The Beginning:
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.


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 other dog's body language at 3-4 weeks,
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..