For the first 4 weeks of their life, the puppies are raised in a 4'x6' whelping box that is located in the center of our home. We change the whelping pad 4 times a day to keep the puppies dry and clean.
At 3 weeks, we start them on Nutro large breed puppy food that has been put through the blender with warm water.
When they are 4 weeks old,we move the puppies to our air conditioned/heated porch that leads to the large fenced in yard. Here we put cedar chips on one end of the porch along with their food, water, crate, and whelping pad on the other end. They naturally learn to make their messes in the cedar and not where they sleep, play, and eat. Also, at this time, we let them walk into the house and outside so they gradually get used to all types of environments.
We have plenty of company come to visit and play with the puppies. Our other dogs love to play with them as well both inside and outside the house.
At 6 weeks, they make their first trip to the vet for worming, shots, and an overall exam. They are so well socialized, they do not even cry when they go - they act like it is second nature to be in a strange environment.
At 8 weeks, we start letting the puppies go to approved homes. Our puppies have gone to homes to either be a farm dog or a house pet. We will not let them go to homes that are going to put them outside unless they are working farm dogs.
At 8 to 9 weeks of age, any puppies that have not gone to approved homes, are started on crate training and house breaking. The puppies learn to use the dog doors at a very early age, so house breaking is very easy. Plus, they follow the big dogs outside trying to keep up!
We love raising puppies and take our job very serious to produce happy, healthy, and well socialized pets.
