The Easy Riders are now 4 Weeks Old!
At this stage "fear" has not yet developed and this is the age where the puppies need to be exposed to sudden noises like turning on the vacuum, radio, TV, hair dryer etc. The puppies are now listening to Sound Socialization CD's (you can see examples on the Clean Run website) which have gunshots, sirens, babies crying and the like.
The startle response needs to be experienced and the puppy allowed to return to normal quickly before the fear stage begins. This needs to happen so the puppy knows that when startled throughout the rest of his life, he can return to normal and everything will be ok. A puppy that has not had these experiences during this stage of development will more than likely be a "fearful" dog as a adult (just another reason you want to adopt from a reputable breeder who socializes their litters).
The puppies will begin a loose pecking order at this stage and start "play fighting" with each other. I have already introduced them to pee pads, and pellets (the beginning of their house training). During Weeks 3-4 they will also begin to eat food, but still be nursing their mom as well. This past weekend they will be started on "gruel" which is ground up/wet kibble/dehydrated raw food.
As the week goes by Lyra will begin to teach them to nurse more gently and when to quit as their teeth have already started to appear (by 3 1/2 weeks). This is one of the first lessons in discipline.
Over the next few days the puppies will be moving out of the whelping box to the PUPPY PARTY PALACE and be exposed to the PUPPY PLAYTHING and teeter totters, boxes, toys and various objects . . . STAY TUNED!
