How Legacy Cockapoos Raises Their Puppies: A Detailed Guide from Birth to 8 Weeks of Age
At Legacy Cockapoos, we take pride in raising healthy, well-adjusted, and well-socialized puppies that will thrive in their forever homes. We follow a carefully structured, science-backed approach to ensure each puppy gets the best start in life. Our program includes Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), scent imprinting, desensitization, socialization, deworming, and a vaccination schedule that prepares them for a lifetime of happiness.
This detailed, week-by-week curriculum ensures that by the time they reach 8 weeks of age, our puppies are ready for their new families. Here’s an in-depth look at how we raise our puppies !
Birth to 1 Week: The Foundation of Comfort and Care
Physical and Environmental Care
🐾 Initial Bonding: As soon as the puppies are born, we ensure they have a calm, clean, and warm environment to promote bonding with their mother. The first few days are crucial, as the puppies depend entirely on their mother’s milk for nourishment.
🐾 always playing relaxing calming sounds in the puppy nursery
Weight and Health Checks:
🐾We monitor the puppies’ weight daily to ensure they're gaining steadily. Any signs of weakness or irregularities are addressed immediately.
🐾 Safe Space: We use a whelping box with clean bedding, keeping the temperature regulated to a comfortable level for both mom and pups.
Neurological Stimulation Begins (ENS)
🐾ENS is a scientifically proven method to enhance the development of a puppy’s nervous system. This technique improves their ability to cope with stress and adapt to different situations later in life. We begin ENS from Day 3.
🐾 Method: For 3 to 5 seconds, we expose the puppies to gentle stimuli, including:
- Tactile (handling)
- Thermal (cooler and warmer environments)
- Vestibular (tilting or moving them gently)
🐾 Early Socialization: Though the puppies are mostly sleeping during this time, we start introducing them to gentle human touch and the scent of different family members. This early contact helps them feel safe around humans from an early age.
Physical and Environmental Care
🐾 Initial Bonding: As soon as the puppies are born, we ensure they have a calm, clean, and warm environment to promote bonding with their mother. The first few days are crucial, as the puppies depend entirely on their mother’s milk for nourishment.
🐾 always playing relaxing calming sounds in the puppy nursery
Weight and Health Checks:
🐾We monitor the puppies’ weight daily to ensure they're gaining steadily. Any signs of weakness or irregularities are addressed immediately.
🐾 Safe Space: We use a whelping box with clean bedding, keeping the temperature regulated to a comfortable level for both mom and pups.
Neurological Stimulation Begins (ENS)
🐾ENS is a scientifically proven method to enhance the development of a puppy’s nervous system. This technique improves their ability to cope with stress and adapt to different situations later in life. We begin ENS from Day 3.
🐾 Method: For 3 to 5 seconds, we expose the puppies to gentle stimuli, including:
- Tactile (handling)
- Thermal (cooler and warmer environments)
- Vestibular (tilting or moving them gently)
🐾 Early Socialization: Though the puppies are mostly sleeping during this time, we start introducing them to gentle human touch and the scent of different family members. This early contact helps them feel safe around humans from an early age.
Week 2: Eyes Open, Tails Wagging, and Scent Imprinting
Physical Development
🐾 Eyes and Ears Open: By the second week, puppies begin to open their eyes and ears, and their sense of sight and hearing starts to develop. This is when the sensory world begins to expand for them
🐾 Standing and Crawling: The puppies will start to push themselves up, attempting to stand and crawl toward their mother for nursing.
Scent Imprinting At this stage, we begin scent imprinting to ensure that the puppies grow up recognizing important and familiar scents.
🐾 We introduce them to various, safe scents: humans, different animals, and environmental smells (fresh grass, lavender, etc.).
🐾 This process helps with positive association when they leave us and enter their new homes, making transitions smoother.
ENS Continues
🐾We continue ENS exercises to boost their physical and mental resilience.
Sound desensitization
🐾 we continue to play softer more relaxing sounds but introduce thunder storm sounds at night time
Physical Development
🐾 Eyes and Ears Open: By the second week, puppies begin to open their eyes and ears, and their sense of sight and hearing starts to develop. This is when the sensory world begins to expand for them
🐾 Standing and Crawling: The puppies will start to push themselves up, attempting to stand and crawl toward their mother for nursing.
