OUR KBD PUPPY ROOM & CURRICULUM

This is our newborn - 3 week whelping box setup. We add vet fleece (white mat) to our whelping box when puppies are 3 days old. This added traction helps puppies navigate around the box while supporting their hip development. Underneath the vet fleece is a heating pad in the center of the box that is turned on 24/7 during the first three weeks. Puppies are able to move to the heating pad for area extra warmth or move away if they are too hot. We place black pig-rails in our whelping box during the first three weeks. This helps protect puppies from Momma laying down on them.

KBD is a "Badass Breeder." We raise puppies that are empowered and confident to tackle their world. We have a plan. We have a curriculum to follow. Every single thing we do is to raise puppies who will heal hearts and change lives.

These ping pong balls are introduced to expose puppies to unpredictable items that roll and make noise when knocked against one another. The ping pong balls are introduced during week 4 after puppies had previously been exposed to multiple items that do not move or make noise.

We are raising puppies that are curious and confident rather than fearful and unsure of the world around them.

Big changes happen during week 5 & 6 in the whelping box. We remove a divider between the two boxes to create a larger sleeping area for puppies to sleep in throughout the night.

We use multiple washable pee pads on the linoleum floor that we remove and wash when needed. We add two crates for puppies to access at night, a chicken waterer, and also a second potty tray. Our sleeping area grows as our puppies continue to grow.

Our KBD puppies are only in their whelping/sleeping area during the night to sleep. During the day our puppies are worked in their toddler area and  throughout our home for multiple exposure activities.

KBD puppies are introduced to multiple textured floorings to help build confidence to approach and feel different textures on their four paws. Simple tasks such as walking across hardwood, carpet, tile, concrete, pavement, gravel, grass, and dirt can create fear or hesitation in puppies if they are always raised on one type of flooring. Placing these textured tiles in their toddler area allows puppies to approach them on their own to investigate. We then sit with our puppies and encourage them to walk across the multiple textures while praising them.

The ball pit is always a favorite item in our toddler area! The ball pit is also one of the most unpredictable items we expose our puppies to during their 8 weeks with us. Not only do the balls move and make noise, but the blue pit/container itself moves and wobbles. This item is only introduced after puppies are 5 weeks old and display confidence in other exposure activities.

It is important that you choose a breeder that understands puppy development and knows how to slowly stack stress in order to not overwhelm their puppies and create fear. These exposure activities have purpose. We are raising our puppies to be empowered and confident to tackle any obstacle or new situation.

At KBD we teach our puppies at an early age to sit before we pick them up. This is called "manding." We are teaching them to be polite and respectful.

Our puppies have to sit before we move them out of the whelping box and into the toddler area. They have to sit before we hold them to do their puppy massage, before we pick them up to move and work throughout our house, before we pick them up to do puppy baths, and before we do weekly pictures.

Bernedoodles are extremely smart. They catch on quickly because they all desire to be held. This simple training teaches puppies self control and sets the foundation for a respectful puppy.