I have two of my pups (6 months old) back here at the moment, while their owners are on holiday. They have turned out really well, one the spitting image of her Mum, the other like her Mum, but a bit more chunky, which is what I was hoping to achieve with the matimg, so I am pleased.

Both pups are doing well, with a few minor problems, mostly recall, but also car sickness/bite inhibition/toilet training. (not all the same pup!) Both pups have been to 6 weeks of 'basic training' and one pup is going to a socialsation class, but it is not really a training class by the sounds of it. The toilet training isn't really a problem, I don't think, as pup has been perfect while here.

Anyway, I was going to try a DAP spray in the car to see if that helps pup while she is here, as I have to take her in the car really. I was going to give it to her owners if it worked. Both families have been given a copy of 'The Perfect Puppy' by me in their puppy packs, but I was also considering buying them 'Puppy School' wwhich is more trainign based, to give them when they pick their pups up.

Both families have mentioned/chatted to me about the 'problems' so do you think they'll be offended if I do this? I don't want to upset them. Would you be offended, or find it helpful?

I think the big thing here is how you approach them with it.  If they have come to you with problems, maybe when they collect the pup you could just say something long the lines of "I found these books while you were away which you might find useful"

Jackson,

If it were my puppy with you, I would not in the least be offended, more glad of the help esp if I was a novice owner.

Fully agree with Floradora, I would be grateful and appreciative of your help :)

I would appreciate the help too :)  ,as long as it was given tactfull, but you seem like you would be tactfull :)

If it were me ...I wouldnt be offended by any ofers of help advice the breeder of my puppy chose to give me.I have a 9mnth old puppy and am constantly on the phone to the breeder asking her advice which she has willingly given....thats what a good breeder does in my opinion....i'd be lost without her on the other end of the phone sometimes.

I absolutely would not be offended and I would welcome it.  I wish I had had a little more help when I got my dog - OK, he wasn't a pup but any advice on training or behaviour would have been very helpful.  I'm sure your pup's owners will be pleased that you're offering your knowledge to help them have a better dog.

CG

Thankyou.

i think I will buy the books then. I am moving out of the area too, so although I'll be available by phone, and will visit, i won't be able to still join up for walks, or pop round, so I guess I can sort of use that as an 'excuse'.

I'd probably just say something along the lines of 'I hope you don't mind, but as I was packing I found this book and was reminded of how helpful it was with our girl, so as we're moving away I thought I'd treat you both to a copy'

Does that sound OK?

That sounds perfect :)  I'm sure they'll be pleased, it comes over as you being caring :)

Jackson, hope you don't mind me asking but I've not heard of Puppy School and could do with a copy as I need to improve my boy's recall (he did go to puppy training classes but he still has a way to go!).  Is it a book and where did you get it from?  Thanks.

That sounds a perfect thing to say to them

I think the new owners would be very please with any help you could give. They should always be open to new idea's especially if it helps them.
Just say, I thought I'd like to try and help you and tryed this!!!!! as like babies all puppies are so very different.

Thanks.

K4kate, Puppy school is a book written by Gwen Bailey. It covers all the basic training and socialising and how to do it. You should find it on Amazon.

Here I think :-D

Thanks Jackson and Zarah - will take a look on Amazon.

Oh wow - it's even got one of my breed on the front cover lol!  Very intelligent but equally willful!

I would buy it from www.bookdepository.co.uk. It is a few pence dearer but you save the the postage of £2.99. which Amazon charge.

buy all my books from them as they are usually a lot cheaper than Amazon and the postage is always included and they arrive much quicker!