Scent Imprinting At this stage, we begin scent imprinting to ensure that the puppies grow up recognizing important and familiar scents.
🐾 We introduce them to various, safe scents: humans, different animals, and environmental smells (fresh grass, lavender, etc.).
🐾 This process helps with positive association when they leave us and enter their new homes, making transitions smoother.
ENS Continues
🐾We continue ENS exercises to boost their physical and mental resilience.
Sound desensitization
🐾 we continue to play softer more relaxing sounds but introduce thunder storm sounds at night time
Week 3: Exploring the World with Little Paws
Increased Movement and Play
🐾 Coordination: By the third week, the puppies are starting to walk, although still wobbly. Their muscles and coordination improve, allowing them to start interacting with each other in playful ways.
🐾 Socialization: This week marks the beginning of important interactions with their littermates. Puppies learn bite inhibition and communication through play, a critical part of socialization.
🐾 We also introduce gentle human interaction by offering puppies small treats and gently handling them during short, positive interactions.
Introduction to Solid Food
🐾Around day 21, we begin weaning the puppies onto a specially formulated puppy food. We mix the food with mother’s milk or a milk replacer or goats milk to ease the transition.
Sound desensitization
🐾 we start introducing different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Increased Movement and Play
🐾 Coordination: By the third week, the puppies are starting to walk, although still wobbly. Their muscles and coordination improve, allowing them to start interacting with each other in playful ways.
🐾 Socialization: This week marks the beginning of important interactions with their littermates. Puppies learn bite inhibition and communication through play, a critical part of socialization.
🐾 We also introduce gentle human interaction by offering puppies small treats and gently handling them during short, positive interactions.
Introduction to Solid Food
🐾Around day 21, we begin weaning the puppies onto a specially formulated puppy food. We mix the food with mother’s milk or a milk replacer or goats milk to ease the transition.
Sound desensitization
🐾 we start introducing different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Week 4: Developing Individual Personalities
Increased Exploration
🐾 Curiosity: By week four, the puppies are very curious. They explore their whelping area and may even try to escape from their box. This is a time of high energy, as they practice their coordination skills.
🐾 Crate Training Begins: We start introducing the puppies to a crate. We want them to develop positive associations with it so that crate training in their future homes is stress-free.
🐾 Interaction with Humans: We increase our one-on-one interactions with the puppies. This is also the time when we start handling them more during regular grooming and nail-trimming sessions, helping them learn to be comfortable with human touch.
Continued ENS and Scent Imprinting
🐾By now, ENS is still an important part of their daily routine. We continue exposing them to mild stressors (like small changes in temperature, handling, and mild noises) to help build their resilience.
Sound desensitization
🐾 continue exposure to different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Increased Exploration
🐾 Curiosity: By week four, the puppies are very curious. They explore their whelping area and may even try to escape from their box. This is a time of high energy, as they practice their coordination skills.
🐾 Crate Training Begins: We start introducing the puppies to a crate. We want them to develop positive associations with it so that crate training in their future homes is stress-free.
🐾 Interaction with Humans: We increase our one-on-one interactions with the puppies. This is also the time when we start handling them more during regular grooming and nail-trimming sessions, helping them learn to be comfortable with human touch.
Continued ENS and Scent Imprinting
🐾By now, ENS is still an important part of their daily routine. We continue exposing them to mild stressors (like small changes in temperature, handling, and mild noises) to help build their resilience.
Sound desensitization
🐾 continue exposure to different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Week 5: Socialization and Exposure to the Outside World
Sociability and Confidence Building
🐾 Group Play: By now, the puppies are interacting with each other more energetically, and we give them ample time for play and exploration with their littermates.
🐾 Human Socialization: We invite friends and family to interact with the puppies, allowing them to get used to different people and voices. The puppies are exposed to new textures, sounds, and experiences to ensure they develop a well-rounded and confident personality.
Puppy Exposure to New Environments
🐾 Introducing New Environments: We start taking the puppies outside for short, supervised trips. This could include safe outdoor areas in our yard, or we may allow them to walk around the house or garage to explore different floors and rooms.
Sound desensitization
🐾 continue exposure to different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Sociability and Confidence Building
🐾 Group Play: By now, the puppies are interacting with each other more energetically, and we give them ample time for play and exploration with their littermates.
