)

The most critical learning period of a dog’s life is the first six months. During this period a puppy is the most open to learning. This is when he learns the fastest, when he most readily masters new tasks and when he adapts most readily to new environments. Our puppy headstart program is designed and structured to maximize the opportunity provided by this age period.

Our puppy headstart program focuses on 4 basic facets of the learning process:

1. Development of the learning process — Puppies learn and are thoroughly programmed to offer behaviors in order to "buy" rewards, such as treats or play or retrieving.
2. Development of self control — Puppies learn to inhibit and control reactive responses, and to sit quietly in scenarios of great temptation.
3. Programming of the core behavioral skills.
— Puppies are programmed on
(1) Calmness and steadiness in a high distraction environment
(2) Retrieving and delivery to hand
(3) Sniff and sit
(4) Hunting on rubble piles
(5) Whistle stops and directional casts
4. Development of desensitization and adaptation skills when faced with new and strange environments — puppies learn to experience a number of new and strange environments in order to build their adaptation and coping skills in the face of new and strange scenarios. We give puppies a great deal of exposure and desensitization in the following areas:
(1) Gunfire
(2) Cannon fire
(3) Combat noises
(4) Heavy equipment noise and vibration
(5) Emergency vehicles
(6) Multiple obstacles and terrains
(7) Unsteady footing on a variety of surfaces and heights
(8) boats
(9) Dark confined spaces
(10) Groups and crowds of people
(11) Urban areas
(12) Vehicle traffic

From weaning puppies are required to sit to "buy" all meals with a sit. Puppies are well socialized and exposed to a variety of stimuli through trips to neighboring towns and with nature hikes throughout our 200 acre establishment. Basic obedience is taught through operant conditioning with positive reinforcement. Puppies are pre-programmed to bark on cue. Puppies are exposed and accustomed to a wide spectrum of noises including: gunfire, cannon fire, combat noises, sirens, fireworks and heavy machinery. Puppies are taught to master a "confidence course" composed of: Aluminum boat, Swinging bridge, tight tunnels, stairs, ladders, concrete rubble piles. Puppies are pre-programmed to offer a "sit alert" in the presence of a target odor.

All of these activities are accomplished before the puppies are 16 weeks of age.

Developmental Stages in Puppies

Developmental Stages in Puppies

"Puppies provided with poor socialization or deprived of environmental exposure often develop lifelong deficits and dysfunctional behaviors. A puppy isolated early in life from other puppies and humans will not only fail to establish satisfying social contact with conspecifics or enjoy companionship with people later in life (such puppies are extremely fearful of any social contact), they will also exhibit widespread behavioral and cognitive disabilities as well. Isolated puppies exhibit poor learning and problem-solving abilities and are extremely hyperactive or rigidly inhibited, are emotionally over-reactive and unable to encounter novel social or environmental situations without extreme fear and avoidance, and are socially and sexually incapacitated." - Handbook of Applied Behavior and Training, Steven R. Lindsay

Photographing Dogs

Get as close as you can. Fill the frame with your subject.



This is 3-month-old Finn playing tug with his father, Ryder.

Growing up Finn

This is Finn at 11-months-old.


This is Finn at 3-months-old.

Hang with dogs

Dog in a box

Jane brought Finn, my God dog, to visit and show off his box trick. For a clicker class that Jane is taking, she shaped Finn to drive to a box, leap in and lie down. He worked his trick with joy and enthusiasm.

Great Puppy Raising

Monday Morning Puppy Class

Ringo Came to Visit

More Puppy Play

Puppy Play

Wild Woman Annie

Puppy Face

The Kid Goes to the Dogs

The kid trains Ringo Lenzen.

Dreadlocks

Beagle Poodle Mix

The cutest puppy came to the store today.

Puppy Play

Puppy Class Playtime