Or have you already brought them home?  

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The next few months are a crucial time in your puppy's life, and their future safety, resilience and how they see the world will be shaped by your choices and how you view things. 

Puppies need a gradual introduction to life - sights and sounds are all scary if not slowly developed in ever growing circles.  

I've seen the same advice as you - I've followed some of it in the past:  Get the puppy out 'socialising' as soon as possible.  Expose them to many different things.  Send them to puppy school!  Never go back if they're crying, they'll learn to do it for attention!  Only reward when they do as they're asked.  Ignore them if they're not doing the 'right' things, or jump or bite.  

What if all these common pieces of advice were not only questionable, but the opposite of what a puppy truly needs.  A lot of us instinctively want to do things differently, but the common dog world has insisted differently. 

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What do we do differently? 

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Unconditional relationship

Puppies are allowed to jump, mouth, suckle, chew and climb on us - this builds a safe world where the puppy can learn that it can make mistakes but your relationship will never change.  It teaches them that you are safe.  No, you won't 'teach' these behaviours for life.  These are ways of asking for connection and regulating themselves.  They are crucial and to deny them is the first step in teaching your dog that you're not safe, that your relationship is conditional.  

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Answering their cries

In the wolf world, when mum starts leaving the pups for moments at a time, she returns as soon as one of them calls out to her - cries - every. single. time.  This teaches the puppy that they can ask for support and get it when needed.  We should be doing the same for our dogs.  No, this absolutely does not lead to separation anxiety.  In fact it's the opposite.  When puppy learns that you will come when they need you, they learn to feel safer in those moments without you.  Over time when matched with areas in your home highlighted as safe, they learn that they are still safe when you leave the room, and eventually, the house.  

Social Exposure

When the time comes to venture out in to the world - and this is absolutely not a race, it is done when the puppy is ready be it at 10 weeks, 12 or 16+ weeks, it is done without agenda.  There are no puppy socials, we don't go out planning to meet x many people or dogs.  We start of going to known quiet safe areas and slowly introducing them to things at distance.  We use the safety bond they've built with us at home to support them while they view new things, and we role model how we're feeling, and they feed off of this, so safe spaces we feel confident in are vital.  No, this doesn't create an 'unsocialised' dog.  This leads to a dog that feels safe in their environment, safe with your support - meaning that when one day they meet something unexpected, they have the natural confidence and resilience to deal with it, or come to you to seek support.  

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Food and resources

Dogs are highly social animals, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that eating together and with company is not just preferred, but essential for building intimacy and connection.  Hand feeding and holding their chews is a fabulous way to share the experience, and it'll create safety around food, one of their highest value resources.  Contrary to what some believe, this leads to a dog feeling safer with people around their food.  Better yet, share a meal, or eat yours beside them.  There is no 'I eat before my dog' - meal times should be dedicated time together to build your bond.  

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I've given you a few tips to get started - with many more to come!  

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The BEST time to get in touch is when you're planning to get a puppy - or planning to rescue a dog, because these stages should be part of the process for every dog that comes to join your family.  If you've already got your puppy, we can still put these early development stages in place, even with an adult dog, it's never too late to give them the early start they deserve, a life of safety and connection. 

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If you'd like to learn more about the process and circles of development, view our recorded webinar - then get in touch to discuss in more detail. 

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Puppy Package

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I offer a support package that supports you through 6 months of your puppy's developement.  

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Including: 

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• 4 months access to The Foundation Course with The Wolf & Dog Development Centre valued at £675, with over 50 bite sized videos progressing through the developmental stages, a community support group and 2 x live zooms per month with Shaun and Kim Ellis (and myself supporting)

• 6 x weekly 1 hour in person sessions with your during your puppies earliest development and supporting you through those often difficult stages followed by

• Ongoing 2 weekly 1 hour in person sessions with me for continued support

• Daily (when you need it) whatsapp support

• Access to my Facebook community group

• Total 16 in person sessions - including supporting you out on walks. 

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Please note I only take on 2 new puppy clients per month to ensure full support for you. 

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Initial 1-2 hour session to discuss where you're at, any challenges you foresee, how we can set you up for success, and whether this style is for you:  £65

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Cost:  £1520 for 6 months support as above.  

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Once qualified as an instructor, this cost will be £1920

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Please note that while we do run through these stages with adolescent and adult dogs, the support package and cost for these can be found here. If your puppy is already at home with you, we can assess which stage they are at and whether more early developmental support is needed - however, this process can be done with any age dog, it may take a little longer depending on the stage we start at.  

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