Our puppies are raised in our home with love from day one.
This page shares the details of our puppies’ lives from birth to adoption… and beyond.
All our puppies are whelped in our family room. From birth to adoption day, our puppies are never left alone or unsupervised. From birth to adoption day at 8-9 weeks old, our goal is to pour love into our puppies, raise them with research-proven standards, and give them skills to be well-adjusted, happy, healthy family pets.
Puppy Delivery
During whelping, we are with Mom at all times, from the first sign of labor until she and all her puppies are snuggled together warm and clean after birth. Each mother has personal assistance during the delivery process so every puppy is ensured a gentle, safe, and peaceful birth experience. We encourage Mama to take every intuitive step, and are by her side to help as needed.
NeoNatal Stage (the first 2 weeks)
In the days following birth, we monitor weights and feedings round the clock! In the first two weeks, puppies can neither see nor hear. The navigate for Mama by scent, and touch! We lightly integrate ENS (early neurological stimulation) with gentle handling and exposure to many different textures, smells, and positioning. This gives each puppy a head start at adapting to an adventurous, fun-filled life with his/her new family!
The Transitional Stage (2-4 weeks)
Our puppies are handled carefully throughout the day by adults and children (under supervision). Our goal is each puppy being part of the home environment from the start, constantly observing and participating in family life. At 2-3 weeks, their first sights and sounds are experiences are smiling faces, dishes being washed in the kitchen nearby, and family laughter!
This is the age we conduct Puppy Choice via Facetime for our families.
At 3-4 weeks old, we begin introducing the puppies to solid food. We use ground or mashed kibble from mom’s bowl, mixed with puppy milk replacer, to create a palatable soft mash. By this age the puppies have already been licking the food in mom’s dish, and their teeth are emerging. Soft solids is the natural next step! The puppies love the extra nutrition. And we love chubby, healthy puppies!
Early Socialization Stage (4-6 weeks)
At 4-5 weeks old, puppies are gaining spacial awareness and begin truly interacting with the world around them! they become social, curious little sponges. We begin introducing them to new rooms of the home, various household sights and smells, new toys, and going outside, weather permitting!
Between 5 and 6 weeks old, we host our signature Puppy Play Date! This is an open house event for the families of reserved puppies. This is the family’s opportunity to meet their new addition in person for the first time, as well as see our puppy areas and meet mom and dad! We spend the afternoon playing with puppies and participating in Q&A.
Socialization & Lifelong Skills Stage (7-9 weeks)
After Puppy Play Date, your puppy has daily playtime and fun with other puppies while learning new skills (just like Preschool!). We go on car rides to visit family, invite friends to visit at home, and play, play, play! Every new person and experience sets the puppy’s future for success. They learn doggie social skills such as greeting, polite play, and where they fall in the hierarchy. Each puppy learns new life skills, including walking up and down steps, car rides, bathing, blow drying, trimming nails, going on outdoor adventures, using a dog door, and crate training with treats and toys daily.
Our Final Days Together (8-9 weeks)
As part of the health journey for my puppies, they visit our trusted veterinarian a few days before going home. They are microchipped, health examined, weighed, vaccinated, and given another dose of dewormer. Each microchip is registered in the new family’s name before going home. Then, finally, it’s Adoption Day!
Each puppy is united with his/her new family at 8-9 weeks old. Each puppy is sent home with a welcome starter pack which includes all the puppy’s health records & microchip information, a health guarantee, puppy treats, and a toy or blanket with mom’s scent. Puppies are in the middle of their socialization stage at this time, and it’s the ideal time for them to adjust to being in your family and learn about life with you.
We’ve done the foundational work of raising genetically and physically beautiful parent dogs, feeding top-quality nutrition, establishing vet care, and introducing to daily skills such as steps, car rides, and crate time. Now we pass the baton to you. New adventures await!
Many of my puppies go on to complete AKC Good Neighbor Obedience Training and beyond. I’m proud to say that some of them have become therapy dogs too!
