Puppy Program

My Puppy Program has 3 stages - each stage having very unique template to foster development:

1. Neonatal

2. Transition & Awareness

3. Socialization & Empowerment

Newborn puppies are born helpless and completely dependent on their momma.  Did you know that puppies are born blind and deaf? From a sensory perspective, the newborn pup is primarily a tactile animal, responding to touch, pain and cold. 90% of their time is spent sleeping, and the rest is devoted to nursing.  A puppy's general motor activities at this stage are limited to swim like crawling movements.  They cannot regulate their body temperature, nor can they eliminate without their mother's stimulation. Newborn pups show very little activity other than simple patterns of care seeking behavior.  The central nervous system is developing rapidly.   It is well established that during this period, short periods of daily handling and other stimuli can have marked long term effects on a puppy's behavioral and physical development.  These effects include 

• Accelerated maturation of the nervous system
• More rapid hair growth
• Increased weight gain
• Enhanced development of motor and problem solving skills
• Earlier opening of the eyes

In behavioral terms, puppies exposed to varied stimulation from birth to five weeks were found to be more confident, exploratory and socially adept.    

My role during this time: 

• Weigh puppies each day 
• Keep the nursery area clean, dry, and the environment quiet and relaxed 
• Daily individual puppy cuddle sessions & handling - gentle, soothing strokes to relax the puppies 
• ENS (3 - 16 days) 
• ESI (3 - 16 days) 
• Bedtime routine begins - puppy lullabies are played at bedtime 

**during this time outside visitors won’t be allowed to handle puppies. This is to ensure the puppies aren’t exposed to any bacteria or viruses that could potentially harm the litter and to ease the momma dog's stress levels. 

During the Transition stage sensory development continues with hearing and sense of smell. Puppy teeth start coming through and the puppies’ eyes will begin to open. This is also the age where your puppy’s personality begins to develop. Puppies will interact with their litter mates, wag their tails, stand, walk a little and bark. The transitional period is characterized by significant changes and neurologic development.  The puppy changes from being highly protected from his environment to extremely sensitive to it.    

My role during this time: 

• Start to expand the nest area
• Keep the nursery area clean, dry, and the environment quiet and relaxed 
• Finish ENS program 
• Finish ESI program 
• Loud noise exposure (3 days) 
• Continue daily puppy cuddle & handling sessions
• Bedtime routine continues - classical lullabies are played at bedtime

**during this time outside visitors won’t be allowed to handle puppies. This is to ensure the puppies aren’t exposed to any bacteria or viruses that could potentially harm the litter and to ease the momma dog's stress levels.  

During the puppy socialization & empowerment period, your puppy will learn about social interaction, play, how to problem solve, and how to recover from mild stress response.  This is a critical time where they will build confidence in their ability to thrive in the world around them.

My role during this time: 

• Weigh puppies weekly 
• Puppy mush and weaning begins! 
• Keep the whelping area clean, dry, and the environment is quiet and relaxed 
• Add a designated potty area 
• Continue daily puppy cuddle sessions & handling exercises - apply a little more pressure during puppy massages
• Daily “upsetting” noises such as a vacuum, lawnmower, blow dryer, doorbell, ice maker
• Daily movie - introducing new sounds, voices, and tones  
• Bedtime routine continues - puppy lullabies are played at bedtime 
• Introduction of exposure & enrichment activities! 

By engaging, stimulating, and putting our puppies in different situations (in a safe way), we can teach them that encountering new things can be fun and that the world outside of their “bubble” is not so scary.  These activities will foster confidence and resilience, and encourage them to believe in their own abilities, problem solving capabilities, and trust those around them. 

3-4 weeks 

Puppy playtime begins!

 - Small, soft toys, balls and obstacles (tactile cushions)

4-5 weeks 

Puppy playtime:

 - Low climbing objects

 - Introduction of interactive toys

 - Barrier Challenge (I)

 - Box Game (I)

 - Kiddie pool with shallow water (weather permitting)

 - Kiddie pool with ball pit

5-6 weeks 

Puppy Playtime:

 - Outside playtime (weather permitting)

 - Interactive toys

 - Barrier challenge (II)

 - Box Game (II)

 - Puppy hammock bed 

 - Balance board 

 - Kiddie pool with ball pit (enhanced with treats)

 - Puppy treats (small and soft)

 - Open crate with door off

6-7 weeks

Puppy playtime:

- Outside playtime (weather permitting)

 - Soft tug and chew toys

 - Interactive toys

 - Barrier challenge (III)  

 - Box Game (III)

 - Open crate with door off

 - Visits from new people and select dog visits 

 - Introduction to agility equipment - tunnel, ramp, weave poles

 - Crated car ride (as a group)

7-8 weeks 

Puppy playtime:

 - Outside playtime (weather permitting)

 - Interactive toys 

 - Barrier challenge (IV)    

 - Box Game (IV)

 - Open crate with door off

 - Continued visits from new people and select dog visits  

 - Continued exploration with agility equipment - tunnel, ramp, weave poles

 - Trip to the vet (crated car ride and exposure to new smells and people handling them)

Home Transition Period (56 - 63 days)

The home transition period begins when a puppy leaves its mother and littermates to start a new life with your forever family, which is typically at 8 weeks of age. As you can imagine, this is a big change for your puppy. The key to easing the transition is by doing it in a very calm and caring way.  It's exciting to bring a puppy home!  I get it!!  But keep in mind that your dog is very sensitive to your energy, new surroundings, and add that to the change in family dynamic, this can be very overwhelming for a puppy.  

