Very young pups & training

[Leslie]

The pups are 6 1/2 weeks old now. Did my first natural instinct test yesterday. Following the Weim Ways test, I introduced a freshly killed Quail and let them take turns running off with the Quail and being chased by the other pups. All the pups tested extremely high and did not want to let go of that bird.

I'm going to do some testing with a wing on a cane today.

I read somewhere that for training at this age to introduce a live Quail for the pups to chase. Would this be wise? What if one got pecked or scared somehow?

I did read that you shouldn't do the wing on a cane more than a week as then the pups start relying on sight. Any other advice on mistakes not to make? or training that would be good at this age before they go to their new families?

One more sillyish question. What's the quickest way to kill a Quail (besides shooting)

[marjolein]

Kick it behind the head with the side of your hand.

I wouldn't let them chase the bird, for the reason you state yourself. What if they get hurt and get scared of the bird. I'd introduce them with a quail in a cage or net or something, one pup at a time and pay close attention.

I did the Weimaraner Ways tests too, all three of them. Great to see the results!!!!

[simona]

Please where is possible to see what is in that Weimaraner Ways test? Thanks girls

[marjolein]

In the book, but you're lucky, I have it in Word too:

Test 4½ week

Date
Colour
Weight

Test 1. Weaning evaluate physical maturation and evaluate learning aptitude

Procedure Scoring
Make clicking noise before showing food. Let the puppy lick or suck some food from a finger. Smear food on saucer rim. Lead puppy’s mouth into food – touching the side of the mouth to stimulate tongue flatting 1 Laps eagerly from finger and saucer2 Laps eagerly from finger, has trouble with saucer3 Laps from finger, no interest in saucer4 Refuses to eat at all, tries to spit out


Test 2. Sound Responsiveness test hearing

Procedure Scoring
Wait until the entire litter is asleep, preferably spread out so al have a similar opportunity to hear noise.Begin making clicking noise, slowly at first, then faster and louder until whole litter is awake.Tester is no farther than 3 feet form puppies with face at puppies’ eye level 1 Awakened immediately by noise2 Awakened by littermate movement, then responds to noise3 Awakened by littermate movement, no response to noise


Test 3. Sound Association test learned response to sounds

Procedure Scoring
Done at same time using same procedure as Sound Responsiveness 1 Circles, becomes aware of tester, and approaches2 Circles, looking for something associated with noise3 No reaction, follows littermates


Test 4. Sound Sensitivity test sensitivity to loud noises

Procedure Scoring
Wait until the entire litter is eagerly eating.Begin softly to beat on pan, counting slowly to 5 between beats.Gradually increase volume until first puppy shows a flinching response 1 Keeps on eating2 Looks up, returns to eating3 Shrinks, turns around, returns to eating4 Stops eating and gets as far from noise as possible


Test 5. Dominance Response acceptance of human control and assess stress level

Procedure Scoring
Place puppy on side.Place hands on neck and chest, gently holding puppy down.Hold for one full minute (less if totally panicked) – no speaking but may reassure with stroking of fingers 1 Resents being placed on side, but once there, gives trusting response2 Struggles, resents restraint, then accepts and relaxes3 Fights restraint, then accepts buts remains tense4 Continues to fight or remains rigid5 Tries to bite persistently


Test 6. Cuddling Test evaluate human bonding potential

Procedure Scoring
Noting time, sit down in chair and cradle puppy against chest, turned side to side so puppy can hear heartbeat, being certain puppy is securely supported under rump.Rock puppy slowly back and forth – no vocal or stroking reassuranceNote length of time it takes for puppy to relax completely – maximum time 5 minutes 1 Immediately trusting response, licking face, wagging tail, demonstrating pleasure of bodily contact2 Response to contact not as intense, pleasure not as strong, but accepts control and contact readily3 Struggles, resents then accepts restraint but never totally relaxes, constantly looking around4 Struggles, protests restraint, tries to jump down takes a brief rest before resuming fight

[marjolein]

Test 6½ week

Date
Colour
Weight


Test 1. Water love imprint water love and swimming

Procedure Scoring
Step oneWith mat on the bottom, fill tub with 3 to 5 inches of warm water. Begin with boldest puppy. Carefully lower puppy into water while giving lots of vocal encouragement. Gently slap water to create movement and coax puppy to explore the tub. If badly frightened, adding a littermate that has already shown a positive reaction to water gives reassurance. Remove, dry feet and return puppy to littermates.Step twoAdd warm water, increasing depth so puppies must swim. Lower puppy into water while supporting chest with hand and giving vocal reassurance. Allow puppy to swim the length of the tub and back, gradually decreasing support if the puppy indicates confidence and strong swimming ability but always keeping hand under puppy in case it stops swimming. Dry thoroughly, cuddle until dry, then return to litter. 1 Immediately positive response to shallow water, shows enough self-confidence to swim without support2 Immediately positive response to shallow water, swims with confidence while supported3 Positive response to shallow water, enthusiastic but ‘sink and splash’ swimming style4 Positive response to shallow water, strong fear response to deep water5 Fear response to shallow water until littermate added6 Fear response to shallow water even with littermate7 Interest in mothers mils overcomes fear of water when dam is placed in the tub with the puppy8 Fear response to shallow water even with mother present


