Client Services

At Gone with the Wind Kidz we value all our our clients to keep them up todate with new tips and valuable resourses to aid them in raising our Mini Sport Retrievers!

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1. I am asked about Pet Insurance and locally you can obtain this through Western Financial 250.762.2217 they handle Pet Secure. The other provider that one of our pup parents uses is  http://trupanion.com
2. The following is tracking our pups through their ages first list is 3 months, next is 5 months.
   1. Lula is 18 pounds, she is now 38 pounds and 17.5 inches
   2. Oscar is 21 pounds
   3. Sophie is 16 pounds
   4. Rhya is 15 pounds, she is now 25 pounds and 18 inches
   5. Mojo is 17 pounds
   6. Captain Barnacle is 23 pounds, he is 48 pounds and 20 inches
3. I know that some people have their neuters set for the coming weeks which are awesome. I know that some vets encourage that people wait till the male dogs are between 6 to 8 months. I cannot stress the importance as this breed is more mature at a young age that your lil man can impregnate in another month. It is something that is unique in this cross that they are very potent. Also there is no reason to wait as some will say its about lifting their legs even girl dogs can learn this too age has nothing to do with it. Other statements are pure wives tales saying it will keep them puppy like etc. Actually if you do it early you can prevent your female or male hormones kicking in and the issue of humping anything or a guest’s leg greatly alleviated. All our females had just their ovaries removed and in a few hours were feeling like themselves. The boys well the proceedure didnt phase them at this age!
   
