The Olympus Standard Poodle - Puppy Development

At The Olympus Standard Poodle, we are dedicated to bringing you puppies that are not only adorable and loving but also well-prepared for a healthy and fulfilling life by your side. Our breeding program is centered around the principles of health, early development, and socialization to ensure that your new furry family member grows up to be a confident, well-rounded companion.

Health Comes First

We prioritize the health and well-being of our puppies by selecting parent dogs who have undergone thorough health screenings. All our breeding dogs are OFA-certified for hips, elbows, cardiac health, and thyroid function, and each has a DNA profile that is 100% clear of over 270 genetic health risks. These rigorous tests help ensure that your puppy is less likely to inherit health issues, giving you peace of mind as you welcome them into your family.

Weight Monitoring

At The Olympus Standard Poodle, we take great care in monitoring each puppy’s health and growth. From birth, each puppy is given a unique colored collar for easy identification. During the first two weeks, we record their weight every 12 hours, then continue tracking daily. This attentive process helps us ensure that every puppy is developing well and staying healthy.

The detailed records we keep also allow us to share regular updates on your puppy’s growth as you look forward to bringing them home. Our commitment to transparency means you’ll know that your new companion is receiving the best possible care and attention.

Beginning Nail Grinding

We understand the importance of maintaining your puppy’s grooming needs from an early age, including nail care. To ensure your puppy is comfortable with this process, we begin nail grinding just a few days after birth. This gentle introduction helps your puppy get used to the sensation gradually, making future nail maintenance stress-free for both of you.

Our goal is to foster a positive and cooperative attitude toward grooming. By starting nail grinding early, we make regular nail care easy and familiar as your puppy grows, setting them up for a lifetime of stress-free grooming.

Early Development with Puppy Culture

Our puppies are raised with the Puppy Culture program, a comprehensive week-by-week system designed to develop confident, intelligent, and socially skilled adult dogs. From the very beginning, each puppy benefits from structured learning and exposure to a variety of stimuli, building a strong foundation for a happy and well-adjusted life.

Early Neurological Stimulation

During the critical period from days 3 to 16, our puppies participate in the Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) protocol. This series of gentle exercises helps them manage stress, enhances their problem-solving abilities, and supports their overall physical health. These early experiences are designed to have a lasting positive impact, making the puppies more adaptable and capable as they mature into adulthood.

Benefits Include:

Improved Cardiovascular Performance (heart rate)
Stronger Heartbeats
More Robust Adrenal Glands
Increased Tolerance to Stress
Enhanced Resistance to Disease

Early Scent Introduction

From days 3 to 16, we implement the Early Scent Introduction protocol. This practice enhances our puppies' olfactory abilities as they develop. The improvement in scent detection contributes to their success in various fields, including:

Obedience Training
Scent Detection Work
Search and Rescue Missions
Stable Hunting
Tracking
And More

Additionally, this protocol boosts the confidence and stability of service and performance dogs, preparing them for a wide range of tasks and challenges.

Balanced Nutrition

We understand the critical role that nutrition plays in healthy growth. That's why we provide our puppies with a balanced and high-quality diet to ensure their optimal development. We collaborate with canine nutrition experts to guarantee that your puppies receive the essential nutrients they need during this crucial stage of their lives.

Socialization Beyond Compare

Our puppies are exposed to a diverse range of sights and sounds, interacting with people of all ages and backgrounds. From vacuum cleaners to car rides, they’re well-prepared for life’s adventures. They’re introduced to different surfaces, sounds like storms and traffic, and even the busy environment of a kitchen.

Potty Training

We understand the importance of a smooth transition to your home, which is why we begin litter box training around 2.5 weeks of age. This foundational step helps your puppy develop good habits for relieving themselves in a designated area. By the time you welcome your new family member, they will already have a head start in their potty training journey, making the adjustment process much easier for both you and your puppy.

Training

Our approach to training is centered around positive reinforcement, beginning from the earliest stages of your puppy's life. This method fosters a strong bond between you and your furry companion. Through consistent and rewarding training, your puppy learns essential obedience cues and behaviors. Starting this foundation early sets the stage for a well-mannered and responsive dog that will thrive in your home and beyond.

