Hermione & Parker pup’s 6 weeks old.

Six weeks old! This is the busiest time for puppies, and it’s also a busy time for me. The puppies are having many new experiences as a group, as well as starting individual one-on-one sessions. Quality, not quantity, is what matters, especially for puppies. Whether they are 6 weeks old, 6 months old, or 1 year old, my goal as a trainer and breeder is to provide a high-quality socialisation experience tailored to each individual animal’s needs. After their mindful socialisation, the pups are tired but filled with new experiences and skills. It’s a joy to watch them grow and learn.

There is a lot of misinformation about socialisation, including advice like “100 new positive exposures in the first 100 days, and if your pup is timid or fearful, triple that to 300 exposures in 100 days.” Does that really make sense? Would you use three times as many snakes to help someone overcome their fear of snakes? Confidence is built through successful experiences, not the number of repetitions. Feeling overwhelmed or afraid just reinforces those emotions. Puppies may learn to endure, but that’s far from enjoying their experiences.

I want to express my immense gratitude to Megan Casas of Images by Megan for the breathtaking photos.