Their "training" started the day they were born, since I started them on the Holtzberg method from the first time I weighed them. I figured I'd wait till their eyes opened before getting them going on any exercises--leash training will start when they can toddle. Not terribly likely. I'd probably have to change back to the Grumpy emoticon if I did, but we'll see. I like sharing puppy photos just that much. Holtzberg Super-Puppies http://www.vomholtzberg.com/Super-Puppies.html
I was being mostly facetious. I never heard of Holtzberg, but hey ..... Give it a try. Yes, Teddy is still here. I actually think he has calmed down a bit, but not much.
I was mostly being facetious, too--puppies need to be at least six weeks old before they can be expected to retain any learning! (Oh good Heaven, when did I become such a geek?) Anyway, I think that method of conditioning has its benefits. I like dogs with good, stable temperaments and while I credit my dogs' lines and my handling, I find that using that conditioning helps them handle stress much better. They need all the help they can get, considering they are small terriers and their dam is a bit of a "squirrel." Anyway, they are two weeks old today! All of them can see now and I think they all can hear now, too. (Puppies' ears are sealed at birth, just like their eyes.) Beauson is learning to sit up and Danse is showing signs of being an athletic, squirmy girl. Who Dat is just excelling at being cute. At two weeks of age, you can't ask for much more than that.
Yep, puppies rock! And here's more pics. They were three weeks old yesterday and all weigh around a pound. Danse is coughing a bit today--we might end up going to the vet tomorrow for some cough medicine. Other than that, they are doing great. Danse Eating from Auntie's hand Who Dat Beauson
By the way, most of those pictures are larger than life--I can still easily wrap one hand around their bodies and I have small hands.
They are Toy Fox Terriers. TFTs can be "natural bobs" and these pups actually have NB ancestors. However, this litter was born with tails, which were docked by my veterinarian when they were three days old. Docking at that age is not considered major surgery, as it does not require the general anesthesia and extensive recovery time if done as an adult. Docking tails and removing dewclaws took about two minutes per puppy, including stitches.
I assume that the toy variety is a companionship dog rather than a hunting dog. I'm curious if the toy version functions as a pointer or a caller, as they are presumably not quarrying dogs, as a fox would probably not flee from them. (?)
I ask because I am not familiar with the breed (toy or standard) and am in the market for another sporting dog, mostly for fox and small furbearers. I'm interested in the standard fox terrier specifically, but no online resources talk about pointing or calling, noise level, etc. I need a quiet dog as I fox from foot, and it needs to be a pointer, not a caller. Also, I forgot to add, they cannot be easily spooked by gunfire, which can be trained but some breeds are more easily spooked than others naturally.
In the early days of the breed, the Toy version was registered simply as "Fox Terrier (Smooth)" and was used to bolt foxes from their holes. They rode on the front of saddles or in saddle bags, rather than running with the pack. They are often companions, but they are excellent mousers and squirrel dogs. There is a new sport called "Barn Hunt," which requires that dogs find (safely secured) rats in configurations made of hay bales. I'm planning to take mine to a Barn Hunt "fun day" to see how they do--I have a four-year-old who loves to hunt mice and I think would excel at the sport. In addition to hunting mice and rats, TFTs have been known to hunt snakes and rabbits. They are still excellent, if small, general farm dogs. In terms of companionship, they are softer in temperament than many terriers, but too soft a temperament is considered a breed disqualification (DQ) and breeding from such dogs is discouraged. They are excellent agility dogs, due to their work ethic and drive; one male TFT, "Blink" is the 2012 8" agility champion for the AKC. TFTs are decent tracking and obedience dogs, as well. I know of one TFT that is trained as a Search and Rescue dog trained for human remains recovery. She was recently used as a recovery dog in her area. Two of my dogs are emotional support dogs and one of them is trained sufficiently to be classified as a "service dog." They are very versatile little dogs.
My dogs work very quietly. My oldest works by staring intently at the quarry--but I don't know how he'd respond to below ground quarry. He will try to dig out hidden mice and will not bark. Mercie is not as careful a worker, but I have never known her to bark, either. Drew barked at the king snake he wanted to kill, but I've never seen him bark at a mouse. I am not sure how to advise you with Smooth Fox Terriers, but I would recommend that you go to the UKC forums and speak to hunters there. There are many hunters there and even if they cant help you, they could give you advice as to where to start looking. Registration is free: http://www.ukcdogs.com
