At VIP Staffordshire Bull Terriers, we believe every puppy deserves the very best start in life. Our puppy development program begins just days after birth and focuses on building confident, resilient, and well-adjusted companions through age-appropriate enrichment and positive experiences.

Early Neurological Stimulation (Days 3–15)

Beginning at approximately 3 days of age, each puppy participates in Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) through about 15 days old. ENS helps promote healthy neurological development and supports puppies as they mature into confident adults.

Early Socialization & Environmental Exposure

As puppies begin opening their eyes and ears, we gradually introduce them to new sights, sounds, textures, and everyday household experiences. Our goal is to make new experiences positive and enjoyable while helping build confidence.

By 3 weeks of age, puppies are exposed to:

• Common household sounds
• Everyday objects found inside the home
• Outdoor noises and environmental stimuli
• Novel surfaces and enrichment activities

These experiences continue to expand as the puppies grow and become more curious about the world around them.

Grooming & Handling

Beginning around 4 weeks of age, puppies are introduced to regular grooming and handling routines. These include:

• Nail Dremel introduction
• Mouth and teeth examinations
• Ear handling and inspections
• Full body handling
• Gentle examination of male puppies’ genitalia (especially beneficial for future show prospects)

Daily handling helps puppies become comfortable with routine veterinary care, grooming appointments, and dog show examinations.

Collar & Leash Introduction

At approximately 4–5 weeks of age, puppies are introduced to wearing a collar and dragging a lightweight leash.

At this stage, we are not teaching leash walking. Instead, our goal is simply to help puppies become comfortable wearing a collar and leash so these items feel normal before they go to their new homes.

Impulse Control & Appropriate Play

Between 5–6 weeks of age, we begin introducing age-appropriate impulse control exercises. We focus on teaching puppies:

• Appropriate puppy play
• Bite inhibition
• Redirection from inappropriate biting
• Calm interactions with people

These early lessons help establish the foundation for polite behavior while allowing puppies to continue learning through play.

Our Training Philosophy

Rather than introducing formal obedience at a very young age, we focus on building communication and confidence.

We begin teaching puppies marker words to establish early communication and reinforce desired behaviors using positive reinforcement and food rewards. As a professional dog trainer, we believe behavior should be shaped—not forced.

Every puppy develops at their own pace. We never place obedience training on an arbitrary timeline or expect puppies to perform behaviors before they are developmentally ready. Pushing young puppies too quickly can be counterproductive and may contribute to future behavioral challenges.

Our goal is to send each puppy home with a strong foundation, ready to continue learning alongside their new family.

Continue Your Training Journey

Bringing your puppy home is only the beginning.

If you’re looking for professional training—whether for a VIP puppy or a dog you’ve already welcomed into your family—we’re happy to help. We offer private training designed to build a strong relationship between you and your dog while creating lasting, reliable behaviors.

Contact us to learn more about our private training programs and find the option that’s right for you and your dog