Laura Carruth

My puppies are raised in my home as part of my family. Until recently, they stayed in my bedroom, where they received constant supervision and interaction. As they have grown, they have transitioned to a larger pen in my living room, allowing them more space to play and explore while still being involved in my daily activities. I have an outdoor puppy pen that I use for potty training, and the puppies are taken outside at least six times each day. They also enjoy two 30-minute outdoor play sessions with their dad, which provide valuable socialization and exercise. My day starts early. I wake up at 5:00 a.m. to take the puppies outside, feed them, and spend about two hours playing and interacting with them before I leave for work. I come home during my lunch break around noon to take them outside again and provide another feeding and play session. I spend approximately 45 minutes with them during this visit. When I return home shortly after 4:00 p.m., I devote the rest of my evening to the puppies. They go outside again and are fed at 5:00 p.m. They enjoy supervised playtime with my adult dogs, followed by naps and cuddle time. They receive a small meal around 9:00 p.m. before settling into their pen for the night at 10:00 p.m. I also wake up around 2:00 a.m. to take them outside for another potty break. I place a strong emphasis on early socialization by introducing the puppies to a variety of sights, sounds, and everyday experiences. One day each week, the puppies accompany me to my office for approximately three hours, where they are exposed to new people, environments, and experiences. They also go on short car rides of up to 30 minutes once a week to help them become comfortable traveling and adapting to new situations. I work diligently on potty training while the puppies are in my care, and around 12 weeks of age, I begin introducing leash training. My goal is to raise puppies that become well-adjusted, confident, and loving companions—just like my own personal dogs.