I have heard about various techniques and positions which are supposed to be performed during the first two weeks of a puppy's life, such as turning them upside down, things like that.  This is suppoed to be beneficial later on.  As you can tell, I don't know very much about this.   Are there members of this forum who can give some opinions, advice and experience?

Think your talking about that Early Neurological Stimulation. Here is a page about it.
http://tehillahgermanshepherds.com/earlystimulation.html

I can't find a link for it now OR remember what it is called, but I have done it for my last two litters. I can't really tell if it's made any difference. You are meant to turn puppy upside down on its back, hold it up so the head is facing up, hold it so head is facing down, tickle the toes, and place it on a wet towel that has been in the freezer for a short while eg. cold surface. Each part for no more than 3-5 seconds. I reckoned there was no harm in giving it a go (if nothing else, it is structured handling) so I do it after weighing each pup.

I didn't see any difference in pups that I reared using the method.  I don't bother at all now as I am totally happy with the way my pups turn out.

If you're not really sure what you're doing I feel that things can go badly wrong.

Many thanks for this most interesting article!  That is exactly what I was referring to.  However, I will not attempt this.  My breed does not have to achieve or perform above the usual, and so I will just go with its lovely disposition and normal intelligence and not interfere.

is that 'proper' breeders who handle their pups all the time, during weighing, cleaning the whelping box, or just because we enjoy cuddling them don't' need anything like this.

I am sure that in a set up, where pups may receive minimal handling, (laboratory, puppy farm, byb's shed) then a program such as this for the people who are rearing the pups does make a difference.

is that 'proper' breeders who handle their pups all the time, during weighing, cleaning the whelping box, or just because we enjoy cuddling them don't' need anything like this.

It is proper breeders -if you look at the description it is to deliberately do things we might not otherwise do, such as expose to a cold surface and turn head upside down etc. The belief is that exposing to mild stress at this young age can help set the pups up better to cope with stress in the future.

I find that mine cope with stress just fine, breeding for sound temperaments should take care of this, and normal handling will expose pups to mild stress.,

I don't warm the weighing pan, (so cold and if they pee wet).

I often remove pups from a teat, so their heads will be down below the body, and I'd say a pup feels stress at being removed from food source for a few seconds while I make adjustments, similarly when their id wool collars are changed.

There are a multitude of normal activities carried out during rearing that replicate the advice.

It's making a science (or hard work) out of normal actions, and for me taking away some of the spontaneity and enjoyment of puppy rearing.

With a breed like mine though, that can be extremely difficult, I figured it was worth a try. I even had a buyer from my last litter enquire before the birth if I normally did it. Like I said, I don't see any harm and don't notice any difference, but I just made it habit to do at the same time as weighing them. Took quite a while with 12 last time though!

> is that 'proper' breeders who handle their pups all the time, during weighing, cleaning the whelping box, or just because we enjoy cuddling them don't' need anything like this.<br /><br />I am sure that in a set up, where pups may receive minimal handling, (laboratory, puppy farm, byb's shed) then a program such as this for the people who are rearing the pups does make a difference.

These are my thoughts exactly!   Mine lay on their backs without me putting them there.   And for me, with my 'sensitive' breed, I think that messing around with potentially stressful situations, forceable holding an newborn puppy down, etc.etc. could well do far more harm than good.   As said, I breed for temperament as much as conformation and am in there from the get-go handling, weighing, checking, latching onto teats and so on - so with mine, I see little to no point in doing anything more. 

"It's making a science (or hard work) out of normal actions, and for me taking away some of the spontaneity and enjoyment of puppy rearing. "

It's always interesting to read new thinking, but in this case, the above I'd totally agree with too.   I'd also like to question what all this handling might be doing to MUM!!!   Obviously I'd have to take them away from mum to be weighed and otherwise checked, but I always made a point of 'giving them back' to mum, who was watching when returning them to the nest.

Facebook reply:

Julie Warboys says: i have always handled the very young pups i have dealt with, turned them over, looked in ears, played with their feet ect, also get them out in the motor from a very early age, gets them used to being handled and moving about and they dont make a fuss in later life.

I also think a sensible amount of handling and talking to any infant, stimulates the brain.   But it has to be gentle non-stressful interaction.   And always remember to pick up and back down slowly - otherwise it's like going up and down in a fast elevator for a puppy

I did it for my last litter, I don't know if there has been any difference as this is the bitch's first litter. All puppies are kind and gentle souls but are all absolute nutters (in fairness, just like their mum). Cannot particularly say whether they are more likely to cope with stress although one (the keeper) does really struggle with separation anxiety- currently 6 months old.