We take puppy rearing very seriously at Wildspark. It is my goal to use the latest science along with the wisdom and experience of my mentors to create an optimal environment for pups to grow, learn, and explore. It is truly my passion!
The first few weeks are spent in the whelping box. A quiet, clean, dry, warm space for Mama to tend to her puppies. Nutrition and hydration for mama is a priority. Pups are weighed daily and monitored closely for any changes to their health and growth. They are handled and loved on many times per day. Mama’s emotional and physical needs are prioritized to minimize her stress so she can be a great influence on her puppies. These early days the pups have near constant supervision as I sleep, work, eat, etc, next to the box. Puppies spend their time eating and sleeping.
As their senses develop and mobility increases, safe soft toys and textures are introduced into the box. Their earliest interactions with me and each other are celebrated and documented. As their mobility increases, their space expands to include a safe clean potty area. Puppies learn from their earliest awareness that beds are clean and dry and pottying happens outside the nest.
Enrichment and socialization are crucial components of a puppy's development during the first weeks of their life. During this critical period, puppies are rapidly learning about their environment and developing their social skills. Safe and appropriate enrichment and socialization can have a significant impact on a puppy's temperament, behaviour, and overall well-being.
As the puppies grow, their environment grows with them. New toys and obstacles are introduced. Novel sights, sounds, textures, smells are curated to build curiosity and confidence. At night they are confined to a safe sleeping area that includes a bed/nest area and a potty box so they learn the rhythms of humans and that rest and down time is important. Around 4.5 weeks they are introduced to outdoor environments and begin their transition to pottying predominantly outside by the time they are ready to go home.
Enrichment activities help to stimulate a puppy's senses and promote healthy cognitive development. These can include providing a variety of novel toys and objects to interact with, exposing them to different textures, sounds, and smells, and allowing them to explore their environment. We plan a number of safe field trips and expose them to different “real world” experiences as developmentally appropriate. In addition to being entertaining for puppies and humans alike, thoughtful enrichment builds confidence and curiosity.
Socialization is also critical during this period, as puppies need to learn how to interact appropriately with other dogs and humans. We welcome visitors of all ages once the puppies are old enough. We are fortunate to have resident dogs here who are amazing mentors and provide a safe first introduction to new dogs to build social skills and confidence.
