Today was puppy party day. For this activity, we invite people who have not worked with the puppies before and place them at four brand-new stations the puppies have never seen. Today’s stations included a bridge, a teeter-totter, a wobble board, and a tunnel. The goal is not just to see whether a puppy will complete an obstacle. We are watching how each puppy responds to something new. Do they approach boldly? Do they need a little time to think? Do they recover quickly afte

We played the Box Game today, and the puppies did such a great job starting to learn how training works. The whole purpose of the Box Game is teaching puppies how to learn. Dogs are not born automatically understanding what we want from them, so one of the very first steps in training is helping them learn how to figure things out and offer behaviors. In this game, the puppies are rewarded for interacting with the box or tin cake pan. At first, they do not understand why they

One of the things we’ve been continuing to work on is sound desensitization. Over the past several days, the puppies have been hearing the vacuum from a comfortable distance. Today, we took the next step with the vacuum. Rather than just letting them hear it from across the room, we introduced the vacuum directly into the pen. First, I let the puppies investigate it while it was turned off so they could sniff it, climb around it, and realize it was nothing scary. Once they we

They were in a super playful mood, so it is a fun time to give you a glimpse into their weaning pen. They sleep about 20 hours a day, but when they play, they play!

Today was a big milestone because the puppies made their very first nursing home visit. Starting at 6 weeks, we begin weekly visits to our local nursing home to help expose the puppies to all kinds of new experiences in a safe and positive way. During these visits, they meet many different people, and experience things like wheelchairs, walkers, and medical equipment. These outings are such a valuable part of early socialization. They help the puppies learn confidence, adapta

They had fun with a cardboard box in the pen. New objects like this are such an easy way to encourage curiosity, confidence, and problem solving. It was fun watching them investigate every part of it, from chewing on the edges to trying to climb on top and figure it out. Even little moments like this help puppies learn how to interact with new environments and experiences. At the very end of the video, you’ll also notice how nicely everyone is starting to offer a sit for atte

Morning Snuggles 🥰

Today we did the first round of the Box Game. The whole purpose of the Box Game is teaching puppies how to learn. When we train dogs later on, we’re usually asking for a very specific behavior or task. Before a puppy can learn commands, they first have to understand the concept that their actions can influence outcomes. That’s where the Box Game comes in. In this exercise, we used a simple tin pan. At first, the puppies have no idea why they’re being rewarded. But every time

We took them outside today and they had a blast!

Today we ramped up the clicker training. I’m trying something a little different with this litter by introducing the clicker, games, and barrier challenges just a bit later than I have in the past. My thought process is that waiting until they’re a little more developmentally ready may help them catch on faster, and so far, that seems to be the case. We’ve still been doing plenty of desensitization and exposure, but the more structured learning pieces are starting slightly la

They are just starting to step into that playful stage. They are not quite as bold and interactive as the older litter yet since they are about a week behind, but you can see it coming. They are beginning to run to greet us, soaking up attention, and engaging more with each other. It is such a sweet, in-between phase where their personalities are starting to peek through.

We had a strong thunderstorm roll through today, so just like our other litter, we opened the windows and let these puppies experience it all. The thunder, rain, and shifting sounds become part of their normal environment. Even though this litter is a week younger, this is still a valuable part of their early socialization. They may not be as interactive yet, but their brains are still taking everything in. During this stage, we are very intentional about exposing them to rea

We had a strong thunderstorm roll through today, so we opened the windows and let the puppies take it all in. Thunder, rain, wind, all of it becomes part of their “normal.” Puppies go through a critical socialization window from about 3 to 13 weeks of age. During this time, everything they experience gets filed away as safe and familiar. After that window closes, new things can be much more likely to feel intimidating or scary. That is why we are very intentional with these e

"Maverick pupdate. My sweet boy is 8 months old now and it has been an amazing 6 months with this goofball. He is the absolute best and sweetest boy and definitely makes my world better. You do such and amazing job with all your puppies, so thank you for my sweet boy."

The puppies are getting so sweet at this stage. They truly enjoy when we come into the pen to say hello, and now they all come running to greet us. Their interaction level has really taken off. It is amazing what just one week can do. Compared to our younger litter, the difference in coordination, confidence, and social engagement is huge. They are becoming much more aware, responsive, and eager to connect. I am headed out of town for a couple of days. My husband and I are tr

The puppies are starting to find their footing a bit more each day. They are still wobbly, but you can see their coordination improving as they learn how to balance and move with more intention. We are also seeing a big shift socially. They are becoming much more aware of people, seeking out attention, and beginning to interact in more meaningful ways. This is the early foundation of human bonding, where positive, gentle interactions help shape confident, people-focused puppi

Today was a big step forward. We introduced their potty tray with pine pellets. We typically use pine or alfalfa pellets because they have a natural scent that puppies are instinctively drawn to, which helps guide them to the right place. It usually takes about a week to a week and a half for them to really understand and consistently use it, but some of them have already started choosing the tray today, which is exactly what we want to see this early. This is truly the begin