Puppy
from TUSANI Our dogs, and so are the puppies, are living with us and we share our house and a big yard with them. They are well socialized and ready as well as for living in the rush city as for work in the forests. All the time of raising the puppies I'm with them. I'm giving all my time to them, I'm learning ethology and psychology of the dogs and I'm trying to apply it practically. I'm raising puppies with love and I know that what I'm giving them for the short time of eight weeks is huge and irreplaceable for their mental development - basics of their behavior for the rest of their lives.
I know that everything I teach them and the way I prepare them for life will return to me many times. It will not only reflect in the master's joy of the Tusani dog but also in my reputation in the breeding as well as at the exhibitions and working service, and moreover in everyday fellowship of the dog's family.
My care doesn't end with the leaving of the puppy. I'm staying in contact with the new puppy's masters and I'm ready to give an advisory opinion in any sphere related to dogs or help 24 hours a day.
Raising the puppies in TUSANI
(socialization, character development)
Puppies are in permanent touch with their mother and from their 2nd - 3rd week also with other members of the kennel. (currently one grown dog and three grown bitches). With that, I want to ensure good shaping of their character that will take effect when grown. This puppy won't be coy nor aggressive, will be able react on and communicate with other dogs without useless conflicts.
Firs visit for the further owners I allow when the puppies are at least 3 weeks old.
Time between 4th and 8th week I use for exploring the "world". Puppies, under surveillance of their mother and other members of the kennel, are getting to know the rush not only in household and on the yard, but also on individual and collectively walks (vacuum cleaner, mixer, car horn, water, differently dressed people, little children, cry, rain, storms, bangers, shooting…). I take that as the most important part of the raising, for them not to be coy and sensitive for rush, have positive attitude to children and react well in various life situations.
In this stage I'm starting with exhibition training with all puppies with showing disposals. With every day's few-minute training I fix showing habits - leash, touches further handler job.
With individual walks of every single puppy in supervision of his mother I ensure habit of collar and leash. The presence of his mother eliminates natural fear of open space (meadow) as well as of closed rooms (tunnel), scents and sounds.
With special tools (obstacles) on the yard or during the walks, I'm trying to develop abilities to think independently.
Of course, this is really time-consuming, but the truth is that the puppies that are socialized in this way will not have any problems with fitting into their homes or coping with any new and stressing situation in their lives. They will also be better prepared for development of their working skills in their maturity. They will have good basics and all the prerequisites to grow into mentally well-balanced dogs!!!
All of our puppies take the Puppy Aptitude Test when they are seven weeks old. This test is helpful for determination of the dog's individual qualities and can help you chose correctly the most suitable home for each puppy (particularly important for families with small children and families with more dogs). It can also indicate if the puppy will be rather dominant or rather submissive in his maturity. Furthermore, the test reveals how high is his threshold of sensitivity, which then determines a proper choice of instructional means, and a proper approach to work and training.
Taking care of Tusani puppies (feeding, hygiene, health)
The mother and her puppies are fed with the high-quality feed of Royal Canin Maxi Starter, (HILL'S Puppy Lamb&Rice), with the special feed for rapidly growing puppies of large breeds, which is also Rhodesian ridgeback.
Before and after her gravidity, I add folic acid to the mother's feed, and from the second half of gravidity to the end of breast-feeding, she eats the feed of RC Maxi Energy.
The puppies are breastfed until they are six-seven weeks old and if necessary they are given additional milk RC 1st age Milk.
When they are 4 weeks old, they are given additional feed RC Maxi Starter (HILL'S Puppy Lamb&Rice).
In their new homes, I recommend to feed the puppies with RC Maxi Junior (HILL'S Puppy).
I prefer natural breeding, which means that all of our puppies are guaranteed sufficient free outdoor movement and the puppies themselves can delimit the areas for rest, games and hygiene. The whole day, they have the options of staying inside or going out. (It is important to check up whether the puppies do not have problems with hygiene in their new homes.)
For healthy evolution of joints, the puppies are not allowed to move or play at slippery or cold paving or linoleum. (Dysplasia of loin joints can also be acquired and in the first eight weeks, it is considerably influenced by the nutrition of the mother and puppies, and the surface on which the puppies move.)
Tattooing (application of chips), veterinary care and all the necessary vaccines are undisputable.
The puppies from our breeding station do not incline to allergies or dysplasia of loin joints. On principle, I breed only on healthy parents who come from healthy breeding. The parents and also the grandparents are tested on inherited defects.
