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HOW OUR PUPPIES ARE RAISED
At Sunflower Hill AKC Labradors, our utmost goal is to provide each of our puppies with an exceptional beginning in life. My mother and I diligently nurture our puppies within the comforting environment of our home. The puppies are nurtured indoors in our residential home. These puppies also live outside in a large, insulated, A/C-Installed dog home designed to protect the puppies from extreme heat or cold weather year-round. This dog house was designed to meet the unique needs and comfort of growing puppies that ensures they get sufficient outdoor sunlight through a built-in window, as well as unlimited access to outside play when they are old enough to exit and enter through the hinged wooden dog door. The mother has unlimited access to our indoor residential home and our outdoor dog home.
OUR NURSERY
During the initial two weeks, a designated area for birthing and nurturing the puppies is arranged within our home and their dog home. We build our own whelping box and make sure the mom is comfortable using it days before her expected due date. If mom does not approve, we make adjustments.
After the puppies begin to crawl around, they are relocated along with their mother to a kiddie playpen. One playpen is kept in our living room and the other playpen is kept in their dog home. Over the course of the next month or so, the puppies are given plenty of opportunities for social interaction. Our puppies are given the opportunity to interact with their parents (mother & father), young children such as my nieces who are currently under the age of 5, a variation of dog toys, different images/sounds from T.V, etc. from birth until they are ready to be adopted. To ensure you have a reliable and trustworthy pet, we believe it is crucial for young puppies to become familiar with the energy and movements of everyday human activity.
NEWBORNS
From the very beginning of their lives, we carefully track and document the appearance, temperature, and weight of every puppy and consistently assess them for any potential health problems. Each puppy is distinguishable from the others by the unique colored- collar and name it wears. On the third day, we begin Early Stimulation Exercises, which originated in the United States. This U.S. Military Canine Program aims to enhance the puppy's neurological and cognitive abilities to achieve superior physical and mental benefits. These exercises provide proven advantages that we have personally witnessed as greatly beneficial in fostering intelligent canines.
ONE WEEK
Starting from the age of one week, the puppies are frequently held by our family members for extended durations, ensuring that they develop a strong bond with humans as a reliable source of comfort and happiness. Due to their lack of sight and hearing, puppies rely entirely on their sense of smell for all their needs. To expose them to a multitude of captivating scents, we transport them throughout different areas of our house. During week 1, puppies dewclaws are removed (TBD).
TWO WEEKS
Newborn puppies receive their initial dosage of de-worming medication at two weeks of age. Before they go home, they will receive three additional de-worming treatments. The AKC recommends treating the mother and puppies with pyrantel pamoate at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-weeks post-whelping (please refer to AKC link). The pyrantel pamoate brand we use is either Sentry HC WormX DS OR Durvet 2x Liquid Wormer (found on Amazon or most pet stores). In week 2, the puppies have now began to see, and they will soon start to hear as well. The puppies are beginning to lift their bellies and take their first steps as they explore their surroundings. Our puppies continue to maintain socialization and engage in playtime with us. In order to familiarize the puppies with different sounds and voices as they begin to hear, we make sure to have a radio or television playing constantly.
THREE WEEKS
At three-weeks, the puppies are given the opportunity to spend some time outdoors in a playpen so they have direct contact to sunlight on weather permitting days. The puppies have begun to explore more as they walk around energetically, engaging with one another and exploring their toys. This marks the time when the puppies become the most fun, as they start showcasing their distinctive and captivating personalities. When the puppies reach three weeks old, we gradually introduce them to a nourishing mixture of Kirkland dry puppy food & Chicken and Rice canned food, creating a soft texture that enables them to consume it effortlessly.
FOUR WEEKS
At the age of four weeks, puppies receive their second dosage of de-worming medication. Now, they are consuming puppy mush multiple times throughout the day. At this stage puppies are introduced to potty training, when they are transitioned into a larger playpen divided into a play/sleep section and a designated potty area. Puppies typically require a few days to learn how to use the designated potty area for relieving themselves. This becomes convenient when you take your puppy home and start crate/kennel training and housebreaking, as it helps teach them to not relieve themselves where they rest.
FIVE WEEKS
During this phase, we gradually expose the puppies to a diverse range of indoor and outdoor surfaces, as well as more stimulating sounds like the vacuum cleaner, microwave, and hair dryer, etc. We persist in exposing the puppies to the outdoors, providing ample sunlight and a wider space for them to discover new things. The puppy's playpen is enhanced with the introduction of a stimulating adventure box when the puppies are between 4-5 weeks of age. To learn how to make your own puppy adventure box, watch this video.
SIX WEEKS
At six weeks, puppies receive their third dosage of de-worming medication. They are also given Spectra 5 Vaccine which is their first vaccination that offers protection against a combination of Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus, and Parainfluenza. The puppies enjoy frequent and lengthy outdoor play sessions. We praise them for eliminating outside and transition to using the term "potty" in order to facilitate their house training before they depart to their new homes, making it more convenient for you. Puppies are gradually familiarized with a crate through positive reinforcement techniques, whether in individual or group settings. We begin evaluating puppies, considering their suitability for breeding and temperament at this time. Following the conclusion of this assessment, the litter is subsequently categorized into two distinct groups: those suitable for future breeding and those better suited for domestic companionship. The quality distinction does not relate to the puppy's otherwise excellent appearance, health, temperament or personality. At Sunflower Hill AKC Labradors, we have meticulous standards when it comes to selecting a puppy for future breeding purposes. Please take into consideration that something we perceive as a flaw would be almost imperceptible to someone in search of a remarkably beautiful and vibrant Labrador pet. Since we select our potential breeding puppies at six or seven weeks of age, no specific puppy is guaranteed to an individual until then.
vaccinate-your-pets-heath-record.pdfSEVEN WEEKS
Seven-week old puppies are still engaging in outdoor activities, spending time in their crates, and interacting with people in more challenging environments. Puppies at this stage are completely independent from their mother's milk.
EIGHT WEEKS
At eight weeks old, puppies have undergone microchipping through AKC Re-Unite, received their final de-worming treatment, and are now prepared to join their new families.
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