8 weeks old

There are rarely any 8-week portraits of the puppies on my blog because there is just no time to set up one of those photoshoots where the puppies are notoriously wiggly and we are notoriously sweaty and stiff of back from struggling with the sit and the stand when all the puppies want to do is run and play.  And bite, of course.  And that's assuming the weather is cooperating and we don't have to resort to indoor photos with the flash and the nosey older dogs.

No, at 8 weeks we are all far too busy getting ready for each puppy to set off to his or her new home with the new family.  There are going-home toys and vet beds to "season".  Seasoning involves giving the toy and vet bed to the puppies in their pen or out in the kitchen or outdoor pen where they run and play.  Like any new item them are given, they immediately descend upon it in a pack, dragging it around with them, playing tug with it, trying to steal it from each other and, eventually, peeing on it and then snuggling up together for a snooze on it.  Perfect for sleeping on when they are in their new homes and still missing their siblings.  It gives them a great deal of comfort to have the smell of their littermates and, in this case, their granny too.  Tuuli has also joined in the seasoning fun and has been playing with the toys and lying on the vet bed.  But she didn't pee on it.  Hopefully.

Then there are the puppy packs to get ready - food, toys, chews, poo bags, other bits and pieces.  And then there is the binder full of just about all the canine contents of my head that someone once amusingly dubbed the "Puppy Manual" and the name has stuck.  The Puppy Manual takes some work to put together; it seems that with each litter I find new things to add.  I'm sure my puppy owners are thrilled by all the information I give them to read.  Yes, undoubtedly.

And then the busy-ness of each family arriving, sitting patiently while we go through a crash course in Lapphund puppy management, signing the puppy contract, and then they're off.

Inka off to West Sussex with Georgina & Dave

Anja off to the house boat in the West Midlands with Sheila & Pat

Oakki off to Berkshire with Sue & Ronnie

Kiito off to Nottingham with Amy & Tom

Logan off to Gloucestershire with Betty, Rich & son William

Kai off to Surrey with Jackie & her daughters Vicky & Ellie

Mäyrä off to Bedfordshire with Pamela, Colin, Michelle & Conal

These puppies are going to be living with cats, parrots, and other dogs in the form of Miniature Schnauzer, Norwegian Elkhound, Border Collie, Huskies, Malamutes and, of course, other Lappies.  I am hoping there will be photos to share of all that in the days to come.  That's a big, fat hint just in case any of the families have any time for checking into the blog...

book review - the perfect puppy *

When I'm getting ready to send some puppies off into the world with their new families, I always recommend a few books to get people going with the training and socialisation.  Near the top of my list is this book.

The Perfect Puppy *

 

Author: Gwen Bailey

Publisher: Hamlyn, London, 2008

ISBN: 978-0-600-61722-8

Pages: 208

Price: £12.99

Classic Quote

“Planning in advance and getting things right first time around are quicker, in the long run, than having to sort out problems later.”

About the Author

Gwen Bailey is a canine behaviourist and founder of Puppy School, based in Oxfordshire. The first edition of this book, published in 1995, was the UK’s best-selling puppy book until the publication of this, the second edition.

Structure of the Book

The book is divided into 16 chapters with sections at the end for further reading, a suggested socialisation programme, and a few contact addresses such as the Kennel Club and the author’s own Puppy School. The chapters cover the full range of puppy ownership:

Chapter 1 - The raw material

Chapter 2 - A puppy’s view of the world

Chapter 3 - The new family

Chapter 4 - Developmental stages

Chapter 5 - Life with a new puppy

Chapter 6 - Socialization

Chapter 7 - House training

Chapter 8 - Behaviour control and leadership

Chapter 9 - Toys and games

Chapter 10 - Preventing biting and aggression

Chapter 11 - Chewing

Chapter 12 - Handling and grooming

Chapter 13 - Good manners

Chapter 14 - Learning to be alone

Chapter 15 - Training your puppy

Chapter 16 - Adolescence and beyond

What is Great About This Book

This is possibly the best illustrated puppy book I’ve ever seen. There are large, full-colour photos on just about every page and each photo shows the topic being discussed. This is particularly useful in the sections on body language in chapters 2 and 10 where the photos clearly show what a “shy” puppy looks like and what “stiff tail” means when ”nervous” dogs are greeting each other.

