Puppy Duck Testing Feb 2010

January 26th : Today, we started testing our puppies on ducks.

What I am looking for at this age is instinct and is the puppy interested? Also, does the puppy have prey drive? Does it bark to move the ducks, is it afraid, and how does it react?

I will try the puppies one-on-one with the ducks. Usually no more than three ducks at first. As the puppies gain confidence and show interest, I add ducks. If a puppy is timid or fearful, I will put a stronger, more confident puppy with it and I never push, Ii only watch for reactions and efforts. I will assist the ducks in moving if needed.

All the ducks are treated well and when I finish with each litter, I turn the ducks loose…back to the pond where they live out their lives being ducks.

Drover, our 15 week old male from Carol Greet in Wyoming, was my first. Carol promised me herding instinct in this puppy and yes it is there!!!! As far as I know, he has not ever been around ducks and he took to herding them. I see great promise in this young dog.

One of Hattie’s puppies…the long tailed puppy…and the other two of Amarillo’s were next and they were real interested with Hattie’s puppy being keen. Then the big white duck all 15 pounds turned on the little puppies and I quit. I am off to the duck sale in the morning for smaller ducks that are not so ill tempered.

The big ducks will be fine for grown dogs but not my puppies!!!

January 27, I left early for the cow sale in Lexington where they have a poultry sale at 8:00AM…It was fairly cold this morning and Les stayed home (not his idea of fun!) I so love auction sales!!!

I checked out the crates and sure enough there were 5 crates with ducks in them! Auction started and when we finished I took home 3 crates of ducks! Six ducks total!! Along with some chicken wire!

Les and I worked on the duck run and holding pen . Cut the ducks wings so they could not fly away (just one wing) and settled the ducks into their new home complete with their own swimming pool. We are set for puppy testing in the morning!!

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January 28, Beautiful Day!! 60’s and light wind. Les has the camera and three puppies. They have grown so much I can only carry two at a time. We start with the puppy I call Spring and what a puppy! She starts moving the ducks up and down the fence she even gets up on the ducks and smells of them and borrows a few feathers from them!

Jasmine was next and was turning the ducks and moving them as well as waiting and going back for the ducks not keeping up! (she was keeping her herd bunched) Not a hint of fear from either puppy even when run over by six ducks.

We tested every puppy for instinct today for prey drive and herding interest. Some were keener than others in herding interest, but all showed interest. Very few were prey driven. All the puppies are friendly and out going, None showed fear even with quacking, water throwing , wing flapping, big ducks ! These puppies will make exceptional grown dogs! We will continue our testing process and exposing them to new things so that they will be better equipped to live in whatever situation they find in life!

So far, the puppies have been on the following surfaces: hay, grass, carpet, slick concrete. gravel, wood, plastic, wet dirt and water in the drainage ditch. (They may get to experience snow on Saturday!)

Some of the things that go on around here are. People and children come and go and the puppies are handled by different people male and female. We have a gator that is used daily. There are 5 grown dogs and one 14 week old puppy (that bark and carry on as they see fit) as well as horses. ducks. Cars come and go and we go about our regular routine daily. The puppies spend decent days outside being puppies and sleep inside our shop in the back of the horse trailer at night. They have been eating puppy food since 2 weeks of age. For the last week all the kibble has been served dry. They drink lots of water and let me know if it is running low!

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Some of the photos have a diagonal black streak at the top and bottom. It is camera difficulty and was not noticed when taking the photos. When I have clearer, I will replace them.

We are getting ready for 15 inches of snow!!! Puppies are out and enjoying the cold weather!!! I promise snow photos if we do have it!!!!

Saturday was beautiful here and in the 60’s…so Les and i put the larger duck pen up and moved ducks and brought the puppies in for some herding! What fun!!! They all did real good and my photos are better than last time!