How we raise our Puppies
The primary reason for us to breed, is to make a positive contribution to the breed. Keeping this is mind we only choose dogs that are wonderful examples of the breed with excellent temperaments, intelligence, and that come from strong pedigrees with healthy backgrounds. Our puppy raising program is designed to give each and every puppy the very best start in life. Through nutrition, stimulation, handling, grooming, and socialization, we do our best to prepare each puppy for joining their new family and to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Week 1: Puppies are monitored around the clock since this is a very crucial time in their lives. Each individual puppy is handled & loved on daily. Mom is fed a special diet to accommodate her and all of the newborn puppies. We begin the Bio-Sensor program on day 3 of the puppies life.
Week 2: This week is much like week 1. The puppies are growing and their eyes may begin to open this week. They are still carefully being monitored, gently handled and given individual attention daily. We handle the puppies regularly to imprint them on the human scent. Handling the puppies teaches them to relax and trust human interaction, even before their eyes and ears are open. We are also continuing the Bio-Sensor program this week. The puppies will receive their first dose of dewormer this week too.
Week 3: By three weeks the puppies' eyes and ears are open. They have started wobbling around, and exploring their surroundings. We have finished the Bio-Sensor program this week. The puppies are held, cuddled, and talked to daily. We also start introducing a few different toys this week. We begin to socialize our puppies using the RULES OF SEVENS technique. This includes exposing all of our puppies to new toys/objects, surfaces, sounds, challenges, being fed from different containers, etc. This type of environmental enrichment enhances intelligence, confidence, learning, and resiliency.
Week 4: The puppies will begin to get teeth this week. They might start chewing on some of mom's food, but are not ready to eat dry food yet. Instead, they will be started on softened puppy food. They are more playful at this age and will begin to interact with each other and people more. We will continue to socialize the puppies, using the Rules of Sevens technique. We want to get them accustomed to normal household life as early as possible. Also, this week we begin the foundation for housetraining. At this age puppies begin to make the association between where they sleep and where they potty. The play area is then divided in two, a sleeping and playing area and a potty area with a litter box. This helps puppies learn to leave the sleeping area to eliminate. The puppies will receive their 2nd dose of dewormer this week, as well.
Week 5: By this week, the puppies are quite active. They are eating a nice amount of "wet" food and drinking water regularly. They are also pottying more at this stage, so their potty area needs to be cleaned a few times per day. We are continuing to socialize the puppies, using the Rules of Sevens technique. We also begin introducing puppies to the grooming process including regular nail trims and baths. At 5 weeks, the puppies are quite the little “social bugs” and will happily run to greet everyone. They love to be held and cuddled at this age, but also enjoy playing tug-o-war and such, with their littermates. This week potty training is well underway.
Week 6: The puppies are now comfortable on their feet and can run, jump, and play with ease. They are also introduced to new people of different ages (children-adult). They are introduced to napping in a crate. They have also grown, so they need a bigger area to run. We will fence in a little area of the yard (depending on the weather) and allow them time outside for fresh air and playtime.
Week 7: This week, the puppies visit the vet for their first checkup. This is usually also their first car ride. They meet a lot of new people and have an entire new experience. The veterinarian takes each puppy and thoroughly examines him or her. We use whelping ID bands (if needed) from the day the puppies are born, so we can easily identify which puppy is which. They also get their first puppy vaccinations and another dose of dewormer this week. Needless to say, week 7 is the most eventful week next till the week they go to their new homes!
Week 8: Week 8 is much like the previous 3 weeks. We continue to socialize & love on our fur babies! They are doing very well with "potty training", and enjoy play sessions with people of all ages.
Week 9: By this time, the puppies are very accustomed to the camera and little photo sessions. They are also used to being held, loved on, and played with as part of their daily routine. By this age, they have been in 7 different locations, met and played with 7 new people, been on 7 different surfaces, played with 7 different objects, ate out of 7 different containers, eaten in 7 different locations, and faced 7 different challenges.
Week 10: This week is the saddest week for us, but the happiest week for our puppies’ new owners. This is the week that they may take their babies home! By this week, we aim to have potty training almost 100%, which greatly helps the new owners with house training their new puppy. They are given extra doses of love and affection this week as we prepare ourselves for our “babies” to leave us.
