Portuguese Water Dog First Weeks of Life

God made dogs to bless people and to show another aspect of His love. Dogs are so accepting and such good listeners (good examples to us!). We hear many stories of how one of our puppies brought warmth and comfort into a home. We believe that happy dogs make healthy and happy puppies. We have a relaxed environment and enjoyable life for our dogs, that includes plenty of interaction on our many acres, lots of exercise, walks, and high quality dog food, fortified with extra vitamins and minerals for their needs. We even mix in our organic home-made yogurt and organic eggs to give them an extra boost. There is always someone home so we have much interaction with them. They definitely live in their own Dog Park!

P.S. ... We are very excited about our latest project...a two-tiered 1/2 acre pond with a connecting waterfall, that our doggies will be able to enjoy for hours!

~First Eight Weeks of Life~

We are a Family-Puppy-Team and everyone has their responsibilities.

*When one of our Mothers is pregnant, we give her extra care--with extra petting and telling her what a good mommy she is! (I was pregnant many times, and my heart goes out to our dogs when they are pregnant!). In the last week especially, our mommies-to-be live right under our feet as we work in the kitchen. We don't want any surprises if one should labor early. The only reoccurring surprise is how adorable their puppies are! We don't seem to get over that one =)

*When whelping time comes, we carefully watch over the birthing process to ensure all goes well. Sometimes our puppies are born in our home if that's what Mommy-dog prefers. Though they are very capable mothers in the birthing process, they still enjoy our reassuring presence and the occasional help we provide. Around their due dates, we take turns setting alarms to wake up and check on them through the night. Since most puppies come at night, we've been up many a night by their side throughout the long birthing process. We cheer them on along the way, often singing while helping newborn puppies find their sustenance. The whole birthing process amazes us while watching their God-given instincts kick in: newborns find their mother even though they can't see or hear for the first 10-12 days! And they can't walk until they are at least 2 weeks old.

*Our puppy care…The first 24 hours is most critical, followed by the first and second weeks. These important days find us with our Mothers and puppies, monitoring temperatures while making sure smaller ones nurse well. Puppies, like humans, can't regulate body temperature for the first 24 hours and can quickly fade or have their health compromised if not watched over. In addition, while puppies grow at different rates, smaller ones can miss feedings in the first two weeks and starting fading away. We’ve saved many a puppies’ lives with our watchful care. Between day 3-16, we start ENS and ESI to improve their health, confidence, and stability.

*Our Mother's care...Our Mothers find doggie-paradise after the rigors of birthing: happily and contentedly caring for and enjoying their puppies for hours on end. Continually licking their pups from head to toe, they humor us with puppy-somersaults caused by their diligent tongues. Sometimes we sit and brush them while they nurse--causing the best of both worlds for them as they give while receiving care. They get all the food they want, fortified with extra vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, often with an egg and bacon grease mixed in for extra fat and protein.

*We take puppy pictures at 2, 4, and 6 weeks for YOU…easier said than done! This is Hope's job! She does an amazing job and is so patient =)

*Around 4 weeks of age, we introduce our puppies to PawTree grain-free dogfood as well as NuVet Plus, which adds extra vitamins, minerals, and probiotics--important for growing puppies! Read more about this under "Our Health Secrets" on the tab above. Our careful watch over our puppies' feeding, supplements, and growth ensures no one goes unnoticed or left lagging behind!

*Holding and playing with our puppies throughout the first eight weeks of life is absolutely vital, the KEY for them bonding to YOU. It's not hard to find puppy-holders in our home. We give our Mothers time to settle while we stroke puppies as they nurse, but then it soon comes time to hold and hold. One vet asked a buyer purchasing their second puppy from us, “Where did you get this puppy??!!” She replied, “Why?” He said, "This puppy is not shaking, timid, or afraid of me. I can tell he was touched and held a lot in his first 8 weeks of life.” This return customer said to me, “Even if you move to a different state, I will always get my next puppy from you!”

*Eventually, eager puppies enjoy access to a fenced-in play area while taking in all the sights, sounds and sunshine of our country setting, a refreshing change to the indoors. This is when they begin their potty-training, by learning to go outside instead of inside their home quarters.

*Around 6 weeks of age, we take them to the best vet I've ever experienced(and I've gone through a few!), to be thoroughly examined from head-to-toe for YOU. It is so good to hear the familiar words after a thorough examination…”They look great—hearts, joints, structure and all!” This is also the beginning of their crate training.

*After the trip to the vet is the very exciting time of CHOOSING your puppy! But don't feel left out if you don't get to choose because you are last on the list. I can't tell you how many times one of our favorites is the last one chosen. And there is no dud--they are all adorable!!

*Our puppies get their shots at 6 weeks old and worming throughout their first eight weeks. This is father and son time…Home-schooling veterinarian practice for sure! They are also in the process of weaning. They have teeth and claws by now, and their mother, by her own choice, weans them slowly.

*We enjoy welcoming you into our home, like Jami and her daughter (pictured), when you pick up your puppy at 8 weeks old (unless you needed to use our excellent transporter). Many of you have waited SO LONG! See our "PUPPY BUYING PROCESS" under the "Puppy Info" tab to find out what comes in your puppy bag with your new baby. Your puppy is fully weaned, traveled in his first car ride, well on his way in potty-training, familiar with a crate, and confident for the new adventure awaiting him/her with you. He also received his first bath right before you arrived. He is ready to transfer his deep human bond onto YOU. It is exciting for us to see your excitement in receiving your new baby!

*We love receiving a picture and update of your growing puppy if you desire. You should hear us again and again say, “So cute!! Look at how he/she has grown!”

Then, we simply enjoy our pets in-between times. Yep, they have a good life!