Most breeders wont give you any tips on what to do with puppies.  We try to arm our owners with lots of information. 
From an experienced point of view the HPR breed should be placed in homes sooner than 8 weeks, but we are all tied to a silly rule.  We say this because it's detrimental for some slow growing breeds to be mature enough to leave at 8 weeks, then we have the detrimental effect on quick growing intelligent breeds which need social skills much sooner.  So for example those breeding Vizsla must start their pups on a program at home which the owner must take on soon as they go home.  At 8 weeks your at the stage of needing to be out and about with your pups. 
Carry your puppy or put it in a puppy pram and get out in the countryside. Go and sit outside Morrisons for half an hour.  Go down a road with traffic.  Go down past a field of horses. 
Then continue to build on it.  We have a spread sheet you can tick off the experiences your puppy needs from 8 weeks.  This is going to also change now as I can add more into it. 

Today at 10 weeks D'Jango went to the local Ford. There was lots of children playing and screaming.  He got to meet 2 little dogs. He got fuss from several people after they asked, although I will limit this.  He got to learn how to sit quietly at a table and be given rewards for sitting patiently at the table. He got to paddle in water.  At the pub we met a horse whose owner had come down for a drink. All these little normal things he will come into contact with will help him be a better adult. 

Now dont over whelm your puppy by allowing strange dogs to play with your puppy.  A sniff and greet is all they should do.  They should not be allowed to rough play.  This causes reactivity later in the dogs life when it hits adolescence.  So be sensible. 

Wow what a weekend we just had in Belgium. 

Brandi who is Silvestre Fire and Desire won her first CACIB and CAC This means she has started her championship title in Europe and over the years now we hope to go over and complete the title.  Brandi comes from our lovely Ripley who was one of the best show dogs I had.  Ripley was always a pleasure to take out, but she unfortunately had an accident and bust her front teeth out.  But now Ripley is in retirement and her daughter Brandi is taking the helm of showing.  

​Looking forward to some show days ahead of us. 

Did you know that dogs which are reactive they are dogs which will have had a bad experience when younger.  Most people can relate to the moment when things go wrong in their dogs lives. But for some they cannot.  Because it can be as simple as another dog jumping on yours as a puppy in a puppy school.  
From a behaviourist point of view puppy parties are the worst idea possible.  Uncontrolled puppy play or even with adults is the worst idea possible.  Unfortunately Big social groups of the same breed can cause also reactivity in dogs.  Because most people do not understand the complications of other dogs playing with your dog.  You may see it as playing. But to your dog it may be scared to death this other one wants to jump on it and play.   This brings out natural behaviours when you put large groups of dogs together.  They are not children, they are dogs, and dogs have this inherited trait how to live in large groups, and to be thrown together in large groups you will see fear because they do not know how to react.   You will get a dog which is the alpha which can dominate the submissive dog.   
A dog boarder also has a lot to learn, because mostly they are not in control of large groups of dogs and again causes reactivity.   If you want to find a boarder make sure your dog is the only one or just two. Do not leave your dog in large groups of dogs.  Sadly however most boarders need more than 2 to earn an income.  Plus it's a free for all on walks.  These kind of situations can cause terrible behaviours later.  Dog aggression. 
Dog creches also are not good for dogs.  Because you need someone which has their eye on every dog all the time who will grab a dog and take it out of the situation if needed. 

I have been on a learning journey the past few months, and I am continuing to learn.  But this is something ive known since in my 20's but it's lovely to have it all reaffirmed.   Therefore if any Silvestres go on large group walks you should seriously consider again, because it is not in the dogs welfare or social need to be dominated by other dogs. It can cause fear which can turn to reactivity.  

Most dog aggression or reactivity is down to bad experiences which you have put the dog in. It's okay to say NO!  do not let people say to you can my dog say hello to yours. Say NO!

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Did you know that the dog pet population is very small in comparisons to the whole dog population in general ?

The biggest proportion are village dogs, stray dogs.  Then we have wild dogs, wolves, coyotes, dingos and so on. 

China has one of the biggest populations of people to pet dogs. 

How interesting is this!  


But did you also know that dogs are genetically programmed in a certain way and how to behave which they do not have to think about to do it. 


This is why it is extremely important that you as a buyer of a new breed of dog realises what the heritage is.  Because you will start to say the dog has behavioural problems, and it does not.  A guarding breed is inheritantly going to guard.  So if you do not want a guarding dog with all its traits do not buy one.  We have a huge population now of people looking for dogs which just see dogs as cute fur babies.  When in fact they are going to do the job they were bred and selectively bred to do. 

Do not buy a Vizsla if you do not want to see certain traits appearing as it is not a cute fluffy breed, it's a dog which has programmed traits.  To be a bird hunting dog.  Most people who want one really would be better with a toy breed of dog. Or a breed which suits their lifestyle.  

Over the next few weeks my information will change on Silvestre Owners access page.
Password is changing.  So those of you who want older dog behaviour tips will now have to join my academy online.   But basic knowledge on seasons, vaccines, health and so on will remain. 
I will always keep files which I think is vital for new owners of puppies.  But several pages will disappear now in ready for the new website for helping with puppies, over coming the training you'll need to own the best dog.   You see a breeders job is to just breed a puppy.  They are not really supposed to then offer for free all the advice on training or behaviour Ive been giving out for years. I am going to gradually build up more of a business now away from breeding dogs.  Although I foresee over the next ten years I shall still be breeding but this will come to a halt.  The plan is for Darryl to help more with the dogs and I will be offering all the training and behaviour side over these ten years. 
I am setting up a new business which will have videos, training, behavioural tips to help you with dogs.  This is for everyone not just Silvestre owners.  As many know ive been doing a behavioural course and with one of the leading behaviourists in the UK.  I did not realise until I did this course that I already had behavioural knowledge just by living with dogs and being in the dog world for so long.  I hope some of you will join and be on the journey with me.  I can offer zoom calls, and I can come to your home in Norfolk.  I am also now embarking on shadowing dog trainer who I the biggest respect for and in my view one of the leading trainers in the country.  This will develop more of my knowledge. 

I. may be transferring to a new website but Im trying to find another hosting which will offer same similar passwords.  But this is work in progress.