How we raise puppies
Finn & Friends Standard Poodles raise puppies according to research!
Puppies are born and raised in our home. We use Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) exercises from day 3- 14 for each litter. We hold, stroke and touch puppies multiple times a day. Research has shown this helps puppies to develop more resilience and better responses to stress. Read more HERE:
We use Puppy Culture exercises and introduce new toys, barriers and sounds that provide enrichment. Poodles are quick learners and love novel items. We socialize with as many people as is safely possible while taking into account the risk of Parvo and Distemper for puppies that are not fully vaccinated.
Toys include puppy gyms, hanging toys, tunnels, tents, ball pits and toys that crinkle and squeak, musical toys, pots and pans banging, toys they can climb over, wobble boards and all types of toys that can be chewed. We include as many textures underfoot and toys for them to explore as possible. Moving toys and new situations help them to build confidence. Every puppy develops at its own pace and what they will happily explore at 4 weeks will change by the time they are 8 weeks of age.
Our goal is not to give you a fearless puppy but to give you one that recovers from fearful and stressful situations and can continue to learn. Fear is a useful and natural response that protects a developing puppy and adult dog. Each puppy is an individual, born with its own personality and traits. Each learns at its own rate and develops at its own rate. The puppy that doesn't pay much attention to a clicker at 7 weeks of age may develop into a future training star. Puppies like children need time to explore the world, need physical activity, mental stimulation, challenges and experiences to develop to their full potential.
Once puppies leave our home, it's your job to continue to provide them with new positive experiences, safe places for them to play and mental stimulation.
Our puppy room is located just off the kitchen which is ideal for hearing normal household noises while providing Mama Dog with a restful space. The puppy room has several different surfaces on the floor designed for easy cleaning and healthy footing, a big screen TV, a play area and space for the whelping box. We play a variety of movies, music and noises that are age appropriate taking into account any natural fear stages. Puppies are in our house running underfoot and often play in the kitchen and family room.
Whelping boxes are equipped with safety rails and heating pads. The blankets we use are designed to give newborn puppies excellent footing to help them develop healthy joints and muscles. Puppies leave the whelping box sometime between 3-4 weeks of age.
Once old enough and weather permitting puppies are taken out every few hours during the day. We utilize our puppy-safe/ fenced-in backyard and front puppy pen to begin the housebreaking process. This also allows puppies to safely see and hear cars, people walking, running, biking, lawnmowers, weed whackers running and a snowplow depending on the time of year! Outside they see and hear birds singing, airplanes that fly overhead, and beautiful ospreys who like to fish in the Kennebec River just down the road. We very much try to introduce them to as many surfaces, textures, noises and visual stimuli as possible to help begin the process of creating reassured pups.
Weekly videos and photos are sent to prospective families so they can watch the puppies grow. We match puppies after their 7-week vet check and temperament evaluation. Puppies are matched to families based on their wishes for gender, color and personality. They may go to their new families between 8-9 weeks old.
Learn More
Click on the link below to access the Monks of New Skete website which includes their "Gift Shop" where you can purchase a copy of the "Art of Raising a Puppy."