How do we raise our puppies?
Week 1: The puppies are monitored 24 hours since this is a crucial time in their lives. They are handled daily and held in different positions (to increase circulation).Mom is fed a special diet to accomodate herself and all of the newborn puppies.
Week 2: This week is much like week 1. The puppies are growing and their eyes might begin to open this week. They are still carefully monitored and handled daily. The puppies will receive their first dose of Pyrantel dewormer this week.
Week 3: At 3 weeks, the puppies have started wobbling around. This is the week that we start paper training. Puppies are held, cuddled, and talked to daily. We also start introducing toys this week.They are also given another dose of Pyrantel dewormer this week.
Week 4: The puppies will begin to get teeth this week. They might start chewing on some of mom's food, but are not yet ready to eat dry food. They are more playful at this age and will begin to interact with each other and people more. We introduce new toys at this age and also start to take them out of their comfort zone and into different rooms of the house where there are new and different noises and things going on. We want to get them accusomted to normal household life as early as possible. Also, by this week, paper training is about 80%, with only a few accidents occuring.The puppies receive their 3rd dose of Pyrantel dewormer this week, as well.
Week 5: By this week, the puppies are quite active. They are eating quite a bit of "dry" food and drinking water regularly. They are also quite messy at this stage and their whelping area needs to be cleaned a few times per day. We change the paper to wood chips (not cedar) at this age, as well, to help with the cleanup process that is getting worse by the day (especially with 8-10 puppies). We are taking them outside regularly for fresh air and introducing them to some new faces, as well. They are also introduced to different flooring textures (wood, tile, cement, grass, dirt, etc.). At 5 weeks, the puppies are quite social and will happily run to meet everyone. They love being held at this age, but also still love playing with their littermates.
Week 6: 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, but it usually takes them about 2-3 minutes to get accustomed and they begin to play (and chew, of course). The veterinarian takes each puppy and thoroughly examins him or her. We use Whelping ID bands from the time the puppies are 1-2 weeks old, so we can easily identify which puppy is which. They also get their first shots and 4th dose of dewormer this week! Needless to say, week 6 is the biggest week next to the week they go to their new homes! By week 6, the puppies need a bigger area to run, so we fence in a little area of the yard (depending on the weather) and allow them time outside for fresh air and playtime. Usually, the puppies will have met their new owners by now, as well.
Week 7: By this week, the puppies are very accustomed to the camera. They are also used to being held, loved on, and played with. If it is summertime, we might take them for a swim (under close and careful surpervision and help, of course). They are now comfortable on their feet and can run, jump, and play with ease. They are taken along on short car trips to get them used to riding, and are also introduced to new people of different ages (children-adult). By this age, they have been in 7 different places, met 7 new people, been on 7 different surfaces, and played with 7 different toys. We also play different types of music for them, and a sound effects CD to get them used to noises that they wouldn't get around our home (traffic, babies crying, airplanes, trains, etc.).
Week 8: This week is the saddest week for us, but the happiest week for the new owners. This is the week that they can take their babies home. By this week, paper training is almost 100%, which greatly helps the new owners with house training! The puppies will also receive another dose of dewormer before going home with their new owners. They are given extra doses of love this week as we prepare ourselves for them to leave. We DO miss them when they go.
After week 8, the next time we usually see the puppies is at our annual reunion picnic, or if the new owners decide to visit again (which is always wonderful!).
If you have any questions about how we raise our puppies, feel free to call or email! We love to talk about our puppies!
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