Before weI decide to breed, we critically assess our bitch, taking into account her good and bad features, and we search around the country and even around the world to find a stud dog that will compliment and improve upon her.  In addition to standard health testing, we also assess health history and temperament, working ability, conformation and pedigree.  Prior to breeding a bitch, she is completely vetted by a reproductive specialist. After breeding, she continues to hunt and exercise.  She is already on high quality food, so we do not make many diet changes although we do feed more frequently. We  do an ultrasound a few weeks before her due date and an x-ray to determine number of puppies about 3 days before her due date. 

The bitch's temperature is monitored 3 times a day as the due date approaches.  She whelps inside the house in a whelping box.  We only step in when needed and to weigh and put an identifying collars on the puppies.  The pups then get weighed daily to assure weight gain and the bitch's temperature is also taken daily to assure there is no infection.  Blankets are changed twice daily.  On the 4th day, tails are docked and dew claws are removed in our home.  This minimizes the risk of exposing the puppies to "germs" at the vet's office. 

On the 5th day, we start the BioSensor/Super Dog program as described by Carmen Battaglia.   These are exercises developed to neurologically stimulate the puppies.  It has been shown that puppies that go through this program have stronger hearts and adrenal glands, and also are more tolerant of stress and disease.  The puppies are of course handled often throughout the day as well.
 

Tactile stimulation

Head up

Head down

Supine position; thermal stimulation

During the first 3 weeks, we take a lot of notes and spend time observing the litter.  They are handled often and linens are changed often.  Toenails are filed every few days.  We continue to mildly stress the puppies after the BioSensor program is over at 16 days. 

As the puppies' eyes and ears open and they become more mobile, we try and balance stability with new experiences. We start putting them in different areas in the house for brief periods and take them outside.  In addition to toys in their box, we introduce new objects daily, paying attention to different textures and shapes, objects to walk on, objects above eye-level, etc.
 

Puppy discovers a new mobile in the box

Two puppies are explore on grass for the first time

Crate training starts early with a doorless crate in their box which the puppies readily use. They quickly get used to being in different crates in various locations.
 

3 week old puppies in a doorless crate in their box

They quickly get used to the door being closed and being crated in various areas

As they get mobile and start eliminating on their own, we attach a weaning pen to the whelping box with pine shavings in it.  The puppies quickly and instinctually move away from their sleeping area to eliminate.  They begin to cross over the low barrier to go into the pine shavings.  The pine shavings are changed often, and the puppies stay clean.

Puppies at 4 weeks old and getting a firm grasp of potty training

Weaning is left up to momma, but food is introduced to the puppies at 3-4 weeks.  We start the puppies with raw unpasteurized goat's milk and tree bark gruel and a probiotic supplement.  They are eventually weaned to raw food, and we introduce the puppies to raw meaty bones as early as 4-5 weeks old.

 
Puppies munching on raw chicken necks

At 4 weeks old, we invite people to come see the puppies, and by 5 weeks old, socialization starts in earnest.  We make a point to have the puppies meet new/different people every single day.  We make sure to expose them to all different types of people as well as children.

They also start spending more time outdoors and weI set up a puppy play area. Any safe and creative "toy" can be used.  Examples of the obstacles in the yard are tunnels and playhuts, water in a litterpan, a small ramp, a cardboard box, etc.  The key is to get the pups exposed to as many new things as possible. 

 

Socialization and enrichment activities start early and are constants in the puppies' lives

Another video of the puppies playing: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IbzvFh9dDeQ

Bird exposure starts at around 6 weeks old.  More importantly, we expose them to various new terrain, letting them explore.  At 7 weeks old, they are swimming and exposed to horses.  Exploring new terrain continues often as well as frequent bird exposure. 

 

Teaching a 7 week old pup to swim on a nice warm day

Exploring new terrain

By 7 weeks old we start to travel with them a lot, and we visit many different locations and socialize with as many people and dogs as possible.

 

Above: Socialization with friendly dogs and children is a high priority Right: More socialization in a noisy environment with screaming children

More kids and puppies: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mYov6FphAFc

Temperament tests and conformation evaluations are done at 7 weeks old by an AKC show judge and Weimaraner breeder.  The test is the Volhard Aptitude Test plus a few other tests. The test results are recorded on paper and video.  Extensive discussion with various breeders in addition to our observation help us decide which pup would be best suited for which home.

 

Above: Conformation evaluation at 7 weeks old Right: Clips are from puppy temperament tests.  The first part of the video shows the Social Attraction test; the next part shows the Restraint and Social Dominance tests; the last part of the video shows the Startle test.

As well as the temperament and conformation evaluations, we continue to take detailed notes on what each puppy does in the field. We also take the  pups to veteran Weimaraner breeders/trainers/trialers to assess, and also ask for the input of all breed gundog people.  With their input and our observations, we further sort the puppies.

 
7 week old puppies find quail

By 7-8 weeks old, the pups are also sent away from our home for a weekend before going to their permanent home.  This starts some alone training.  They do not have any trouble adjusting to this, since by the time we do this, the puppies have already been traveling and going to a variety of new places.  By this age they are almost fully potty trained, and they are crate trained. 

These 8 week old puppies traveled for 8 hours to run on these novel grounds.  The puppies have already been conditioned to the chain gang which also starts leash breaking.

At 8 weeks, the puppies are ready to go to their new home.

In this particular litter, we kept puppies longer for a variety of reasons (pups being sent abroad, owner on business trip etc.) in which case the puppies continue their "education" with us. Touchstone puppies are always welcome to come back to us for boarding and for training. 

11 week old puppies "Happy Timing"

We hope this gives you an idea of how Touchstone puppies are reared.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at anne@touchstoneweimaraners.com.