How We Raise Our Puppies

Our home, we raise our puppies in a nurturing environment that prioritizes their well-being and development. Born in the comfort of our own home, each puppy receives daily social interaction with humans, children, and other dogs, ensuring they grow up well-adjusted. We also implement Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) training, which helps enhance their physical and emotional resilience. Our commitment is to provide a loving foundation that prepares them a happy life with their future families.

We incorporate various enrichment methods to promote their development, including:

Exposure to people of all ages and appearances
Socialization with other dogs
Daily handling
Introduction to different scents
Socialization in new environments
Interaction with children
Tactile and surface stimulation
Car rides
Exposure to a variety of sounds
Basic manners and name recognition
Crate training
Potty training
Interaction with children and other pets
Early stages of crate training and car riding
Outdoor experiences (weather permitting

Additionally, our puppies benefit from visits from friends and family who assist with handling and daily care. While we avoid public places before the puppies are fully vaccinated (at 16 weeks), they are still exposed to many important experiences.

Other enrichment activities include:

Avidog training techniques
Exposure to various outdoor conditions, like rain
Different surfaces for walking
Introduction to new scents
Chew toys, such as bones
Play with different toys, including balls
Household desensitization (e.g., different household noises and activities)
Climbing and other structures
Desensitization to touch, grooming, and sound stimulation
Socialization with adult dogs and children

This comprehensive approach helps ensure our puppies are well-rounded and prepared for their new homes.

Timeline

First 2 Weeks

Weeks 2-5

Weeks 6-8

Week 8

In the first two weeks of a puppy's life, they rely entirely on their mother for warmth, nutrition, and care. During this period, the puppies are born blind and deaf, spending most of their time sleeping and nursing. The mother dog instinctively tends to her litter, ensuring they are clean and comfortable. As they grow, the puppies begin to develop their senses, starting to respond to touch and warmth, which lays the foundation for their social and emotional development.

During weeks 2 to 5 after birth, a puppy undergoes significant development and socialization. In the second week, their eyes begin to open, and they start to to sounds, while their sense of smell becomes more acute. This is when we start the ENS training. By week 3, they become more mobile, learning to walk and interact with their littermates. Around week 4, they start to explore their environment and engage in play, which is crucial for their social skills. By week 5, they are moved from their whelping box into our dog run, where they will be introduced to new toys, sounds, and smells. They are also slowly introduced to puppy food at this time.

During weeks 6 to 8, a puppy experiences significant growth and development. This is a crucial period where they begin to explore their environment and socialize with their littermates. They learn important skills such as bite inhibition and play behavior, which helps them interact appropriately with other dogs. Additionally, this is the time when they begin spending less time with mom, relying on mostly on puppy food, and start to be introduced to basic training concepts, setting the foundation for their future as well-adjusted pets.

In the eighth week after birth, a puppy begins to experience a world full of new sights, sounds, and smells. During this crucial period, socialization becomes key, as they interact with humans and other pets, helping to shape their personalities. Basic training can begin, focusing on simple commands and housebreaking, laying the foundation for good behavior. This is also a time for play, exploration, and bonding, where the puppy learns to trust and rely on their human companions.

Puppies are ready to embark on their new adventures in their forever homes at this time. This age is crucial for their development, as they have received essential socialization and care from their mother and littermates. Bringing a puppy home at this stage allows them to bond with their new family and begin learning important behaviors in a loving environment. It's an exciting time filled with joy, training, and countless memories to create together!