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See Our Beautiful Puppies Are Now Four Weeks Old

Ellie’s Puppies

Four week old – notice their new collars. They are growing up!
LOOKING BACK

Wow, four weeks old already; time passes by so quickly! This past week, our puppies made the move to the main floor. They are beginning to learn to use the potty area. Their walking has improved and they are progressing towards running. Puppies are vocalizing more and can now bark and growl . More of their time is spent awake socializing with each other through play. The puppies are always so excited to see us and run to our laps for a cuddle.

Last picture of puppies in their whelping box before the move. they were so ready to move to the main floor
Packed into the basket, puppies are moving to the main floor

Puppies going into their new enclosure on the main floor. Potty Training now begins.

Puppies settled right in to nurse and enjoy a well deserved nap

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
  • Puppies time spent awake will increase
  • Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
  • Puppies balance will continue to improve and they will begin to run
  • Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
  • Puppies will start on solid foods as weaning gradually begins
  • Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.
paw prints

Ruska’s Puppies

Puppies love the feel of the grass

Black collar girl is cautiously exploring

All our puppies love rock climbing

Puppies cuddling for a nap
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Look At Our Beautiful Five Week Old Puppies

Ruska’s Puppies

LOOKING BACK

Puppies are five weeks old today. They have developed from helpless newborn puppies to “mini dogs”. They have learned so much over the past five weeks. We have been working hard on training puppies to use the potty area. It’s amazing to watch puppies wake up or stop playing and walk over to use the potty area. Some of the puppies are more consistant than others but all are making great progress! Nursing time has decreased and they can now eat puppy mush, and drink their water. Puppies have enjoyed interacting with people of all ages. They love playing with my grandchildren and are learning important social skills. Puppies are now awake for longer periods and enjoy playing with their toys and each other. Mama has begun teaching her pups to listen to her.

Puppies enjoying their first taste of the outdoors

It is always one of the highlights of raising puppies when they experience their first outdoor adventure. Ruska is always excited to have her babies outside where there is more room to roam and she can begin her teaching role. She is such a good mama!

Puppies are full of energy….it was hard to contain them in the baskets we were using to carry them out
Ready for their outdoor adventure! Ruska and the other dogs were excited too
Our gold boy playing with Willow

Puppies are enjoying exploring and playing. They always love to sit on our laps!

After all the fresh air and excitement of exploring a new world, puppies fell asleep. We put them back in the baskets to carry them into the house, transferred them to the puppy area and not one puppy woke up. LOL

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SIX
  • Puppies time spent awake will continue to increase
  • Puppies food will become much thicker progressing toward the goal of eating dry kibble
  • Puppies will continue learning to use the potty area
  • Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
  • Puppies balance will continue to improve.
  • Puppies will enjoy daily play time outside as weather permits
  • Puppies will continue learning from their mama as she disciplines them and teaches them to behave 
  • As always, puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time.
paw prints

Ellie’s Puppies

Ellies puppies continue to progress. They are getting bigger and stronger with each passing day. The puppies are now awake for short periods of time and enjoy playing with their litter-mates. This week the puppies visited the main floor for a little exercise time. Tomorrow is an exciting day as we are planning to move them to their new puppy area on the main floor. Potty training will then begin.

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Lots of Willing Hands to Cuddle and Love Our Puppies!

What is Puppy Imprinting?

The word imprinting comes from the Latin word “impriemere” which means “to impress” or “to mark by pressure stamp” Like a stamp leaves a permanent mark, imprinting leaves a permanent impact on the puppies. 

Puppies, like humans, are not born knowing everything. They have to be taught many things and this learning is called imprinting. Proper healthy imprinting is important because it will set a dog up for a happy balanced life. Many things that happen during the initial imprinting phase will stay with the puppy for their whole life. 

I believe imprinting starts at birth. This is why we handle our puppies many times daily from the start. Our puppies interact with people of different ages, from young children to seniors. We also introduce them to our other dogs. I believe it produces a calmer more well-adjusted puppy.

