Development and socialisation of Malinois puppies in Gratsiano kennel

The first 4 months in a dog’s life are the most crucial. This period coincides with the imprinting age, during which the puppy forms impressions of the world around it. Often, at least half of this time is spent in the kennel rather than with its future owner. In many cases, the responsibility for this essential work falls on the breeder, especially when puppies must wait until they reach the age for legal relocation to another country due to vaccination, quarantine, and other reasons.

As responsible breeders focused on breeding dogs, many of which will be involved in sports training, we place immense importance on the early development of the puppies. Here’s what we do:

1. Socialization: We acclimate puppies to interacting with humans, including children. Since our goal is for our dogs to live in families and spend time with all family members, we direct their early development towards interacting with children.
2. Development of Food Motivation: We work on developing the puppies’ motivation for food, an essential aspect of training and cooperation.
3. Development of Play Motivation: We encourage play as a crucial part of the puppies’ development. This not only provides physical exercise but also engages their intelligence and problem-solving skills.
4. Introduction to Different Surfaces: To prevent stress in new environments, we familiarize puppies with various surfaces, including unstable, slippery, and rustling ones. This early exposure helps them become more adaptable.
5. Acclimation to Sounds: Puppies are exposed to different sounds, such as a working vacuum cleaner, household appliances, power tools, gunshots, and thunder. The goal is for these sounds not to evoke fear or excitement in the dog, and early exposure helps achieve this.

By focusing on these aspects of early development, we aim to create well-adjusted, confident, and adaptable dogs. This foundational work contributes significantly to the success of their future training and their ability to integrate seamlessly into their new families.