Sand Spring Chesapeakes proudly supports and recommends the Puppy Culture Program.
Sand Spring started raising their puppies in 2015 the Puppy Culture way. Now that Glory is going on her second litter and I got such positive feedback from the puppy buyers of her first litter along with what I have seen in the growth of Preacher on a daily basis I am planning on doing Puppy Culture things with this next litter too. I am a member of a Puppy Culture discussion group on facebook where I have been getting some fabulous idea and learning so much about raising puppies the Puppy Culture way. I am adding more interactive items for this next litter to explore and get used to. I want them to come into contact with many different items, sounds, structures so they become used to different things so when they are out in the real world they feel safe and can overcome their fears without anxiety.
Puppy Culture is a complete resource for breeders or puppy owners on raising a litter. It’s the powerful first 12 weeks that can shape your puppy’s future.
I have constructed a Puppy Culture Playground for this and future litters.
Supplies for a ramp and an adventure box.
I wanted to make a ramp and an adventure box to stimulate the puppies. I had some shelving wood left over from when built the house so I used that to build the ramp. I then went to the store and bought PVC pipes and corners to build the adventure box. I also bought some polypropylene rope to hang the items from. This was my first adventure box that I was attempting to build so I really didn’t know what size it should be so I just winged it and started building.
Building the adventure box with PVC.
Once the adventure box was built (I glued the top and bottom pieces together, but not the poles on the four corners) it was time to hang my items I wanted to use to get the puppies used to different noises, items and scents.
Hanging the items.
Finished product.
The puppies will be able to walk around and in the adventure box, check out the items. When they pull on some of items they will hear different noises. I can also put the ramp in the box so they can walk on it and play with the items for something different. This is all done with the puppies to introduce the startle/recovery phase and the “so what” phase into the puppies lives. It teaches them to overcome their fears and able to take on all kinds of noises and situations without being fearful. Makes them become more confident dogs.
Ramp
Slide
Cones
Hoops
The slide, cones and hoops will give the puppies different things to do and figure out.
Tunnel and house.
Preacher was raised with a little red tunnel and cube so she isn’t afraid of this bigger tunnel and house, of course she had to go try it out.
Items from last litter.
Preacher making sure the adventure box is good enough for the puppies. I think this will work well as the pups grow since they do experience different fear phases.
Constructed playground- just need puppies.
Cost of puppy playground:
PVC pipes, rope and connectors for adventure box $54.72
Items for box (bought at dollar store and items had around house) $12.65
Items for ramp: hinge $10.52
Toboggans $12.66
Traffic cones, pvc, kids slide, stools, music cd’s $17.36
Hoops, tennis balls, cubes $27.98
Tunnel and House $26.35
Plastic Balls for ball pit $36.51
Total $198.75
Price of watching puppies play and hopefully give them a great startle/recovery and the “so what” response in them as they grow PRICELESS.
Follow Puppy Culture’s regular Facebook page. Puppy Culture’s website.
We are joining Linda at 2browndawgs and Jodi at Heart Like A Dog for this great blog hop.
Very cool JoAnn. I love the ramp and the hoops. Such fun and excitement.
That adventure box is fabulous and should be an excellent tool! ღ
I love it… that’s like a puppy paradise, well done! I like the idea with the pvc pipes, maybe I can use this idea to make a better booth for Easy and me than the sh*tty one I bought?
What a fantastic idea! It’s so important to expose puppies to different sights, sounds and environments before they’re old enough to go home with their new families.
If I were looking for a puppy from a breeder, this would be a sure sign of a knowledgeable, caring and responsible breeder. I love it!!
That’s awesome! It looks like a great program for early development/socialization.
I love this!! I have been collecting ideas for this for at least the last year. I had no idea there was a group and website. You did a great job!!
I am so glad that you wrote this article. One of the Basset Hound breeders that I follow has this set-up for her puppies and I had no idea how it was used. I am feeling more confident in her as a possible source for a new puppy. (I have a really bad case of puppy fever) ☺
I think that concept is brilliant and I love what you have created!
DakotasDen
How fun for the little ones. It is truly puppy fever at your house. I wonder if Preacher will be jealous of all the little ones and them with “her” mom.
This is so cool! No wonder your dogs turn out to be so healthy and happy. 🙂 It sounds like Puppy Culture has a lot of great ideas for raising puppies.
That looks great. I bet the pups will have a blast! Thanks so much for sharing on the hop!
It’s crazy how much people will spend to on a playground like this when they could have made it like you did for so much less.
You are a very creative dog mum and the puppies will have a riot!
I love this idea. We did as much as we could with Sampson and very little actually startled him. If I had known about this, I probably would have made him a little adventure box too. You get a really well-rounded puppy when they are well exposed to as much as possible.
Thank you for joining the blog hop!
As the very, very happy dog parent of a puppy who was introduced to the Puppy Culture program (Tallulah’s breeder does this) I can tell you that your investment is indeed priceless . . . and your puppies’ new parents will be very thankful!
This is so, so cool! You are always coming up something new to help your puppies to be even more well rounded. If we ever get another puppy, I would love to have something like that to help them adjust to so many new things.