Hello Socialization Period!
- Posted on 27th September 2009
- in Belle 2009
- by jvfairbanks
The beginning of their first known pack.
Their world has opened up from the nest of the whelp box similiar to their den in the wild, to this next period which lasts until about 12 weeks. Hello 4 weeks, hello socialization perod.
Welcome to the socialization period beginning with “to bravely go” fearless determination, animation, investigation and interacting with their surrounds and their litter mates. They are moving from sleeping less (although they still require plenty of sleep) moving more. While awake the litter is becoming more coordinated and they are building on what they learn on their own or by watching other litter mates or Belle or Libby. At this time they are so open to new things and we try to keep their environment stable so they can have their nest, explore and develop.
Doggie Door Training in Proces
They are drinking water with ease, lapping the additional milk and rice (still getting a milk chaser from mom and time at the milk bar of course). Teeth are coming and this week we introduce the flight crate with no door so they get comfortable coming in and out of it. They frequently “play fort” in the crate. Depending on Belle and the puppies we may start their first taste of meat; a wet puppy food mixed with puppy milk.
This tends to be the “dirty week” as they walk through food, move from mom’s milk to other meat means other movements of other kinds. So at the end of this week beginning of next, we introduce another first…they typically get their first bath other than Belle’s attentive cleaning. 🙂
I try to take pictures, but Jeff and I both have our hands full and are usually soaked by the time it is over!