Why do we raise our puppies on our main floor?

We raise our puppies on the main floor to experience the noises of a busy household; ie. vacuuming, dishwasher, pots and pans noises, doorbells, doors opening and closing, lawnmowers just to name few. Our puppies have also been experiencing the sounds of hammering and drilling, from a outdoor project my husband and father-in-law have been working on. They have even experienced the noises from a severe thunderstorm. The more they can experience at a young age, the better adjusted they will be. 

Why can’t our puppies go to their forever homes until they are 8 weeks old?

Interaction between mother, littermates, and other dogs is invaluable to the puppies learning. Our mama dog teach her puppies to listen, obey, submit and what is acceptable dog behaviour. Littermates also have an important role to play. When puppies play with their littermates they learn how to “play nice” which is a skill they will use their entire lives. If a puppy is too aggressive during play, their littermates will cry. This will teach the puppy that aggression is not acceptable play. If they don’t “play nice”, the other puppies won’t want to play with them. 

Lot’s of willing hands to cuddle our puppies!

Does imprinting stop when puppies leave their mama?

Dog are always learning. When puppies go to their forever homes, imprinting continues as they are learning a whole new set of boundaries from their forever families. 

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See How Ellie’s Babies have progressed…….Three Weeks Old Today

Three Weeks Old

Ellie’s Puppies

LOOKING BACK

Three weeks old already and oh how they have grown! This week the puppies have been progressing rapidly. Their eyes are fully opened and vision is improving. Ears have started to open and they are beginning to hear. Their hind legs have become much stronger and they have been practicing walking on all fours. Puppies are much more aware of their surroundings and have begun to play with each other. They still continue to sleep much of the time.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FOUR
  • Puppies will still sleep most of their day as they continue to grow rapidly
  • Puppies will play with each other developing important social skills
  • Puppies hind legs will continue to become stronger as they walk more
  • Hearing will improve
  • Puppy milk teeth will erupt
  • Puppies will be moving to the main floor sometime during the week

Ruska’s Puppies

On Wednesday the puppies began their first solids I make a soft mush from ground kibble and warm water. It didn’t take long for the puppies to know what to do. They made quite a mess but all in all did a great job with their first meal. Ruska has now begun to wean them and they are nursing less. The puppies were also given water to drink for the first time and learned to lap it up.

Puppies eating first solids
One of Ruska’s puppies checking out our Standard Poodle puppy Willow
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Should I Crate My Puppy? Decide What Is Best For Your Home Life

Updated 2023

Should I crate train my puppy?

To Crate or Not To Crate? Before you bring your puppy home, you should think about whether you want to use a crate. I came across an article that I feel is very informative and you might find useful when making the decision whether to crate train your puppy or not.

https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crate-training-your-puppy-or-adult-dog

CRATE TRAINING STARTED WITH BREEDER

Introduction to the crate

We introduce our puppies to a crate before they go to their forever families.  Below are pictures/video of puppies from previous litter. We first introduce the crate to the puppy area. The puppies will be comfortable going in and out of the crate and using it to sleep in if they wish. Sometime during the last week, the puppies will take a naps in the crate with the door closed.

Puppy area with crate in the corner
Video of puppies having a nap in their crates. Some complain at the start while others just go to sleep

CRATE TRAINING AT HOME

What size of crate should I purchase?

I have had some families inquiring about sizing when purchasing a crate for their new puppy. Our puppies will mature to an adult weight of between 50 – 75 pounds and a height of between 22” – 25” at the withers (highest point of its shoulder blades). Dogs need to have room to stand up straight and turn around comfortably while in their crate.

If you want to purchase only one crate, I would recommend purchasing a 42” crate that comes with a divider. This will allow you to start off with a smaller area when your puppy is young and allows you to increase the size as your puppy grows into adulthood. Initially a puppy should not have too much room in the crate, or they might use one end for “potty”.  You can also choose a crate with one door or two. I use the wire crates which have a plastic floor insert.

Does my puppy have to use a crate their whole life?

