Raising puppies is both an art and a responsibility—one we proudly embrace every day at Highbrook Kennels. Our process blends compassion, careful planning, and ethical breeding practices to ensure every puppy grows into a healthy, confident, and well-adjusted companion. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes to show exactly how we raise our puppies from the earliest moments to the day they go home.
Selecting the Right Parent Dogs
Every great puppy begins with exceptional parents. At Highbrook, we take great care in choosing our breeding dogs by evaluating their health, temperament, and breed quality. Each parent dog undergoes thorough veterinary examinations along with screening for hereditary and genetic conditions. We also observe their behaviour, ensuring they display calm, stable temperaments that will be passed on to their puppies. This thoughtful selection helps us ensure that every litter has the best possible foundation.
Caring for Expectant Mothers
Once a mother is expecting, she enters a dedicated care program designed to support her throughout pregnancy. We provide her with a nutrient-rich diet, regular gentle exercise, and ongoing veterinary monitoring to ensure her health remains optimal. Our expectant mothers stay in a peaceful, low-stress environment where they can rest comfortably. As the due date approaches, we prepare a warm, hygienic whelping area where she can deliver safely, surrounded by attentive caregivers ready to assist both mother and puppies.
The First Weeks: Warmth, Safety, and Close Monitoring
The earliest weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly delicate, and we are fully committed to providing the nurturing and stability they need. Newborn puppies are kept in a climate-controlled nursery that maintains constant warmth, helping them regulate their body temperature. Their mother stays close by to nurse and comfort them, while our team ensures the bedding is kept spotless and the environment completely sanitary. Each puppy is monitored daily for weight gain, development, and general well-being, and gentle handling is introduced from the very beginning to foster trust and social comfort.
Early Socialisation and Stimulus Exposure
As the puppies reach two to three weeks of age, their senses begin to awaken, and this marks the start of our structured socialisation program. During this time, we gradually expose them to common household sounds, new surfaces, soft toys, and safe exploration spaces. They begin interacting with our staff in short, positive sessions that help reduce fear and encourage confidence. These early experiences are critical in shaping puppies that adapt well to new environments and bond easily with their future families.
Building Good Habits: Routine and Basic Training
As the puppies continue to grow, we slowly introduce routines that help them develop good habits. They begin spending short periods in crates to become familiar with them, and we start laying the groundwork for basic toilet training. We also encourage outdoor play once their health allows, giving them space to explore, build coordination, and enjoy natural stimulation. Through gentle guidance and predictable routines, our puppies begin learning the foundations of good manners long before they leave Highbrook.
Nutrition, Vet Care & Growth Monitoring
Throughout the entire process, health remains our highest priority. The puppies receive a premium-quality diet formulated to support healthy growth, strong bones, and proper digestion. They follow a scheduled vaccination plan and undergo regular deworming and veterinary health checks to ensure they are thriving. Each puppy is tracked individually so we can monitor their development and make sure they reach their milestones with confidence.
Preparing for Their Forever Homes
When the puppies are ready to join their new families, we conduct a final health assessment and prepare a detailed record of their vaccinations and care history. We also take time to ensure each puppy is matched with the right home, considering lifestyle, environment, and expectations. Before they leave, families receive guidance on feeding, training, and settling their new companion, along with a starter pack to help ease the transition. Even after adoption, our support continues, as we believe in staying connected and assisting families whenever needed.
A Loving Start That Lasts a Lifetime
Raising puppies the Highbrook way means raising them with intention, care, and dedication from the very first breath. Every puppy that leaves our kennel carries with them the love, attention, and thoughtful upbringing that define Highbrook Kennels. When you welcome a Highbrook puppy into your life, you’re not just bringing home a pet—you’re gaining a companion who has been nurtured with heart, ethics, and expertise.
