After three gloriously beautiful days that the puppies got to spend all day out in the yard romping and playing, it turned cold and rainy during the night last night.  This morning, they were not happy at the thought of staying in the big crate they share at night.  So, we had to come up with plan B.  We have ended up with them in the master bath where there is run to play, but not enough room for us to have to “hunt” messes.

This works as another step in their house breaking as well.  By expanding their area in the house and putting down puppy pads, we are working on getting them used to the idea of just having the one area that they use as their bathroom.  There have been some accidents today, but also quite a bit on the puppy pads.  This is a process you just can’t get frustrated at and have to keep working on with them.  Positive reinforcement and keeping the accidents cleaned up with a cleaner that contains natural enzymes (I prefer Nature’s Miracle and get it at Tractor Supply.) is a must.  This type of cleaner breaks down the smells and removes them.  Any other cleaner will just mask the smell to humans, but leave it there for pets to find.  It will also possibly “set in” the smell so that it can not be removed with the enzymes later on!

Also, remember that it is best not to be formal with their training or expect no accidents until they are older than 12 weeks and their little bodies are completely ready for house breaking.  Before then, you are just preparing them for making things easier and helping them get the hang of things!  This means using puppy gates or similar barriers to form a small area of your house that is easily cleaned is the best way to start out and then go from there!  When the weather is nice, you can play with them in the yard and take them out frequently to help them get used to a “clean” area!

I just found out that another one of the puppies we are raising is going into therapy work.  Foxy (one of Wrap’s girls) is going to live with a lady who teaches an animal therapy elective at a college near her home.  Foxy will be going with her to class to be a living example of therapy training and then will get to use her skills!

We are so excited about all the good work our wonderful puppies are going to be able to do.  Collies are exceptional around kids and are quick to learn which makes them perfect to help humans!  We couldn’t be more proud to see our little ones grow up to spread their love to lots of lots of people that need encouragement – whether it is autistic children, children with learning challenges or people in hospitals that just need a friend to come cheer them up.  Collies love unconditionally and we know (because they have already proven how much love they have in their young lives) that they will have lots of love to pass on!

Can you tell I am excited!?!

One of Honey’s sons, Bentley was featured recently on his local news channel for his work as a therapy dog.  You can see Bentley here:

Therapy Dogs on Fox News Austin

We also found out that one of Honey’s pups will start therapy training as soon as she goes to her new home in a couple of weeks!  Her name is Lady and she will be mainly working with autistic children.  To learn more about Lady’s new home and their wonderful work with autistic children and their families, visit

www.divineacresranch.com

Wrap’s puppies went outside for the first time today.  They enjoyed exploring a little, but were anxious to get back to their enclosure in the house.  They also had their first solid food and they gobbled it up!

Honey’s puppies made the 3 1/2 hour trip to Austin on Friday to visit the animal eye doctor.  They all had good reports and the eye doctor confirmed there was no evidence of CEA – which we knew would be the case since King is a non-carrier and Honey is normal-eyed and this means none of their puppies can ever have CEA!

We left 4 puppies with their new owner.  They will be evaluated and possibly have show careers!  It seems strange just counting to 5 now instead of 9!