The Mariah Puppy Journey – Leaving on a Jet Plane

All the puppies have had their temperament tests and discussions with all of the puppy buyers have occurred.  Each puppy buyer has heard my recommendations for the puppy best suited to them and they have had a chance to watch the temperament test on video and see the written copy of the test by the evaluator.  Which puppy goes where is a decision made by both myself and the buyer with my recommendation.  I see things that may not have shown up in the evaluation to give us even more information about which puppy is the best fit for whom. It is a time taking process but so necessary to be sure they are a good fit for each other.

For the past several weeks, I have been preparing each puppy for the transition to their new home by teaching them bite inhibition – not to bite humans – and to be gentle with each other in their play.  Mamma Mariah has been doing her job; too, teaching them that biting is not appropriate.  She plays with them and often uses the “Maternal Correction” to let them know when they are being too rough.  

I began teaching them sit for everything. They sit to come out of the exercise pen, they sit to go out the door to the back yard and they are sitting for their meals.

One of the hardest jobs has been to teach them that being in the crate is a fine thing.  I began that work by taking them out of the group feeding in one puppy bowl to their own bowl in their own crate.  All of their meals have come inside their crate.  They have to sit for me to open the crate door with their food, and then sit again or remain sitting for me to put their meal down inside the crate.  They must also sit when they are finished to leave the crate.  This is the beginning of good manners so the puppies are not jumping up to get the most precious thing to them – food.  This imprints them that jumping is not acceptable either and that good things come when they sit.

While they are still used to sleeping with each other in their giant exercise pen in the house, they are now going for car rides in a crate in my van.  First, I took them all together with 3 pups in one giant crate and 2 pups in another.  Now, I am taking them one by one in the crate in the van with me for short trips on warm days. I want them to feel comfortable when they get on the plane to ride to their new home.  A slow desensitization helps them to accept the new situations easily and comfortably.  

I am also preparing them for their trip with yummy treats such as bully sticks, raw marrow bones and a Kong toy stuffed with frozen kibble mixed with cream cheese.

In another week, the first puppy leaves home which I am so deeply dismayed and sad about, but I am also filled with great pleasure to know that these puppies are headed to loving homes that will also embrace each of these babies with the same passion I feel!  I can only hope that all I have done to prepare them will make their transition smooth and fun for everyone!

Caption:  I start teaching puppies bite inhibition, no jumping, sitting for everything, and crate training immediately to prepare them for their transition to their new home.