Being a breeder of puppies is an important job—one that should be
undertaken with a commitment for the time and effort necessary to get the
pups off to the best possible start. Aside from a clean, warm box area and
good diet, a young puppy has definite behavioral needs. The breeder is the
person who supplies these needs. During the first seven weeks, a puppy’s
three most important needs are exposure to mild stress, a stimulating
environment, and individual attention.
EXPOSURE TO MILD STRESS
Even though the bitch is the primary influence in the puppy’s life for the
first twenty-one days, the breeder can at this time begin to influence a
puppy’s future behavior. Although the pup’s eyes don’t open until the end
of the second week and his hearing isn’t functioning until the third week, he
will respond on a purely physical level to being touched. Touching and
lifting the pup begins to condition his physiology to react, at a very low
level, to changes in his experience.
