Archive for December, 2009
Crate Training my Puppies
Posted by: | CommentsWell, my puppies have spent most of their lives in the crate with their mother. They already use the crate as shelter and their place for security. This is your ultimate goal when crate training any puppy. The sooner they associate the crate with security and their place the easier they are to break to it.
I’ve always prided myself on how well my puppies take to the crate in their new homes. The honest truth is that they know no other way. Crate training has always been an invaluable tool with my small breed dogs.
Today I moved the puppies to their own crate in a room separate from their mother. (This also helps getting them ready to be separated from their mother when they enter their new homes) It went rather well. I got a little bit of whining at first but once I let the puppies know I was right there and nothing was out of the ordinary they calmed down and began playing with their toys.
We’ve had a couple accidents in the crates, but it is to be expected with puppies. I immediately clean their cage put a light spray of diluted vinegar on their bedding and put them back in. Most trainers will tell you to start slowly. If your pups started out raised in a crate you can speed the process up. Right now they are spending 3 hours a go in their crates and are being let out at scheduled times so they can relieve themselves. And our puppy codenamed “Chubbs” has made a game of us letting him out of his crate. He will leave the crate relieve himself and immediately run back in. He’ll coo and wait for his treat. In fact “chubbs” coo’s every time he believes he deserves a treat. And this has gave me a great indicator for correction or reward. Its almost like when he coo’s he’s saying “Did I do it right?”
Chloe, the puppy I’m keeping from the litter has been carrying around her mothers leash for the last 2 days. So I thought maybe she wants to go walk when mommy goes walk. So I bought a small leash for her and its a slow going process, she’s only 5 weeks old, but she is taking well to leash training. She already attempts to heel when being called to it and regularly brings me her leash. (Chihuahuas get too smart too quick sometimes)
Chloe is the first Chihuahua I’ve had that cries when her harness is taken off. I think she’s using it as a security blanket, so I’ve taken to putting a shirt on her when I remove her harness and it seems to keep her happy.
Well its getting late and I’m going to attempt to go to bed but will probably end up playing a game of modern warfare 2. Nite All!
Puppies had their first time outside today
Posted by: | CommentsWell.. They are up running around and being general tiny terrors in the house. So it was time today to start introducing new stimuli to my puppies today. I put them all in warm little puppy shirts and took them outside.
Chloe the one we are keeping doesn’t like the feel of grass on her feet. The one we have lovingly labeled Chubbs took to the outdoors like a politician in a crowd. The rest were pretty indifferent about the new stimuli.
The puppies are starting to develop their own personalities which will greatly assist me in choosing a good home for each puppy. Lets see I’ve got one that shows signs of wanting to be the perfect lap dog. One that has to experience EVERYTHING he can get his paws or mouth on and one that doesn’t like grass.
Gosh this is why I love chihuahuas so much is because each little person has their own unique personality.
Improved Puppy Food
Posted by: | CommentsWell I posted my recipe for Homemade Puppy Food and was excited about it. I’ve always known that Dry store bought food wasn’t neccasarily the best for my dogs diet. And I’ve made a vow that I’m not going to use store bought dog food anymore. And let me tell you why.
I was using my recipe to make a very large batch of Daisy’s Puppy Pudding(was going to let breeder friends try) and noticed sharp bone chunks in the Dry Food. At first I thought I hadn’t shredded my chicken properly (Missed a Bone) but these were thicker then what you would find in chickens. So I investigated and found 3 to 4 pieces of this sharp bone pieces (Yes its bone, I’m paranoid so I put it under a magnifying glass to verify). So I’ve decided to make my OWN hard food to use for the Puppy Pudding. I know most owner will stay with feeding store bought dry food. Which is fine. But the product I’m trying to make is going to be no less then the best I can possibly provide for my puppies.
So as I refine this recipe, I will hopefully eventually have samples available for readers.
Homemade Puppy Food
Posted by: | CommentsOkay the puppies are at the stage I need to work on weaning them onto real food instead of mom’s milk. Everytime I’ve done this I’ve always taken my favorite hard puppy food and put water on it and let it set for a few hours. Puppies would ultimately eat it but it was slow process and they were really resistant.
On this litter of puppies I wanted to try something new. Something I can make in bulk once a week and they would really love. Into existence comes Daisy’s Puppy Pudding.
My dogs live on a mix of dog food and natural food (mainly chicken and brown rice, father in-law works at a chicken plant so I can get the chicken very very cheap). So I ultimately aiming to adjust my puppies digestive tract to the same. So here’s the recipe on Daisy’s Puppy Pudding.
Your will need:
- 4 cups favorite Dry puppy Food
- 4 cups water
- 3 ozs of shredded chicken
- 2 ounces of cooked brown rice
- 2 cups Goat Milk
You will first take a small pot/pan and start boiling you 4 cups of water once it is at a simmering boil you will add 3 cups of dry puppy food (Yes only 3 cups save one cup for later). Approximately 4-5 minutes in you will notice the boiling water is turning into a brown gravy. This is the puppy food turning into mush (Much faster then watering it down and waiting hours) You will now add 1 cup of goat milk (Yes only 1 cup of your 2 cups) then all your shredded chicken and brown rice. Cook for approximately 5-10 minutes until everything is all missed up and mushy.
Remove from heat and let your concoction cool. When the food is warm to the touch stir in 1 cup dry puppy food and the last cup of goats milk. Now add to a blender to puree your mix. (Reason I add not moistened puppy food is to give your mix a texture and have the puppy working on some semi solids in addition to the pudding.) Once mix is pureed put it in a tupperware container for storage. At 4 weeks 1/2 cup of the mix will feed 5 puppies a meal and I usually feed them this 3 times a day. Recipe can be adjusted for larger amounts.
This has been my most successful Puppy Pudding recipe. They do not have diarhhea after their first time eating it and they absolutely enjoy it. In addition when you transitioning them to hard food you can mix the pudding with more and more dry food until you have them eating solely dry food. This is stuff full of nutrition and will have your puppy growing like a weed in no time. (Puppy Pudding also makes it easier to worm cause it can be hidden in the food easier)
If you have any suggestions to the recipe or a recipe of your own feel free to post it. I’m always willing to try out new things and my hungry little puppies appreciate it too.
Cute Chihuahua Puppy Pictures!
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Well these are the little rascals that been taking up all my time the last few weeks. Their eyes have been open for about a week and now their ears are beginning to open and they are becoming adventurous. Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.