Polished Puppy Nursery Program
Environmental and social experiences make lasting impressions on a developing puppy. Important stages in a puppies development begins at birth and peaks at eight weeks. These early experiences will shape your Jack Russell Terrier pup and the life you share with it, for the rest of its life. Select a pup from a breeder that doesn't understand this and your puppy will be playing "catch up" for the rest of its life.
CONNEMARA’S POLISHED PUPPY NURSERY PROGRAM (Birth > 8 weeks of life) PSDHP (Puppy Socialization, Desensitization and Habituation Program)
Prenatal Care - First, we focus on proper exercise, nutrition and attention, giving the Dam every opportunity to bring forth a healthy and vigorous litter. Stress during gestation can be passed on to puppies - So we are careful to provide a calm, non-stressful prenatal environment.
Tactile Stimulation & Conditioning - We begin slowly acclimating puppies to different surfaces and textures. Through short exercises, puppies are introduced to various stimuli, to condition, but not over-stress them.
Olfactory Stimulation - Not all senses are functioning in a puppy when born, but the olfactory sense is. Different scent are used each day. After cleaning their bedding area, we spray with a diluted scent using extracts like; birch, clove, sage, mint, lemon, anise etc.
Visual Stimulation - A puppy is born with eyes closed and is isolated from visual stimuli. When eyes open, we utilize exercises to stimulate and enhance vision. These exercises begin around day sixteen and continue in a laid back fashion to ensure an optimal, stress free experience.
Imprinting, Human Attachments & Bonding - We begin imprinting, attachment and bonding exercises from the moment the puppies are born. This helps our puppies have a low fear/anxiety association with humans during a critical window of opportunity and produces puppies that prefer human interaction. We strive for balance, not a too dependent or independent pup.
Handling & Touch Conditioning/Desensitization - Gentle and early handling has been proven to improve a pups ability to thrive. We insist our puppies be comfortable and relaxed when being touched in various ways. Desensitization also prepares puppy for examinations, potential rough handling by children, or other environmental stimuli they may encounter and must tolerate.
Imprinting, Human Attachments & Bonding - We begin imprinting, attachment and bonding exercises from the moment the puppies are born. This helps our puppies have a low fear/anxiety association with humans during a critical window of opportunity and produces puppies that prefer human interaction. We strive for balance, not a too dependent or independent pup.
Handling & Touch Conditioning/Desensitization - Gentle and early handling has been proven to improve a pups ability to thrive. We insist our puppies be comfortable and relaxed when being touched in various ways. Desensitization also prepares puppy for examinations, potential rough handling by children, or other environmental stimuli they may encounter and must tolerate.
Interactive feeders and treat toys - Introduced by week five and used daily to help puppies problem solve.
Socialization - By week four, we expose our puppies to other people, small children, places and things. Our puppies are expected to coexist nicely with people, in various settings and with other animals. Socialization is a step-by-step process to ensure the puppy is having positive interaction, is safe, and forming positive associations. From week six, we also introduce friendly, mature adult dogs for puppies to interact with, so they can learn appropriate "doggie manners" from others in addition to their mum.
Sound Conditioning & Desensitization - If a puppy is not exposed to sudden noises followed by a low level startle response, and a quick return to normal, he will most likely over react to noises followed by prolonged fearfulness when he enters the fear stage. We use a few different sound desensitization cd’s in this process, beginning in a gradual fashion, slowly introducing various sounds at increasing levels. This is done during a period when a pup’s central nervous system is developing. Because the puppies are conditioned from an early age, they often develop more confidence and lower noise sensitivity. So, although they will hear an unexpected sound, they may ignore it and continue on un-phased.
Research has shown that animals raised in an enriched environment are more inquisitive, more adept at performing difficult tasks, and are more intelligent because they have experienced a great deal when young.
Habituation to Novel, Environmental and Passive Stimuli - Habituation is a form of learning in which an animal becomes acclimated to environmental stimuli through exposure and stops responding, ultimately ignoring stimuli. We use day-to-day stimuli in their environment such as vacuum cleaners, wind chimes, moving objects, etc. When puppies eyes/ears open, we use smaller scale stimuli - like toys with sound in their whelping box. This continues in the puppy playpen, and later in the puppy play yard. Passive training, i.e. having the litter in high-traffic areas most of the time so that ordinary sights and sounds are present makes sure no stimuli slips through the cracks. We work to develop conditioned emotional responses to key stimuli like veterinary exam tables, stethoscopes, bathtubs and grooming tools with a focus on feet and nails, because foot sensitivities are epidemic.
Vet visit / Outings - We expose our puppies to new stimuli without creating a stressful experience, so they are slowly and methodically introduced to new situations and environments. ie; vehicles, walks in the woods, trip to vet, etc. We are careful that they have positive interactions, thus reducing future issues in unfamiliar situations.
Sound Conditioning & Desensitization - If a puppy is not exposed to sudden noises followed by a low level startle response, and a quick return to normal, he will most likely over react to noises followed by prolonged fearfulness when he enters the fear stage. We use a few different sound desensitization cd’s in this process, beginning in a gradual fashion, slowly introducing various sounds at increasing levels. This is done during a period when a pup’s central nervous system is developing. Because the puppies are conditioned from an early age, they often develop more confidence and lower noise sensitivity. So, although they will hear an unexpected sound, they may ignore it and continue on un-phased.
