Puppy Culture

WHAT IS PUPPY CULTURE?

Puppy Culture is a programme developed by Jane Killion, a professional dog trainer and breeder, and used in her many years of breeding bull terriers. It is a comprehensive, organised programme that breeders can follow for the first few weeks of a puppy’s life.

The first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly important. This is an almost magical time when we as breeders have the opportunity to influence a puppy’s life by teaching it the right things. By doing exactly the right things at exactly the right time, we can give your future puppy the best possible start in life.

PRENATAL PHASE (BIRTH PREPARATION)

Ensuring that your puppy’s genetic material is excellent is only the beginning. The physical and emotional health of the mother affects the health of the puppies. Since research has shown that puppies born to mothers who have received prenatal massage are more docile and enjoy being touched, we pamper our pregnant bitches with lots of affection and belly rubs. A puppy’s disposition to form deep and meaningful relationships begins before birth.

NEONATAL PHASE (0.-14.DAY)

Early neurological stimulation (ENS) begins on day 3 and continues until day 16. Research shows that small fights and stress in appropriate small doses are actually good for puppies and help them grow into strong, healthy and balanced dogs. Benefits include higher stress tolerance, greater resistance to disease, a faster adrenal system, a higher heart rate and a stronger heartbeat. This is a gift a breeder can only give their puppies once during the 3-16 day window.

TANSITIONAL PHASE (DAY 14-21)

The beginning and end of each developmental stage is determined by behavioural characteristics, as each puppy is different and these times are only guidelines. The transition period begins when the puppy’s eyes open and ends when it is first startled by sounds.

CRITICAL SOCIALISATION PHASE (3-12 WEEKS)

Most people think of socialisation as exposing their puppies to as many new experiences as possible while they are young. While this is part of the process, it is not enough. Puppy Culture’s goal is to raise dogs who have the emotional intelligence to connect with you. Emotional intelligence can be taught to young puppies, and one of the goals of the Puppy Culture programme is to teach breeders how to do this. There are 7 important things that can help develop a puppy’s emotional intelligence.

🐾Communication – giving the puppy its own voice (power up clicker, box play, manding, attention/distraction protocols).

🐾Emotional stability – the ability. to recover easily from fear and stress (fright management, barrier challenges)

🐾Getting used to – familiarity with as many things as possible (puppy parties, sound protocols, habituation soundtracks and sounds, meeting different people, dogs, other animals)

🐾Enrichment – the view that new things and challenges are enrichment and not something to be feared or avoided (new objects, socialisation outside the home)

🐾Health – physical well-being and motor skills that allow the puppy to develop in a neurologically and physically healthy way (daily weight checks, grooming, vaccinations, deworming, proper nutrition, veterinary health checks)

🐾Skills – learned behaviours that enable him to cope in human society (backing, recall, simple commands, walking on a lead & harness, protection from resources, bite inhibition).

🐾Love- the desire to seek the company of dogs and humans for positive emotional experiences (forming emotional responses, CER – conditioned emotional responses, daily cuddling with humans and mother).

FAREWELL PHASE (10-12 WEEKS)

Following the Puppy Culture protocol, the puppies now move to their new families. This gives them two weeks in this critical socialisation phase to adjust to their new family’s lifestyle and meet new people and experiences.

Conclusion: This is an incredible effort, but it is 100% worth it! If you adopt a puppy raised according to Puppy Culture (PC for short), you will be as grateful as all breeders after the programme.

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