We use Brooklyn Anti-Stress beds for our puppies. As you can see they are very relaxed and enjoy the feel of the Brooklyn Beds. www.thebrooklyn.net
As a breeder, I consider it my duty to socialize my puppies from the day they arrive.
Now, as strange as it may seem, character is already evident the moment these babies are born.
Character will mature and develop, it will be affected by every action and every experience from
that first moment onward, but the genetic component is already there. So the first step is to
choose breeding stock with exemplary temperament. We will not breed a poor temperament! After that, however, it is vitally important to socialize each puppy individually from birth to
adulthood.
Our puppies are whelped in my bedroom and raised upstairs in our home as part of our family from day one until they leave for your home . They are exposed to a large variety of stimuli, not only positive but also harmless negative, so that they learn through tiny natural increments how to overcome anxiety or fear and develop solid, strong, confident characters. We constantly search out new objects and new experiences for our puppies, making sure to expose them to something new every day. We encourage experimentation and exploration, praise and reward forward social attitudes, and give them lots of one on one loving.
I evaluate the entire litter at 7-8 weeks to help me determine which puppies may suited to being working dogs, show dogs and fabulous family companions. I evaluate each pup using "The Puppy Aptitude Test' and match the right puppy with each family based on my observations of each puppy from birth to 7 weeks and Aptitude Test. I ask each family to give me an honest expectations for their dog, energy level and exercise time you expect to do on a daily bases along with the lifestyle of the family.
Our pups are NOT raised in our basement or in the kennel at any time! We can see, hear , touch and observe our pups 24/7.
We have an indoor play area just off our kitchen where pups live from about three weeks of age
until they leave for their forever homes. Mamma dog gets to come and go as she pleases to feed and tend to her babies. They see, hear and smell us cooking, banging around the kitchen; the same noises they will experience in your home. They hear the vacuum everyday, TV, radio other dogs and of course all our visitors. Potty training begins when they leave the whelping pen to the play pen at bout three weeks of age.
We also have a covered outdoor porch were bigger puppy toys and challenges await them. In reasonable weather they are on closed in porch listening to all the outdoors have to offer. The lawnmower running, bigger dogs playing, thunder and rain storms and lots of happy sounds from the lake activity.
Each day from 5 weeks of age they get to explore our living area, playing and hang out with us, learning to live in a home with all the smells and sounds they will encounter in your.
The daily outdoor adventures begin at 6 weeks of age as the explore our acreage, hiding in the trees and discovering our beach and the lake from spring until fall. Our winter months do not stop our outdoor adventures as we walk in the falling snow, tunnel digging and when the snow is deep, snow swimming :)
We take special care to ensure your puppy has all the skills needed to confidently transition to your home without a hitch. Once our puppies move to their new homes, it is up to their new owners to continue these lessons, but we are always there to support them along the way.
I believe in 'The Rule of 7' Pat Hastings, AKC judge and author of The Puppy
Puzzle offers these hints for socializing very young puppies. By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old has been exposed to a minimum of:
Been on 7 different surfaces, such as: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass,
dirt, gravel, wood chips, newspaper, etc.
Played with 7 different types of objects, such as: big balls, small balls, soft
fabric toys, fuzzy balls, squeaky toys, metal items, wooden items, paper/cardboard
items, milk/soda jugs. I have made a play station for the puppies. The first level of toys that we hang from it are soft with gently noise makers inside of them. They re long so the pups do not have to strain to reach and play with them. I place several of them together so the pups experience things touching them as they play around the gym. Each week I change the items to include noisier items and with different textures. This helps with noise desensitizing in a positive manner.
Been in 7 different locations, including: front yard, backyard, kitchen, car,
garage, laundry room, bathroom, crate, kennel.
Been exposed to 7 challenges, such as: climbed a box, climbed off a box,
gone through a tunnel, climbed up steps, climbed down steps, climbed over
obstacles, played hide and seek, gone in and out of a doorway with a step.
Eaten from 7 different containers: metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china,
pie plate, frying pan.
Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, porch, living room, bedroom, x-pen.
Met and played with 7 new people, including children and the elderly each week. At our house we have a lot of 'puppy play' visitors who help socialize our puppies from week four.