Test 2. Crate Test (with Company) evaluate acceptance of confinement with company

Procedure Scoring
Place two puppies in crate with toys.Leave 10 minutes.Repeat next day with different companion 1 Relaxed resignation, goes to sleep or plays2 Objects vocally briefly before setting down3 Objects vocally, restless, finally accepts confinement4 Objects vocally, tries to get out entire time


Test 3. Crate Test (Alone) evaluate acceptance of confinement when alone

Procedure Scoring
Place one puppy in crate for 5 minutes, then give company for about 20 minutes.Repeat test the next day, alone for 15 minutes, and the following day 30 minutes. 1 Relaxed resignation, goes to sleep or plays2 Objects vocally briefly before settling down3 Objects vocally, restless, finally accepts confinement4 Objects vocally, actively tries to find way out, never relaxes5 Exhibits stress – continues barking, urinates, salivates, bites at door


Test 4. Pick-Up-and-Carry test pick-up-and-carry instinct and reinforce instinct

Procedure Scoring
Shake object enticingly and drop in front of puppy to pick up and carry around.If not picked up– Place on a string to stimulate live prey– Bring out another puppy to demonstrate pick up an stimulate copying behaviour– Check puppy’s health and retest de next day– Continue to retest for several days, using different object. 1 Picks up object immediately2 Picks up object after teasing3 Picks up object after watching another puppy4 Never picks up object


Test 5. Scent Aptitude (Indoor) test scenting aptitude and test attention span

Procedure Scoring
Hold puppy in lap, not more than 4 feet from large chair. Introduce puppy to treat.Allow the puppy to watch while placing treat on floor not more than 1 foot away and allow to eat.Hold in lap, allow puppy to watch while laying scent track by finger walking to chair, and leave treat.Release to track, increasing distance if successful.If puppy does not follow track, try placing extra treat at halfway point.Retest to a successful ending 1 Finds treat under chair on first try2 Finds treat under chair, takes longer to find3 Doesn’t find under chair but find at shorter distance, finds under chair on second try4 Find at short distance but appears to find by sight rather than scent


Test 6. Stalk and Point evaluate strength of pointing instinct at 5½ weeks

Procedure Scoring
Attract the puppy’s attention by flipping the wing in front of its nose, and tease into chasing.Once the puppy decides to chase, flip the wing from one side to the other, dropping it suddenly and giving the puppy a chance to stalk and point. 1 Alert interest and quick stalking response with a solid point2 Alert interest and walking stalk but pounces, never flash point3 Strong chase and desire but no stalking or pointing4 Brief chase, short attention span5 Chases only when competing with littermates, little individual initiative6 No interest or pursuit


Test 6. Meet the Bird test instinct response to feathered game and imprint with sight, scent and feel of birds

Procedure Scoring
Tease whole litter with a freshly killed or thawed quail. Select first three of four puppies that try hardest to grab bird and place others in a pen where they can watch. Place bird on the ground for the most aggressive puppy to pick it up and run off with. As next puppy chases and tries to grab bird, take the bird form the first puppy, which is removed for test. Let the second puppy run with the bird until the third puppy tries to steal it. Continue letting each puppy run with the bird to entice another to steal it, then removing teaser from the game until each has had an opportunity to learn the taste and feel of feathers. 1 Strongly possessive of bird, protest removal from mouth and tries to grab again2 Strong determination to keep bird3 Grabs bird but gives it up without strong protest4 Takes bird form littermate but only interest is object possession5 Picks up bird, spits it out after tasting feathers6 Total refusal to pick up bird.

