Our Program

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Socializing puppies has traditionally been considered the responsibility of the new owner. 

They are responsible for taking the puppy to classes and making sure they are exposed to a variety of people and situations.  

However, research shows that encouraging a stable temperament can start even before puppies are born. 

As breeders, we can do a lot to make sure the puppies have a great start to becoming adaptable 

to all the situations they will encounter in life. 

The First Three Weeks 

The first three weeks of a puppy’s life are a crucial time. Puppies are very helpless at this stage. 

Their eyes do not open until around 10 days old, and the sense of hearing starts at around 2 weeks. 

Their Mama does most of the work at this stage, and our job is to keep everyone warm, safe, and clean. 

We believe the most important way to interact with the puppies during this phase is by touch. 

The puppies are gently handled and stroked every day so they learn that human touch is a pleasant experience. 

They are held in several different positions and we touch their paws, ears, and noses. We also hold them close 

to allow them to smell us and hear our heartbeats. This calms them if they tend to become a little anxious. 

They are also introduced to different scents during this time. These exercises are known as ENS & ESS 

(early neurological stimulation & early scent stimulation). As the puppies grow we increase the amount of stimulation 

and the touch becomes a little stronger as well. We play calming instrumental music at night when it is time for them to sleep. 

This helps to calm them at nap time or at night time. At 3 weeks the puppies are also introduced to dry puppy food. 

We feed (Dr Gary's Best Breed) kibble with water added. They may smell it for a few days before they actually begin to eat.  

At three weeks of age, we de-worm them for the first time. 

From Four to Six Weeks

At four weeks the puppies are ready to begin exploring their surroundings and we begin taking them outside 

to explore new areas and new toys. If the weather is warm they may be introduced to a small pool with a little water in it 

along with a few toys. At this time they still tire quickly and are ready to return to their kennel beds in about 20-30 minutes. 

Our puppies have access to the outdoors at this age so as soon as they learn to use the doggy doors, 

they start going outside on their own to go potty. We also introduce new items and sounds regularly throughout these next 3 weeks 

including playing different types of music in the kennels and desensitizing sounds such as children playing, vehicles, sirens, 

crying babies, sounds at a park, as well as lawn mowers and leaf blowers. This gets them ready for the real world 

all while being in the protection of their home. By six weeks the puppies are eating kibble regularly 

and are ready to be weaned from their mother's milk. We do this by separating them for 

part of the day and then after a few days, we do a full separation. 

At Seven Weeks

At seven weeks the puppies receive their first vaccinations (a 5-way shot), are microchipped, and taken to our vet for wellness exams.  

This is also the age when they receive one of the essentials of our program, temperament testing. 

We test them in multiple areas to see how they react to each one. These areas are Assertiveness, Confidence, 

Motivation, Nerve Strength/Resilience, Touch Tolerance, Energy Level, Sound Sensitivity, Sight Sensitivity, Prey Drive, and Human Focus. 

All of these are done to help in the process of matching them to their new families. Neither personality/temperament is right or wrong, 

but can be right or wrong in the match itself. A very active family will want a dog who loves to go running, hiking, etc, 

whereas a less motivated and lower-energy puppy will not enjoy these activities. 

These will better fit a family with a more laid-back lifestyle. 

At Eight Weeks - Puppy is Ready to Go Home!

We have invested in your puppy for the first eight weeks - now it is your turn. 

But you are not alone, as we offer breeder support for the lifetime of the puppy. 

Tips and resources are available to help you succeed in the exciting and fun responsibility 

of raising a puppy to be a wonderful companion and soulmate. 

Our puppy package includes resources to help you continue the training we have begun 

as well as information on pet insurance and other items that may benefit you.

We offer lifetime breeder support for you and your puppy. 

DON'T HAVE TIME FOR TRAINING?

We now also offer training for your puppy. 

For more information about training for your puppy go to our

Training Page