Grooming

Grooming is an essential aspect of your dog's overall well-being. Our grooming practices start early to ensure that your puppy is comfortable with various grooming experiences. A few days after birth, we begin with regular nail trimming. Around 3 weeks, we introduce your puppy to the sensation of an electric toothbrush on their face and feet, helping them become accustomed to touch and handling. At 4 weeks of age, your puppy will experience a full grooming session, including a bath, blow-drying, nail trimming, and hair trimming. This early exposure to grooming activities ensures that your puppy will grow up to be relaxed and cooperative during grooming sessions, making their care a stress-free experience for both of you.

Crate Training Foundations

We believe in setting our puppies up for success from the beginning, which includes crate training. Our approach focuses on fostering a positive association with the crate, making it a safe and comfortable space. Through gradual introductions with treats, toys, and positive reinforcement, puppies come to see the crate as their personal retreat. This foundation supports house training and helps your puppy feel comfortable and relaxed in the crate, making travel and other situations stress-free.

Sound Desensitization

To help our puppies become confident in various environments, we expose them to a wide range of sounds from an early age. These include household noises, like vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances, as well as external sounds such as traffic, thunderstorms, and fireworks. By gradually increasing their exposure and rewarding calm behavior, we build their resilience, equipping them to handle different auditory stimuli throughout their lives.

Later Scent Exercises

Alongside Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), we expose our puppies to a variety of scents. We provide them with tracking experiences by having them follow aromatic trails of kibble. Additionally, we introduce specific scents, such as rabbit, dove, quail, duck, and others. We also incorporate challenges, like hiding kibble in towels, placing it inside treat-dispensing toys, or scattering it on a snuffle mat.

Outside Exploration

Exploring the outdoors is an important part of a puppy's early development. When the weather allows, we introduce our puppies to outdoor environments where they can experience new sights, smells, and textures. This exposure fosters curiosity, provides mental stimulation, and supports their overall well-being.

Socialization with Other Animals

Our puppies also benefit from socialization with other animals, including cats. We carefully introduce them to well-adjusted cats to foster healthy interactions and teach appropriate behaviors. This interaction helps develop social skills and ensures your puppy feels comfortable around other pets, whether they’re dogs or cats. By providing positive experiences with a variety of furry companions, we lay the foundation for harmonious relationships and a life filled with positive connections.

Novel Experiences

We are committed to broadening our puppies' horizons from the very beginning. They are introduced to a range of new experiences designed to encourage cognitive growth and build confidence. From walking on various textured surfaces to exploring different rooms, meeting new people, interacting with other dogs, hearing diverse sounds, and discovering new scents, our puppies embark on a journey of exploration that fosters lifelong adaptability and resilience.

Beyond experiences, our puppies are introduced to a variety of novel items specifically chosen to stimulate curiosity, promote problem-solving skills, and support cognitive development. Each interaction, from their first toy to new items like crinkly toys, tarps, tunnels, balls, swings, and adventure boxes, sparks neural connections that aid their future ability to manage stress and face challenges.

Some elements serve as both novel experiences and unique items. For example, encountering their first tunnel introduces them to a new environment and offers an object to explore. This learning process includes discovering they can move through it, create sounds, and even take a nap within it.

Through these enriching experiences and items, we aim to build a strong foundation for your puppy’s neural development. This foundation boosts their ability to handle stress later in life and fosters a confident, well-adjusted demeanor. We believe that early exposure to a stimulating environment is essential for nurturing a resilient, joyful companion.

Aquatic Introduction for Poodles

Poodles have a rich history as skilled water retrievers. At The Olympus Standard Poodle, we honor this tradition by giving our puppies early exposure to water. Around six weeks of age, we introduce them to a shallow, water-filled crate tray, allowing them to interact with water in a safe and positive setting. As they grow, and when the weather permits, we offer the enjoyable experience of playing in a shallow outdoor pool. Embracing their natural instincts, we ensure our puppies develop comfort and confidence around water. This introduction not only honors their heritage but also supports their overall development.