The Life of a Kenset Puppy

Puppies at Kenset have a wonderful puppyhood and grow up to be wonderful dogs - both as pet companions and as show dogs. Puppies are whelped in our dining room in a special whelping pen that is raised and lined with newspaper underneath, and a soft fleece bedding for the puppies to lay on. Puppies are handled daily and weighed and measured at specific integrals to chart growth and development. Temperament testing begins at 4 weeks and is repeated weekly to monitor any changes and for accurate observations.

At 8-12 weeks, puppies are evaluated and those deemed to be "companion/pet quality" are usually available for adoption. Puppies are adopted to approved homes on a spay/neuter contract. Please see our Pet Sales Contract for more information.

Puppyhood Week by Week

Weeks 1 & 2
Mom stays with pups full-time except for potty breaks and quick stretches every couple of hours. Pups eyes & ears are closed and they nurse & sleep almost 100% of the time. Growth is extremely rapid; puppies double their weight by the end of the first week. Pups are handled and weighed daily.

Weeks 2 & 3
Puppies begin to have short segments of separation from mom; usually no more than 1 hour at a time. The ears & eyes begin to open, though vision is poor and still developing. Pups are still weighed daily to ensure adequate weight gain & health. Daily handling is increased, both in duration & frequency. It is during this week the pups begin to stand up and take a few wobbly steps. Weekly nail trimming begins to familiarize pups with having their feet "tickled" and their nails clipped.

Week 4
At 4 weeks, puppies experience their first time out of the whelping pen and are allowed on new surfaces to explore their surroundings. Pups are able to see things a bit more clearly, can turn their head in the direction of noises, and have the ability to teeter about, though still very clumsily. Close supervision is provided at all times while out of the whelping pen and areas of exploration are confined with x-pens for security and safety. Puppies begin to play & interact with each other and mom. Separation from mom is increased. The puppies also receive "puppy gruel" for the first time around 3-4 weeks of age depending on maturity level. Visitors are allowed to handle puppies with washed hands & shoes removed. Temperament testing begins at 4 weeks and is repeated weekly until 8-12 weeks when the puppy's future is usually determined.

Week 5
At approximately 5 weeks, the puppies experience time outside (weather permitting) and begin to spend short periods of time in the outside puppy pen. The outside puppy pen is a covered area just outside our living room and lined with wood shavings to keep puppies dry. A large dog house/crate with a kennel heating pad is provided for puppies to keep warm. There are new toys to play with, boxes to climb in, on & around and other stimulating sights & sounds. Weaning has begun, though mom's milk is still a part of their diet, and puppies are spending several hours away from mom at a time. Coordination improves drastically and pups begin to really play with each other. Visiting is encouraged and daily handling is increased.

Week 6
At 6 weeks, puppies have had multiple opportunities away from the whelping pen and have experienced several different surface types, numerous toys, and have been handled by multiple people of varying ages. If the weather is permissible, puppies experience time on the grass in a fenced, secure location and practice climbing up and down one step. Coordination is developing quickly and puppies are learning to do new things with their body. Weaning is completed during this week. Pups at 6 weeks are measured (height) for the first time. Weight gain is measured twice weekly. Initial crate training begins, and some potty training takes place. Daily individual handling is increased, and visitors are encouraged to visit and handle pups.

Week 7
At 7 weeks, puppies continue to be exposed to new objects, sights, sounds and people. Vision is almost perfect & pups can respond to noises and follow them. Coordination continues to develop and a puppy heirarchy is established. Puppies that leave littermates before 7 weeks of age have an increased probability of being dog-aggressive later in life. The pups are measured & weighed weekly and begin to spend more time in the outside puppy pen & fenced area.

Week 8
First immunization vaccinations are given. By the time the puppies are 8 weeks of age, most puppies have been handled by 20+ people, have experienced both inside & outside noises, smells, etc, have been on multiple surfaces (carpet, linoleum, metal, wood, etc), have ridden in a car, and are eating solid puppy kibble (usually mixed with a little bit of warm water to aid with digestion). At this time, puppies are evaluated and those deemed "companion/pet quality" are usually available for adoption and are eager to bond with their new family. Those that are deemed "show quality" are grown out here or are placed into approved and proven show homes.

Puppies that stay at Kenset to be grown out for show are enrolled in a puppy socialization class at a local veterinary office and are taken to many different places for socializations. All dogs that remain at Kenset Shelties are microchipped as a means of permanent identification. Weekly grooming is provided so puppies become familiar with equipment, and regular individual training sessions are provided to keep their minds stimulated and teach them to be well-mannered dogs. All Kenset dogs that grow up here are house-trained and know basic obedience commands.

Occasionally, we have older pups & adult dogs available for adoption. Dogs over the age of 9 months are usually reliable in the house, though some training is always required for a dog in a new environment. These dogs will be available to approved pet homes and will be required to be spayed/neutered within 30 days of adoption. Please let us know if you are interested in one of these dogs.