🐾 Human Socialization: We invite friends and family to interact with the puppies, allowing them to get used to different people and voices. The puppies are exposed to new textures, sounds, and experiences to ensure they develop a well-rounded and confident personality.
Puppy Exposure to New Environments
🐾 Introducing New Environments: We start taking the puppies outside for short, supervised trips. This could include safe outdoor areas in our yard, or we may allow them to walk around the house or garage to explore different floors and rooms.
Sound desensitization
🐾 continue exposure to different sounds, drop steal bowls randomly and play different sound track like vacuum, fire works thunder, cars sounds ,children playing etc..
Week 6: The Tail End of Weaning Begins
Weaning Complete
🐾At 6 weeks, the puppies are almost fully weaned. They are eating solid food and drinking water, but still nursing occasionally.
🐾 Socialization Intensifies: We step up socialization to include more exposure to other animals, like our adult dogs, and new people.
🐾 Deworming: We administer the second round of deworming medications. Deworming is typically done every 2-3 weeks starting from week 3 to ensure the puppies are free from parasites.
Weaning Complete
🐾At 6 weeks, the puppies are almost fully weaned. They are eating solid food and drinking water, but still nursing occasionally.
🐾 Socialization Intensifies: We step up socialization to include more exposure to other animals, like our adult dogs, and new people.
🐾 Deworming: We administer the second round of deworming medications. Deworming is typically done every 2-3 weeks starting from week 3 to ensure the puppies are free from parasites.
Week 7: Potty Training and More Socialization
Potty Training
🐾By the seventh week, the puppies are fully accustomed to eating solid food, and they begin developing bladder control. We start working on potty training using puppy pads and taking them outside for short potty breaks.
Final Deworming and First Vaccine
First Round of Vaccinations:
At 7 weeks, we give the puppies their First round of vaccinations Vaccination,we administer the first set of vaccines (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Andovirus). These are given by our veterinarian.. This may include additional vaccines like Bordetella (kennel cough), depending on the vet's recommendations.
🐾 Deworming Continues: Deworming treatments are continued at this point to ensure the puppies are parasite-free before they leave for their new homes.
Temperament Testing
🐾By now, we assess each puppy’s individual temperament. This allows us to match each puppy to the right family based on personality, energy levels, and preferences. We follow the Volhard puppy temperament testing.
Potty Training
🐾By the seventh week, the puppies are fully accustomed to eating solid food, and they begin developing bladder control. We start working on potty training using puppy pads and taking them outside for short potty breaks.
Final Deworming and First Vaccine
First Round of Vaccinations:
At 7 weeks, we give the puppies their First round of vaccinations Vaccination,we administer the first set of vaccines (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Andovirus). These are given by our veterinarian.. This may include additional vaccines like Bordetella (kennel cough), depending on the vet's recommendations.
🐾 Deworming Continues: Deworming treatments are continued at this point to ensure the puppies are parasite-free before they leave for their new homes.
Temperament Testing
🐾By now, we assess each puppy’s individual temperament. This allows us to match each puppy to the right family based on personality, energy levels, and preferences. We follow the Volhard puppy temperament testing.
Week 8: Ready for Their New Homes
Final Socialization and Evaluation
🐾 Last Round of Socialization: We continue to socialize the puppies through controlled exposure to different people, sounds, and environments.
Health Checks
🐾 Final Check: Before the puppies go to their new homes, they receive their final vet check-up to ensure they are in optimal health.
🐾 Microchipping: Puppies are microchipped before going to their new homes to ensure they can be safely returned in case they get lost.
Final Socialization and Evaluation
🐾 Last Round of Socialization: We continue to socialize the puppies through controlled exposure to different people, sounds, and environments.
Health Checks
🐾 Final Check: Before the puppies go to their new homes, they receive their final vet check-up to ensure they are in optimal health.
🐾 Microchipping: Puppies are microchipped before going to their new homes to ensure they can be safely returned in case they get lost.
Conclusion: Raising Happy, Healthy Cockapoo Puppies
By the time our puppies reach 8 weeks of age, they are well-prepared for their new families. We follow a structured curriculum designed to maximize their health, social skills, and adaptability to new environments. The combination of Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), scent imprinting, vaccination schedules, deworming, and early socialization ensures that our puppies grow into balanced, confident, and loving companions.
At Legacy Cockapoos, we don't just raise puppies; we raise Bad Ass puppies ready to make a lasting impact on their new families.
