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Neurologically, a puppy is still
developing after it is born. The first two weeks they are
basically fur covered, heat-seeking missiles that are
hungry! During this phase, we handle the pups regularly and
imprint them on being handled, what humans smell like and
lightly stress them to increase neurological development.

Physical development is more obvious as they grow. When they
are born they do not have the ability to see or hear. Their
sense of smell and touch guides them to their mom and where
to nurse.

At about 7-10 days, the eyes begin to open. Before this, you
see a lot of motor activity-as the pups try to navigate and
find their feet. It must be nature's way of getting them
ready to interact with their environment, before flooding
them with visual stimuli.
Normally at about 17 or 18 days old in Aussies and BC's, or
3-5 days after eyes are fully open, the ears open. 21 days
is the standard for most breeds. This can be a stressful
time for pups, as they are now fully aware of and
experiencing the world around them. Startle response often
begins at this stage. Linked instinctively to herding
instinct and overall reactivity, gauging recovery time
can tell you a lot about each pup, at this stage. Toddler
toys that light up, make noise and move are all great to
introduce at this stage.

At three weeks of age or
when their ears open, the period of awareness and
socialization begins. This is when a puppy learns all of the
important skills in how to be a dog, bond with people,
learns how to learn and discovers their environment.

Each day, they are growing and learning-so when they reach
the period of awareness, something new is added to or
changed in their environment daily.
Some of the more specifically named programs, were developed as
kennel raised pups lacked much variety in their initial
socialization stage, and the effects were seen later.
The first 7-8 weeks are spent with Mom.
We allow our moms to naturally wean their pups, giving her
the opportunity to get away from them at a certain age, but
never completing separating them. Pups learn so much from
their dam, that it is important for everything from bite
inhibition to social response, that pups continue to have
access to their dam.

We emphasize health in our Moms and
believe natural whelpers are a result of good genetics, good
nutrition and being physically fit. Whelping a litter is
exhausting! Our moms are in such good shape, they are
usually still out playing frisbee the day before they
deliver and then back out the day after.

Once the pups are around four weeks, they begin to be weaned
onto goats milk and organic barley flakes "pudding". They
also get home made yogurt and protein sources are added, as
their systems mature. As, many people want the option of
feeding kibble-a high quality kibble like EVO or Nature's
Variety is added as they grow. Small, raw bones are given as
they get teeth.

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The rest of our pack also helps to raise the pups. Before
four weeks, each older dog is allowed to visit briefly, as
are our cats, but the dam is usually still a bit worried
about them.

The pups are only just learning to read body language, so
need to be protected for the next few weeks, from getting
into trouble too.
We encourage our pups to develop their denning instinct,
from the moment they can walk. The instinct to keep their
bedding area clean, is what carries over into housebreaking
later-so pups are given the chance to get outside and onto
different substrait surfaces, to eliminate early on.

Once, they are fully mobile, we
give them access to a safe outdoor area to reinforce keeping
indoor areas clean. Letting them outdoors or replicating the
texture by using mulch to "go" on, makes housebreaking a
breeze.

In addition to inviting all shapes
and sizes of people over to meet the pups, they are exposed
to a wide variety of household noises and sights. We also
take them for rides in the car, in a wheeled wagon, expose
them to other animals and take hikes in the woods in good
weather.

Because, performance events are important to us-our pups are
given a variety of mini agility obstacles to climb, navigate
and run through including a mini tippy board. This gets them
used to causing movement and sound and replicates the
teeter, later. The pups all become "surfers" after awhile,
and you can see their glee at making the board bang. The key
to environmental enrichment is variety-once the pups get
used to one thing it is replaced with something new.

The first period of socialization technically lasts until
twelve weeks-but up to sixteen weeks, there are many "life
lessons" that are a hard to recreate later in a pup's life.
At 8
weeks a puppy's life education still needs to continue in
their new home. What a pup is and isn't exposed to during
this phase, will have life long effects on their personality
and development. We set the stage, but each will develop
differently, depending upon how much time and effort a new
home puts into them.
Most of what we do, when
raising a litter is simple and just part of loving them.
Our philosophy is based on
stimulating their minds and bodies.

We are proud of our dogs and have much more to say on their
early weeks...so this page will be added to..
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