Crystal HIll

 One of the most important tools we use at Crystal Hill when raising our babies is Puppy Culture. Puppy culture begins at birth and continues until the puppies are 12 weeks old. Puppy culture takes the science of behavior and development and teaches what all puppies need to be well rounded and prepared for life, helping them to reach their full potential. They use a combination of exercises that teach them to be more resiliant, confident, and social. Owners can also use it to help themselves become better trainers with better understanding and knowledge of what their puppies need and deserve. After implementing puppy culture in raising our babies we saw that they have faster recovery times, adjusted quickly to their new homes, were stable and very responsive in their training. This helps tremendously in building their futures and creating a well rounded puppy that is placed specifically based off personality, temperament and energy level with each family. In doing this we are better ensuring the right fit for both puppy and family along with eliminating more dogs being placed in rescues and shelters. To help continue growth and development in your puppies life, we highly recommend you continue using puppy culture up to 12 weeks of age and older. The first 3 months of your puppies life are the most important in shaping them developmentally while helping build coping skills. Puppy culture is very easy to obtain and can be purchased by video on demand and DVD. The week by week lessons are very simple to follow and can make a huge difference in your puppies well being.

A look at Puppy Culture

From the very start Mom is kept relaxed and given lots of love including rubbing her belly. The mothers emotional health plays an important role in the puppies

From Around day 3-16 we begin the early neurological stimulation and implement several car rides to help reduce motion/car sickness.

Between 2-3 weeks the puppies eyes and ears begin to open. This is when we begin socialization. We start potty training with puppy pads at this point and introduce an open crate so they can get used to the idea. This helps tremendoulsy when crate training begins at 6 weeks of age.

At 3 weeks old they begin seeking attention. They are very rambuncious and the growling and barking starts (all very normal). New toys and play items are introduced consistently at this point. The puppies begin to to learn recovery now and are exposed to many different situations and sounds (vacuuming, dropping pots and pans, lawnmower (at a safe distance), doors slamming and music and meeting a few specific people we have set up for socializing for example. This helps them overcome fear and to not startle when encountering new people. Feeding is done by hand and on multiple different surfaces. For example, feeding in a frisbee is very important if you wish to do disc with your furry family member down the road. a fun activity we do during feeding time is to hide the food in a large blanket. This helps them use to brain and keeps them positively stimulated. We also touch the puppies on their ears and mouthes and paws regularly.

At 4 weeks old we increase the size of their play area giving them more space to exercise and play throughout the day. They are introduced to new animals and start to learn problem solving skills. It is important they figure this out on their own as it helps them learn to deal with their frustrations. We start treat training with cheese wiz and expect them to ask for things by sitting for us without verbal cues. They are very trainable at this age and catch on very quickly. As soon as they sit they are treated. many new textures and surfaces are introduced this week for them to climb and walk over (Rocks, wood, grass, cement, carpet, tunnels) for example. We also continue to teach Manding by having them sit when being fed, wanting held or petted.

At 5 weeks a sensitive period is possible. We take things a little slower at this phase. Mom has now started to spend less time with the babies and each spend time away from their siblings a little at at time. We want them to experience things while feeling safe and loved. These are shorter periods of training.

At 6 weeks they becoming highly interested in everything around them. at this point we continue introducing even more new items. Our children wear ball caps, baseball helmets, bandanas, sunglasses and more. This is also when we begin crate training all babies as a group before moving them to individual crates.

At weeks 7-8 we introduce the leash and continue working with puzzle dishes along with teaching look at me (Picture below of shenzi and nala doing look at me). We continue introducing new items until all babies have left for their new homes. At almost 8 week old we start to match each puppy with their new upcoming home. Their Parvo Vaccine is given at 7 weeks old, followed by their distemper vaccine being given at 8 weeks. All babies are also wormed at 2 week intervals from 2 to 8 weeks of age.

It is highly important the new owners continue this training once taking their babies home. The most important training goes on from birth to 12 weeks of age.

***** All female guardian homes are now required to continue this training. *****