   As for the girls it is common just prior to their 5’th month for the girls to go into season. If your girl is starting to lick a lot or when overly excited starts humping a toy or another dog it is time to get her fixed ASAP as her mother just days prior to her 5 month came into season. I realize some vets don’t support early spay or neuter then please contact either my vet or another who will do it now. Also to talk about spaying for a moment it is best for the girls to only have their ovaries removed this came directly from my purebred cocker breeder this summer who has been doing it for the past 12 years. There is no need to do a full removal as it is very invasive and longer healing time. Some have expressed that some vets will say they end up doing a full removal later on: they are not people and there isn’t issues typically unless the animal is prone to histories of health issues in the genealogy which ours do not.
4. Vet contacts: Okanagan Vet Hospital is the only local vet who will just take the ovaries out prior to a dog coming into season and spay or neuter as early as 8 weeks old contact Dr. Marco 250-765-5132 or Rutland Vet hospital will spay or neuter on request as early as 10 weeks old.
5. Some vets are gauging the pup’s weight to cocker spaniels. Simply tell them they are more like a Brittany but their weights are well documented through our founder plus through your play dates you will see how similar your baby is to its sibling and when we figure out a date that works to have everyone together then you will see how they are compared to mom and dad. If your vet raises any concerns or issues please have your vet call me. Also don’t forget they are a business so don’t forget to ask if you can do things naturally or alternatives found in our food to feed your baby rather than buying vet approved….
6. Most of our families are either free feeding or demand feeding (due to an elder sibling in the house). Please do not have your vet convince you to ration your baby otherwise as I have seen with one pup already they can become aggressive about their food and constantly searching for food like people this breed need to snack frequently and seems to need to eat regular they determine the portion amount as this regulates their moods and energy. Issue resolved once the food was put back down for free feeding.. Go figure. In prior dogs I withheld food due to gluttony and weight issues. As I mentioned pups need nourishment to grow into healthy adults and based on their activity or lack of it as mom and dad tend to be couch potatoes and are anything but overweight. Also they can handle calories and fat now until the age of 3 to 4 then simply watch how many treats are given in addition to their food. Also your baby can be fed puppy kibble until that age or later depending on activity- I know this is contradictory to the vets recommendations but ask any farmer if they feed their pups differently than their adult dogs.
7. Food: I fed and feed mom and dad Kirkland Puppy: there is no need to feed high end kibble simply look at ingredients to ensure no ash, no meal or by products or ingredients you cant pronounce when in doubt write it down and google the ingredient to find out what it is. Another rule of thumb if there is a lot of poo or very sizeable then there is too much filler if it is not firm and sloppy then too much fiber. Ideal is soft but shaped not too smelly and no bigger than the length of your hand provided your dog is going 2 to 3 times a day. The pups no longer need soft food they are big boys and girls now so dry kibble is all and periodic treats. Try not to feed treats with colorings as it will always cause diarrhea in this breed or periodic upset stomachs.
8. Chews: It is fine to allow the pups to chew on raw hides, full size dino bones, roast/ beef thigh bones: no steak, pork chop or chicken bones at all. NO SOCKS OR SHOES OR purses or items that look like any of these made for dogs they have no idea which is theirs or yours. Bare feet are always a favourite.
9. Smiling: A few of the pups are exhibiting their mom’s trait of a full on smile where they wrinkle their nose from the tip straight through to the corners of their mouths. So far Lula and Rhya are doing this. I can ask Scarlett to smile and even lil Lula when I did a home visit did it when I asked her if she is a happy girl. I hope to catch it on camera with one the pups
10. Home visits: I am more than willing to come for a visit with mom or dad or just myself to answer any concerns or help with questions or simply with a play date with mom/ dad: Dad is missing his kids lately as mom doesn’t like to play the same way… Scarlett has another objective on her mind she is thinking that she might want to have more kids- I will update everyone on this if it progresses more.
11. Attention of crowds. I know that our dogs always tend to gather questions from people and potential interest in the breed or people considering an addition to their family. I appreciate everyone’s referrals to the website and hope in the next month to get some business cards that will answer a few questions that you can hand out with the website. I will also be building awareness through all our vet clinics about the breed and arrange meetings should they have further questions also to build referrals for other families wanting our type of cross. You can tell serious people that I am going to start the process of pre-selecting families for our next litter this may not be required based on some of your contacts indicating they are interested as well as the current interest but feel free to pass it on as I would ideally want to ensure we have 4 committed families.
12. Habits: I am proud to say that all the pups are social, smart and desiring to learn which is really exciting that at such a young age they comprehend training that generally waits till a dog is 1 or 2 years of age. OVERACHIEVERS lol.
13. Training: I know some people are training themselves I know Brian has Rhya waiting for the command of a treat: way cool so siblings a play date with smarty pants sis might be a great thing. Also I am aware that 3 pups are getting puppy school from Liz Corrigan which is awesome: Captain Barnacle, Mojo & Sophie if someone else is too just let us know as it would be great for the siblings to attend together if it works. Here is Liz’s contact info: (250) 769-7818 also as I mentioned before Brad Patterson from End of my leash is in Kelowna a great opportunity to attend with him too http://www.bradpattison.com/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
