From Whelp to Wean: Nearly Ready for their Forever Homes

The Whelping Box Update

Week 8 has arrived, and with it comes a beautiful mix of independence, affection, and blossoming confidence. The Toybox Trio are now unmistakably little dogs, not babies — curious, capable, and deeply connected to their routines, their environment, and the people around them.

Their world remains wide open: the sensory garden, the digging pit, the tunnels, the tents, the water play tubs, the pram adventures around the village, and the steady stream of friendly neighbours and dogs they’ve met along the way. They move through it all with a sense of familiarity and joy, as though they’ve always belonged here.

This week has a gentle shift in tone — a sense of readiness. They’re still playful, still cheeky, still full of mischief, but there’s a new steadiness in how they explore, recover, and interact. They’re preparing, in their own little ways, for the next chapter.

Milestone Moments

• Mobility: Confident, coordinated movement across every surface — grass, gravel, bark, carpet, ramps, tunnels, and wobble boards. They run with purpose, climb with skill, and navigate obstacles like seasoned adventurers.

• Teeth: Chewing is now a full‑time hobby. Rope toys, chew logs, textured rubber, and enrichment feeders are all in high rotation.

• Play: Social play is rich and layered — role‑swapping, negotiation, cooperative games, and clear communication cues. Poppet continues to join in with her signature “big dog” play, which looks rough but teaches bite inhibition, resilience, and social boundaries beautifully.

• Awareness: The pups recognise voices, routines, and cues with impressive accuracy. They respond to their names, anticipate outings, and show curiosity rather than hesitation when faced with novelty.

• Elimination: Toilet habits are strong and consistent. They seek out the right areas both indoors and outdoors, even pausing mid‑play to trot off to the correct spot.

• Grooming & Handling: Brushing, nail checks, ear checks, and gentle restraint are now familiar and calmly tolerated.

• Emotional Regulation: Solo play sessions, crate naps, and short separations are helping them build independence and confidence — essential skills for the transition to their new homes.

Future Parents

Week 8 is a tender, joyful time. The pups are ready — truly ready — for their next chapter. They’re confident, curious, affectionate, and beautifully prepared for life with their forever families.

Next week, they’ll begin their journeys home. There will be cuddles, tears, excitement, and a whole lot of love. But for now, we’re soaking up this final week together — the last snuggles, the last garden adventures, the last sleepy pile‑ups before they step into the world as beloved companions.

Playschool Puppy Curriculum

Week 8 focuses on consolidation — strengthening the skills they’ve been building and preparing them for life beyond the nest.

• Environment: Continued access to the sensory garden, tunnels, digging zones, water play, and varied textures.
• Confidence building: Short solo play sessions, gentle novelty, and predictable routines.
• Recall: Strong reinforcement through games, food rewards, and name association.
• Handling: Daily brushing, collar practice, gentle restraint, and cooperative care.
• Sound desensitisation: Household noises, outdoor sounds, pram wheels, passing dogs, and village ambience.
• Car rides: Calm, short trips to build positive associations.
• Crate conditioning: Longer naps, quiet settling, and comfort with closed doors.

Their resilience, adaptability, and emerging personalities are shining through — each pup showing their own strengths, preferences, and quirks.

Health & Care

The pups continue to thrive physically and emotionally. Weekly weigh‑ins show steady growth, and their coats, eyes, teeth, and overall condition are excellent.

Their first vet visit last week set them up beautifully — vaccinations, microchipping, and full health checks all completed with bravery and a few dramatic squeaks. This week has been about monitoring their recovery, ensuring comfort, and keeping their routines calm and predictable.

Poppet remains a steady, nurturing presence. She checks in often, supervises play, and offers comfort when needed, but she’s also gently stepping back — a natural part of the weaning and independence process.

This week’s observations include:
• Adaptability — how quickly they settle in new spaces or after new experiences
• Social preferences — who loves people, who loves dogs, who loves toys
• Energy patterns — bursts of play followed by deep, restorative naps
• Crate comfort — longer, calmer naps with minimal vocalisation

These insights help guide thoughtful puppy‑to‑home matching and support each pup’s smooth transition.

From Mush to Meals

We’re in the home stretch of weaning now, and the pups are embracing solids with far more enthusiasm than they ever showed for traditional puppy mush. Once I switched to kibble with a sprinkle of treats and Big Dog Raw Food, everything clicked — suddenly mealtimes became something worth hurrying over for

Access to Poppet is now limited and intentional — short comfort visits rather than full feeds. She’s gently guiding them toward independence, and you can almost see the relief on her face as the milk bar hours shorten. The balance is just right: the pups still get mum’s reassurance, but their tummies are learning to rely on real food.

Feeding sessions are messy, playful, and full of learning — exactly what Week 8 should look like.