Please visit our Facebook page Ness Lake Retrievers to see our puppy videos!
Now, as strange as it may seem, character is already evident the moment these babies are born.
Character will mature and develop, it will be affected by every action and every experience from
that first moment onward, but the genetic component is already there. So the first step is to
choose breeding stock with exemplary temperament. We will not breed a poor temperament! After that, however, it is vitally important to socialize each puppy individually from birth to
adulthood.
Our puppies are whelped in my bedroom and raised upstairs in our home as part of our family from day one until they leave for your home . They are exposed to a large variety of stimuli, not only positive but also harmless negative, so that they learn through tiny natural increments how to overcome anxiety or fear and develop solid, strong, confident characters. We constantly search out new objects and new experiences for our puppies, making sure to expose them to something new every day. We encourage experimentation and exploration, praise and reward forward social attitudes, and give them lots of one on one loving.
I evaluate the entire litter at 7-8 weeks to help me determine which puppies may suited to being working dogs, show dogs and fabulous family companions. I evaluate each pup using "The Puppy Aptitude Test' and match the right puppy with each family based on my observations of each puppy from birth to 7 weeks and Aptitude Test. I ask each family to give me an honest expectations for their dog, energy level and exercise time you expect to do on a daily bases along with the lifestyle of the family.
Our pups are NOT raised in our basement or in the kennel at any time! We can see, hear , touch and observe our pups 24/7.
We have an indoor play area just off our kitchen where pups live from about three weeks of age
until they leave for their forever homes. Mamma dog gets to come and go as she pleases to feed and tend to her babies. They see, hear and smell us cooking, banging around the kitchen; the same noises they will experience in your home. They hear the vacuum everyday, TV, radio other dogs and of course all our visitors. Potty training begins when they leave the whelping pen to the play pen at bout three weeks of age.
We also have a covered outdoor porch were bigger puppy toys and challenges await them. In reasonable weather they are on closed in porch listening to all the outdoors have to offer. The lawnmower running, bigger dogs playing, thunder and rain storms and lots of happy sounds from the lake activity.
Each day from 5 weeks of age they get to explore our living area, playing and hang out with us, learning to live in a home with all the smells and sounds they will encounter in your.
The daily outdoor adventures begin at 6 weeks of age as the explore our acreage, hiding in the trees and discovering our beach and the lake from spring until fall. Our winter months do not stop our outdoor adventures as we walk in the falling snow, tunnel digging and when the snow is deep, snow swimming :)
We take special care to ensure your puppy has all the skills needed to confidently transition to your home without a hitch. Once our puppies move to their new homes, it is up to their new owners to continue these lessons, but we are always there to support them along the way.
I believe in 'The Rule of 7' Pat Hastings, AKC judge and author of The Puppy
Puzzle offers these hints for socializing very young puppies. By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old has been exposed to a minimum of:
Been on 7 different surfaces, such as: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass,
dirt, gravel, wood chips, newspaper, etc.
Played with 7 different types of objects, such as: big balls, small balls, soft
fabric toys, fuzzy balls, squeaky toys, metal items, wooden items, paper/cardboard
items, milk/soda jugs. I have made a play station for the puppies. The first level of toys that we hang from it are soft with gently noise makers inside of them. They re long so the pups do not have to strain to reach and play with them. I place several of them together so the pups experience things touching them as they play around the gym. Each week I change the items to include noisier items and with different textures. This helps with noise desensitizing in a positive manner.
Been in 7 different locations, including: front yard, backyard, kitchen, car,
garage, laundry room, bathroom, crate, kennel.
Been exposed to 7 challenges, such as: climbed a box, climbed off a box,
gone through a tunnel, climbed up steps, climbed down steps, climbed over
obstacles, played hide and seek, gone in and out of a doorway with a step.
Eaten from 7 different containers: metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china,
pie plate, frying pan.
Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, porch, living room, bedroom, x-pen.
Met and played with 7 new people, including children and the elderly each week. At our house we have a lot of 'puppy play' visitors who help socialize our puppies from week four.
Please visit our Facebook page Ness Lake Retrievers to see our puppy videos!