🐾 Developmental Milestones: Neonatal Stage

Newborn Development:
At birth, puppies are born blind and deaf and are completely dependent on their dam for survival. During this early stage, they spend approximately 90% of their time sleeping, allowing their bodies and brains to grow and develop.

👃 Early Scent Introduction (ESI):

We incorporate Early Scent Introduction (ESI) between days 3 and 16 to help stimulate the puppies' neurological systems and enhance their scent recognition abilities.

Each day, we introduce a new scent such as:

Chamomile, Lavender, Alfalfa, Pine, Cinnamon, Coffee, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Hibiscus Flowers, Sage, Tennis Ball, Basil, Leather, and Rosemary.

ESI can help improve a puppy’s future ability to detect, track, and respond to scents—a valuable trait for performance, service, and companion dogs alike.

🧸 Early Socialization & Handling:

Gentle, age-appropriate handling from the neonatal stage supports proper physical and mental development. This early interaction lays the foundation for confident, well-adjusted puppies.

🐶 Developmental Stage: 4–6 Weeks

Weaning & Canine Socialization:
Between 4 to 6 weeks of age, puppies begin the weaning process and start learning critical social skills from their littermates and mother. During this time, interaction with other dogs is essential—missing these early opportunities can result in puppies who are fearful or reactive around other dogs later in life.

👥 Human Socialization Begins at 6 Weeks

Around 6 weeks of age, we begin introducing puppies to more frequent human interaction. Positive experiences with people during this window are crucial—without them, puppies may grow up to be fearful or anxious around humans.

🌎 Why Early Socialization Matters

The more varied and positive social exposure a puppy receives during this early stage, the more likely they are to develop:

• 🧠 Emotional stability

• 🤝 Social flexibility

• 🎓 Trainability and confidence

Puppies that are kept isolated—especially in kennels without regular interaction—often develop deep-rooted fears and are much harder to rehabilitate later.

🐾 Developmental Stage: 2–3 Weeks

Sensory & Motor Development:

• Eyes begin to open around 13 days of age, with functional vision developing between 18–21 days

• Ears open at approximately 3 weeks

• Puppies begin to wag their tails, crawl backward, and take their first wobbly steps

• This is a period of rapid motor skill development and early imprinting, laying the foundation for future learning and behavior

🧸 Socialization & Environmental Exposure

This stage is a prime window for gentle handling and positive human contact. Daily cuddling, being picked up, and gentle stroking help puppies build trust and comfort with people.

To support confident, well-adjusted puppies, we also introduce:

• Novel toys and safe objects in the whelping area

• A variety of sounds and noises to begin desensitization (e.g., household sounds, soft music, etc.)

The more a puppy explores and interacts with their environment during this time, the more confident and adaptable they are likely to be as adults.