[marjolein]

Test 7½ week

Date
Colour
Weight


Test 1. Stair Test test self-confidence, assess physical coordination and balance and evaluate human bonding

Procedure Scoring
Place puppy halfway up the stairway and return to the bottom. Call puppy, offering treats to coax down the stairs. If puppy doesn’t go up, assistant at top calls and coaxes to come up. If puppy still doesn’t move, place puppy one step from the bottom and coax down one step. After each successful trip down, move one step higher back at the halfway staring position. Test willingness to go up stairs, using small segments if necessary. Allow puppy to watch successful littermates and retest. 1 Goes willingly down and up stairs2 Goes down after learning and up willingly3 Goes down and up after learning4 Only goes up and down a few steps even after learning5 Never goes either up or down


Test 2. Scent Aptitude (Outdoor) test nose quality, willingness to learn, desire to please, memory and learning from previous (indoor) scents test

Procedure Scoring
Sitting on ground, begin with puppy on lap, offer treats to find which it likes best. Place treat on ground directly in front of puppy and allow to eat the treat. Place another treat in clear view, no more than 3 feet away, and encourage puppy to find and eat treat. Pick up puppy and move to slightly different place an cover eyes while assistant places treat in same area, never more than 5 of 6 feet from puppy. Release puppy and observe for air scenting or tracking to locate treat. Increase the distance at tester’s option. If unsuccessful, cover puppy’s eyes while assistant makes finger trail to treat. If unsuccessful, repeat the last successful level and end with success. 1 Adores game, immediately success at longer tracking distances than prescribed in test2 Immediately success at prescribed distances3 Demonstrates tracking to hidden object, but does nog use air scenting4 Sight find only5 Success only with random activity6 Not find at all


Test 3. Stalk and Point evaluate change and maturation of pointing instinct since first test

Procedure Scoring
Attract the puppy’s attention by flipping the wing in front of its nose, and tease into chasing. Once the puppy decides to chase, flip the wing from one side to the other, giving the puppy a chance to stalk and point. 1 Alert interest and quick stalking response with solid point2 Alert interest and walking stalk, but pounces, never flash point3 Strong chase and desire but no stalking or pointing4 Brief chase, short attention span5 Chases only when competing with littermates, little individual initiative 6 No interest or pursuit




Test 4. Go Fetch evaluate retrieving instinct and assess ability to combine retrieving with pick-up-and-carry

Procedure Scoring
Tease the puppy with a favourite article. Kneel, restrain puppy while making certain it is watching and toss the article 1 foot away. Release, let the puppy start toward the article. When puppy picks up article, back up 3 or 4 feet to encourage return, getting down to its eye level and calling coaxingly. Repeat, tossing article about 5 feet 1 Immediately direct retrieve and willing delivery2 Goes immediately to article and picks up, but needs coaxing to return3 Goes immediately to article and runs off with it4 Goes to article, but won’t pick up5 Retrieves article after observing others6 Refuses to go to article


Test 5. Startle Reaction assess boldness response to new situations

Procedure Scoring
Carry the puppy to testing area, covering the eyes to prevent seeing the open umbrella. Place the puppy facing the food with the tail toward the umbrella. While puppy is distracted with head in the can, quietly sneak to puppy’s expected destination. When the puppy finishes the snack and looks around, move so the puppy spots the tester, who calls the puppy. 1 No fear, checks behind the umbrella2 Approaches immediately with interest3 Startled but reassured by human scent4 Holds ground, then runs around5 First runs away, then goes around6 Backs away and will not pass umbrella


Test 6. Walkies test response to restraint

Procedure Scoring
Attach lead collar and pick up lead.Begin walking, coaxing puppy to come along.Maximum length of test, 5 minutes. 1 Accompanies tester cheerfully2 Initial resistance then follows willingly3 Strong resistance to lead, then follows with occasional resistance4 Strong resistance to following, but willing to move in any other direction5 Fights lead entire test period

[marjolein]

Sorry, but it looks a lot better in Word. Too tired to modify it properly.

[rute_paredes]

Hi Marjolein
Thanks a lot for your posts fro Weimaraner Ways. My boy Iago is way past this particular age but this is very interesting reading indeed.
Do you have any idea how I can come by a copy of Weimaraner Ways myself?
I'd do anything to get my hands on a copy (short of stealing, of course.)
Second-hand, digital copy, whatever.

Thanks a lot!
rute

[marjolein]

Hmm, it's almost impossible to get another copy. I do know they're printing a second edition though. As soon as I have more info on it, I'll post it!

[Leslie]

Whew, pretty busy right now, so I try to get on the computer in snatches when they are napping.

Those tests are proving very helpful. There is one gray male that I was thinking would be better as a companion dog as he's a bit laid back and very affectionate and he was one of the strongest for instinct! He comes alive with a bird, had great stalking and pointing, did not want to let go of that bird.

All the pups did fantastic with the wing on a string test. I did end up introducing a live quail from advice of others on hunting forums and based on how bold they seem to be with birds. No problem there! They went nuts.

Looks like summer just might be finally deciding to join us here so I'm hoping to set up a kiddie pool to start working with water. Actually we have done the first introduction to water test in the bathtub. Haven't done the full swimming yet.

I didn't have my camera available for the second wing on a string game where they started pointing, but here's a pup stalking the wing: