The traits society value most in dogs are affection, impulse control, no fear of loud noises or new places, adaptability, trainability, friendliness to strangers and other animals/pets. In short, we all want dogs that are easy to live with!
Personally, with our Havanese puppies, we also wish for them to be able to express joy and enthusiasm while keeping their feet off of humans, to feel content apart from their humans, to manage their feelings toward other canine family members while snuggling on “their” humans’ lap, and to feel confident and comfortable while out on the town.
The increasing knowledge of canine psychology and training makes raising stable, well-adjusted dogs a reachable goal. This is where modern puppy raising programs like Puppy Culture (PC) and Avidog play a vital role.
We love that none of the PC protocols suppress natural canine traits, but gently guide puppy development while teaching patterns of behavior. Basically, PC gives them the tools for effective inter-species communication! The main principles behind the protocols are:
respect for their natural development
age-appropriate “work” followed by rest in order for the brain to process the information
individualized protocols to address the specific needs of each puppy
focus on positive emotional associations with a desired behavior
a range of choices through the management of the environment instead of coercion
The protocols respect the natural psychological and physical development stages of puppies. There are behavior markers for each stage and each stage reflects physical and mental readiness for the next. By carefully molding the puppy’s experiences and environment appropriate for each stage, mental and emotional resilience can be established.
Prenatal Period
Making sure that your puppy’s genetic material is excellent is only the beginning. Many of a dog’s genes can switch on or off, depending on the environment in which it is raised (including in utero.) The physical and emotional health of the mother will affect the health of her puppies. Research indicates that puppies born to mothers who receive caressing and affection are more docile, so our mommy dogs get extra love and belly massages. We have found that doing T-Touch on her tummy is actually remembered later on by puppies, having the ability to calm and comfort them whenever needed! Yes, the forming of deep and meaningful relationships begins even before a puppy is born.
Neonatal Period: 0-14 days
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) begins on day 3 and continues through day 16. Research shows that tiny appropriate stresses in small doses actually help puppies grow into strong, healthy, well-adjusted adults. Benefits include greater tolerance to stress, greater resistance to disease, faster adrenal system, stronger heart rate, and stronger heartbeat. This is a gift that only the breeder can give to their puppies during that specific window of time. There is research that shows gentle handling has positive effects on puppies after birth (Gazzano et. al. 2008, Appl An Beh Sci 110.)
Transitional Period: 14-21 days
Behavior markers are used to identify the beginning and end of each developmental period because every puppy and breed is different so these timelines are simply a guide. The transitional period begins when the puppies’ eyes open, and ends when the first startle response to sounds is observed.
Critical Socialization Period: 3-12 weeks
The critical socialization period is 3 to 12 weeks of age. Most people think of “socialization” as exposing their puppies to as many new people and experiences as possible while still young. Although this is part of the process, it’s not enough. Our goal as breeders is to raise dogs that have the emotional intelligence to connect with humans. Emotional intelligence can be taught to very young puppies and one of the goals of PC is to teach breeders how to do this.
Week 10: Puppies go home with their families. This gives them two weeks still in that critical socialization period to adjust to their new family’s lifestyle and be safely introduced to new people and experiences.
The use of any puppy raising program does not guarantee a perfect adult. There is no such thing as a perfect dog anyway. However, the benefits are obvious to those sharing life with a dog raised by PC.
Our Shiloh and Lizzie both were Puppy Culture puppies. We carry on the legacy in turn by raising their offspring with Puppy Culture.
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