The younger boys 3 wks today!
The puppies are much more adventurous and if the weather was warner I would start them outside playing. Meanwhile we will have playing vids from inside. The pups will get their microchips this week.
They start eating well on their own and mom is out of milk so they are weaned. They switch from ground up dog food to kibble with goats milk on it and eventually only water.
I placed a crate in their pen to start crate training which is central to being able to travel in the car, potty training and it is their safe place to go when things get to be to much, or when they can not be watched. They eat in the crate for food security, then go out to potty, which they almost never do in the crate. I feed them dog food 3 times a day along with mom now and then. I only feed them adult food because the brands I feed are high in protein and fat but not as high as puppy foods. Since shelties are not big heavy dogs they do not need those high protein counts for joints or kidneys. Everyone needs a travel crate for their cars and a crate in their homes or one that can be easily moved in and out. I use medium size crates, 24″ either plastic or wire.
I also put their collars on this week, watch the video below. The younger pups will go through the same training as they grow.
I use pine shavings in one end of the pen where they learn to potty, it takes about a week although peeing takes a bit longer.
Collar video