Raising Pups

my thinking is that turning the pups loose and letting them run and learn on their own is probably the best way...however most folks can not do this on account of where they live and the space they have...but we can do things to socialize them with different scenarios and observe them as they play etc...

I have a pen I keep the pups in and will let them out in the mornings and again in the evening into the fenced in back yard...I watch every pup daily if possible to see how they handle themselves in what and how they do things once I turn them out...

Also, a lot has to do with what we expose them to and how they react to these conditions as to how they do...building the foundation with exposure...some call it training I call it exposure to day in and day out activities such as...

setting up winding and finding scenarios...trailing and gunfire exposure etc...we also have to find the ways to where the pups are always in a win win situation...

Below is an example of a win win...

gunfire...the pups already know that I have treats when I call them to me when I step out the back door as I call to them...I clap my hands and holler to them even though they are not that far and are already running to me...I am simulating calling them out the woods as they come running to the treats I have with me...
they are learning to come when called...at least they know what it means...once they are doing this very well it is time to learn about gunfire...

the next day after they have been running and playing a while I step out with my 22 revolver loaded with caps...I call and fire once...if they stop to listen and I call again I might shoot again but only after I made my observation...they come I pet them up good and give each a treat...

the next day I repeat again except I shoot twice before they show up... the key is to make sure they are all ok with the gunfire...

the next day I repeat except I shoot again as they mill around me but I make sure to shoot as high as I can to minimize the noise... and I make sure to pet them up good to reinforce the idea it is a fun game...as usual the key is to make sure the pups are all ok with what we are doing...this can also be a contributing decision when two pups are identical in all areas except here...it can be the deciding factor on which to keep...all of these exercises count towards who stays and who goes...it does not mean it is 100 percent accurate but when it is more or less a crap shoot we might as well look at all the options...

the next day or time I choose I will now shoot one high and 2 or 3 times down low around the pups...again being observant to decide if I can shoot the extra times...I want them to smell the burning gun powder...I pet them up good... and give the treats..

if the pups have a problem with the game I back track some...it is all about the pups...

I repeat the last scenario 2 or 3 more times...

I do this around 8-10 weeks of age...if I wanted the pups totally broke I would restart the game several more times but skip a month here and there...and it would only be the last step of the game...

I don't mean to be so long winded...but doing it right and at the right time is key to getting the best out of the pups...building the foundation to making better dog...

it is the little things that can cause setbacks or improvements...

before gunfire I make sure the pups are running to me and jumping up and down for my attention and treats...I expect the same and final results when firing the caps...

these are a couple of scenarios and situations I use when raising pups...all the scenarios combined are deciding factors I use when keeping pups...the cream will rise to the top...