The puppies had a big week this week: they moved out of the whelping box and into their playpen. This gave them much more room to run and play, which definitely changed their interactions. Life no longer centers around eating; they are making social bonds and learning how to interact with each other, with people, and with their environment.

Each puppy gets one-on-one time out of the playpen at least once a day. They get to play with Piper, explore the living room and kitchen, and discover surprises around each corner. Their confidence has grown by leaps and bounds every day as they boldly explore their expanding world.

We also take the pups out in small groups for structured play with new toys. Today we introduced the tipping board, which is a 2’x2’ square elevated on a tennis ball. It moves unexpectedly as they climb on it, giving them a chance to gain confidence on unstable surfaces. They took to this new challenge easily and enjoyed climbing on the new toy as it wobbled around.

The best surprise for me this week was how well the pups learned to use their litter area. Puppies have a natural tendency to go away from their sleeping area to keep their living quarters clean. However, I did not expect them to grasp the concept of the toilet area so well. They aren’t mistake-proof, but it’s clear they understand the idea and get to the box whenever they can.

We also introduced a kennel so they will become comfortable sleeping in it to set the stage for future crate training. They took to it immediately! Some of the boys enjoyed playing whack-a-mole with any body parts that came through the holes of the Ruff Tough, which seemed to be a fun game for all involved.

We are increasing our focus on socialization with a variety of people. We hosted a brief visit with a couple of small children this weekend, which the puppies really enjoyed. We will increase the number and variety of visitors over the coming days.

It’s fun seeing the pups adapt and grow with every new experience. It’s good to take advantage of this key development window to build confident, capable dogs that will easily adapt to new experiences throughout their adult life.