Secret Sauce

Having just one puppy is actually pretty darn easy — at least compared to nine! But yes, it is an adjustment.

Having a new puppy is a lot like having a tiny human because life revolves around Pozy’s sleep/wake schedule.

I continue to be committed to Novel as I raise this puppy. Today I took Daisy and Pozy down the road to where I walk as this was a new location for her. We drove the one-half mile because Pozy is too small for real walks. Once there, we just meandered a bit — and took photos…

She is — so far — unfazed by new places. My goal is to do this kind of thing a lot so novel is just normal.

This was a quick series of photos…

Daisy remains a wonderful mom but has decided the Milk Bar is officially closed. Pozy seems fine with that, and they have a lot of fun playing together.

Pozy is my 13th Berner puppy! I have learned so much from raising the first 12, and Pozy will benefit from that experience.

I know, for example, not to be a rush about much of anything and to just relax about most everything puppy. This is not to suggest I do not train Pozy — in fact, I train her a lot. But what I train is all about establishing a relationship, teaching her how to learn, and reinforcing engagement. Those things are the Secret Sauce to success in Life with Dogs — and especially Life with a Performance Dog.

Quick Photo Update

Mallow is now Zeus and Ada is now an official PLA3 Dress Girl!

This is Lupine with Alex’s brother. He was elected president of his FFA Club and chose this for his official photo.

Lucy Clover King — she looks happy!

Pozy Clarkia continues to do well. She is a happy, cheerful, friendly, confident, and SMART puppy.

When your name is Pozy Clarkia you have to know there will be wildflowers involved…

Have a wonderful and amazing day!

Wildflower Updates & Sparkle Experiment Data Point

All Wildflowers are safely planted in their new homes. Sage is done with his cross country adventure and is in Indiana on an air conditioning vent…

This seems to be a theme — I have received similar photos of D’Argo (Paintbrush) and Kadi (Mariposa). Obviously the puppies are smart enough to find the prime seating.

Mallow is safely arrived in Washington where he will live happily with his family, including Ada…

Mr. Congeniality II (George P. Pipster will always be #1) is getting right to work, spreading love and joy and unconditional positive regard in the world.

Pozy Clarkia is adjusting well to an only puppy.

This might seem like a strange thing to say — and especially because I have such regard for our own veterinarian and those in our family — but high on my List of New Puppy Home Anxieties are veterinarians. You might be surprised to learn this is not an uncommon anxiety among breeders who care about the puppies they create.

Let me add my awareness that veterinarians have to deal with some crazy stuff from people who trust Google and their hairdresser’s cousin’s dog‘s bad experience with a medication or vaccine more than their veterinarian.

I get it!

It’s complicated.

But the puppies’ new veterinarians cause me to lose sleep until I am sure they are onboard, can be trusted as a team player, and/or I know owners will exercise their advocacy skills.

The latest data point in the Sparkle Study comes at an opportune time to support a point.

Baby Sparkle and her mom, Zoey

Sparkle is now seven. This is the result of her recent annual titer, showing strong protection against both parvo and distemper.

Sparkle was vaccinated for Parvo and Distemper ONCE.

Uno.

One Time.

When Sparkle was a puppy, we did weekly blood tests to assess when maternal antibodies were low enough for a vaccine to work against both parvo and distemper, and that was when she was vaccinated — she was eleven weeks old.

In other words: Sparkle was vaccinated against Distemper and Parvo ONCE in her entire lifetime and she remains fully protected at age seven.

If I had used the standard veterinary schedule, she would have received six additional vaccinations at this point in her life, none of which would have been necessary.

Sparkle’s results are not unusual. The professional veterinary literature reports similar findings in large studies, which is why/how I knew it could work — I read the research.

Titers are an inexpensive and easy alternative to routine additional vaccinations — we can even use numbing cream to reduce the burden of a blood draw. Titers can be used to assess when to vaccinate, ensure a vaccination worked, and determine when/if future vaccinations are needed.

I try hard to ensure my puppies wind up with people who understand all this but I cannot choose the veterinarians. Unfortunately, I know well the critical thinking error of Relying on the Opinion of an Expert is a hard one to resist — hence my lost sleep.

Veterinarians have their own pressures of time, non-compliant owners, Dr. Google, productivity standards, and so on. They are not bad or wrong for recommending a one-size-fits-all approach to puppy care because that is what most want. Likewise, we are not bad or wrong for offering evidence-based alternatives to the usual ways of doing things.

The trick is to find a veterinarian who welcomes a chance to do things a little differently, and appreciates the value of collaboration. They exist and they are worth their weight in gold. Seriously. Or maybe platinum — whichever is more.