Before any puppy leaves us at 8 weeks of age or older, there are a lot of things that take place! We'd like to share with you the goings-on of the life of a Howling Grove puppy...

Care for Mom
All of our dogs here at the Grove are treated special, they are our family. They get Christmas gifts and Birthday songs sang to them just like the humans in our family do! Freedom to run and do outdoor things, a whirlwind of toys to keep them busy and even sometimes naps on the couch! But more especially, all of our dogs are fed great food year round, dewormed, vaccinated, and receive monthly heartworm and flea preventative to keep them healthy. Our Grove mothers are given extra attention and pampering. They also get beneficial supplements before and after breeding and whelping to keep their bodies healthy and strong and to provide the best possible nutrition during the crucial stage of development. Puppy health is considered long before their first breath of air!

Day 1
A new litter of squirming blessings is born! The puppies are whelped in a quiet corner room of our home, the "nursery", usually in a kiddie pool filled with old clothes or towels so that mom can exercise the desire to nest. This room has a doggy door so that mom can go outside whenever she pleases. We prepare for this day in advance and are there to assist the mom if she needs it, and are fortunate enough to have a vet hosptial with the most outgoing people who are just a phone call away just incase. During the whelping process, we like to take note of which puppies are born first, what times they are born, and what each puppy looks like, make sure they are healthy and wiggly like newborn puppies should be. Mom is provided with plenty of calcium so that she can make yummy milk for her little ones.

Days 2-14
Mom and Puppies are monitored 'round the clock to make sure everyone is doing good. Puppies are weighed daily and anyone falling behind is given special attention and encouraged to nurse on mom as much as possible. Sometimes there are lots of bigger puppies that bump the smaller puppies away from a meal, and so they are watched carefully so that everyone gets a fair chance to eat! They are getting aquainted with being handled by loving human hands and are discovering what the world smells like.

Week 2
Puppies are weighed every other day now and are also starting their first round of deworming! The puppies' eyes and ears are beginning to open at this time. They can start to hear our voices and are talked to often. They can hear the sounds of the household, smell human meals being cooked, and see us as we walk by the nursery. If its a nice, warm day they may even be brought outside to wiggle around on a blanket for a bit while mom and her humans watch over and cuddle them!

Week 3
Puppies are becoming more aware of their surroundings, and have probably started showing interest in life outside the kiddie pool. Mom is spending a little less time with them now and they are becoming more adventurous, probably trying to topple over the side of the kiddie pool! If they insist on being out of the pool, they now graduate to a big fluffy comforter on floor of the nursery.

Week 4
Puppies are now about a month old! They are starting to really walk well and play with their siblings more. They also start their second round of dewormings this week. They are still handled and cuddled and talked to, many times a day and now, and know that humans are a source of love and attention and so they are happy to see people. They are getting exposed to more sounds of indoor life, such as the vacuum and pots and pans in the kitchen, people talking and laughing and the sounds of the TV. They can also hear the adult dogs barking and playing outside. By this age, they are starting to eat moist food!

Week 5
By now, the nursery has become much too small and so the puppies are moved to an outdoor enclosure. They enjoy the sounds and smells of outside. They hear vehicles, other dogs, children playing. They nice dog house and plenty of shavings to romp and play around in and toys to play with. If its cold out, they have heated lamps to warm the place up so they stay nice and cozy. They are allowed to explore the Grove before mealtimes under supervision. They are learning about digging in the dirt and what leaves and sticks taste like!

Week 6
By now the puppies have settled in and adjusted quite nicely to outdoor living. They are transitioning over to dry kibble, which they really like because not only does it taste good- it feels good to their growing puppy teeth to chew! Under our watchful eyes, puppies are now interested in adventuring futher away from their usual area, feeling more explorative and developing their unique personalities. They have also started their first round of vaccinations are are continuing on with their deworming regimen. Children from other families also come by to visit and play with the puppies. Their stools are regularly checked for intestinal parasites.

Week 7
The puppies are continuing their socialization and their walks with us nearby around the Grove. They are eating only dry kibble now, too. By now they have been introduced to more outdoor sounds- the tractor, leafblower, the vehicles on the driveway. They have also been sneaking visits back inside and allowed to play indoors every now and then. They have been playing with their mom and she has been teaching them, and they are learning as she speaks to them with no words. They have been introduced to and are becoming familiar with other adult dogs. The puppies are becoming more aware of the human face as we get their attention and reward them with a tasty treat. They are preparing for their vet checkup this week to make sure that they are completely healthy before the 8 week mark rolls around!

Week 8
The week has finally come. They are ready to go to their furever homes this week, but not before they have had their second vaccination and another round of deworming medication! They will take home a bag of goodies, including a folder with health record, registration, health related information.