We follow a thorough curriculum to help set each of our puppies up for success. For each phase of their development, we add appropriate stimuli and activities to their daily routine. Then, when they go home at 8 weeks, it’s your turn! As a team, we can prepare each pup for a life of joy as the best pups they can be.
Our Curriculum
Neonatal Stage
During the first three weeks of life, we provide our puppies with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). This stimulates the neurological responses that do not occur naturally during this period in pups, resulting in improved cardiovascular performance, stronger hearts, increased tolerance to stress, and greater resistance to disease.
We also do Early Scent Introduction (ESI) which helps pups learn to use their little noses!
Building Confidence
From three weeks and beyond, we do daily exposure lessons with the puppies to increase their confidence to help them enjoy new experiences in the years to come. For example, during Noise Exposure, we introduce pups to sounds like fireworks and vacuums in a calm and encouraging environment. Pups are also introduced to new textures, environments, sites, and more. They soon learn that new things aren’t so scary after all!
Touch
From week 3, we do daily handling exercises with the pups to get them comfortable with being handled by humans. We make sure they know they are safe, even if someone is touching their teeth, looking in their ears, petting their tail, or putting them upside down for belly rubs! This makes vet visits or interactions with children much less stressful in the future.
Socialization
Once the Pups are 3 weeks old, their critical socialization period begins. By the time they are 16 weeks old, our goal is for each pup to have met 100 people in their life. That means people of different ages, races, hair colors, fashion styles, and energy levels. This helps pups know that people are friendly, even if they are a little different from their own family. We get a good start on this goal, and help support each pups pawrents continue the journey after gotcha day!
This also includes a continuation of our confidence building stage. Pups need to be visiting new places with new sites, sounds, and smells to continue building their confidence in the world.