Heidi & Moses’ 2026 Winter Puppies

One Week Update

The Puppies are Here!

Heidi gave birth to SIX healthy puppies on Monday 11/10/25. This is her biggest litter yet! She had 4 boys & 2 girls. They all weighed between 9.5 and 11 ounces. All the puppies are dutifully gaining weight, which is an indicator to us that the puppies are healthy and doing well. Way to go puppies! Being close to Christmas time, we have given them Christmas themed names.

Activated Sleep

The puppies spend the majority of their time sleeping. As they sleep, you see their bodies twitch and pop. This twitching & popping is called activated sleep. The functional purpose of activated sleep is to develop muscle tone and coordination. So all this twitching & popping is an indication that healthy & normal development is occurring!

ENS & ESI

On day 3, we started ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction) ENS (first used by the US military & also called the “Super Dog Program”) involves gently introducing mild stressors to a puppy for a few seconds daily from day 3 to day 16 as a way to improve their overall health a stress response later in life.

ESI was designed to enhance a puppy’s ability to react and identify specific scents. It helps puppies gain awareness with their nose and boost their confidence. It’s an especially helpful training program for service and therapy dogs. It has been my 10 year old daughter’s job to implement ESI & she has had a blast seeing the puppies’ varied responses to the different scents. There is no right or wrong response to the scents, but the puppies make it obvious which scents they enjoy and which ones they don’t! When they are curious about the scent, they take big whiffs! And when they don’t care for them, they will flat out refuse to smell them, and each individual puppy has a different response. Some scents that we expose the puppies to are cinnamon sticks, dirt, cat fur, cloves, gravel, lavender, mint, and more.

Week 1 Conclusion

We have seen so much growth and development this last week. And this is just the beginning! It’s incredible how much the puppies’ bodies fill out the first week as they nurse around the clock & begin looking more and more like little puppies rather than little sausages! We have seen little puppy tails wag, are beginning to hear sweet little barks, and watch the puppies begin to pull their roly-poly bodies up off the floor. With every litter, our amazement is renewed on how perfectly these little puppies were designed to be able to survive and just how swiftly they grow. Be sure to check out our IG & FB account for more pics and videos.

Preparing For Your Puppy

Now is the best time to start getting ready for your new puppy! If you start doing your research little by little each week, you will be well on your way for being prepared for your new puppy. There are so many things to prepare for: Crate training, potty training, introducing your puppy to kids or other pets, how to teach your puppy to not bite– and the list goes on! The first place I recommend that you start is by listening to Baxter & Bella’s podcast & watching their YouTube videos. The cover a wide range of topics, all related to bringing home a puppy and training your puppy. Here’s a video about navigating your first 24 hours with your new puppy.

Crate Training

One aspect that I consider high on the priority list for preparing for a new puppy is understanding crate training. I highly recommend crate training your puppy. Crate training makes potty training and keeping your puppy safe & out of mischief much easier. Before your puppy comes home, he will be acquainted with a crate and will view the crate a safe place to rest. When I move the puppies to a larger area at around 4 weeks, there will be a crate that the puppies will be able to check out and explore in their area. I fasten the crate door to stay open, and it’s astounding how the puppies are naturally drawn to the crate to use as a resting place. At 6-7 weeks the puppies will begin to sleep overnight in a crate. Needless to say, a crate will not feel like a scary or isolating thing for your puppy when they go home but rather a comfortable & safe place. I would also recommend that you keep your puppy near you when they are in their crate when they first come home. This will help your puppy have a better association with the crate at your house and will prevent your puppy from feeling isolated. It’s a hard adjustment for a puppy to have constant companionship with their littermates to going to a new home where everything is unfamiliar. While your puppy is adjusting to his new life with his new family, be sure to be mindful that your puppy isn’t used to being all on his own and will immensely benefit from your presence & bond to you more quickly if you prioritize keeping him near you.

Baxter & Bella is an online training school. You can utilize a lot of their information free through their podcast and YouTube videos. If you do decide to get their full online membership, you can use the discount code “LandofGoshen” to get 25% off. While I do find their program beneficial, especially as it allows you to start training your puppy early, in person training has far more better outcomes & benefits than online training (if you were to have to pick between the two).

Here’s a Bella & Baxter Video on Crate training. Here’s another more in depth video as well.

Two Week Update

2 Weeks!

From open eyes, wobbly steps, pink noses turning black, & lots of chunking up- what a big week it has been for Heidi’s puppies! The pups are still doing plenty of sleeping and eating, and it shows with how much weight they have gain and how much they are developing! It’s astounding how much puppies grow each week.