14. Commands I had used while the pups were here: come: I said this 2 times quickly come come, when they were all very busy to settle them down I would sternly say enough, when I permitted them to do things I say now ok. Off: I said down, while talking to them when I wanted them to sit initially I held my pointer finger towards my mouth while forming a fist with the rest of my hand and ask for a sit: Captain Barnacle had the benefit to see the full fist held out and my asking for everyone to sit mom, dad and son when Oscar was with us I would have all four do it at the same time. Now as I was working with the dogs the pointer finger aspect carried through whether I asked for a lay down to stay. When ever I ask the pups I point so they see what I am asking. For the parents it is now gestures and no longer pointing. Lay down I hold my hand horizontal cupped upwards. Stay is the down ward stop sign, wait is upward stop sign. Now for all the lil ones who are kings or queens of their homes: moms/ dads let your no’s be no’s and be firm and strong you are the boss. All good children thrive on routine and structure. I tend to focus on the commands versus names as I don’t want others using my dogs names to operate my dogs. When we are out and I have asked Rhett to stay and I walk away 10 paces and I want him to come to me versus a friend. I have my friend call him by name asking him to come and I will look at Rhett motion with my pointer finger to come saying nothing or I will have my friend waving for him to come and tapping their thighs saying come come. Then I will look at Rhett saying the phrase “Now Rhett and motion come with my pointer finger by my leg.  When no one else is around I will say the command come. It is a tough lesson which I still work on given his age but they do get it so long as I maintain their focus. Periodically I will use the word FOCUS as the command to get their attention or retain it.
15. Discipline/ firm correction of unwanted behaviour: When a pup is nipping unwanted or chewing the legs of the piano and you catch your darling in then act a quick correction tool: just like mom would gently squeeze the muzzle till you get a lil whimper and in a growly voice say NO. If your darling is spun so tight that they are like a child on too much sugar or behaving aggressively or simply not responding to NO: simply firmly lay them down on their side including their head if needed simply hold your elbow on their torso while using your hand to hold the head. Don’t reach for the face first in this process as it will always be rewarded with snipping behaviour you want to surprise your darling by taking their legs out from under them. So long as they resist and you say stay keep holding them in the position till the resistance lessens till you can take your arm off and keep your hand on their head till you can take your hand off while they continue to stay. If they try to lift the head make the abrupt sound chchitt. Some corrections can be a quick nudge with your finger with the same chchitt sound to their torso. Remember parents be firm and discipline doesn’t mean your sparing the rod to spoil the child you are simply correcting behaviours to have amazing kids who are always invited to your friends houses!
16. Potty times: Your darling is either clueing in or mom/ dad you are on a great schedule! Rhett asks to go out and all I can say is they will instinctively get it at age 6 months to ask verbally or if dad is around he taught mom how to ask to go out and can teach your darling one afternoon by example I know Captain Barnacle was starting to whimper while he was here or if he wanted to go to play did a little yip by mimicking dad. Most of the pups are like their mom right now simply either looking in the direction knowing where they needed to go and occasionally doing a pee in front of you. As I showed lil Lula she knew what to do when I said lets get busy and did her pee beside Milkshake. Even lil Milkshake was learning when I took him to one spot and pointed saying lets get busy what to do. I tell my dogs lets get busy or do the duty prior to them doing it. If you are with them you can say oh your doing your busy or duty way to go and tonnes of praise. Once they reach 5 months you can have them on verbal commands to do the job quick and prior to a enjoyable walk. Don’t get the job and the walk confused ask them to get the job done then go for a walk. Even though I simply let mom and dad out I always tell them the commands so they do their thing and come back in. If I am simply letting them out to play I don’t say the command or if they ask I will say oh you want to get busy and they usually get excited. No matter what when you tell them to do a busy they will always try in order to please even if they don’t have to do much. I tell Rhett to try hard and he will do it. Scarlett if I say just give me a drop then we will go she will do it when they were younger now they do it without question as it means they get to do something else if it is out of the way.
17. How do you know: Its not mom or dad intuition that your baby is going to do the poo. Here is a cheat: If after eating under 10 minutes your lil one should go out. Otherwise their little bottom will get poochy meaning the surface behind the anus will look a bit swollen it is very subtle but you will know your little one. Pee’s well they simply need to know where outside is if there is stairs you need the quickest access for them to understand the concept of where to do the busy.
18. Anal Glands: Every time you bathe your baby please remember to do the glands otherwise they get full and then your baby will scoot on your furniture or carpets. All you do is below the anus directly below is in a sliding upward motion squish from each side and slid up towards the anus and out will shoot the fluid. It is stinky but costly if your vet does it. If you have never done this you can see how on the website or I will come the day you plan bath time and show you it takes less than 10 seconds to do and carry on with rub a dub dub.
19. Here is a home made dog biscuit recipe I use (customized for my own nutrition desire for my dogs) and keep in the freezer- Scarlett goes nutz for them:

• 2.5 cups whole wheat flour
• ½ cup protein powder
• ½ cup skim milk powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 6 tbsp fat or more if you have drippings toss it all in from the nite before
• ½ calf liver pureed or you can used the last portion of a cooked roast
• Up to 1 cup water based on moisture
  
  Mix all ingredients in mixer to form a ball like a bread ball too moist add more flour to dry add more water. Once a formed ball roll on flour on counter into ½ inch thick layer and cut strips into biscuit size or use bone shape cutter. Bake on lard covered cookie sheet for 30 to 45 minutes depending on thickness at 350 degree They will slightly brown but should be crunch when done let cool and freeze extras to keep longer but the dogs like the coolness as well.
  
  When I made these biscuits in strips with left over veggies, roast and gravy drippings they are completely human edible..
  
  So for those of you with kids moms make sure you make 2 batches one special one for the kids and the dogs cookies too or define the dogs cookies clearly ( I now use a bone shape cutter for the dogs)! Lol