Puppy Training and Socialization Program
At Toby’s Legacy Pups, we take puppy training and socialization seriously. We start shaping early development from day one. While many people believe socialization is something that happens after adoption, research shows that temperament and adaptability begin forming very early in life.
Our goal is simple: give each puppy a strong start so they adjust more easily to new homes, environments, and daily life.
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Our Approach
We are intentional in how we raise and handle every litter. From the moment puppies are born, we focus on creating a calm, clean, and stable environment.
The first few weeks are a key foundation period. During this time, puppies depend fully on their mother, and our role is to support that process while gently introducing early human interaction.
We focus on:
- A warm and safe whelping environment
- Clean and consistent care
- Early, gentle human interaction
- Building comfort with handling from day one
The First Three Weeks
The first three weeks of a puppy’s life are critical for early development. Puppies are completely dependent during this stage.
Key milestones include:
- Eyes typically begin opening around 10 days
- Hearing starts developing around 2 weeks
- The mother dog handles most care during this time
Our responsibility during this stage is to keep the environment safe, warm, and clean while supporting healthy early development.
We also focus on early human interaction through touch. Puppies are gently handled and stroked at least twice per day. This helps them learn that human contact is safe and positive.
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Early Handling and Socialization
Gentle handling is an important part of early social development. During these early weeks, we consistently interact with each litter to build comfort with human touch.
Each puppy is:
- Gently handled daily
- Stroked at least two times per day
- Introduced to calm, positive human interaction
This early exposure helps set a foundation for confidence and adaptability later in life.
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)
We also use Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) exercises. These are done once daily from days 3 through 16, a period of rapid neurological development in puppies.
Even though puppies are still very young during this stage, they respond to these short exercises.
ENS is designed to support early neurological development and is always done in a controlled, gentle way. It is not a replacement for daily handling and social interaction.
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Observed Benefits of ENS
When performed correctly, ENS is believed to impact the neurological system and make the difference in its socialization and personality of the puppy. ENS is time sensitive and must be performed from the 3rd to the 16th days of a puppy’s life.
Puppies exposed to ENS have shown several positive outcomes, including:
- Improved cardiovascular performance
- Stronger heart function
- Stronger adrenal system development
- Increased tolerance to stress
- Greater resistance to illness
