Kanzu, running with his handler Tracy Tennison, took first place 3 days in a row to earn his Novice Agility Jumpers (NAJ) title in one weekend at the Belgian Tervuren Club of Southern California Agility trial March 5-7, 2010. He also took first place and earned one of his 3 necessary qualifying runs on the standard course.

Kanzu’s breeders Lisa and Mike Patterson, started Kanzu and his littermates on “puppy” agility equipment at around 5 weeks of age. When he came to his new home at 9 weeks we continued with baby jumps and tunnels for play. When he finally started adult agility training with Tracy at Citrus Hill Canine Center it was clear he had definite motor memory from him puppy days. In fact, when he went back to the tunnels as an adult dog, he couldn’t quite understand the concept that he was “a lot bigger’ than when he was a puppy and first learned to ‘tunnel’. In his mind and body, he remembered how to go through tunnels when he was just a little guy and the tunnels were way bigger than he was. His motor-memory was clearly that of a small puppy. His charging the tunnels without ducking in those early days of training with Tracy gave us all many, many laughs but also showed us clearly that those early memories were working and gave him a great foundation and lots of confidence for his real agility training.
For videos of Kanzu’s performances:
Friday Jumpers Click Here:
Saturday Jumpers Click Here:
Sunday Jumpers Click Here:
Sunday Standard Click Here:

 
Click here for information on Tracy Tennison and Citrus Hill Canine Center
http://www.citrushillcaninecenter.com/

The Kanzu x Tailor puppies are now 6 weeks old. As can be seen in the photos, they have grown and changed rapidly. They now look like real dogs and their hearing and sight are more fully developed. They are able to move more rapidly and gracefully. This is also a critical period for socialization. According to Rutherford and Neil in “How to Raise a Puppy” during this period “…the pup must receive attention from people. The kinds of experiences that a puppy has during this period have a very strong effect on how he will react emotionally to humans when he is an adult.” The puppies continue to get lots of human attention daily with Jane and Cory spending large amounts of time handling and playing with the new puppies to prepare them to be loving companions for their new human families. In fact just this week, their new human families have begun to visit and meet the puppies bringing ever expanding experiences with new humans.

For Photos of puppies at Week 6
Click Here

The puppies have turned 4.5 weeks.  This is the middle of the first stage of socialization where the puppies are becoming more aware of the world around them.  According to Rutherford and Neil in “How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With” at 4-5 weeks the puppies are using their legs well but tires easily.  This could be seen when we tried to take the 4.5 week photos.  Many of the puppies could not hold their heads up they were so tired from the stimulation of the new toys.  During this period they begin to chase one another and play prey-killing games.  A great example of this was the puppy who straddled the lion during our photo session.  From about 22-28 days it is easy for the puppies to be over-stimulated so doggie mom, Tailor and human parents Jane and Cory are spending as much time as possible with the puppies to make sure they know they are safe and secure in their new world.  More toys are being introduced and the whelping box has been expanded to include a small step down to a “potty area”.  The puppies are praised for going potty in this designated area.  In short, we are creating an environment and tasks to stimulate the puppies and to give them opportunities to succeed physically, mentally and emotionally.  This physical and mental conditioning will go a long way in maximizing the genetic potential of the litter. For photos of puppies at this age Click Here