The book definitely covers everything you need to know about training your puppy and it doesn’t gloss over some of the more challenging topics such as being the pack leader and controlling the behaviour of more ambitious puppies who try to take charge. This is the major difference between this edition and the original book. Chapter 10 on preventing biting and aggression is particularly good, explaining not only how to deal with puppy biting but also why the puppy bites in the first place and how aggression can develop, hence how to avoid it. This chapter also covers dominance and food or toy guarding.

The best thing about this book is that at every stage the author is thinking about how the puppy will fit into the family unit, especially including children. There is not one discrete part of the book labelled ‘puppies and children’, rather this relationship is woven throughout each topic, from the best way to introduce the puppy to children to the appropriate (and inappropriate) way for them to play together.

What’s Not So Great

There’s very little I have to criticise in this book. The weaknesses in the original edition have been addressed in this new edition, and it really does cover the whole puppy experience from how to choose a puppy to how to survive the adolescent phase that comes at the end of puppyhood.

The only thing I would say is that although it’s well written and divided into sensible chapters and sections, the layout is entirely conversational, flowing paragraph by paragraph. I prefer the style that includes at least some lists of things to do, and in what order, rather than endless descriptive text. This layout and writing style does make it somewhat difficult to browse the book or pick it up and dip in. It is designed to be read cover to cover or not at all. Having said that, there is an index at the back to aid navigation.

Worth Reading?

Yes, especially if you like looking at lots of photos of cute puppies. I judge all puppy books against Dunbar’s Before and After Getting Your Puppy, which to me is the ultimate. I always say that if you’re going to have only one puppy book, then that is the one to have. However, I also think that it’s helpful to read at least two or three for the different styles and approaches that may appeal to different individuals and work with individual puppies. After all, the more varying ways you have to come at a problem, the more likely you are to achieve a solution. While it does not surpass Dunbar’s book, The Perfect Puppy does sit alongside it very nicely.

Summary

Round Up:  Beautifully illustrated how-to book covering the whole puppy experience

Best For:  Everyone, especially families with children

Woofs:  4/5

 * This is an edited version of a review I originally wrote for Lappy Tails, the newsletter of the Southern Finnish Lapphund Society.

Oh, and by the way, did I mention that you can follow my blog with Bloglovin

pups at home II

I'm simultaneously irritated by and grateful for Facebook.  While I love how I can easily keep in touch with friends and random contacts now, it is irksome to be so addicted that I simply must check in regularly in case I've missed something important.  And even when I give in to that irrational urge I still seem to miss half of what's going on.

By far, the best part about Facebook is getting regular updates and photos of the puppies.  This is true for the "puppies" who are from earlier litters, too, and are now 3 or 4 years old.  And I'm not above stealing said photos for my blog.  Obviously. 

Of this bunch, some were sent to me and some were shamelessly nicked from Facebook because they are just too cute to resist.

Emmi looking tiny in the bluebells.

With new big brother Miika and mum Jane.

Tiia in her new home.  She's an excellent match for the carpet, don't you think?

And with her new big sister, Marja, who is from Keksi's first litter.  Marja wanted a playmate - I don't think she was banking on one quite as bossy as she got.

 Kimi putting Andy's new camera to good use with his serious face...

... and his smiley face.

there's nowhere like home

I've had photos of most of the puppies at their new homes now, with the exception of one or two (you know who you are).

Here's Kallio showing how well the crate training is going, cuddling with his stuffed dog:









Exploring his new garden & flora:









Starting to look so grown up in this sweet portrait aged 8 weeks:









Here is Jaana looking very small in her new garden for the first time:


















Sunbathing & getting to know her new big sister Ellie:













I think they're going to be great friends, don't you?













Ian got himself a new camera in honour of Usko's arrival home and took some wonderful photos before it broke...

