Millie’s Puppies….Already Three Weeks Old!

It’s hard to believe Millie’s puppies are already three weeks old. They have been developing quickly this week. The rest of the puppies have opened their eyes, and their ears have opened as well. They are becoming more aware of their surroundings and have begun to interact with each other during their brief “awake” periods. 

As usual, we have had a busy week. Day 16 was the last day of ENS and ESI, as well as our puppies’ daily weigh-in. Some of the chores over the past week included cleaning and disinfecting the whelping box, laundry, deworming the puppies, grooming — brushing and nail trimming —and caring for mama Millie, to name a few. And of course, my favourite–puppy cuddles.

Puppy Culture

Over the remaining weeks, we will be working on new experiences for the puppies, exposing them to as many new experiences as possible to raise the best possible companions for their forever families.

Critical Socialization Period (weeks 3 – 12)

The next period for the puppies is the Critical Socialization Period. We know that puppies have entered this period when they react to sounds. We raise our puppies following many of the Puppy Culture protocols. Following these protocols helps us reach our goal of “Raise Healthy, Calm, Confident, Well-Adjusted Puppies.”

Emotional Intelligence

Because Goldendoodles are companion dogs, teaching emotional intelligence to young puppies and starting them with a great beginning is essential. With this intention, we follow seven key things to nurture a puppy’s emotional intelligence.

1. Communication – giving a puppy his voice, i.e. Communication manding and attention/distraction protocols
2. Emotional stability – the ability to recover quickly from fear as well as stress, i.e., startle recovery, barrier challenges, etc
3. Habituation – familiarize the puppies with the maximum number of things during their Critical Development Period—in particular, Puppy Parties, sound protocols, household noises, and meeting different people and dogs.
4. Enrichment—Teach the puppies that novelty and challenges are enrichment opportunities, not to be feared or avoided. For example, they can be introduced to new novelty items on an ongoing basis at an activity centre, car ride, outdoors, etc.
5. Health – physical wellness and motor skills that will allow the puppy to develop neurologically and physically soundly. For instance, daily weight checks, grooming, proper nutrition, fecal checks, and deworming, vet health checks and vaccinations)
6. Skills – learned behaviours that teach the puppy to function in human society, i.e., recall, manding, simple commands, potty training, crate introduction, resource guarding, bite inhibition, etc.
7. Love – teach puppies to seek out the company of dogs and humans as emotionally positive experiences, i.e., Daily cuddles with humans and the puppy’s mom.
8. Shaping emotional responses: happy and calm CER (Conditioned Emotional Responses). For instance, treats and encouragement during puppy training.

Millie is a wonderful Mama

Millie continues to be a wonderful mama, loving and patient with her litter of twelve. She’s now spending more time away from her puppies, but always checks in and feeds them. Weaning will start soon. Every mama is different, so I let each mother tell me when it’s time to introduce puppy milk replacement, followed by puppy mush.

Whenever the puppies see their mama return, they think they should eat. They weren’t too pleased when Millie decided to eat her kibble before feeding her babies.

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Looking Ahead to Week Four

• Puppies will still sleep much of the day/night as they continue to grow rapidly
• Interact with littermates through play, which will help develop essential social skills
• Practicing walking on all fours strengthening their hind legs
• Becoming steadier on their feet
• Hearing will improve 
• Puppy milk teeth will erupt
• Potty training started
• Puppies will be moving to the main floor towards the end of the week