How Puppies are Raised At Cedar Creek Retrievers

We believe that puppies begin their lives at the moment of conception.

So, from that moment we want our puppies to have the very best we can provide.

Girls that are competitive dogs continue their training throughout pregnancy to maintain their peak mental and physical condition. Some studies show mothers who continue to stay mentally and physically active have offspring that are healthier with heavier brain weight. 

So, to ensure enhanced mental ability of our pups we continue regular training, exercise, retrieving and swimming until the day the pups are due.

  Each Cedar Creek mom is attended during whelping.  All puppies are born in our home in a clean, disinfected area padded with clean towels and fleeces. They are on a heating pad and/or under a heat lamp in order to keep the

temperature about 85-90 degrees Fahrenheit.  

As pups are usually born at night we sit up and offer support and reassurance during birth.

 We assist the dam as needed. 

As the pups are born I secure (tie off) and cut the umbilical cord and discard the placenta. Each pup is dried by rubbing briskly within seconds after birth to acquaint her/him with the smell and touch of human hands as well

as their dam's tongue.

 As soon as the newborn is dried off it is put on the teat to nurse, as this early colostrum is essential to protect the pup from disease until the immune system matures.  After each couple of pups are born, the towels and fleeces are taken out and replaced with new ones and the mom is offered water and lots of reassurance. We tell her what a great mother she is and that her babies are wonderful,  this reassurance helps her to relax.  We also make sure each puppy is nursing.  When all of the puppies are born we check on them multiple times an hour, picking them up & handling them to be sure all is well and to continue the puppies contact with humans.

We talk to the puppies and tell them how beautiful, precious & brave they are.  

Every time the mom goes out for a bathroom break we change the towels and fleeces. Puppies are constantly kept on surfaces with good traction, so they don't slip and slide.

This helps to develop good muscle tone & prevents damage to their joints.

Some studies have shown that hip issues can start soon after birth

if the puppy is kept on slippery surfaces.

Our puppies are kept in the center of the family room where they are exposed to all noises of life, children, pots & pans, doors opening and closing, dishwasher etc.  

The puppies are sat down on the carpet, couch & tile floor so they experience different textures & heights.

The dewclaws are removed within 5 days of birth. In some cases we do not remove the dewclaw.

    The puppies eyes & ears start to open at 14 days, & now they are ready to take on the world,

starting with their litter mates.

Around 20 days they start to walk around & bark, growl & play with one another.  

      At this time we place several plush & fleece toys in with them to encourage them to play, hold in their mouth & walk over them. We also place toys above their heads to encourage them to look up and explore the world above them, in preparation for looking in the sky for game birds. During this time we continue to pick them up, hug them, kiss them and encourage them to explore!  By the time they are four and a half weeks old, we move them to a larger area that has a sleeping area, a potty area, and a play area.  Pups at this young age can start to learn to be clean in their personal habits & that there are acceptable places to eliminate & other areas for eating and sleeping. It is at this time that they start getting regular meals during the day when they are separated from their mother.  

Mom still gets night duty, the pups will continue to eat & sleep with their mom for another week.

At five and a half weeks old the puppies get three meals a day & say goodbye to mom.

      It is time to be on their own. They will be fed Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Large Breed Puppy Food. This last few days with us is very busy and can be very stressful,

so we continue to ensure the puppies with a lot of praise and love.  

Weather permitting the pups will spend a lot of this time outside in different areas.

At this time they see other dogs, horses, humans, cats, ATV's & they hear all the sounds of Cedar Creek, guns firing, duck calls,  barking dogs,  horses & kids playing.  They are taken for walks in the field & out to the pool. They are encouraged to enter the pool on their own in a group (safety in numbers) and they usually don't hesitate. 

       The puppies are introduced to a collar, leash & crate conditioning. 

As they grow we get to know each ones personality and aptitude.

This helps me to ensure that you get the right puppy for your household.  

We want you to be completely satisfied with your new family member.  
When you come to pick up your puppy we will explain what health care your puppy has received and what we suggest for the future, what puppy food your puppy is eating and how often, we will talk to you about heart worm preventative and flea control, spay and neuter, treats, toys and training.
We will continue to answer questions for you throughout your puppies life.