Here he is admiring his new ball:












And his paws:












Although I haven't personally received any photos of Minna at home with Taika & family, I shamelessly stole this cute one from Facebook of her chilling with her mum in the garden:

next adventure

It's a very quiet, puppyless house we have today. And a very happy bunch of new Finnish Lapphund owners trying to come to terms with those early mornings. They don't last forever, I promise.

Kallio was the first to go and I've already had some photos of him chilling in his own garden (with grass!) and meeting new friends. Here he is setting off with Nicole & Charlie. I worked very hard to keep him awake all morning so he would sleep all the way home. As you can see, he was more interested in snoozing than posing.













Jaana was another who had a long journey, and she also left with Paul & friends bright and early for the long drive. Both puppies had a good trip - no problems, no sickness. Phew! Also in the news, Jaana's kennel name is no longer Tuisku Piia - it's Tuisku Jonna, which I thought was conveniently similar in pronounciation to Jaana. I don't think she's particularly bothered either way.















Kesä was next out the door. Vicky & Gary came alone to collect her and left some very excited children at home waiting for them to get back. I hear they've been keeping her busy and tired - the formula for happy puppies and owners. And she's even sleeping through the night. I expected it of the others, but not necessarily Kesä, so that's very good news.














Usko had a very long drive home with Liz & Ian thanks to the seemingly ever-present problems on the M5. But, as expected, he was good as gold. I can't wait to see photos of him in his new paddock that Ian has worked so hard to set up.
















Minna was the last to go back home to mummy Taika, Kate & Jerome and children Isabelle & Jamie. She stayed a week after Taika's departure because we wanted to give Taika a chance to be the centre of attention back at home for a while and settle back into her usual routines before disrupting the whole household again with a puppy's arrival. Kate reported that it was as though Taika had never left and there was a joyous reunion with Tino the cat involving much mutual face licking.

Of all the puppies, Minna was the only one I was a tiny bit concerned about going home, as she is quite timid - who could have predicted that the ruler of the whelping box would be the one to be shy and, unfortunately, car sick. However, within minutes of their arrival, Minna was chasing Jamie all over the lounge, so I don't think she'll have too many problems. Much socialising is on the cards and that ought to sort her out in no time.

And she made it home with nothing more troublesome than copious drooling.















Taika looks as though she's not overly impressed to see her puppy join the family, doesn't she? But I can assure you she was thrilled to see her when they arrived. Taika came straight into the house and jumped into the pen to greet Minna.

I really should have had the video camera ready. Sadly I did not, but I do have some cute footage of granny Neka playing with the last 2 puppies to go that I'll post in due course.

Hopefully there will be some puppies-in-their-new-homes pics next.

here come the puppies

Last weekend we met up with a bunch of hardy souls at Dolebury Warren near Bristol for a walk organised by the SFLS. We had 17 Lapphunds and 1 Anniebear in attendance with their various people.







It was a great walk, up a steep hill, through a lovely wood and over some fields then back. The only downside was that there were sheep in the fields so we couldn't risk letting the dogs off lead. The last thing we needed was the local livestock terrorised by a bunch of friendly herders trying out their amateur skills.

The best part of the walk (for me, anyway) was the mini puppy reunion.
















L-R (puppies): Inko, Tarkka (giving Paula a sneaky lick), Kaija (Sulo), Maija, Rauhan

The walk was a little over 2 hours, so much too far for tiny puppies so they had spells of walking & being carried. Some of us had very tired arms by the end. And some puppies were completely shattered.
This cutie is Rauhan, grabbing a quick snooze in the back of the car after his adventure.

Below, Rauhan with his equally knackered big sister Sukka.








As always, it's difficult to photograph a moving target, hence there are no individual photos of Tarkka or Kaija (Sulo) on this occasion. However, I did manage to get this slightly out-of-focus snap of Inko sporting her extra tan markings courtesy of the Somerset mud.



















As for the puppies who were not at the walk, I've been the delighted recipient of new photos of most of them as they grow up.

First of all, Jaana with Baz. Looks like she's finally growing into her ears. What a little cutie. I must say she looks like a complete angel but I hear she has a rather unflattering new nickname. Surely it must only be Harry the cat who calls her the Nutter?

