Weeks 5-6: Socialization Period
Communication
Puppies will begin to learn to communicate with us in socially acceptable ways, such as manding.
Puppy Call
Puppies learn the beginning of a recall or “come” as they are called to their food dishes at mealtimes. They sure learn fast to come when we call.
Barrier Challenge
They are exposed to the “barrier challenge” where we see how good they are at solving the problem of a "barrier” or gate between them and something they want (either food or people).
Something New
Puppies are introduced to new pieces of equipment daily, so they develop their minds and bodies by climbing, crawling and moving over a variety of surfaces. We put puppies up on grooming tables and make sure they have a positive introduction to bath time and blow dryers.
Adventure Walk
During these weeks we introduce the "Puppy Adventure Walk". We take all the pups and mom out into the bigger world of our fenced 1/2 acre. The puppies experience walking over uneven ground and sniffing our new things. Our Puppy Adventure Walks assist pups with good bone and muscle development as well as stimulating puppy brains.
Daily Cleaning
All puppy living areas are kept meticulously clean so they learn to pee and poo in the potty box. This takes a lot of work but really helps make housebreaking easier for new owners once puppies go home. We encourage pups to pee and poo in the right spot when they get up in the morning, wake up from a nap, after they have been playing hard, after nursing etc. Obviously us being with the puppies full time is crucial to this part of training.