Every litter we raise grows up in the middle of our home — in the kitchen, under the table, in the way. It is noisier and a great deal more work than a kennel, and it is the single biggest reason our puppies settle so quickly into their new families.
What “underfoot” actually means
From the day their eyes open our puppies hear a dishwasher, a vacuum cleaner, a doorbell and children. None of it is a surprise to them by the time they leave. A puppy that has never heard a saucepan drop learns to be frightened of one; a puppy raised in a kitchen looks up and carries on.
- Handled every day from birth, by adults and by children
- Household noise, floor surfaces and stairs introduced gradually
- Crate and car familiarisation started before they go home
- Toilet training begun on puppy pads and on grass
Why it matters later
Confidence in a puppy is not luck. The first eight weeks are when a dog decides whether the world is a safe place, and that window closes whether or not anybody made use of it. We would rather spend those weeks tripping over puppies than hand you a dog that has to learn everything from scratch in a strange house.
It is also why we keep our litters small, and why we will happily tell a family that now is not the right time. A puppy raised well deserves a home that is ready for it.