This is Jaska with pretty big sis Kia. Something tells me she won't be his "big" sister for much longer. Luckily he's a sweet-natured, laidback boy. Which will come in handy when he grows into an enormous teenage Lapphund now in about 5 minutes or so.













Viivi having a brief and, I hear, rare sleepy looking moment surrounded by toys.















Finally, here is Tarmo starting to grow into his paws. The first photo looking so much like his mum with his crooked sit and fantastic head tilt.



















Here is Tarmo a little younger looking positively scrumptious in a photo that was submitted for the 2009 SFLS calendar. For your chance to vote for the 12 photos to be featured in the calendar, and the opportunity to get your hands on one of them when they're produced, go here. Even if you don't want a calendar, or to participate in the vote, there are some beautiful Lappies to be seen in the 100+ pics that were submitted from all over, including Finland.

Tarkka at home

My evil plan worked and I successfully managed to guilt Jo into sending me a photo of Tarkka. Heh. Thanks Jo!

Here is the handsome boy munching on a plant pot.

Maija at home / Tarkka at home

Quick update on Maija. We had intended to do a family portrait to tie in with the photos of all the other puppies leaving home. Did we manage to find the time/energy/photographer for the task? Well, no. But we are ever hopeful and might accomplish something before she grows completely out of her puppyhood.

In the meantime, here are a few shots of Maija as new top dog of our house. First, here she is cuddled up with Lenny, enjoying her last few remaining days of being allowed on the sofa.


















And, having a game with mum Neka. Neka has always been the master of games, gentle and patient with all manner of puppies, tireless with her friends. I'm hoping she passes on her games skills to Maija. Keskiyo also loves to play with Maija, but his idea of a game is a bit more steal-the-toy-and-run-like-hell. Except when he's rolling around on his back with Maija on his chest. Very sweet and apparently impossible to capture on film.

Tug!

















Displaying her famous super pouncing skills:
















If you look closely you just might be able to see the state of Neka's raggedy coat as she's now in full-on post-whelping moult which will, in 2 or 3 weeks, result in her skin gleaming pinkly through the last dusting of remaining hair. If you can't make out the clumps of fur hanging off her flanks, then you can certainly see the effect on my carpet! It's a 4-times-a-day vacuum time now. Do I vacuum 4 times a day? Of course not. In my house, the carpet is lucky to see the sucking end of the vacuum once a day. Hence the grey, furry carpet.

On Wednesday Maija and I went visiting in Plymouth to see Jo and Tarkka. Jo seems to be saving all her puppy photos for the SFLS calendar and Tarkka's own blog, so in order to see how he is developing you'll need to go see him there. In the meantime, here is a very short video of the remaining Devon Two gallivanting in Tarkka's garden. How alike they still are! You can spot Tarkka because he's the one with a little bling hanging from his collar - his fabulous new bone-shaped id tag. You can spot Maija because she's the one scampering and pouncing like a maniac. Nothing new there then.

Inko at home

If you haven't been keeping up with Inko's antics on her blog, here is a chance to see how she's growing up. I thought that we were keeping the naughty pup, but although Maija certainly has us on our toes, I think perhaps Inko gets the award for Puppy Most Like Her Naughty Mum.

Here she is with her reindeer:
















And doing a bit of creative gardening that Lapphunds are so good at:

Tarmo at home

Here are some cute pics of Tarmo at his new home in Surrey with Stacey & Shane. I'm loving his one-ear-up-one-ear-down look!

Jaana at home

Looks like Jaana wasted no time settling in with Baz in Brighton. Thanks to Mike for being so quick with the camera even after such a long drive home.

Don't miss Harry the cat checking out the new arrival from a safe distance. He's obviously clever enough to keep the trees close by when the puppy is on the loose. But I'm not altogether sure he has anything to worry about - looks like Jaana only has eyes for her new big brother.

altogether now - ahhhhh

Thanks a million to David & Sherralee for wasting no time in sending me photos of Viivi and her new big brother Jaska. I couldn't wait to get some of them posted on the blog, so here they are. How gently he plays with her, and look at the proud expression on his face to have a new little sister.