Here are a few ideas to ease the transition in the first week of bringing your puppy home:

• Introduce your puppy to their new home  - ok first of all, have you puppy proofed an area of your house?  If not, this is something you're going to want to do ASAP! When you first arrive home, introduce your puppy to a small designated area.  This area should contain your puppy's food and water, sleeping area and play area.  Let your puppy get used to this space before you go on further exploration missions in the house. Slowly introduce your puppy to the rest of the house, one room at a time, skipping the rooms you’ve decided are off-limits.

• Introduce your puppy to their new family members - try to give your puppy the opportunity to meet each of you quietly.  However, I know how difficult this can be when you first bring your puppy home.  Everyone wants a piece of the puppy action!  Another way we've had success introducing a puppy in our family has been sitting in a circle on the floor with a few soft toys and allowing the puppy to sniff out and interact with each of us.  It's important that the environment is calm, and the puppy has the chance to explore each of his/her new family members in a way that feels safe for them.

• Choose a potty spot - start by taking your puppy to the outside area where you want them to go potty. Choose a command that you're comfortable with like "go potty" and if your puppy goes make sure to praise him or her.  Be consistent and give your puppy lots of opportunities to use the potty spot.

• Start enforcing the rules - although it may seem too early, your puppy needs to learn the house rules from the very beginning. The more structured and consistent the day is, the better adjusted and happier your puppy will be. Whether it’s chewing or any other behavior you don’t want to encourage, use gentle redirection. Raising your voice or punishing your puppy will only frighten and confuse them, not teach them. Remember that your puppy is only just starting to learn what’s expected. Praising good behavior and deflecting unacceptable behavior is an effective way of helping your puppy learn.

• Most of all, take things slowly - I'd recommend for the first week to keep visitors and new experiences outside of the home to a minimum.  Give your puppy the chance to adjust to the fam and your home.  This week will be an important time where you can reinforce that interactions with people and new environments are safe and FUN. Proactively reward your puppy for showing good behavior and recognize when they're becoming over-stimulated or overwhelmed and help them practice calming behaviors or allow them to self-soothe in a quiet environment. 

With a whole bunch of affectionate contact by the family, consistent rules and routine, rewards for good behavior, and gentle corrections, your puppy will quickly learn his/her place the new “pack.” And most importantly, as your puppy adjusts to the new environment, you will establish a bond that will last a lifetime.

Home Socialization & Adjustment Period 64 to 84 Days (9 to 12 weeks) 

Although the puppy should have been exposed to people at a much younger age, this is the time when continuing socialization is critical.  We don't want the puppies to lose all of the confidence they've already gained!  Puppies should meet as many different types of people as possible during this stage.  It is also important to expose the puppy to as many different environments as possible. 

However, the caveat to that is that your puppy is still very vulnerable until they are 10 days past receiving their final vaccinations.  What can you do to prevent your dog from getting sick or hurt?

 - Ensure any animals that your puppy comes into contact with have not recently been sick and they are fully vaccinated

 - Have visitors or handlers wash their hands and are wearing clean clothes (they haven't just returned from work in dirty coveralls or been out spraying fertilizer on the lawn)

 - Ensure the environment is safe and clean (if you're in a yard, the lawn hasn't just been sprayed for weeds or fertilized, or there aren't any small objects that the puppies can get a hold of and chew, swallow, or hurt themselves on)

 - Your puppy is supervised at all times, especially with other animals or small children

After your puppy comes home here are some of the activities that you should continue or introduce if they are part of your lifestyle:

• Daily walks (begin learning to walk on a leash)
• Basic obedience (sit, lay down, shake a paw, stay)
• Introductions to neighbors 
• Kids soccer games
• Car rides - be sure never to leave your puppy unattended in your vehicle
• Water activities in a shallow kiddie pool (as long as your puppy is enjoying this!)
• Continued weekly brushing and nail trims   

Juvenile period (12 weeks to 6 months) 

By the end of 6 months the period of your puppy's rapid growth is complete, and your puppy is approximately two-thirds of its adult size.  Compared with the other stages listed above, the juvenile period is one of gradual change, mainly involving the maturing of motor capacities/coordination, and solidifying basic obedience.

• Final puppy vaccinations, including Rabies
• Spaying or Neutering your puppy (closer to 6 months)
• Dog Parks 
• Swimming
• Camping
• Doggie Day Care/Kennel (eased introduction) 
• Puppy obedience classes 
• Groomer