What 8 weeks on the farm does for a puppy

Every puppy we send home has spent its first 8 weeks in our house not a kennel, not a barn, our actual home. Here's what that means in practice.

Week 0–2: survival mode

Newborn Dachshunds are born blind, deaf, and entirely dependent on their dam. Our job in the first two weeks is to watch the litter, make sure every pup is nursing and gaining weight, and let the mother do her work. We weigh every puppy daily. We handle them gently brief, calm contact that builds tolerance without stress.

Week 3–4: opening up

By week three, eyes and ears are open. Puppies start responding to sound, start exploring beyond the whelping box, start interacting with each other and with us. This is when daily handling becomes active socialization short sessions, gentle touch, different people.

Week 5–7: the critical window

Weeks 5 through 7 are where temperament is shaped. We introduce different surfaces (tile, carpet, grass, gravel), different sounds (radio, kitchen noise, outdoor sounds), different people of different sizes and ages. We pick up puppies calmly and often. We don't force we invite. A puppy that explores on its own terms builds confidence; one that's pushed gets anxious.

Week 8: ready to go

By week 8, the puppy has had its first vet check, first vaccines, and been exposed to a range of normal-life situations. It's not fearless it's a puppy but it's ready. It's used to being handled. It's curious, not shut down.

The work you do in weeks 8 through 16 (the socialization window) matters as much as what we did in weeks 0 through 8. We send home a sheet on what to do in those weeks. Use it.