Day 36: Puppy "bedtime training" at five weeks

Here's what I like to do with each of them.  I sit in a chair inside the

ex-pen so they can all come up to me for attention. They want to chew on

me so I wear loose fitting flannel pajamas and my ugh boots.  They can't

bite  through those but find me a companionable sort of very big creature.

I pick each one up in turn and place them on their back in my lap, head

toward my knee, tail toward my tummy so they can look directly at me and

see me smiling and talking to them.  I play with them like babies,

handling toes of each foot - lifting them up and making smacking noises on

their stomachs, I look them in the eye and bring my face close to theirs,

kiss them on the nose, ruff their ears, scratch their tummies.  We play this way 
for several minutes while they are on their backs.  Then I pull them up into a

sit or put them on their tummies in my lap and "we" peer down at their

siblings - they see that they are up higher - this is great!  "Terrific!"

I say - "look how high up you are!"  Then I gently put them down among

their siblings, carefully place them and give them a few good puppy pats

and on to the next one.  They often will sit and be quiet for a minute

after being put down - or if sleepy just wander a small distance and lie

down to sleep.  It is the most precious time for me to spend with each one

of them.  


I REALLY want these puppies to make good eye contact with us in

trust and expectation of good fun following.  I think it's working very

well.  They will hold a gaze with me now in the most unaffected, calm

manner and that's what I'm working toward - not a serious stare down - no

but a gaze at one another in comprehension and understanding.  I have this

with both Polo and Kamea and I believe it makes a big difference for

subsequent training of all sorts.  I want puppies to be able to focus on

their new owners and know this is good, that good comes from this.

So nighty night - very successful "training" puppy cuddling!