Open Eyes

On day 9, we noticed a few of the puppies’ eyes beginning to open, and now they all have open eyes. It’s a gradual process & each day we are seeing more and more of their sweet little puppy eyes! It’s incredible how much more they look like miniature puppies once you can see their eyes. We have to take special care not to shine any bright lights into their faces as their eyes are more sensitive as they are opening.

The opening of eyes means that Heidi’s puppies are entering into the transitional period & will begin to be able to perceive the world around them and we will begin to see them engaging in social behaviors. In short, we will start to see more and more of each of their unique personalities.

Wobbly Steps

We have also witnessed the puppies taking wobbly steps! It is so cute and comical watching them stumble about as they are learning the ins and outs on how to walk.

Nail Trimming & Deworming

The puppies received their first pedicure this week. Their long nails can be a hazard to each other and their mama, and even can make learning to walk more difficult. So, the puppies will receive frequent nail clippings with a baby nail clipper. Frequent nail clippings also helps to desensitize them from having their paws and nails handled. Many dogs object to having their paws touched making clipping your dog’s nails challenging, so it’s best to start young with touching your dog’s paws and clipping their nails. We will have more on body handling in another blog post.

We also gave the puppies their first round of deworming meds. They were given Nemex 2 and they thought its was delicious. We will continue to deworm them every 2 weeks as precaution (as it is common for puppies to have worms) & will submit a stool sample to our vet at their visit when they are 6-7 weeks old, to ensure the puppies are parasite free when they go to their new homes.

Beginning of Socialization

Even now, it’s of upmost importance that we interact and spend time with the puppies. As they enter into the transitional period & phase out of ENS and ESI (at day 16) we are intentional with the puppies and begin their socialization process. Many of the things we do are quite simple, yet will have a lasting impact on the puppies. Now that the puppies are starting to move around in their whelping box, we will start placing items in their box for them to investigate. Items such as a package of wipes, a plastic water bottle, a ball, and many more things are viewed as a novelty to the puppies and will assist in developing their inquisitive minds. We put them on different types of surfaces (like a tiled floor) so they can experience how that feels since they have only been on padding in their whelping box. Weather depending, we hope to take them individually on our porch to get their first breath of fresh air (only for a few seconds). And of course we must hold and love on the puppies- our favorite part! All these little things add up to help develop puppies who will grow to be confident dogs. I will continue to share more about the importance of socialization and the different ways that we begin the socialization process over the next month and half that the puppies are with us.

Week 2 Conclusion

So much change in just one week! And just wait, the puppies will change even more so next week! All the puppies continue to gain weight (our biggest indication that they are thriving) & Heidi is doing a splendid job caring for all 6 of her puppies! I can’t wait to see them start running around and interacting with each other more!

Preparing for Your Puppy 

Puppy Socialization

Your puppy’s socialization will start in my home and it’s essential that it is carried on by you. Puppies have what is called “critical socialization period” between 3-16 weeks of age. The puppy’s experiences during this period of learning and development can influence and shape their temperament and behavior as an adult. Providing plenty of opportunities to introduce your puppy to many new sights, sounds, smells, people, places, experiences, and to super friendly, healthy, and vaccinated dogs & animals (keep in mind, there are many friendly dogs who don’t enjoy puppies)–will ensure your puppy will grow into a well adjusted sociable dog. It is of utmost importance to keep each interaction short, sweet, and positive. It’s a big responsibility but one that can be fun & will certainly be impactful! I highly recommend that you look into puppy socialization classes, and here’s a checklist on different ways to socialize your puppy.

Here’s a Baxter & Bella YouTube video on socializing your puppy:

Three Week Update

Heidi’s puppies are 3 weeks! It has been another big week full of big milestones and growth. Their eyes are opening more, they are starting to be able to hear, and are becoming more social!

Open Eyes – Hearing- Playing

Each day, the puppies’ eyes have been opening more and more. At this point, they are nearly all the way open and it’s beyond sweet seeing them being able to see and focus on the world around them, including us!

We have also notice that the puppies are starting to be able to hear. With that, we now have periods that we play classical music for them during the day. Just as classical music is beneficial for babies’ developing minds, it is also good for puppies! Furthermore, we are starting to play desensitizing noises for the puppies. We have a playlist of common noises that can be startling and stressful for dogs so that our puppies will go to their new homes familiarized with we these noises and be less frightened to them. Some noises include- a baby crying, sires, fireworks, thunderstorms, car noises, and more.

