Training Packages

Bring home your new puppy

Your new English Springer Spaniel has been raised to 8 weeks of age with loving care and has already begun to be exposed to many things. The more you expose your young pup to, the better dog they will become. After the vet gives you the ok, it is recommended you start taking him/her on walks, outings in the car, trips to the local pet store and any place else you can get away with taking your young pup.

Feeding: Your new pup has been in a litter situation for feeding. At 7 weeks, we offer free choice hard food and offer moistened food 1-2 times a day. When bringing him/her home they may or may not be anxious to eat. You can encourage them to eat by wetting it down with water or chicken broth if needed. If possible, offer free feed for the first few weeks until they establish a routine. We recommend feeding 3 times a day, divide feeding with most in AM/PM and about 1/4c for lunch until 6 months old. We also recommend "floating" food in water to aid in digestion. 

Potty training

Your new pup has already begun crate training. We bring all the pups in at night to sleep in the crate. We wake early in the am to let them out and they generally stay dry and clean in the crate by 7-8 weeks. You can continue crate training, or follow whatever method works for your household. In the begining, try to minimize accidents on surfaces you do not wish them to get used to and repeatedly take them to the area you want them to use. Offer frequent trips to the potty area throughout the day. They should be good for about 8 hours at night within a few weeks in their new home, if not right away. 

Important key training tips

*If you plan to hunt with your new Springer pup, be sure to begin the game of fetch with your pup as soon as they come home and continue to work with them on it until 16 weeks of age or more so they have a solid foundation for retrieving.

*Be sure to help your puppy to be calm, mellow and not to bite by not allowing him/her to play too rough and correcting them like their mother would if they bite to hard or get to excited. You can use the crate as a "time out" for a pup that is not behaving. If they are well established in their crate, they will not begin to dislike the crate because of it. We can give you more information on crate training if wanted.

**A note about male pups/dogs**

A lot of people feel that male dogs are more aggressive and have a less than desirable personality. Any dog regardless of gender can be protective, aggressive etc. We have never had an aggressive male dog in 19 years of breeding. In fact, the females actually tend to be more aggressive and protective. Females also "mark" their territory. It all boils down training and socializing your puppy. We can provide you with tips and training methods as well. Males make excellent companion dogs as well as being stronger in the field. Please don't disregard getting a male because of aggression or other misconceptions about male dogs. Once you meet Archie, our male, you will understand.

How we raise our pups

Our litters are always whelped in our living room in a extra large crate or a whelping box. This allows us to assist with the litter as much as needed and to constantly monitor their health and well-being. 

The first few weeks are spent watching mom carefully to assure all pups are eating, staying warm, and are safe. When their eyes open, at 2 weeks, we begin allowing the kids to hold them with full supervision. We handle them daily as well, to begin evaluating personality and monitoring health. At 3-4 weeks we begin to introduce food once a day. This is also when they begin to wrestle with each other, and play with toys. 

At 5-6 weeks we begin to offer outside time in a large fenced run. Outside, they are exposed to daily life on our ranch: Chickens running around, the other dogs, people in an out, kids running around, and other farm life activities. 

The kids continue to socialize them with daily play sessions, cuddle sessions and routine daily activities. They are still brought in at night to sleep in the crate. At 7 1/2 weeks, we let them sleep in the crate without mom and mom also spends a lot of her day away from them from 7 weeks on. 

They receive their first shots and a deworming at 5-6 weeks and again at 7-8 weeks. By 8 weeks, they are mostly weaned(they will continue to nurse if mom lets them until 10 weeks or more!). At 6-7 weeks we introduce them to the other dogs, allowing the other dogs to play with them, with supervision. 

Examples: 

Brandy loves to play with them and all the mamas enjoy time with other mamma's babies. By 7 weeks, they are waking us in the am to go outside to use the potty, and stay dry all night in the crate by 6 weeks. This is a good start to potty training. At 8 weeks, if they are still with us, we begin individual crate training where each pup gets their own crate and sleeps there at night. 