The choice is yours to make as your puppy matures. You may decide that you do not want to use a crate if and when your puppy becomes trustworthy.

paw prints
I couldn’t write a post and not include at least a couple pics of our puppies
Ruska’s puppies having a nap in their new expanded enclosure. We have added some toys!
Ellie’s Puppies just waking up from their nap
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Look, Our Darling Pups Are Now Four Weeks Old

Ruska’s Puppies

LOOKING BACK

Four weeks old already, how the time has flown by! This past week puppies moved to the main floor and started on potty training. They have become more steady on their feet as their hind legs strengthen. Puppies are vocalizing more and can now bark and growl in addition to their perfected whine . They are awake more, spending this time socializing with each other through play. All of the puppies enjoy cuddle time……when we go into the puppy area, it doesn’t take long before you have a lap full of puppies!

Sweet Dreams our darling little puppies
VIDEO – Ruska’s puppies in play area (go to website to see video)

Our Puppy Area is divided into three sections. Whelping box (which is their sleep section), Potty Section, and Play Section. When puppies wake, we take them to the potty section. The goal is to get them to associate the “potty smell” with the “acceptable potty area” Eventually, they will search it out on their own to go potty.The other two sections of their area we keep clean so that only the potty area has the”potty scent.” This is a time consuming job, but I feel it makes the housebreaking job easier when puppies go to their “Forever Family Home”.

Ruska is starting to feed her puppies in the standing position….time to start weaning

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
  • Puppies time spent awake will increase
  • Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
  • Puppies balance will continue to improve and they will begin to run
  • Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
  • Puppies will start on solid foods as weaning gradually begins
  • Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.
paw prints

Ellie’s Puppies

VIDEO – ELLIE’S PUPPIES ARE ALWAYS READY FOR ANOTHER MEAL.

Notice the puppies hind legs are becoming stronger. They are still wobbly but their strength will increase as they practice walking on all fours. The puppies still sleep much of the day. (Ruska is barking in the background – she wants to come in Ellie’s room)

Such Beautiful Faces!
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I Can’t Get Enough Of These Adorable Puppy Faces!

ELLIE’S PUPPIES

The Girls
Orange Collar Girl
Maroon Collar Girl
The Boys
Black Collar Boy
Yellow Collar Boy

Blue Collar Boy

paw prints

Ruska’s Puppies

The Boys
Red Collar Boy
Green Collar Boy
Gold Collar Boy
Dark Blue Collar Boy
Light Blue Collar Boy
The Girls
Purple Collar Girl
Brown Collar Girl
Dark Pink Collar Girl
Pink Camo Collar Girl
Black Collar Girl
Orange Collar Girl
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The Puppies Exciting Move To The Main Floor

Ruska’s Puppies

It has been three and a half weeks since Ruska’s puppies arrived. Since birth, they have spent their days and nights in our bedroom. It is now time to make the move to the main floor where they can get accustom to the sounds and happenings of a house. This is also the time that we begin “potty training”. Puppies are now going potty without the help of their mother. They have a natural instinct to move away from their sleeping area when they need to go. This is why I feel it is important to begin “potty training” at this age. If they start learning that “there is an acceptable place to go potty” at a young age, they won’t develop bad habits that later need to be broken. I feel that this will make housebreaking easier when they go to their forever families.

The last pic of puppies in our bedroom before the big move.
Puppies are all packed up and ready to make the move to our Main Floor
We put the puppies into their whelping box after we finished setting up the new area on the main floor,. Ruska quickly wanted in the whelping box and started feeding her babies right away. I’m sure she wanted to reassure them that they were safe and everything was okay!
VIDEO – After the puppies nursed, it was time for them to explore their new area. Some of the puppies even used the new potty area.
Moving day is tiring! After the puppies had playtime in their new area, they all fell asleep.
paw prints

Ellie’s Puppies

Ellie’s puppies continue to grow and progress. The puppies appearance has totally changed now that their eyes have opened. They are starting to vocalize and interact with each other. The puppies still spend much of their life eating and sleeping.