Vet visit / Outings - We expose our puppies to new stimuli without creating a stressful experience, so they are slowly and methodically introduced to new situations and environments. ie; vehicles, walks in the woods, trip to vet, etc. We are careful that they have positive interactions, thus reducing future issues in unfamiliar situations.
Sound Conditioning & Desensitization - If a puppy is not exposed to sudden noises followed by a low level startle response, and a quick return to normal, he will most likely over react to noises followed by prolonged fearfulness when he enters the fear stage. We use a few different sound desensitization cd’s in this process, beginning in a gradual fashion, slowly introducing various sounds at increasing levels. This is done during a period when a pup’s central nervous system is developing. Because the puppies are conditioned from an early age, they often develop more confidence and lower noise sensitivity. So, although they will hear an unexpected sound, they may ignore it and continue on un-phased.
Grooming Conditioning/Desensitization - We begin handling all parts of the puppy's anatomy from the time they're born in an effort to desensitize to touch. By the time our puppies leave at 8 weeks, they are comfortable with bathing, brushing, ear cleaning, nail clipping, body checks wearing a collar, and more. Again, we spend extra time and attention to foot handling.
Separation Conditioning/Home Alone Training - Because separation anxiety can be a problem later in life, we begin separation conditioning to gradually acclimate puppy to short periods of being alone so they can form positive associations with "home alone time".
Crate Training - We acclimate puppies to crate training beginning in week six because it's a great help in house training. Crates are indispensable for house-training and home alone training. It also gives the puppy a safe place of its own accustoms (conditions) him to being confined for short periods of time and associates it with positive events. When the puppies go to their new homes at eight weeks of age, they have little difficulty adjusting to their new home/environment. The feedback we receive on how well the puppy does his first night is overwhelmingly positive. In our experience crates are an absolute must!
House Training - We begin passive house training our puppies at approximately four weeks of age when they develop the instinctual desire to eliminate outside their nest. We graduate them to pee-pads by six weeks of age. This helps lay foundation for easy house training later.
Core Behaviors / Manners Training - If you chose to send your puppy though our Polished Puppy Kindergarten, by the time puppies leave us at twelve weeks, they have been exposed to situations and training, all geared towards avoiding some of some problems people have with young puppies. While these behaviors are seen as problems in the human world, they are very normal puppy behaviors. Things like biting, jumping on people, distress vocalization when left alone or placed in the crate (even for a second), struggling on a leash, eliminating whenever the urge arises (in the house), and car sickness.
We will work on these behaviors so the puppy has a foundation for the training their new owner will need to do. Good manners and habituation, make it much easier for the transition to their new environment and follow-up training. We include men, women and children in training so puppies are used to learning from a variety of individuals.
Core Behaviors / Manners Training - If you chose to send your puppy though our Polished Puppy Kindergarten, by the time puppies leave us at twelve weeks, they have been exposed to situations and training, all geared towards avoiding some of some problems people have with young puppies. While these behaviors are seen as problems in the human world, they are very normal puppy behaviors. Things like biting, jumping on people, distress vocalization when left alone or placed in the crate (even for a second), struggling on a leash, eliminating whenever the urge arises (in the house), and car sickness.
We will work on these behaviors so the puppy has a foundation for the training their new owner will need to do. Good manners and habituation, make it much easier for the transition to their new environment and follow-up training. We include men, women and children in training so puppies are used to learning from a variety of individuals.
Puppy Placement - Actual puppy scoring will be done on individual traits. Scores are indicative not predictive of adult behavior patterns. Puppies are then matched with waiting families.
Suggested Reading - We will supply you with a short list of recommended reading to get you started. *by request
Follow-Up and Support - We provide follow up and support to those who receive our puppies to ensure what we started is built upon. Behavior never remains the same – it’s always changing. So, we will be there to help when you need assistance.

Understand that you must have a healthy, sound Jack Russell to start with. Genetics dictate a dogs base temperament. With a well bred pup, additional socialization will help your pup reach his/her full potential. We can't stress this enough.
In addition to genetic pre-disposition in regard to temperament - environmental and social experiences also make lasting impressions on a developing puppy. Important stages in a puppies development begins at birth and peaks at eight weeks. From eight to sixteen weeks of age, this window slowly begins to close. By sixteen weeks of age, the experiences, or lack of experiences during this time will shape your Jack Russell Terrier pup for the rest of its life.

Understand that you must have a healthy, sound Jack Russell to start with. Genetics dictate a dogs base temperament. With a well bred pup, additional socialization will help your pup reach his/her full potential. We can't stress this enough.
In addition to genetic pre-disposition in regard to temperament - environmental and social experiences also make lasting impressions on a developing puppy. Important stages in a puppies development begins at birth and peaks at eight weeks. From eight to sixteen weeks of age, this window slowly begins to close. By sixteen weeks of age, the experiences, or lack of experiences during this time will shape your Jack Russell Terrier pup for the rest of its life.
