Puppy Biting 101

PUPPIES ARE NIPPY. Puppies are MOUTHY. Puppies latch onto fingers, hair, toes, dress hems, yoga pants, cargo short legs, ankles, socks, ponytails, bathrobes, earrings, necklaces, arm flesh, tassles, watch straps, hoody strings, sleeve cuffs, etc.

One or two of you is going to panic thinking that you are raising a land shark who will be drawing blood from everyone s/he meets for eternity but I assure you, it does stop naturally once the puppy grows out of the 'oral inspection and chomping' phase. You may feel that your puppy is the only one behaving this way and that there must be SOMETHING you can do to stop it. Rest assured. Retrievers and other hunting breeds are extra mouthy but it does fade away in the course of a few weeks to a month or 2 for most puppies.

They are fast. They are strong. They are determined. Their teeth are sharp. They can unintentionally scratch and bruise you, your visitors, your children. In fact, the nipping phase is one of the reasons that I don't recommend this breed for families with small children.

There is no scientifically proven way to curb it and we certainly don't encourage any kind of discipline for it. You have the following options:

1. Offer a swap. Have soft or chew toys handy everywhere. Try to get the puppy interested in that instead.

2. Manage the situation. To stop the behaviour, pick up the puppy and put her/him into their enclosure (we recommend a playpen for young pups where they can still be part of the action but they have a barrier to separate them.) Biting often amps up before they are ready for a nap so putting them in their spot will encourage settling down.

This is not a 'time out' in the sense of punishment but rather a separation of puppy from current biting victim.

NO LONGER RECOMMENDED:

🚫 Any sort of corporal discipline, such as putting their lip into their teeth to cause pain.

🚫 Swatting the puppy anywhere on their bodies.

🚫 Yelping to indicate you are being hurt- research shows that this des not curb the behaviour any faster than with swapping and managing their environment and in some cases may even further arouse the puppy.

I guess we'll never know...

we are having a basement flood. Mysteriously the hose outside pumping out our basement has sprung a 'leak' approximately the size of a 4 month old puppy's bitemark.

If anybody has any ideas about how this may have happened, please kindly speak up.

Yuletide puppies- one show quality female is available

Keepers! After consulting with a trusted Toller expert who is also the breeder of Canada's Top Toller 2016, we have optioned Chilly and Twinkle to run on and keep in the breeding program. These decisions are based on structure, temperament, and colouration. One will be available as a show and breeding potential to another kennel or a person who wants to get into showing and breeding and would like to co-own with Daintree.

Sire DOB January 14, 2013, CKC Registration AA496873, Full Name CH Daintree Dad's Best Jeans. Call Name: Denim. Health clearances: Hips OFA: GOOD, Elbows OFA: NORMAL, Patellas OFA: NORMAL, Heart OFA: NORMAL, PRA PAWPRINT: CARRIER, CEA PAWPRINT: CARRIER, DM PAWPRINT: NORMAL Pedigree Link

Dam DOB August 23, 2012, CKC Registration ZQ490116, Full Name CH Daintree's Ladybug Thief, Call Name Steeler. Health clearances: Hips OFA: GOOD, Elbows: pending results, Patellas OFA: NORMAL, Heart OFA: NORMAL, PRA OPTIGEN: CLEAR, CEA CLEAR by parentage, DM PAWPRINT: NORMAL Pedigree Link
 

Stack photos and personal skype evaluations available to interested parties.

How are puppies matched to their families?

This is a pretty common question. How does a buyer know that they are truly getting the 'right' puppy, and that they are the right home for him at the same time? Add to this the distance often existing between Daintree and the buyer, preventing people from meeting their puppies in advance and this can cause some wonder or concern. You can't easily meet or spend time with the puppies, so is it possible that somehow you could end up with the wrong puppy, or one you can't handle?

The short answer is no. Duck Tollers are generally similar enough to one another that if Daintree thinks you can handle one, you could be ok with any Toller, especially if you raise it yourself from a puppy.

Let me explain how I approach the matching process.

We screen for families who have proven to be qualified by demonstrating that they are loving, caring, communicative, open-minded, active, holistically-minded, on board with the low vaccinations and raw diet as well as subscribe to the ideology of positive reinforcement training. Their lives will revolve around the puppy. And you know what? THAT is the right home for a Daintree puppy.
If our values don’t mesh with yours, we aren’t the right kennel for you.

And if you are waiting for a puppy from an upcoming litter after having gone through the multiple steps of becoming approved, there is no way that you won't be the right fit for your dog.

Now, how about the puppy being right for you? This is trickier but there is a little bit of science and a little bit of magic that goes into matching the right pup for each home. 

Things I consider when making the matches:

• temperament

• gender

• markings

• activity level of the puppy

• activity level of the home

• any special requirements (hunting, showing, therapy work, etc.)

• predicted full-grown size (if the home is specifically looking for a larger or a smaller dog.)

• buyers' input

Based on photos, videos and discussions, most of the owners are following along on social media and consciously or unconsciously choosing a favourite the whole time that the pups are developing. From first breath to their eyes opening to first meals and first time outside, you get the chance to witness all of it. Each puppy wears a ribbon to distinguish him from the others. It is always the same colour, so you can identify each puppy in every picture and video. You will be attracted to a certain few pups based on their appearance. You will receive a questionnaire in week 7, allowing you input into what characteristics matter to your household, activity level and more. Daintree evaluates each family's responses and makes the matches accordingly.

Every family winds up with the perfect puppy regardless. Within five seconds of holding your little bundle, she is the ideal puppy and you name her and she becomes the most important thing in your life. I have never not seen this be the case.

One week old

The Yuletide litter is a week old today. The first week in a puppy's life can be very bumpy; it's nerve wracking for the breeder and has even referred to as the 'thank you for not dying' phase by someone one I admire (Jane Killion.)

However, the puppies are past it now and all are happy and fat. Steeler is a great mama and we are dealing with some terrific genes.

The Yuletide litter