Tag: Four week old goldendoodle puppies

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Four Weeks Old Today, How Time Flies

It is hard to believe that our puppies are already four weeks old. They have progressed so much in such a short time.

A lot has happened this past week! The puppies’ milk teeth have erupted, their hind legs have become stronger, and their awake time has gradually increased. The puppies still sleep much of the day, but when awake, they love socializing with their littermates through play.

Starting to Wean

Orange collar boy showing off his new teeth
Now that the puppies’ milk teeth have erupted, it is time to start weaning and introduce solids. Piper started nursing in the standing position. It is so cute watching the puppies try to balance on their hind legs to nurse.
Piper has a large litter and has done a fantastic job feeding all her babies. On Monday, I decided to help her by starting the puppies on a formula supplement. The puppies happily lapped up the milk and soon be ready to begin eating puppy food. 

Time to Begin Potty Training

The puppies have been using a washable potty pad in their whelping box this week. On Monday, we enlarged their whelping box with the potty box extension. This addition has litter boxes filled with pine pellets. We have raised our puppies using this method for several years. 

Puppies must learn that they cannot “go” anywhere. We teach them that “there is an acceptable place to go potty.” Teaching them this at a young age will prevent them from developing bad habits that later need to be broken. This effort will benefit forever families by making housebreaking easier for them when they go to their forever homes.

 

Checking Things Out

The puppies were curious about the new area. They poked their heads in and smelled the pellets, but none ventured in.

Adorable Babies

A look back at week four

Looking Ahead to Week Five

  • Move to the main floor
  • Puppies will continue learning to use the potty area
  • Start on puppy food
  • Awake time will increase as the puppies socialize with each other through play 
  • Introduce toys
  • Mama will add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.

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Four Weeks Old – WOW, time passes by so quickly!

Four weeks old already – WOW, time passes by so quickly! I am a couple days late getting our four-week post out. This is because we have been busy with preparations for our daughters upcoming wedding in January, wedding invitations, and bridal showers. All these things and a little under the weather as well. Even though we have had these things added to our plate, our puppies care has not suffered, and they have had lots of love and attention.

It is hard to believe that our puppies are already four weeks old and have progressed so much. A lot has happened this past week. Such as, milk teeth have erupted, moving to the main floor, hind leg becoming stronger, better balance while walking, awake time increased, and more socializing with their littermates through play. Also, our puppies have been practicing their vocalizing and can now growl and bark as you will hear in the videos.

Weaning Under Way

Weaning is well under way. This process is achieved by reducing milk from mama, drinking water from their bowl, and getting most of their nutrition from their puppy food. The puppies are doing well on their food and are always excited for another meal!

Weaning Under Way

Potty Training Under Way

Potty training is also under way and the puppies are making great progress. Although we still have a lot of work to do in this area, I am pleased with their progress so far. This is because there have been less accidents in their whelping box and lots of success in the potty box. Because the puppies are doing so well with their potty training, yesterday we decided to give them more room by removing their whelping box and expanding their puppy area.

Socialization

As I have mentioned before, socialization is important when raising puppies. We have achieved this by introducing our puppies to different people young and old. This helps the puppies to be calm and seek out humans for companionship. The puppies love spending time with us, and it is very apparent when they all run to sit on our laps for a cuddle.

Socialization not only involves interaction with different people but includes many things. Some of these things are new noises, different walking surfaces, and the introduction of different toys as well as challenges. We will achieve these things throughout the coming weeks as we challenge the puppies with as many new experiences. It is through these new experiences that will help strengthen the puppies’ body and brain.

Listen for puppies growls and bark
Watch puppies play with littermate and new toy
Notice that the whelping boxes are gone in the puppy area. We still have the two litters separated .
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
  • Awake time will increase
  • Continued to socialize with each other through play
  • Balance will continue to improve and they will begin to run
  • Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
  • Daily visits to the Puppy Exercise Area where they will play and explore
  • Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.