VIDEO – Puppies are practicing vocalizing. Notice their eyes are opened and their hind leg are becoming stronger as the practice walking on all fours.
VIDEO – Puppies are ready for another nap
VIDEO – Ellie’s puppies are always ready for another meal!

You may notice the “Pig Rails” have been removed from Ellie’s whelping box. The puppies have grown so big and were getting frustrated trying to fit under them to go to sleep, so I decided to remove them. “Pig Rails” in the whelping box are to protect newborn puppies from being crushed or smothered by the mother should she roll over during birthing or while asleep. This is considered especially important with larger dog breeds. The puppies fits under the “Pig Rails” keeping them safe.
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Wow! Look at Ellie’s adorable puppies who have turned two weeks old today!

LOOKING BACK

Another week older – Ellie’s puppies are now 2 weeks old. We have had an great week! Cuddling puppies is one of my favourite ways to pass the time and with so many puppies to cuddle, time seems to fly. Ellie continues to be a loving and attentive mama. She just loves to look after her babies! Friday was an exciting day because we could see the puppies eyes beginning to open. Their eyes will continue to open over the next couple days. I always think this makes them look more alive! The puppies have gained strength in the hind legs and are moving around the whelping box faster and are now starting to climb out. We had to add a door panel to our whelping box entrance to keep them contained.. Ellie’s puppies are gaining weight daily and they are now all over 1 KG. With all that eating and sleeping they can’t help but grow.

Adorable Faces


VIDEO – Puppies looking for a comfy spot to sleep. Can you hear Ellie drinking from her water bowl LOL! Mama’s need lots of water to make lots of milk!
WOW, look at our “Black Collar Boy” with his eyes opened. What a handsome little man!
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK THREE
  • Puppies will still eat and sleep most of their day
  • Puppies will continue growing 
  • Eyes will continue to open wider and their sight will become clearer
  • Ears will start to open and they will begin to hear
  • Puppies hind legs will become stronger as they will practice walking on all fours

Ruska’s Puppies

On Thursday, Ruska and her puppies had an adventure outside the whelping box. We went to the main floor and let them explore. I wanted them to experience a different environment before we make the move to the main floor. Ruska is always so excited to have her puppies downstairs. They walked around, played with their litter-mates, nursed, cuddled with their mama and then fell asleep.

VIDEO – Ruska’s puppies are interacting. They have started to vocalize with little growls and barks. They will spend the next 5 weeks learning from their mama and litter-mates what is acceptable puppy behaviour..
Green Collar Boy looking to explore what’s outside the whelping box. Watch for our next post to see the puppies move to the main floor.
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Ruska’s Babies Are Now Quickly Becoming Adorable Mini Dogs

August 19…….Ruska’s puppies are three weeks old today
3 Week Old Puppy Portrait of Ruska and Tulo’s 2020 litter. Not an easy task to get 11 puppies to co-operate for a photo but, we got one. Yeah!
LOOKING BACK

Three weeks old and oh how they have grown! They now look like “Mini Dogs”. This week, puppies have been progressing rapidly. Their eyes are fully opened and vision is improving. Ears have started to open but they are not yet hearing well. Their hind legs have become much stronger and they have been practicing walking on all fours. Puppies are much more aware of their surroundings and have begun to play with each other. They continue to sleep much of the time as they develop.

Fed, cleaned and now, time for an afternoon nap

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FOUR
  • Puppies will still sleep most of their day as they continue to grow rapidly
  • Puppies will play with each other developing important social skills
  • Puppies hind legs will continue to become stronger as they walk more
  • Hearing will improve with time
  • Puppies “milk teeth” will begin to erupt. 
  • Puppies will be moving to the main floor sometime during the week
paw prints

Ellie’s Puppies continue to grow

VIDEO – Ellie’s puppies are growing like weeds. She loves her babies and takes such good care of them. Puppies continue to just eat and sleep. We are looking forward to their eyes to start opening by the end of the week. So exciting!!!