We do some basic training, such as teaching him/her not to bite skin, walk on a leash, and sit. We introduce them to playing fetch and other hunt training basics. We teach them to enjoy their crate time so when the crate is needed, they do not panic and bark excessively. 

Even if an owner does not plan to use a crate, the pup will be used to it in case it is ever needed. We give the pups plenty of toys to play with and always have fresh water to drink and play in, if weather allows. When possible, we take turns taking pups to car rides and limited socializing with the public.

For feeding: 

We start with a softened, pureed Purina Puppy Chow mixed often with goats milk. We increase the food to 2 times a day and lessen the soaking time until by 8 weeks, they are eating dry food with water on top just to encourage them to eat. At 7 weeks, we begin to offer free choice dry kibble as well as their regular soaked food 2x a day.

New Puppy (Shopping) Checklist

Here are some items that you should consider when preparing for your new Springer puppy. You may not need everything listed before your puppy arrives, but this list is intended to help you consider all your puppy's basic needs.

General:

Paper towels (a lot of paper towels :)

Old Towels for Crate
Once puppy is reliably crate trained, a "real" crate bed can be used.

Old Blanket or Towel(s) to cover wire Crate

Cotton balls for cleaning ears

Acrylic (Fake) Nail file, cardboard with sandpaper type, for smoothing nails

100% Pure canned Pumpkin (from the baking isle of your grocery store)
Pumpkin is a good source of fiber. When puppy has diarrhea or constipation, a tablespoon or two with every meal for several days should help alleviate symptoms. Freeze excess in ice cube tray.

Baby Gate(s)
Try baby supply stores - generally more choices and cheaper than pet stores (Beware that horizontal bars provide a foot-hold for climbing puppies. Also consider spacing between bars, as some times it is large enough for little puppies to get caught)

General from your Pet Supply Store:

Nature's Miracle (gallon size) or similar stain/odor neutralizer

Bitter Apple (bitter taste deters dogs from biting, licking, and chewing)

Pooper Scooper & bags

Food and water bowls (stainless steel or ceramic)

Storage bin for dry food

Adjustable Nylon collar w/plastic clasp
10 - 14 inch (25 - 35 cm) size for standard or medium Springer puppies.(included in breeder's puppy kit)

I.D. Tag
(e.g. See http://boomerangtags.com for their flat collar tags for adjustable collars. They also sell collars with tags included for the smaller sized dogs).

4 foot (1.8 m) leash(Included in puppy kit)

15 foot (4.6 m) or longer (up to 50 foot (15 m)) training leash(es)

Wire Crate for crate training
Double door folding crate with divider (we've heard good things about both Midwest and Precision brands)
Medium - Standard Sized Springers need at least a 42 inch (1.07 m) crate
 

Travel Crate for car until puppy is big enough to wear a car harness

Food and Treats:

Puppy Food
It is best to start with the same food the Breeder was feeding.(Purina Puppy Chow)

Puppy Biscuits.

Training Treats
Soft & tiny treats work best for training. Pieces of cheese, hotdogs, or homemade Liver Training Treats (recipe)

Good Chews and Toys:

Medium or Large Kong Toy

Stuffed Dog Toys w/ squeakers

Balls (squeaky rubber balls)

Rope toys (e.g. Booda bones)

Nyla bones

Grooming Supplies:

Pin or Slicker Brush

Medium tooth Comb

Blunt tipped curved blade scissors

Toothbrush Kit

Puppy Shampoo

Puppy Conditioner / Grooming Spray

Ear Wash solution(ask me for recipe)

Plier-style nail clippers w/nail guard

Blood Stop Powder

Additional Items:

Bell to hang by back door
Helps with house training, they learn to ring the bell to alert you that they need to go out. Some use large craft bells, some use cow bells (e.g. http://www.bell-outlet.com/cowbellb.htm)

Ownership & Training books
Recommendations include: "The Dog Listener", "Puppies for Dummies", and many more...

Make appointment with Vet for new puppy wellness check up.

Start shopping for Obedience classes-Discuss with breeder if wanting more info.

Lots of Love and Patience :)