From Birth to Your Arms
From Our Home to Yours: Raising Well-Rounded Puppies
All of our puppies are raised right in our home, surrounded by the love and bustle of daily family life. Even when the weather keeps us indoors, we have dedicated play spaces where they can run, explore, and strengthen both their bodies and minds. They grow up hearing everyday household sounds, experiencing new smells, and being part of the rhythm of a busy home with children—helping them develop confidence and adaptability.
Every week, we follow a carefully planned set of developmental goals based on proven methods and years of hands-on experience. Our puppy spaces are cleaned and disinfected twice daily to ensure a bright, safe, and inviting environment for both puppies and their mothers. We believe it’s our responsibility to teach our puppies from the very start that people equal love, and to guide them in exploring, reacting, and interacting with the world in positive ways.
The first eight weeks are a critical window in shaping how a puppy sees the world. That’s why we incorporate trusted, research-based programs such as the Puppy Culture Method, the Bad Ass Breeder curriculum (including Early Neurological Stimulation, Early Scent Introduction, and Temperament Testing), the Rule of Sevens, and the Misty Method—along with our own refinements learned through many years of raising this breed. These tools help ensure our puppies leave us well-adjusted, eager to learn, and ready to adapt to their forever homes with ease.
Our Puppy Foundations Program
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) & Early Scent Introduction (ESI)
Days 3–16: Daily ENS handling exercises to boost brain development, trainability, and stress resilience (developed by the U.S. military).
ESI: Introduce a new scent each day to stimulate the brain and build scent recognition.
Transition to gentle puppy massages as they grow—getting them used to having their jaws, paws, and ears handled.
Behavioral Training
Begin potty training and teaching “manding” (sitting politely when humans are present) by week 3.
Weekly baths, nail trims, and blow-dries to normalize grooming.
Gradual introduction to bite inhibition, preventing resource guarding, and crate training
Problem-Solving & Confidence Building
Encourage independence by letting puppies climb out of their whelping box or navigate small obstacles to reach their food.
Exposure to small slides, stairs, and different textured surfaces to walk on.
Activities designed to teach problem-solving skills, body coordination, and calmness in new situations.
Socialization & Everyday Life Skills
Interaction with trusted “nanny dogs” who model good behavior.
Daily exposure to new sights, sounds, and experiences:
Vacuum cleaners, music, and various household noises.
Car rides, water play, and ball pits.
Different playpen setups, toys, and obstacles.
Meeting people wearing hats, masks, or different clothing styles.
Socialization with people of all ages to build confidence and adaptability.
Raising Puppies, Week by Week
Training and preparing puppies from the very start takes time, patience, and consistency—but the payoff is worth every moment when you see the “light bulb” go on for each little one.
To put it in perspective, raising a litter of eight means giving each puppy daily, individualized attention, training, and conditioning for eight weeks. It’s hours of work:
The nightly half-hour spent teaching puppies to take treats so they can be rewarded later.
The three hours combing through the litter to introduce their first “box game.”
The 15 minutes convincing each pup that surrendering a prized toy to you is actually a good thing.
Every bit of this work equips our puppies with the skills to seek enrichment, problem-solve, and confidently interact with their world. This is why our pups leave here bold, curious, and well-prepared for their forever homes.
Days 0–14
Puppies stay warm and nurse often in their whelping box.
We use special bedding that offers proper traction to support healthy hip and knee development.
Pups are weighed twice daily to ensure steady growth.
At 3 days old, we begin ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction), continuing daily until day 16.
Gentle handling gets them comfortable with having their jaws, paws, and ears touched.
Days 14–21
Eyes open around day 14, and pups start “toddling.”
Short car rides begin to prevent motion sickness and accidents later.
At week 3, puppies start eating soft meals and have a designated potty area away from their bedding to encourage cleanliness.
ENS & ESI are completed, but daily cuddles and handling continue.
Week 3
Startle recovery exercises begin (e.g., dropping metal bowls, vacuuming, sudden noises) to teach confidence.
Canine Audio Therapy is introduced to acclimate them to common sounds.
Nails are trimmed regularly.
Each puppy has one-on-one time daily to strengthen human bonding and reduce separation anxiety.
Week 4
Play becomes more coordinated; puppies start carrying toys and chasing each other.
Living space is expanded to encourage exploration.
Problem-solving games are introduced (e.g., barriers between them and their food).
Clicker training begins for lifelong learning.
Week 5
Puppies enter the fear imprint period, so we expose them to new things with extra care.
Focus on positive reinforcement, manding (sitting politely for attention), and continued clicker training.
Crate training and housebreaking progress.
Week 6
Peak curiosity phase—pups meet new people and encounter new environments.
Confidence-building with small agility equipment and outdoor play yard.
First vet visit for vaccinations and health checks.
Week 7
Potty training is well-established.
Puppies are skilled at manding, startle recovery, and enjoy grooming sessions.
Baths, nail trims, and brushing are routine.
Week 8
Continued socialization and training.
Temperament Testing to assess personality and conformation.
Second vet visit for vaccinations, microchipping, and health evaluations.
Support through fear periods to prevent long-term anxiety.
Week 9
Larger play spaces and new enrichment tools like puzzle feeders and interactive toys.
First professional grooming (faces, feet, and sanitary trim).
Week 10
Final days of preparation before going home.
Puppies are confident, social, and ready for their new families to take the lead.
The Heart Behind the Work
We believe that raising puppies the right way is a privilege and a responsibility. Every moment we invest now—whether it’s introducing a new scent, playing a startle recovery game, or teaching gentle manners—pays off in a lifetime of confidence and connection for these dogs. By the time they go home, they’re not just adorable bundles of fluff—they’re curious, resilient, and ready to take on the world with the families who will love them forever.