Thanks for the tip Orjack, will give it a go.  In future I will go to Amazon for the reviews and book depository to buy!  Unfortunately loyalty doesn't get you anywhere these days ;-)

i would say to them that during the pups stay you had noticed xyz with pup and had they noticed it ? if they say yes go in with your original idea of help, if they say no then say you had noticed it a bit and to watch out for it and if you do experience it these are some ideas to help out, either way you have done your best a a breeder to give good, helpful advice in the well being and rearing of something you worked hard to produce and don't want to see ruined. i had the same issues when i bred Labs and decided that it was my responsibility as a breeder to impart as much help/advice as possible whenever i saw fit purely in the pups welfare. no one wants to see their pups return ruined or worse end up on rescue, most new owners are very grateful for free advice from people  who know the breed and are not trying to sell them something (like the vets/behaviourists) you might even save them the cost of visiting these people. It also shows you care beyond getting paid for the pup, unlike a lot of so called breeders. good luck.

do you think they'll be offended if I do this? I don't want to upset them. Would you be offended, or find it helpful?


It will depend greatly on the people concerned. And how you do this.

The worst thing any breeder can do is make a new owner think they are not doing things properly, it is ok to come on sites like this and ask questions and admit that we have done things wrong, or just need help.  But most owners find it totally embarrassing to even ask their breeder a question, they like to feel in control.  I have found you have to appear to be ever so humble as well as knowledgeable for owners to feel confident in confiding.

The owners may be perfectly happy with you giving them the book, or they may feel you are critisizing, only you know these people, for those that may feel put out, I would probably say something like "I ordered one of these for one of my other puppy owners, and they've sent two, it's really interesting would you like one?" Or something to that effect.

But, Re: The problems they may prefer your verbal explanation or to show first hand how to cope with the problems, instead of a book, many just can't be bothered to read. :-(

I think it's great that you are there to help, but I can't help feeling that buying a book for them is not the way to go - sorry.  It's very impersonal, and. to me. tends to imply that you think they should go away and do their homework (lol), rather than you are there to help.  Did you give them any advice when they mentioned the problems they were having?  I think a better way would be to make suggestions when they have mentioned problems or if they are things you have observed while staying with you and you can ask how things are going and offer your advice then.

From a buyer's point of view, I would be happy for a breeder to keep in contact and if having problems, would welcome a friendly chat and any advice offered, but I would be quite insulted if I was simply given a book to go away and read ;-).

Thanks.

One of the pups went home tonight, and after she had settled in, it appeared there really weren't any problems, she was a pleasure ot have around. They had mentioned her toilet training wasn't quite sorted yet, but that they were happy with her progress. However, I slept downstairs on the sofa while the pups were both here, just to keep an eye on them, and the poor little girl had a bit of an upset tum last night, (slight wind and runs) and bless her, she kept nudging me with her head to wake me up to let her out! What a sweety! So all good there.

Second pup however, I feel is showing signs of potential problems. I keep in regular touch with her owners and get on very well with them. At 4 months they emailed to say she was attacking them and they were going to get a behaviourist. I obviously immediately rang them and went to visit. Puppy was playing, but it was out of hand. She was also very nervous. She is still quite nervous, and is now showing signs of fear aggression. If you do anything she doesn't like or want (and it might be clipping her lead back onto her collar after a walk, or putting her in the car) she bites. I am pretty experienced/knowledgable, and it concerns me greatly. Her owners are the best home you could wish for in terms of love and commitment, (they know I will have pup back any time) but seem to lack the leadership skills the puppy needs. Puppy is THE most lovable little thing, she's not nasty at all but she is defensive.

I have suggested puppy classes, methods to 'control' or adjust the pups behaviour, but I feel they let puppy dictate too much what happens, and it is making pup insecure. It's not a case of sending them off with a book to read, but giving them a book they can quickly refer back to, in addition to ongoing support from me.

I want to help them and they are lovely people, but it is frustrating for me as I can see xactly where thye are going wrong, and at the end of the day, a pupyp which I spent a lot of time and love rearing and socialising is potentially going to turn into a monster.

If she is showing signs of fear aggression at six months, then I can quite understand your concerns, but it sounds like they would benefit more from hands on help which will give them the confidence rather than reading.  It sounds like you have already gone beyond the call of duty by going to stay with them - can you recommend a good trainer in their area (not all trainers are equal).  From memory The Perfect Puppy covers training up to a year anyway, so if you do give them a book, could you 'lend' them something that also gives an insight into the way dogs work too, something like Dont' Shoot the Dog.  Good luck