Puppy Development: The First 10 Weeks

     Our focus the first 10 weeks is following the Puppy Culture program for happy, healthy, and well-adjusted puppies. By 10 weeks, our puppies have been bathed and groomed at least 3 times, weekly nail trims, sleeping in crates at night, and have started learning to walk and potty on a leash. The puppies also become integrated with our big dogs to learn how to adapt to a "pack" and pick up on the important social cues shown by older dogs. In addition to Puppy Culture, we incorporate the Rule of Sevens.

                     THE RULE OF SEVENS
     The late Pat Hastings, AKC judge and author of The Puppy Puzzle, offered these hints for socializing very young puppies. We make every effort to meet or exceed these recommendations.
     
​By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old, it should have been exposed to the following:

• Been on 7 different surfaces, such as: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips, newspaper, etc.
• Played with 7 different types of objects, such as: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy balls, squeaky toys, metal items, wooden items, paper/cardboard items, milk/soda jugs, etc.
• Been in 7 different locations, including: front yard, backyard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room, bathroom, crate, kennel, etc.
• Been exposed to 7 challenges, such as: climbed a box, climbed off a box, gone through a tunnel, climbed up steps, climbed down steps, climbed over obstacles, played hide and seek, gone in and out of a doorway with a step, etc.
• Eaten from 7 different containers: metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china, pie plate, frying pan, etc.
• Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bedroom, x-pen, etc.

• Met and played with 7 new people: including children and the elderly.