Fetching Puppies Co.

The First 8 Weeks

Your puppy’s first 8 weeks of life will be with us here, we have some very specific goals for them while they are here, that will help you when you take them home.

Birth

Our strong preference is to birth all of our puppies at home, we believe that this offers our dogs the best possible scenarios. Currently all of the parents live on our property, rarely leaving except for vet visits, giving stability to their relationships to us and our home. We prioritize the mothers doing as much for their puppies as possible, as instinct takes care of things that we aren’t even aware of.

Puppy Development

Our goal is that your puppy go home, confident and healthy. This means your puppy is not overly fearful of people or places, and they recognize humans and other animals as friendly. Loud noises or large shapes don’t cause a complete breakdown and they are ready to learn and be taught their owners’ expectations. We lay the groundwork for all of the work you will do with your puppy when you get home.

ENS- Early Neurological Stimulation– The US military and researchers pioneered this system in the 1960’s. It consists of a series of exercises that each puppy does every day for two weeks. We do this because it improves heart health, adrenal health, tolerance for stress and overall better health including their immune system.

ESI- Early Scent Introduction– This developmental activity is a fun one for the puppies, it involves exposing them to scents from outside their kennel area. We want to see each puppy respond to the smell (not just the sight) as an indication to us that they are using their nose, and as an encouragement to them to use their noses in the future! Especially important for service dogs, but beneficial to all dogs.

Exposure– As your puppy gets older, they will be on a scheduled regimen of being exposed to new things. We will be helping them to have experiences with all five of their senses in a variety of environments. Sight and sound sensitivities are common in puppies, as well as strong fear responses to new or unexpected things. Our work will involve age/development appropriate toys and experiences to equip your puppy with a great attitude about going on adventures and pleasing their humans! These will be daily activities, and form the basis for preparing your puppy for their assessments.

Assessment– Every puppy is an individual, they have their own personality for us to discover and nurture. Near the end of the 8 weeks, each puppy will be assessed so that we can communicate to their prospective homes what we think they should be ready to expect out of their new puppy. Some traits are referred to as “stable” (like their prey drive or assertiveness), while others are “adjustable” (like their confidence, sensitivities, or tolerance for touch), while none of these make your puppy good or bad puppies, they will influence the types of things you should be ready to deal with and potentially who should buy them.

Home

Throughout their first 8 weeks, our goals is for the puppies to be cared for by their mother and prepared for life by us and their mother. The training section (and linked trainers) on this website should give you plenty to work on as you build your lasting bond with your puppy. Unfortunately, the first couple weeks with a dog can be very challenging for both the dog and the humans, please remember that they don’t speak English and don’t act with malice. Most of the trouble with transitions are either found in the owner’s patience or communication, be methodical, and you will find success!