Just a question about puppies' memories.

I will have been to see my pup four times before I go to pick him up. I've spent about an hour or so each time with him holding him, playing with him and his litter mates. When I see him the fifth time, to bring him home, do you think there's any chance I might smell slightly familiar or that he'll remember me at all?

I just feel really sorry for the wee fellow that in two weeks time he's going to be separated from his brothers and sisters and forced to go out into the unknown with a stranger. :(

Jo

when we got our puppy we visited her a few times, and i know it may sound silly but she did remember our scent and i think this made her feel more comfortable with us. its good to know that you have visited your new pup so that she/he will bond with you already. i also felt guilty about taking her away from her siblings, but just think of all the attention being focused on her now!
have fun with your new puppy!

Puppies seem to have very long memories, so I would think after meeting you a few times you won't be a total stranger! Have you left a bit of blanket or something, for the breeder to put in their bed for a few days, to bring home with the pup? Then your home will have a bit of familiar scent. That will certainly ease the transition.

And you'll be astonished for how long the pup will remember the breeder!
:)

Dogs seem to have two sorts of memories. When I was a kid, my friends and I often played with my young dog. As we grew up and drifted apart my dog got to see the boys less and less. It must have been 5 years later when one called on me and my old dog, (As he then was) went mad at seeing him again! Brought him all his toys!

The other kind of memory, the short term memory is completely different. With working gundogs we want them to remember the fall of dummies. A young puppy has difficulties remembering the place a dummy fell for more than a couple of minutes. With practice we can push this up to a point where we can put two dummies out and the dog can remember exactly where they both fell. Pushing the boundaries as the dog gets to adulthood it can easily remember the position of three and even 4 with a good dog. We make things harder by doing something else between throwing the dummies and sending our dog to retrieve and sometimes take the dog to a different position to send it from to try build its concentration up.

Dogs seem capable of sorting data and remembering what it feels is important and quickly discarding that which it feels is of little value!

Regards, John

Love that first story John! :)

do tell jeanjeanie!! about remembering the breeder~i love stories like that.Happy stories!

I always try to visit 'my' puppies in their new homes at least once. There was one I couldn't get to see till she was 18 months old, and I got a lovely welcome from her. Her new owners said that her response to me was the same as when she greets their family, not strangers; it seemed that she remembered me after all that time! I must have done something right!!! I was delighted!
:)

That's lovely JG! :)

That is lovely.
I like to hear things like that.
When i was younger we had two small yorkies that really were my best friends , they would follow me everywhere.Any way to cut a long story short i was 16/17 at the time and lived with my parents in a council flat on the 14th floor.We got reported to the council and had to rehome the dogs ( werent allowed dogs in council flats back then ).They were eventually rehomed much to my utter disgust.I was so upset that the only thing that kept me going for some years after was the thought i might find them one day and that they would remember me.
If nothing else this incident encouraged me to move out of London as soon as i was able...and ive beena huge doggie lover all my life..only these days im in control of keeping my animals!
Any way , the point to the story is that you've made part of me smile with that story x x

Thanks everyone, that's put my mind slightly to rest. Yes JG, I've left a couple of toys with the breeder and a few days before I pick him up the breeder's going to put in some vet bed to get all good and smelly. I know it's inevitable that pups get separated from their brothers, sisters and parents, but this lot is such a happy little bunch I can't help feeling a bit girlie and sentimental and like the villain of the piece. The great thing is though the breeder lives quite close to us, so I'd like to take the pup over to him now and again so he can see how he's getting on, and put his mind at rest that my husband and I are suitable surrogate parents.

Only 10 days to go!

Think about it the other way, Jo - with you the pup will be getting all the attention, but if he stays with lots of other dogs he'll have to share!

Good luck - you'll both be fine, and you have years of companionship ahead!
:)