weeks 3-5
Startle Reflex & Recover Immediately
I have started playing “relaxation” music in the puppy room. Music is played throughout the day and turned off for a “quiet room” for sleeping at night. This helps to teach puppies the transition between everyday noises vs a “quiet” room for sleeping.
I will also start to condition them to daily noises so they are less fearful.
Examples: Vacuum sweeper, the TV turned up, dropping books, slamming a door, CD of a baby crying, alarm, doorbell, blow dryer, etc.
Litter Box Training
Potty pellet box training and separating from littermates for a few minutes daily begins. During this separation, we incorporate a lot of snuggle time with humans. This teaches pups to be alone, away from their littermates, bond with humans prevents separation anxiety. I hope to successfully give the pups confidence when being alone. Puppies learning and problem-solving activities have proven that puppies with early enrichment exercises have grown up to be: more confident, better problem solvers, less stressed, and have better learning and memory. Puppies have a natural desire to keep their "den" clean. We introduce a potty area during this stage. Many families will use this at home filling a boot tray with pellets.
The Enrichment Effect
Introduction to new surfaces is coming out for the pups to explore and gain confidence too. I will start an introduction to the crates. Crate doors will remain open and I will begin closing the crate doors periodically throughout the day beginning on week-5 with a "buddy".
We try to introduce new items every day to the pups. This provokes curiosity and builds confidence. Some days it's flashing lights, singing toys, other days it's a step stool to climb or a tunnel to crawl through.
Different surfaces and startling noises are best introduced as a pup, so you have an adult dog that reacts better to new stimuli.
Problem-solving games are also introduced. Building confidence, crate training, sensory tactile, and new surfaces using a clicker we teach Manding (sitting nicely) and Recall (come).
weeks 5-6
Training
Crate training, manning, car ride, baths, puppy socialization, and clicker training
Pups start to spend time individually locked in their crates, throughout the day, only for a short time span with a treat (bully stick).
Clicker Training Continues
Clicker training will continue. Along with working individually with each puppy on manning aka: sitting outside of the play box, along with at meal time.
Car Ride
Pups will get out and about 2-3 times before 8 weeks of age. The purpose is to help get pups accustomed to riding in a vehicle before going home.