The first week home for a puppy can be stressful for both puppy and family. We suggest that this be a time of relative calm and quiet for the puppy and that time should be spent adjusting and bonding with the family. This is also the time to establish routines for your puppy and begin housetraining. We understand how exciting it is to have a new puppy to show off, but we recommend you limit the number of outings and are careful not to overwhelm your puppy during this sensitive time.
We miss our puppies when they leave, and love to receive updates along with photos!
Week 2: This week is much like week 1. The puppies are growing and their eyes may begin to open this week. They are still carefully being monitored, gently handled and given individual attention daily. We handle the puppies regularly to imprint them on the human scent. Handling the puppies teaches them to relax and trust human interaction, even before their eyes and ears are open. We are also continuing the Bio-Sensor program this week. The puppies will receive their first dose of dewormer this week too.
Week 3: By three weeks the puppies' eyes and ears are open. They have started wobbling around, and exploring their surroundings. We have finished the Bio-Sensor program this week. The puppies are held, cuddled, and talked to daily. We also start introducing a few different toys this week. We begin to socialize our puppies using the RULES OF SEVENS technique. This includes exposing all of our puppies to new toys/objects, surfaces, sounds, challenges, being fed from different containers, etc. This type of environmental enrichment enhances intelligence, confidence, learning, and resiliency.
Week 4: The puppies will begin to get teeth this week. They might start chewing on some of mom's food, but are not ready to eat dry food yet. Instead, they will be started on softened puppy food. They are more playful at this age and will begin to interact with each other and people more. We will continue to socialize the puppies, using the Rules of Sevens technique. We want to get them accustomed to normal household life as early as possible. Also, this week we begin the foundation for housetraining. At this age puppies begin to make the association between where they sleep and where they potty. The play area is then divided in two, a sleeping and playing area and a potty area with a litter box. This helps puppies learn to leave the sleeping area to eliminate. The puppies will receive their 2nd dose of dewormer this week, as well.
Week 5: By this week, the puppies are quite active. They are eating a nice amount of "wet" food and drinking water regularly. They are also pottying more at this stage, so their potty area needs to be cleaned a few times per day. We are continuing to socialize the puppies, using the Rules of Sevens technique. We also begin introducing puppies to the grooming process including regular nail trims and baths. At 5 weeks, the puppies are quite the little “social bugs” and will happily run to greet everyone. They love to be held and cuddled at this age, but also enjoy playing tug-o-war and such, with their littermates. This week potty training is well underway.
Week 6: The puppies are now comfortable on their feet and can run, jump, and play with ease. They are also introduced to new people of different ages (children-adult). They are introduced to napping in a crate. They have also grown, so they need a bigger area to run. We will fence in a little area of the yard (depending on the weather) and allow them time outside for fresh air and playtime.
Week 7: This week, the puppies visit the vet for their first checkup. This is usually also their first car ride. They meet a lot of new people and have an entire new experience. The veterinarian takes each puppy and thoroughly examines him or her. We use whelping ID bands (if needed) from the day the puppies are born, so we can easily identify which puppy is which. They also get their first puppy vaccinations and another dose of dewormer this week. Needless to say, week 7 is the most eventful week next till the week they go to their new homes!
Week 8: Week 8 is much like the previous 3 weeks. We continue to socialize & love on our fur babies! They are doing very well with "potty training", and enjoy play sessions with people of all ages.
Week 9: By this time, the puppies are very accustomed to the camera and little photo sessions. They are also used to being held, loved on, and played with as part of their daily routine. By this age, they have been in 7 different locations, met and played with 7 new people, been on 7 different surfaces, played with 7 different objects, ate out of 7 different containers, eaten in 7 different locations, and faced 7 different challenges.
Week 10: This week is the saddest week for us, but the happiest week for our puppies’ new owners. This is the week that they may take their babies home! By this week, we aim to have potty training almost 100%, which greatly helps the new owners with house training their new puppy. They are given extra doses of love and affection this week as we prepare ourselves for our “babies” to leave us.
The first week home for a puppy can be stressful for both puppy and family. We suggest that this be a time of relative calm and quiet for the puppy and that time should be spent adjusting and bonding with the family. This is also the time to establish routines for your puppy and begin housetraining. We understand how exciting it is to have a new puppy to show off, but we recommend you limit the number of outings and are careful not to overwhelm your puppy during this sensitive time.
We miss our puppies when they leave, and love to receive updates along with photos!