Puppy Raising is my obsession. I put my all into every puppy! We don't have puppies very often but when we do, I strive to give them the very best start possible. Before we even get to the litter planning stage Mom and Dad are carefully evaluated and tested for hunting ability, trainability, temperament and health. All our dogs are CHIC certified. Learn more here: http://www.caninehealthinfo.org We keep Mom is good shape, and as free of stress and well exercised as possible. High quality nutrition helps grow smart healthy puppies, and we feed Dr. Tim's dog food. Learn more here: http://drtims.com (I am not paid to endorse any food. I just really like this food and our dogs do very well on it.)
1-3 Weeks
Learning begins the very moment puppies are born. (Well actually it begins even sooner, which is why we put so much time and attention on mom while she is pregnant!) Canine research indicates that growing puppy brains are stimulated by very mild stress during neonatal development. Puppies who receive this early stimulation will have brains that mature more quickly, with more cells, and more interconnections between brain cells. As early as the first few weeks of life, we can help shape the long term health and mental state of our growing puppies. In addition, this stimulation has been shown to accelerate hair growth, weight gain, motor skills, problem solving skills, and improve confidence. At birth puppies have high sensations for tactile stimulation and smell. At about 2 weeks puppies ears and eyes open and they begin to take in sight and sound stimulation. They also begin standing and walking more upright, developing more efficient movement and can learn to walk on varied substrates, inclines, and unsteady surfaces helping to improve coordination and balance. At this point we start introducing music and sounds and new smells and textures.
3-6 Weeks
Between 3 weeks and 6 week of age puppies have extremely LOW anxiety levels. This means that things experienced during this time most of all will be likely to develop pleasant, non-fearful interactions. This is the best time to help puppies with noise, sight, smells, substrates, and other stimuli that they may encounter later. It also means this a very busy time for puppy raising. Puppies at this young age still have very immature immune systems though, and should be carefully stimulated in controlled safe environments.
This is also the time we begin training puppies to use a certain spot to eliminate. As they get strong enough to walk away from their sleeping area, they naturally get up and move away to "potty." We capitalize on this by associating a certain place (usually with absorbent pine pellets) and this begins a successful future for house training. The ultimate goal is outside in the yard but we can start habits even at this young age that help them more easily learn to go in the right places. Usually by about 5 weeks they can use the dog door and most puppies will be going outside reliably by 6 weeks.
Now that they can see and hear and have ever improving dexterity and balance, we can begin to use positive reinforcement. Behaviors such as PLACE, HERE, SIT, and STAND can be introduced and encouraged. Yes, puppies this young can learn many things! Their brains are growing and learning extremely quickly at this stage. By starting positive reinforcement this young, puppies learn to problems solve, explore, and try new things. Sensory rich environments have been shown to thicken the growth of puppy cerebral corteses and increase the levels of neuro-endocrine transmitters. New toys, building chase and play retrieve drive, sound desensitization, introduction to water, and much more can happen during this time period. When follow up studies were done, animals raised in stimulus rich environments were more inquisitive and able to perform more challenging tasks.
We introduce crates and get them used to sleeping in and being comfortable in an open crate. Puppies naturally love to cuddle up in den like spaces. Crates become place of safety and restfulness and crate training goes very smoothly.
From birth we begin giving one-on-one time to each puppy, but at 3 weeks we put much greater emphasis on this time, allowing them to develop and learn independently and then still return to the familiar puppy pile. This helps their transition into a new family when they will need to be the only puppy and need to be okay with that. It's an important time for puppies to develop a sense of self, but it is also extremely important for them to remain with there littermates for much of the day and learn how to socially interact with other dogs appropriately. Just because weaning occurs during this stage does not mean puppies are ready to go home. They still have much to learn from each other and Mom.
6-8 Weeks
Puppies are learning many cues, exploring the outdoors and indoors, and becoming bold curious future gun dogs. Puppies are fully weaned and used to working/playing for their food. At this age puppies can begin to learn self control and patience. Short stays before feeding time, being crated alone for short times, and introduction to leashes and restraint all help puppies learn to self control and tolerance.
We introduce birds at this stage, and encourage tracking skills, marking skills, early retrieving, and much more. Gun fire and sound introduction has already started but we extend it and if puppies are ready we associate sharp sounds with fun things. Weather pending, we start swimming introductions and build swimming confidence. After puppies are old enough for Flea & Tick prevention, we start woods and field walks, letting the puppies explore and play as a group, practicing recall for treats periodically.
Whistle HERE is introduced and whistle SIT for retriever puppies. PLACE is extended with methods relevant to future goals. HEEL position is started and mouth manners work begins to help deal with puppy biting and nipping.
6-7 weeks is also puppy vaccination time, and heart worm prevention begins. Puppy dewormers have been given regularly, but now puppies are old enough to begin monthly prevention. Our vet does full exams on our puppies and all are microchipped and started on Sentinel and Frontline Plus before leaving. We believe strongly in proper follow up veterinary care so don't forget puppies will still need 3 vaccine boosters before they are 18 weeks old and Rabies vaccine at 16-18 weeks of age. Your veterinarian can best advise you on this.
All in all, we work very hard to give puppies the absolute best start possible in the time we have.
We also offer a Puppy Jump Start Program for a few puppies. See more on the Puppy Jump Start Page.
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