What is Puppy Culture?

 In short, puppy culture is a dog rearing protocol designed to monitor and mark each successive milestone of a puppies development and provide appropriate stimuli during each phase.

Why do you use Puppy Culture?

We are committed to bringing confident and well mannered puppies into the community and having those puppies grow up to become well-adjusted, confident dogs that are great ambassadors of the breed.

Puppy Culture provides us the tools and the insight into achieving those goals. Puppies raised according to a formal protocol are more confident, more attentive and more appropriately social. They are less likely to have anxious or destructive tendencies.

How does Puppy Culture Work?

Puppy Culture works by allowing the puppy to make his/her own decisions. The decisions that are Good decisions are rewarded and those that are Bad decisions are ignored. Puppy Culture teaches the puppy to WANT to work for you. We build Conditioned Emotional Responses (CER) to select behaviors, which makes the puppy feel good to offer those behaviors.

What are the Puppy Development Periods & what happens during each?

Basic Puppy Rearing Timeline

  • Prenatal

    • The prenatal period occurs prior to the pup’s arrival. It involves keeping the mother dog calm, happy, and well-adjusted. We also set up the puppy room and help her get comfortable. We take stock of our supplies, order new supplies as needed, schedule vet visits for pre-whelping check-ups.

  • Neonatal

    • This periods extends from birth until the puppies’ eyes open (approximately day 10-14)

    • During this period, ENS and ESI are started (provided puppies are thriving).

    • Daily weights are taken on each individual puppy.

    • Nest training (the precursor to potty training) is started

    • Mom usually begins spending sometime outside of whelping box

  • Transitional

    • Puppies’ eyes are open

    • Finishing ENS & ESI

    • Puppies are toddling around Whelping Box

    • Puppies are able to explore large plush toys & receive one new stimulation each day

    • Puppies are able to hear

    • Puppies begin lapping liquids

  • Socialization Period 1 (3-4 Weeks Old)

    • Puppies receive daily exposure to soothing music

    • Raw meaty bones

    • Sound paper

    • Litter Box Training

    • Take a Treat exercises

    • Puppies have first Fear Period

    • Puppies are walking well

    • Puppies are eating out of a food dish

    • Startle & Recovery Exercises

  • Socialization Period 2 (4-5 Weeks Old)

    • Power up the Clicker

    • Interactive Toys

    • Weaning Pen

    • Grooming

    • Box Game

    • Low Climbing Objects

  • Socialization Period 3 (5-6 Weeks Old)

    • Litter Squabbles

    • One puppy may bully others

    • Puppies become very human oriented

    • Weaning

    • Crate Introduction

  • Socialization Period 4 (6-7 Weeks Old)

    • First Vet Visit

    • Puppy Party

    • Temperament Testing

    • Crate Training

    • Puppies Able to Go Outside

  • Socialization Period 5 (7-8 Weeks Old)

    • Fear period may appear

    • Heeling/Leash Walking Foundation

    • Puppy training based on results of temperament testing

  • Socialization Period 6 (8-9 Weeks Old)

    • Puppies Ready To Go Home