JoyLee babies are born in a whelping box in my bedroom. The mom stays with her babies 24/7 except for potty breaks or exercise time. Each pup is weighed after birth and daily thereafter. Each pup that is not gaining as well as we like is given extra private time to nurse, formula if necessary or nutrients.

 

     By day three, we start Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). ENS is a series of physical actions done with the pup that slightly stress the pup in a safe way. The puppy learns that when its nervous system is stressed, it will survive and thrive. ENS is designed to promote a nervous system that is better able to cope with stressful situations. Puppies go through ENS exercises for two weeks.

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     Daily weights are continued to be tracked and recorded so we can see how each litter is progressing compared to previous litters. About two weeks in, they open their eyes and start attempting to walk. By three weeks, there is a ton of action in their pen. Even a bit of growling and baby barks can be heard as they find their voices. Around four weeks, pups get their first pureed puppy chow. Once they start on gruel, they get moved into the temperature-controlled garage. Their pen gives them more room to move. Mom stays with them for another week until they are weaned. At seven weeks, everyone goes to the vet for their first shot. My vet examines each pup, records her findings for each individual pup, and gives them their first shot.

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     My pups have few visitors for their own safety. Until they are vaccinated with their third shot, they are not completely immune to any disease that a visitor might carry in on their shoes. They are also not allowed in the yard until they have three shots. Birds, squirrels, or other animals can carry diseases into the wet morning grass. For all of my puppy buyers who take their babies home at eight weeks, I strongly recommend you don’t expose them to strange animals/dogs that may not be vaccinated.

 

     Likewise, people coming into your house can carry in diseases on their shoes. Lepto vaccines are not given until the second and third shots, so your pup has no protection against any strain of Lepto until the second vaccine is administered. I do know a family who lost a pup (not mine) from Lepto, which it contracted in the yard before ten weeks. I know it is hard, but I highly recommend keeping the pup out of the grass and away from new people until vaccine shot number three.