Here is where we raise our puppies...

The first three weeks are spent in a whelping pool in my living room.

At three weeks, the puppies are regularly climbing out of the whelping pool. It is time to give them more freedom and room to explore. They move to the indoor/outdoor kennel, located in my shop. They will spend their free time (when we are not busy snuggling them, carrying them around, showing them off) in this environment with their Mom and a few of her friends.

When the puppies are about five weeks old, they will have thoroughly explored the indoor/outdoor kennel and it will be time for some group outings to the yard. Here they meet all the big dogs, engage in quite a bit of roughhousing, and learn to respect their elders. At this point they generally spend their days in the yard surrounding my house, so they can easily come in and out of the sliding glass door. They meet lots of people as many visitors come to see them. They will sleep in a variety of places - sometimes outside, sometimes in the indoor kennel, sometimes in the house in an X-pen.

There are many walks around the property too, both as a group and individually.

It gets hot in the summertime here, so... (cooling-off video).

They make several road trips. They take a trip to the vet for a wellness exam. They take a 90 mile (or more) drive to the veterinary ophthalmologist for eye exams. Some may even take about a 7 hour drive and an overnight to get a structural evaluation!

Puppies that are a little older (10 weeks and up) spend some time practicing being crated...