A Doodle Litter's Journey

During her nine week pregnancy, we devote ourselves to the loving care of our Mama Doodle. She is given balanced meals, special healthy treats, daily massages, privacy or company as she prefers, and appropriate exercise and play depending on the stage of pregnancy.  We select for excellent mothering instincts in our Mama Doodles - this is so important in giving our puppies the best start.
 

When Mama is ready we provide a cozy, safe whelping bed, and stay with her to help as needed. 

Before our puppies can see or hear, they learn to know and trust our scent and touch. 

We raise our Doodles using Puppy Culture protocols and our gentle daily handling progressively accustoms them to everything they'll need for their lives as loved and loving companions.

Puppy Culture is an internationally recognized science-based puppy raising method that prepares our Doodles for a lifetime of vet visits, grooming, positive daily contact with people, and thriving in our modern world.

Our first priority during this stage is supporting Mama dog and being available 24/7 for her and the puppies. We weigh the puppies twice a day, begin gentle handling taking into account Mama's preferences, and make sure that everyone is safe, warm, healthy, and content.

The puppies' eyes and ears open during this stage, bringing them a brand new world of sight and sound. They gain strength and mobility and by the end of this stage will be securely on their feet and able to toddle around.

At two to three weeks old we introduce potty training with puppy pads (and as the litter matures, we graduate them to potty trays). This process helps in transitioning to outdoor potty areas. Puppies naturally want to keep the nest area clean, and early potty training gives them a wonderful head start.

By four weeks old the puppies' baby teeth emerge and they are ready to try out solid foods. We begin with puppy formula and increase the quantity and variety of foods as they mature. Our goal once they start solid foods is to prepare their digestive systems - known as populating the gut microbiome - for a lifetime of good health.

We also introduce soft toys during this stage - the urge to chew arrives at the same time as those little teeth! 

Near the beginning of this stage, the puppies are upgraded to a large toddler suite, offering them additional space for play and exploration. New toys and experiences are introduced daily.

Mama starts naturally taking longer breaks away from the puppies, and we begin introductions to our gentle adult "auntie" Doodles and our very dog-friendly cats.

Between five and six weeks we add daily outdoor time for potty training, play, learning, and exploration.

A partial list of their schoolwork includes: introduction to new sights, sounds, scents and weather; climbing steps; standing and walking on different types of surfaces; climbing ramps and balancing on movable objects; navigating tunnels;  water play; acclimation to common household sights and sounds from action movies to dishwasher and vacuum;  scent work and scent toys; lick mats and problem solving puzzles; introduction to high value chewies for conditioning against resource guarding; grooming practice; introduction to dog crates and self-soothing; conditioning to come when called; introductions to new people including small children.

All curriculum is presented based on the puppies' developmental stage, but never forced. Puppies learn at their own speed.

Between six and seven weeks we begin taking the puppies off our property a few times each week. We limit these excursions to car rides, stroller rides, and backpack rides because until they are fully vaccinated, puppy paws and noses should not touch public ground. These adventures introduce our puppies into a wider world. Some of our usual destinations are dog-friendly office buildings and retail stores, and outdoor downtown areas. 

Between seven and eight weeks we get ready to pass the torch to our puppy families. Starting at forty-nine days we formally assess each puppy's behavior and temperament, and then visit our veterinarian for a nose to tail health exam, their first vaccinations, and their microchip.

And last but not least, at eight weeks our puppies are ready to join their new families, or if they are staying with us for training we begin to help them adjust from their lives as one of a litter of puppies to true individuals, each receiving their own training and experiences.

The socialization period in puppies continues for up to sixteen weeks of age, and by providing as many positive interactions and encounters as possible, we and our puppy families can give our Doodles their very best start to a long, happy life.