Puppy Culture Program

𝒲𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝒽𝒶𝓊𝓈 𝒫𝓊𝓅𝓅𝓎 𝒫𝓇𝑜𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓂

using PUppy culture

At Wunderhaus, we raise our puppies using Puppy Culture, a fun and thoughtful program that helps puppies grow up happy, confident, and ready for the world!

Puppy Culture was created by Jane Killion and is packed with activities that help your pup learn how to handle new experiences, meet new people, and solve little challenges. It’s like preschool for puppies!
We follow it closely with each litter and encourage new families to continue the journey once their puppy goes home.
Want to know more about Puppy Culture? Click https://shoppuppyculture.com/pages/about-puppy-culture to explore!

We expose our puppies to a wide range of sounds and experiences to help them develop into confident, well-adjusted companions. From an early age, they listen to a daily soundtrack featuring common and unusual noises—fireworks, crying babies, barking dogs, car horns, and more. We also simulate real-life sounds like pots clanging, children playing loudly, lawnmowers, chainsaws, and even the occasional BB gun pop to desensitize them to sudden or intense noises.

Our little ones are introduced to a world of experiences designed to build confidence, curiosity, and resilience. From an early age, they explore a variety of enrichment activities, including a wobble board, saucer swing, toddler slide, stairs, a tunnel, and even a kiddie pool filled with crackling water bottles for sensory stimulation.
We also provide playtime in a ball pit, sessions with a flirt pole for prey drive development, and supervised time in our swimming pool. Socialization is key—our puppies interact with children daily and are gently introduced to both a soft-sided travel carrier (airline approved) and a wire crate starting at five weeks of age.

Grooming and handling routines begin early, too—weekly nail trims, brushing, and baths start at three weeks, along with click-and-treat shaping exercises and tug games to engage their minds and bodies. Every step is intentional, ensuring our puppies grow into well-rounded companions, ready for whatever life brings their way.

We introduce the puppies to different sounds: CD playing daily (i.e., fireworks, baby crying, dogs barking, car horn, and much more.) Loud noises include pans dropping, kids screaming, lawnmowers, chainsaw, and BB gun popping.

Our goal is to introduce our puppies to various things to build confidence. As we turn our pups over to their new owners, we cannot stress enough how important it is to continue exposing the puppy to new things. The more they see the world at a young age, the more confident they will be as adults. New owners must continue exposing the puppy to new places, people, and sounds while balancing their vaccination schedule and only taking them to places other dogs frequent once their puppy series is complete.

This Puppy Culture Booklet is included in your puppy's folder

We are deeply committed to giving each of our puppies the strongest possible start during their crucial first eight weeks of life. Our goal is to lay the groundwork for confidence, curiosity, and positive social behavior—traits that will help your puppy thrive long after they leave our care.

But their journey doesn’t end here. It’s essential that new owners continue what we’ve started by actively socializing and exposing their puppy to new people, places, and experiences. We challenge you to meet 100 new people with your puppy before they turn 12 weeks old it’s a fun and impactful way to build confidence and reduce fearfulness as they grow.
We also strongly recommend enrolling in a group puppy class. These classes offer valuable enrichment, structured socialization, and reinforce early training, helping to create a strong bond between you and your new companion.
At Wunderhaus, we’re always learning and seeking new ways to improve the health, development, and overall well-being of our puppies. Education and ongoing growth are at the heart of our program—because your puppy deserves nothing less.

teaching the puppy culture method of manding

We begin introducing the concept of Manding to our puppies at just five weeks old. Manding is a simple but powerful behavior where a puppy sits calmly in front of you to politely “ask” for attention or a treat.
To start, grab your puppy’s attention and let them see that you have a treat in hand. Keep your clicker ready! The moment your puppy sits--before they jump or get overly excited—CLICK and TREAT. If your puppy jumps, withhold the reward and wait for a calm, steady sit. Once they’re holding that sit for about two seconds, click and treat again.
Consistency is key, so keep treats on hand throughout the day. Every time your puppy chooses to sit quietly in front of you, it’s an opportunity to reinforce that behavior. Teaching your puppy to focus and offer calm behavior from an early age will lay the groundwork for success in future training and puppy classes.
Learn more about the benefits of Manding https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/manding-puppies/.

We highly recommend new puppy owners purchase Puppy Culture's MADCAP UNIVERSITY: (Course) With Open Arms and a Level Head How to bring a Puppy into your life

Neonatal Program

At Wunderhaus, we enrich each puppy's early development through Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI)—two powerful methods that give our puppies a head start in life. These early exercises gently awaken their senses, build resilience, and spark curiosity, laying the foundation for confident, well-rounded companions.

Volhard Puppy Aptitude Testing (temperament test)
Website: https://www.volharddognutrition.com/choosing-your-puppy-pat/
The test is ideally performed on puppies at 49 days old (7 weeks of age).

Critical Periods in Puppy Development

Neonatal Period Birth - 12 days

At Wunderhaus, we provide a calm, nurturing haven where each puppy begins life safely and securely. In these first precious days, our newborns rely entirely on warmth, touch, and scent—they can’t yet see, hear, or regulate their own body temperature or elimination. Nestled close to their mother and littermates, they find comfort and connection.
Starting on day three, we gently introduce Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI)—two powerful tools that awaken their developing senses and spark their journey toward becoming confident, well-adjusted companions. These quiet beginnings lay the foundation for a lifetime of stability and trust.

