Where are the puppies?

Gone are the days of breeding dogs and leaving them outside in the barn with mom to supervise. Yes, time with mom is an important part of puppy development too, but breeders have an important role as a puppy socializer. We can assume that most of these puppies will not continue their life outside left in a barn (or let’s hope not). These puppies will become a huge part of someone’s family, live in their home, sleep in a crate, be left alone for periods of time, and have expectations to not destroy things or potty in the house.

A breeder who raises puppies in their home has these same expectations of puppies from a young age. So, they start potty training puppies at three weeks old! Yes, three weeks!! Good, indoor breeders will introduce crate training around six weeks old! Puppies will be introduced to various people, noises, and sights that will be familiar to them once they transition to their new home.

For instance, the vacuum can be a loud, scary thing for some dogs, but exposure at a young age and during their fear period will make it less scary the more positive exposures they are given. It’s pretty unlikely that a puppy will encounter a vacuum while living in a barn.

A fear period is a normal part of puppy development, but can be overwhelming for a puppy. You will start to see them be more sensitive and aware of the world around them. Things that once brought joy can all of a sudden become worrisome. We want to be sure not to overstimulate puppies during this time and create an encouraging, safe space to work through exposure to new items. Breeders will start exposure items at a young age and build on these items while also working puppies through their interactions making it a fun, positive experience.

Macie and her litter mates with momma, Molly