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1. Neonatal Period: from birth to 12 days of age
During this time most of a puppy's time is spent sleeping and nursing. However, early neonatal handling involving as little as 3 minutes a day and exposure to various mild environmental stressors may have positive impacts on a puppy's resistance to disease, emotional reactivity and mature learning and problem solving abilities. Studies have shown animals left undisturbed during this period are consistently more emotionally reactive as adults.
We practice Bio Sensor Exercises (from 3-16 days of age) with our puppies. This is a program developed by the U.S. Military to improve performance of dogs. This later became known as the Super Dog Program.
The benefits of these exercises include:
1. Improved Cardiovascular performance (heart rate)
2. Stronger heart beats
3. Stronger adrenal glands
4. More tolerance to stress
5. Greater resistance to disease
Hello Puppy! Gently breathe into the puppy's face so that they can smell you and get used to your scent.
Early Development Period.
Tactile Stimulation:
This pup is being gently tickled between the toes of his foot with a Q-Tip. This lasts between 3-5 seconds. He doesn't mind!
Hold your puppy perpendicular to the ground for 3-5 seconds. What a chub!
Now hold so that their head is pointed downward, towards the ground, for 3-5 seconds. He snoozed all through this!
Supine Position:
Rest your puppy gently on their back, holding them with both hands for 3-5 seconds. He was not especially thrilled with this but that is okay. It's a gentle stimulation.
Thermal Stimulation:
Place your puppy gently on a cool damp towel for 3-5 seconds. If you puppy immediately rejects this it is more than okay! We do not restrain them in any way during this exercise.
2. Transitional Period: 12 - 21 days of age
We are now two weeks old and guess what? Our eyes and ears have opened!
All Siberian husky puppies are born with blue eyes. Breeders can usually tell by 3 to 3 ½
weeks if they will stay blue or turn brown or amber. Your dog could also have bi eyes (each eye a different colour) or a parti eye (one eye that is blue with a crescent of brown in it). All eye colours are acceptable with the AKC.
During this time, puppies start seeking "contact comfort" (social bonding or as you can easily see "snuggling"!). Your pup may also have managed to get up on all four legs and start walking!
3. Socialization Period: 21 - 84 days of age
"Between 3-5 weeks of age puppies take interest in social interaction. Puppies spend a large amount of time playing with each other and with toys. This period is extremely important for the development of a stable emotional temperament."
At 3 weeks of age, a variety of loud noises (music, radio, alarms, bells, vacuums, etc) should be a part of a puppy's life. The exposure to sudden, loud noises must happen during this week, when fear has not yet developed. The ‘startled’ response should be encouraged. In this way, the pup will be able to return to normal on its own, something it must be able to do continuously throughout its life.
This is also the time that we start separating pups from the litter for very brief periods of time. Puppies that are not exposed to separation early tend to become excessively reactive when they are finally exposed to it. It is important to work with puppies not only in groups, but individually.
5 weeks of age: we are continually working with our puppies, not only as groups but individually. This teaches each puppy independence and prevents separation anxiety problems later in life.
6 weeks of age: puppies are entering a stage we call "Secondary Socialization". A puppy's willingness to approach strangers confidently and explore new things is at it's highest and we like to take advantage of that. We are constantly introducing new toys and areas for the puppies to play and explore in. The more positive, fun experiences a puppy has at this age, the better!
Our pups at 3 ½ weeks old! (Happy, Sleepy and Grumpy!)