HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA ✨ CANADA ✨ 1-403-607-3214
HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA ✨ CANADA ✨ 1-403-607-3214
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
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:
**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:
**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:
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:
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:
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.
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