The puppies’ wobbly steps aren’t nearly so wobbly any more! While there is still plenty of stumbles, the puppies can get around! There is a lot of playing and exploring in their whelping box! They are nearly ready for a bigger area!

Week Three Conclusion

Heidi’s puppies are entering into what we refer to as the “fun stage!” It’s now time that we start ramping up our efforts to ensure the puppies are well socialized before going to their new homes. Each day we are intentional to make sure the pups have new experiences. We are hoping that we will have a day that is warm and dry enough for us to briefly take Heidi’s puppies outside the next week or so. Their first taste of goat milk & a move to a bigger area is also in the works for next week.

Preparing for Your Puppy

Finding a vet 

Now is a good time to find a vet. Your puppy will be vet checked, receive their first set of vaccinations, have a stool sampled checked, and be microchipped by Dr. Baum at Hopewell Animal Hospital at 6-7weeks old. They will be ready for their 2nd rounds of vaccinations 2-4 weeks after their initial appointment. Some vets prefer to see new pets within a few days after you bring them home, so be sure to call your vet and see what they recommend. Also, it’s a good idea to bring treats to give your pup to make sure the vet visit is a positive experience for your puppy! 

Bonding 

Bonding with your puppy right away is just as pivotal as socializing your puppy. In fact, bonding with your dog comes before training her. Having a strong bond with your puppy will ensure your dog feels comfortable and safe around you, which will make training easier. Over time and with some effort, your bond with your pup will become unbreakable and help you to enjoy your dog to the fullest.

Bonding starts right when you bring your puppy home. As you drive home, petting your pup and talking to her in a soothing voice to reassure her will go a long way with getting her to adjust & trust you. Setting up routines for your puppy will also contribute to her bonding with you as puppies like to know what to expect. Feeding, training, cuddling, playing and grooming/handling are all part of bonding with your dog.

Here are a few tips I have learned to quickly establish a bond: 

1. Have someone on the car ride home who can devote all their attention on the puppy. 
2. Establish the area you want your puppy to go potty and take them there every 30 minutes while they are awake and out of their crate (this could be more often at first). 
3. Be sure to give the puppy space when you get home (let her nap when she wants and let her approach you more than you reach out to grab her). It’s important to stay close to her, but it can be overwhelming if a lot of people are surrounding her and if she is constantly being held and hugged. 
4. Play with your puppy. Be careful to always use toys when playing with puppies. Puppies bite when playing, so you want them to be biting on toys and not your fingers! Be careful to have your kids not play games to have your puppy chase them. This could lead to the puppy becoming overly excited and jumping on & nipping them. 
5. Let your puppy sleep near you at first. Your puppy is used to having her litter mates and will find it very scary sleeping if she has no one near him as she sleeps. I find putting the crate on my nightstand the first few nights helps me and the puppy to sleep better (If I know my puppy doesn’t need to go potty when she whines, I just put my hand on the crate and that helps her to settle) and helps the puppy to feel very attached to you. You could even plan to sleep on the couch next to her crate the first few nights.
6. Sit on the floor next to your puppy. 
7. Take naps with your puppy (my favorite bonding activity!).
8. Be easy on yourself and your puppy the first few months. It takes time to settle into new routines, potty training, etc. Patience and consistency are key. 
9. Redirect your puppy rather than scold her. And remember, puppies who are getting into a lot of mischief & aren’t responding to being redirected, generally are tired puppies who need to nap! 
10. Utilize food. Whether feeding your puppy her regular meal or using treats to train, food is a sure way to a dog’s heart. Training with treats is also a great way to redirect your dog. Be careful to introduce new treats slowly to puppies to make sure it doesn’t upset their tummies.
11. Take time to fully enjoy your puppy.  Life gets busy or maybe we start to focus more on training our puppy than actually enjoying her, and as a result we neglect giving her the affection she needs. Dogs are such social creatures and need your love and attention to thrive. 

Here’s a video from Timberidge Goldendoodles on bonding & body handling activities to do with your puppy.

Just like socializing your puppy, bonding with your puppy will continue throughout her whole life. It’s important to remember when the new puppy stage wears off & you’re in the thick of training & you find yourself feeling frustrated, to take a step back and work on bonding for the day instead. It will make training the next day go so much smoother the next day!

Here’s a video from Baxter & Bella on bonding with your puppy.