Welcome! This site contains pictures of our current litter and development updates for our puppy families and friends. We invite you to visit our main web site for further info:
www.acadiagoldenretrievers.com
Milana was bred to Donovan and we welcomed their 2 beautiful, baby girls to our Acadia family on 1/4/22!
Hope you enjoy watching them grow!
Both girls have homes.
Currently, there are no future litters planned.
I am not accepting questionnaires at this time.
Puppy Development Updates:
1/4/22 - The girls have arrived via c-section. No emergency, Milana had reached her due date and I felt that it would be safer being that there were only 2 good sized puppies. Surgery went well and Milana and her 2 babies are doing great! Puppies have good appitites and are nursing well!
Neo-Natal Period (1-14 days): During this time newborns are helpless and
completely dependent on their dams, responding only to her warmth, touch and
smell. They cannot regulate body functions such as temperature and
elimination. The position of a puppy when the dam is cleaning it and activating
elimination will actually become a ritualized submission position - the mother
teaches the submission position from day one. At this age, puppies sleep
90% of the time, only waking to suckle, a natural reflex. There are some
vocalizations at this age if hungry or in distress. Early Neurological
Stimulation, 5 specific exercises for 3-5 seconds, once per day, will begin on
day 3 and continue through day 16, benefiting puppies with improved
cardiovascular, stronger heartbeats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to
stress and greater resistance to disease.
1/6/22 - Early Neurological Stimulation started this afternoon!
1/11/22:
1 week old today and first nail clipping - front paws only for now since they need their back claws for traction!
1/17/22: Eyes are beginning to open. Ears will open
next.
Transitional Period (14-21 days): This period starts when the
eyes are open and ends when the puppy first "startles" on hearing a
noise. This week is characterized by the rapid development of motor
skills, the ability to eliminate on its own, the onset of usable vision (by
18-21 days), the initial emergence of teeth, and the development of hearing,
although unable to locate the source of a sound. The puppies move around
a lot more, can now move backwards as well as forward and begin to walk instead
of crawl. Tail wagging begins and vocalizations become more specialized.
They begin to show interest in their littermates.
1/18/22: 2 weeks old today! They are being introduced to
Classical and Reiki music as their hearing develops. They have started trying
to walk. 1st deworming.
1/21/22:
The puppies are now interacting with each other.
1/22/22: The puppies are starting to cut their teeth!
Awareness or Identification Period (21-28 days): This is the first
time the puppies have use of all of their senses. Sight and hearing are
functioning well. The puppies will begin "play-fighting" during
this week, with a loose pecking order starting to form. Barking
increases. As the mother limits nursing time due to teeth eruption,
puppies will learn to accept discipline and submission to adult dogs.
1/25/22 - 3 week old today! Sound desensitization has begun.
1/28/22 - Puppies have transitioned from the whelping pen to
the play pen. The entire whelping pen was a 3" cushion with a pad on
top. Now the pen is larger and has Dri-Dek for flooring which provides
traction, and hospital pads to begin potty training. The back of the pen
has been removed for future use of the doggy door.
1/29/22 -
Puppies
have started eating out of a bowl with a clicker being used before the bowl is put down. They will be fed once a day for a couple of days and then meals are gradually increased to 3 times per day and then kibble is introduced. Weaning has begun!
2/1/22 -
Second Awareness/Identification Week (28-35 days): During this
week, play behavior becomes much more sophisticated, including growling,
chasing, and "kill" games. Distance perception is much
improved. Play helps develop the strength, agility, coordination and skills to
function as an adult and result in problem solving ability.
2/8/22 - The puppies are 5 weeks old today and are now spending time
outside
their playpen.
2/9/22 - The puppies have been introduced to a crate that is attached to their playpen.
They are now eating kibble 3 times per day and taking turns eating in the crate. They wore collars for the first time today and clicker training started with banana, introducing the "come" command.
Socialization
Period (5-16 weeks): Dogs are not genetically "programmed" to
interact socially with other species, including humans, but 12,000 years of
domestication has made this possible. The more chances a puppy has to be
properly exposed to new things, the less bothered he/she will be throughout
his/her life. Socialization requires creativity and is an ongoing process,
however, it is critical during this period, which can be further broken down as
follows:
Curiosity
Period (5-7 weeks): Weaning is completed during this period, although the
mother will still play with and teach her puppies. The puppies will be
very curious now - wanting to climb, crawl, investigate and taste everything.
They have the lowest fear and highest approach acceptance now. They are
attracted and accept people sooner but peak at this time due to increased motor
skills and mobility. If frightened at this age, the puppy will bounce back very
quickly.
2/13/22- Clicker training has continued, adding the "Sit" command. They are now socializing with some of our adults.
2/15/22 -
6 weeks
old today! Most of the Dri-Dek was removed from the puppy playpen and the puppies outside pen was opened to give them access to the patio.
2/22/22 - 7 weeks old today! Temperament testing
and 1st van ride.
2/24/22 - Puppies went on their second van ride, this time in a crate.