Raising Puppies to Be High Achievers

I want my pups to have the best possible start in life--nutritionally, environmentally, and in terms of social and emotional development. When I planned my first litter 10 years ago, I began to investigate ways to optimize diet and environment. My program is based on research and common sense; I constantly seek ways to improve both!

Rat Terriers as a breed are generally very bright and inquisitive--but their best qualities can be either enhanced or damaged by environmental conditions during their critical first few weeks. My goal is to raise puppies that will be confident, resilient, and in optimal shape to excel at whatever lies ahead of them, whether they are to become performance-sports dogs, show dogs, beloved pets, or all of the above.

As with human children, it is very important to expose puppies to all kinds of environmental stimuli so that they are mentally equipped for whatever challenges life throws at them. When our well-socialized puppies leave the litter for their new families, novel sights and sounds are less likely to be be upsetting or stressful to them. They will have skills for playing and interact with both people and dogs, and will know how to give and take affection. They will be more curious and confident, and they will be more resilient when things go wrong or cause stress.

We breed infrequently and with extra care for each litter. Puppies are raised inside our home, where they get to see and hear all kinds of things--vacuum cleaners, doorbells, shouting, barking (our big dogs too), television. They are exposed to different kinds of surfaces beneath their feet, and new objects and toys and boxes to explore every day. They get all the smells too--dinner cooking, coffee, our other dogs, our own human smells. They get to sit on laps and get quiet, individual attention while we watch our daily hour of TV. Our Puppy Social parties have become popular with friends and colleagues, and the pups get to meet and play with lots of different people: adults, teens, toddlers; men and women of various ethic groups, and with different kinds of voices, hats, glasses, you name it. They also get to meet a few healthy, well-mannered adult dogs.

Using Science to Maximize Puppy Potential

We raise our puppies on top quality kibble with meat prominent in the list of ingredients. We choose a premium food that does not contain corn or wheat, because these grains are not optimal for dogs. We supplement with raw meaty bones (ground chicken necks and raw beef bones) for healthy teeth and immune systems. Mama gets the same diet, supplemented during pregnancy and lactation with extra DHA (usually obtained from fish oil). This is because numerous studies show that, for both children and dogs, DHA contributes to a significant improvement in learning ability, problem-solving behavior, and intelligence. Of course, our Rat Terriers are brilliant to start with, but why not go for genius? Good diet and DHA might help qualify them for the Canine Mensa Society!

Neonatal Stimulation for Resilience and Learning Ability

The U.S. military canine program developed a method for improving performance dogs through early neurological stimulation, using short exercises that will have positive effects on neonatal puppies for the rest of their lives. We are drawing on this research and using the same exercises for our future Total Dogs!

First two weeks: Research shows that puppies in the neonatal stage are in fact learning and developing their brains, even before their eyes and ears open. In fact, the period of 3 to 16 days is a critically important 'window' for the structuring and development of the brain. Pups that are exposed to certain neurological stimuli in the form of 'mild stress' during this first critical period will develop a greater ability to handle stress and changes to their environment later in life. These exercises include holding the puppy upright, upside down, and on its back, as well as exposing it to a tickle and a cold surface, for just a few seconds each day. The exercises are described in a well-known article by Carmen Battaglia called "Developing High Achievers".

I have used these exercises on several litters of Kangal puppies and Rat Terriers, and I really think it makes a difference. All of our puppies will benefit from the same gentle daily regimen. Genetics of course also come into play; but early neurological stimulation, combined with the extensive socialization activities that are planned for weeks 3-10, will foster puppies that are more confident and curious, quick to learn, ready to bond tightly with their new family, and capable of interacting well with people and other pets.

In addition, I set up their crate with fluffy poly-wool padding that has small 'hills and valleys' that the pups must traverse in order to get to the Milk Bar. This provides mental and physical exercise for the puppies from the day they are born. And there is a LOT going on developmentally even before their eyes and ears open!

When their eyes open at 14 days, I move the puppy crate into a large playpen where they will be free to get out and explore as soon as they are ready. By day 15 they are walking unsteadily, but with vigor and determination! There is of course a heating pad in one corner that they can warm up in if needed, and cooler areas they can go to if they like. Then I add more 'texture' to the landscape that they'll have to climb around and over. I put small objects in their pen regularly to encourage curiousity and play-learning

Week 3-4: Days 21-28 are a critical development period. Puppies that are severely stressed at this time, or who are not exposed to sufficient stimuli, can become emotionally debilitated to some degree for life. Again, there is always the genetic roll of the dice to consider, but very often, puppies that grow up to be extra 'shy' or 'sensitive' are pups that were subjected to excessive cold, or somehow separated from their littermates for an extended period, or otherwise had their confidence shaken.

The fourth week begins a period of rapid learning and development. Puppies begin to play with one another and learn canine social skills. Personalities begin to emerge and shine! toys and cardboard boxes to play with.

The attitude and caregiving skills of the bitch are very important in terms of imprinting the pups with manners and behavior, so it is important to keep her calm and unstressed as well. Fortunately, Ripley settles into motherhood very quickly, and once the pups are born, she responds with a maternal, nurturing calmness that really surprised me! She has been extremely attentive to every sneeze, whimper, and movement of her pups--but at the same time, she is comfortable with me handling and weighing her puppies, and I can entice her into a game of tug now and then!