Raising your puppy really begins when we are choosing the breeding parents based on the health histories in the pedigrees along with temperament and conformation.​ While the parents are still puppies being trained we are continually assessing the temperament of the dog. If we like what we see we then DNA test for inherited diseases and begin physical exams on the eyes, hips, elbows, patellas and heart. They are then graded by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. If they pass the extensive testing they are placed into a local loving forever "guardian" home to be a pet first, and a mom or dad when they are old enough.

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Once the puppies are born in our nursery we begin on ENS, Early Neurological Stimulation, daily to challenge the puppies to cause their brains to make more neurological connections while they are in rapid growth. This helps to make them more resilient as adults. We then move on to many of the Puppy Culture protocols related to manding and socializing. Puppies begin potty training at three weeks old and by five weeks most have mastered using a designated place to potty which makes them much easier to potty train in your home.

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Raising puppies in a home prepares them for living in a home. We work hard to desensitize them to things that make many dogs fearful. Their nap times often have speakers blaring "fireworks sounds" and "city sounds" on our smart speakers. They have a large TV in the nursery with cartoons on and music is often playing. They are brought down for playdates with kids and go for car rides and for walks around the neighborhood in our puppy stroller where they are often greeted by neighbors invited to hold them. They are regularly groomed gently so they learn to love going to the groomer. The groomers adore Berrybrook pups!

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Everything we do is to set the puppy up for success for when they go home. Puppies are hard! The foundation work we do works and makes for more resilient adult dogs. We hear it over and over, "Our Berrybrook puppy has been the easiest puppy we have ever raised!"

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If you aren't up for raising an eight week old puppy, puppies are a lot of work,  please click the "TRAINING" tab above to learn more about the older puppies we send home at around four months old.

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