The "All Nighter Gang" (A Litter) Newborns

Transition Period 13 - 20 days

Two weeks old

During this special phase of development, we handle each puppy daily—gently cuddling, speaking softly to them, and spending individual time with every pup. It's a meaningful time for bonding and building trust.
The exciting milestone at this stage? Their eyes have opened, and they can finally hear the world around them! Wobbly little steps begin as they explore their surroundings, and they now respond to both taste and scent—an early glimpse into their growing curiosity and personality.

Transition Period 21 - 23 days

A stable environment is essential for healthy puppy development, which is why the whelping box must remain in one consistent location. At this stage, the puppies rely on the comfort and familiarity of their mother and littermates.
With their vision and sense of smell now fully functioning, the world begins to open up for them. At Wunderhaus, we gently expand their experiences by introducing a variety of surfaces—like linoleum, wood, carpet, and concrete—helping them build confidence and adaptability with every little step.

K Litter - 3wks old

CANINE SOCIALIZATION PERIOD 21 - 49 days

Socialization is vital during this stage of development! Puppies thrive on playful interaction with their mother and littermates, which helps them learn important canine behaviors like bite inhibition, body language, and boundaries.
Equally important is dedicated one-on-one time with humans. Each puppy receives individual attention to help build trust, confidence, and a strong human bond. Around five weeks of age, we also begin introducing positive, gentle training. During this time, puppies are exposed to a variety of sounds and textures—like different floor surfaces—to encourage curiosity and resilience in new environments.

A Litter - 4wks old

Human Socialization Period 7 - 12 weeks

At eight weeks old, your puppy is ready to join their forever family! This is an exciting time when they’re eager to learn and can begin picking up basic behaviors like sit, stay, and come, along with the early stages of housebreaking.
Socialization during this period is absolutely crucial. The critical window for shaping your puppy’s confidence and adaptability is between 8 and 16 weeks. We strongly encourage you to enroll your puppy in a Puppy Kindergarten group class—it's a wonderful way to continue their social development while reinforcing positive behaviors in a safe, structured setting.

B Litter at 7.5wks (pic courtesy of Eli's Mom)

Fear Impact Period 8 - 11 weeks

This stage is known as the fear impact period—and for good reason. Experiences that frighten your puppy during this time can leave a lasting impression, far more significant than at any other stage of their life.
To protect their emotional development, it's essential to ensure that interactions with children, other animals, and new environments are gentle, calm, and positive. Avoid anything that could overwhelm or scare them. Keep training upbeat and fun, using encouragement and rewards. And remember—puppies have short attention spans, so training sessions should be brief, engaging, and always end on a positive note.

Jolene (F Litter, Red collar) 9.5wks old

SENIORITY CLASSIFICATION PERIOD 13 - 16 weeks

Ah, the teething phase—also known as the land shark stage! Those sharp little teeth are on a mission, so be prepared with plenty of chew toys and patience.
Positive reinforcement training should continue during this time, and by now, your puppy should be enrolled in a Puppy Kindergarten class. Focus on praising the behaviors you want to see—consistency and encouragement go a long way.
Most importantly, start safely introducing your puppy to the world around them. New sights, sounds, people, and places help shape them into a confident, well-adjusted companion.

Jagger ( D Litter, Tan collar) 16wks old

FLIGHT INSTINCT PERIOD 4 - 8 months

Remember when we emphasized the importance of socialization? This is the stage where it truly starts to show. If your puppy was well-socialized early on, you'll likely see a confident, curious companion beginning to blossom. If not, you may find yourself navigating some additional challenges—socialization missed during those early weeks can lead to a different developmental path.
Around this time, many puppies also enter what's known as the flight instinct period. Much like a teenager experiencing puberty, your puppy is undergoing significant physiological and behavioral changes. It’s completely normal to notice shifts in behavior—stay patient, stay consistent, and continue building trust through positive reinforcement.

Diamond Diva 5.5 months old

SECOND FEAR PERIOD 6 - 14 months

During this stage, your puppy begins stepping into adolescence, and with it comes some noticeable changes.
For females, their first heat cycle typically occurs between 6 to 12 months of age and lasts around 21 days—so it’s important to keep any intact males at a safe distance during this time. Males, on the other hand, may start lifting their leg to mark territory.
You’ll also see a physical transformation as their soft puppy coat begins to shed, making way for their adult coat—usually starting along the spine.
This can be a sensitive time, so keep all experiences positive and low-pressure. Your puppy might seem unsure in new situations, so let them explore at their own pace. Avoid overwhelming them, and instead encourage gentle, consistent socialization. Praise confident behavior and stay patient—these small wins help shape a well-adjusted, resilient adult dog.

Zeke (D Litter) 8 mos.

Annie (A Litter) 4yrs

MATURITY 1 - 4 years

It's essential to provide structure for your pup—whether through crate training or a safe, contained space—especially when you can’t actively supervise them.
If training and socialization were inconsistent early on (around 9–10 weeks), you may begin to notice signs of what was missed. This can include behaviors like object guarding, hesitation or reactivity toward unfamiliar people or animals, or general unease in new situations.
These responses often point to gaps in early socialization. Don’t worry—while it may take a little more patience and effort, with consistent guidance and positive reinforcement, your pup can still grow into a well-mannered, confident companion.