Puppy Rearing

In the first two weeks, the puppies are still blind and deaf. They sleep 90% of the time. The mother now looks after the puppies all day, cleans them and nurses them.

The third to fourth week of life is the transition phase in which the puppies open their eyes and begin to perceive their surroundings with all their senses. In the 4th week of life, the puppies begin to learn to walk. Up to this point, the breeder has relatively little work to do with them, provided the puppies are healthy and the bitch is a good mother. As soon as the puppies can walk, the whelping box is opened and the puppies begin to explore their surroundings.

The socialization phase begins in the fifth week of life. Norfolk Terrier puppies develop somewhat more slowly than other breeds and are therefore not sold until they are 12 weeks old. During this time it is important that the puppy comes into contact with other animals and people, and that it learns about different types of noises and objects.

During the socialization phase, our puppies sleep in the heated house and spend the day in centrally located runs. The runs are either indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. Different runs are set up differently and provide the puppies with different opportunities for activities. Due to their central location, the puppies are exposed to a variety of stimuli outside their run. Their central location also facilitates regular contact with the puppies.

The correct rearing of the puppies is particularly important to us, because what is or is not stored in the brain during the socialization phase is retained for life. By preparing the puppies for their new home, we ensure that they can settle in quickly and can become fully-fledged dogs.