The development of the puppy in its first weeks of life.
I attach great importance to the education my puppies receive.
It is in the first months of life that the puppy is built. By learning and storing up positive discoveries, they will become balanced and happy adults.
However, for a puppy to develop well, the mother-to-be must first be carefully looked after. A well-adjusted mother will produce beautiful and intelligent puppies. She has special needs. Her diet has been modified, gestation control …
Even after giving birth, it needs special care.
The puppy is born, he needs a lot of attention…
Education requires the utmost care because it affects the whole of life.
Quote from Seneca; Thoughts and Morals – 1st century AD
Puppy Awakening Video
Video The first outing!
1 – My bitch’s well-being
A few days before whelping, I put my bitch in my room with her basket, blanket, sheet …
The expectant mother needs peace and quiet. She needs to know that I am there and that she is not alone.
This allows me to keep a constant eye on her so that I can react as soon as possible at the first signs of whelping.
2 – My bitch’s whelping
I reassure my dog, talk to her, pet her, it soothes her.
I monitor births and help get a puppy out if it is in trouble.
I rip out the pockets, rub the puppies and help them with their first breaths of life if they are struggling to breathe.
I put them next to their mother, in the warmth.
I watch the mother, put the puppies to suckle if they can’t find the way. It is essential that they drink colostrum in the first hours of life (colostrum gives the first antibodies, very good immune protection, it is only secreted in the first 2 days).
During the first days of life, I keep a very close eye on my dog and her puppies.
I weigh the puppies every day to check their weight gain. This ensures that my bitch has enough milk and that the puppies suckle properly.
I help with the feeding to relieve the mother if the puppies are numerous or if she does not have enough milk.
I bring the ones that have wandered off close to their mother, make sure that all the puppies find their place and that there is no one left behind.
3 – The playpen
After about 15 days, the puppies open their eyes. They begin to perceive smells, sounds. They start moving. They are more costly.
I put them in the playpen (in my living room) with their mother. She can go in and out whenever she wants.
The playpen allows me to keep an eye on them and to start socialising with the other members of the family (humans, dogs, cats, birds, tortoises…).
I play with them, caress them, talk to them…
4 – The care, the cuddles
The mother teaches them the first codes of life.
After the births, I am present to check that everything is going well and that the puppies are becoming familiar with me. So that from the moment they are born, they have contact with humans and trust me as they trust their mothers.
After a few days of life, I will start stroking them.
From 4 weeks of age, I will use a soft baby brush.
It is not to clean them, the mother takes care of them very well, but to familiarize them with the brush. I do like stroking the puppies. It should be a moment of complicity, happiness and massage.
The claws are trimmed regularly, even pretending if it is not necessary.
The eyes and ears are lightly stroked with a compress moistened with physiological saline.
Auntie Iris, our Maine Coon, looks after the pups when Mummy Prune is out!
5 – The discoveries
The discoveries outside the playpen can now begin.
The puppies are now over 4 weeks old, they are really starting to stand and walk. The playpen gate will remain open during the day.
They find themselves interacting with other animals.
From the age of 5 weeks, and in good weather, the puppies are taken outside regularly. They discover the garden.
They will play, hide, explore, smell new smells, hear new sounds…
The puppies will also see their diet diversify. They discover croquettes, grass from the garden…
6 – The first learnings
The first learning takes place with the mother.
They also learn, from birth, to trust the man, as I handle them every day, only for a few moments, to weigh them and check that everything is going well.
Then, the learning of the brush on the hairs and the toilet come.
They will also learn to socialise with the family and other animals.
Around the age of 6 weeks, I take the puppies out regularly (day and night) to start potty training.
At the age of 2 months – 2 months 1/2, they only go out twice a night. Their playpen remains clean.
A few videos
Puppies and the tunnel video
Puppies and the cat video
Video MinisPoms outside 1
Video MinisPoms outside 2
