QTK PUPPY INFORMATION
WHELPING
All of our puppies are whelped and raised within our HOME. We have designated whelping rooms, day/playrooms, nighttime areas for the puppies. Our whelping room is separately temperature controlled so that we ensure the litter is being raised at 80 degrees for the first two weeks. We have the necessary supplements including fresh goats milk, fish oil, calcium, collagen, prebiotics, probiotics and excellent puppy/dam food to create the healthiest puppies possible. In addition at QTK, we have the specialized equipment to care for them that includes vet fleece, pig rails, whelping pens, heating pads, towel warmers, incubators, oxygenator, ultrasound machine and laser. We take what we do here very seriously which includes having the best available equipment, nutrition and staff to work at QTK. Our staff (which we considered part of our family) assists with our adult dogs, the breeding, whelping, puppies and even training of our own dogs when permissible at QTK. You will not find a more dedicated team/family caring for your next best friend. The puppies and dogs are cared for 24 hours a day.
We have our dams stay with their puppies until the day they leave for their new homes no sooner than eight weeks. This allows Momma time to influence, interact with, and train her young. This is vital to the development of sound temperaments within the puppies. Research shows that puppies separated from their mothers and littermates too early are more likely to show fear, aggression, anxiety, resource guarding, reactivity, and inappropriate play biting than puppies who stay with their mother and littermates for a minimum of eight weeks.
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF A PUPPY”S LIFE ARE CRITICAL?
Puppies are very helpless from the moment they are born until they are 3 weeks of age. The dam does most of the work (feeds, cleans, and provides warmth and comfort). We start very early interacting with our puppies by holding them countless times a day so they know that human touch is a positive and safe experience. We hold them close to our hearts and face and lightly touch their face, ears, back, belly, tail and paws. This is their first relationship with a human, so it is critical we want to make it a positive one and let them know they are safe and of course well loved.
Starting at three days old until puppies go home, each puppy will attend puppy school. This includes ENS/ESI exercises, body handling, introduction to potty training, crate training, coming when called, manding, heel, sit, stay, and more.
PUPPY CURRICULUM
At Quick Trigger Kennels, we follow along with “Empowered Breeder” and “Puppy Culture” and implement a daily puppy school that is well planned out which will introduce and engage the puppies to new activities while also building their confidence. Quick Trigger Kennels strives to develop healthy and confident new little world explorers that you will be proud to own. These puppies will have curriculum that will include: no movement toys (stuffed animals…), gentle movement (balls…), various textured materials, small blocks, rings, tactile work with balancing objects, different flooring material and textures, tunnels, kennels, slides, brain games, steps, boxes, noise makers, big balls, large stuffed animals to cuddle with, beds, mats, climbing obstacles, wagons, water, snuffle mats, children, other adults, other big dogs, bird wings, wobble boards and many more… Each item has a specific purpose to build each one of the pup’s characteristics. We acclimate the puppies to foreign objects and new surroundings each day. This practice helps them adapt more easily to new surfaces and environments later on in life. We introduce new areas in the home/yard, offer unique toys, and have them play on sensory mats. We are cautious and mindful of puppies fear periods to ensure that we are never scaring them, but instead creating positive experiences.
SOCIALIZATION
Teaching a puppy positive socialization at an early age is crucial to creating a well-balanced dog. Our puppies are handled and played with on a daily basis with adults, children, grandparents, and other animals.
Depending upon the time of year and weather conditions, we introduce puppies to the outdoors to a safe area for a few hours a day where they can explore, roam and play while getting exposure to their new world.
Each day of the puppy’s life with us at Quick Trigger Kennels, they get handled to inspect their fur, skin, ears, toes, belly, bottoms and just about everything about them. Grooming the puppies begins early on with trimming their nails and wiping down the puppies with specialize puppy wipes. Around four weeks of age the puppies with get their first bath. We refer to this as “Puppy Spa Day”.
Our puppies are raised in a designated puppy area that is cleaned and sanitized at least two times a day. Quick Trigger Kennels uses veterinary grade cleaning supplies to ensure they are safe for all ages of dogs. We are very strict when it comes to handling the puppies, any dog coming into our property, any new individuals, all necessary shoes removed outside, clean working clothes are given to anyone handling the puppies including the clients. If you are coming for a visit, you will be asked to bring additional clean clothing or wear our sanitized QTK puppy handling clothing that we wear. We believe a clean environment is key for having healthy growing puppies.
During each puppy’s eight weeks after birth, they will receive their first round of puppy shots, be dewormed at two, four, six, and eight weeks of age. Around 5 weeks of age the puppies are microchipped and recorded so each puppy is tracked not only by collar color but by microchip. The puppy will go to the Board-Certified Licensed Veterinarian for a thorough check at around 6 weeks of age. Also at this time, the puppy will receive their first set of vaccinations. The new owner will receive an updated health record that has been completed by the Board-Certified Licensed Veterinarian and QTK.
TEMPERAMENT
At six – seven weeks of age, we perform temperament evaluation on each puppy. This evaluation is designed to help us in the placement process by predicting adult temperament. The temperament evaluation tests several components that include, socializing with people, curiosity, degree of dominance, physical energy and reactions to external stimulus. The evaluation results are then combined with our daily observations of each puppy and used to match each puppy to the home that will be best suited for them and their new families. Each puppy, like owner, is an individual and has a personality of its own. While temperament evaluations are a great predictor of adult temperament, proper training, socialization, and new experiences play a huge role in adult temperament. That is why we include new puppy care guides in our puppy go home binders and strongly encourage every new home to invest in the Puppy Culture program or Empowered Puppy Program to pick up where we left off.
To show the new potential owners what the puppy’s temperament and personality is like, Quick Trigger Kennels will conduct obstacles courses, scent work and retrieving little trials, handling exercises, play with other puppy exercises that will be videoed or live streamed for the new owners to watch. The puppies order of picking by the new owners starts after the clearance by the vet and the temperament videos so that everyone will be able to see what each puppy is like.
It is not only important to evaluate the temperament of the puppies before matching them with their new homes, but also to evaluate each potential owner. We take the role of breeder seriously and are responsible for the puppies we produce. Our puppies are very special to us and will always have a place in our hearts and home. All of our potential owners are interviewed prior to being considered for one of our puppies. By understanding what you are expecting in a dog, your lifestyle, and plans for your new puppy (ie: hunting, service work, family pet), we can better match a puppy to your home. The placement process is a shared responsibility and trust between breeder and owner, so please do not be offended if we ask as many questions of you as you do us. We want each puppy to be happy and loved in their new home just as much as we want each new owner to be happy with their new puppy.
The clients can ask for additional videos or live stream to help make their decisions on which new four-legged family member to choose. Also throughout the puppies’ lives, there will be numerous pictures and videos sent or placed on social media so everyone can watch them grow and share with the world! We call it “Puppy Spam”. Once the top client picks their puppy, the next client will be notified to pick their puppy. Each list is by sex, male or female. Quick Trigger Kennels will assist the clients, when necessary, in picking the puppy that will suit that client’s specific needs, i.e. field trial, service dog, family dog, hunting dog etc.