Coast Mountain Entlebuchers
the puppy diaries

Week 10

Celebrating the 10-Week Milestone
The house is a little quieter today, and our hearts are a little heavier—but mostly, they are full. Our A-litter has officially reached the ten-week milestone, and this week, they begin the greatest adventure of their lives: joining their forever families.
As breeders, this is the moment we work toward from the second we plan a pairing. Yet, the "Gotcha Day" transitions remain a beautiful, bittersweet whirlwind.
More Than Just a Puppy
For the past ten weeks, these puppies haven't just lived in our home; they’ve been the center of it. We’ve watched them transform from tiny, helpless bundles into sturdy, intelligent, and spirited young Entles.  
We’ve put in the hours of socialization, early neurological stimulation, and foundational training to ensure they leave us with:
Confidence: To face new environments and situations
Connection: A deep-rooted desire to bond with their human "pack."
Character: The unique, quirky personalities that make this breed so irreplaceable.
The Bittersweet "See You Later"
There is a certain tug at the heartstrings when you see a crate loaded into a car or a puppy trot away on a brand-new leash. We will miss the early morning greetings, the chaotic play sessions, and even the sharp puppy nipping. Each one of these pups has left a unique paw print on our lives.
However, the "bitter" is quickly eclipsed by the "sweet." Seeing the joy on the new owners faces reminds us why we do this. We are handing over a legacy of health, temperament, and companionship.
To Our Puppies...
Go be the brave, loyal, and tireless dogs we know you are. Enjoy your new homes, nap hard after long hikes, and give your new families a lifetime of Entle cuddles.
Happy trails, little ones. Go bring joy to your new families.  We can’t wait to see the photos and hear the stories of your first year together.
the puppy diaries

Week 9

Our puppies have officially hit the 9-week milestone! They are growing fast, gaining confidence, and soaking up every new experience like little sponges. Here is a quick peek at what they’ve been up to last week:
Solo Dates: Each puppy has started going on one-on-one outings to build their individual confidence away from the rest of the litter and get them comfortable in new environments. 
Making New Friends: They continue to meet new people! We’re keeping these introductions positive and fun to help them grow into happy, well-adjusted pups.
Family Romps: Daily play sessions with Mom, siblings and the human team are a huge hit. It’s not just fun and games; it’s where they learn all those important social cues and manners.
Pool time: It’s been so much fun watching them get comfortable and confident in the water! There are definitely some water babies in this litter!
Cozy Crate Time: We are busy building value for the crate! We want it to be their favourite, safe sanctuary, so they see it as the ultimate spot to rest, relax, and recharge after a busy day.
This is the last week that all five of them are together. Next week the first pups will leave for their new homes!
the puppy diaries

Week 8

It’s been a whirlwind of a week for our little ones! 
We kicked things off with temperament testing! It was so much fun to see their individual personalities shine through and it confirmed our own observations about who’s the adventurous leader, who’s the observant thinker, and who’s the ultimate cuddle bug.  
This week, the pups took the plunge with a wading pool in their play area! The ensuing Puppy Pool Parties were a total splash—full of wagging tails and a few brave little paddlers exploring the water for the first time.  It’s looking like we have a couple of real water babies on our hands!
Other exciting outdoor adventures this week included lengthier nature walks on a long lead line.  These walks give the puppies a way to explore a bigger outdoor area, having more room to roam while still staying safe.   
The week ended with their first visit to the vet, which went really well for these happy, healthy pups!  They were examined, given their first shots, and microchipped, taking it all in stride as they get ready for their new homes!
the puppy diaries

Week 7

The puppies continued to grow this week!  We're helping them develop skills they'll need going forward, building on their previous successes to increase their tolerance and confidence.  This means slowly and gently "upping the challenge" during activities like crate training and car rides.  We've been able to spend more time outside this week exploring the wonders of the backyard, sometimes with the whole litter together and other times through special 1:1 time with Mom.

We continue to see their individual personalities blossom!  This coming week the pups will have formal temperament assessments done.  The information gathered from these assessments will help ensure that we make the best possible match between pup and new owner.
the puppy diaries

Week 6

Moving on Up!
On April 11 the puppies hit the 6-week mark!  They continue to get bigger, stronger, and more skilled in their movements and play.  While they still nurse occasionally, this week marked their transition to a mostly meat-based diet.  They continue to gain weight and are now hovering around 4 kgs each!  .
Fun in the Sun
The weather has been warming this week, which means the pups have had more outdoor time these past few days.  We were even able to take them on a short nature walk!  They love being outside running in the grass, playing tug, and "following the leader" with Momma Luka leading the pack.  They get so many impressions from being outside that they sleep long and hard once coming back indoors.
Ticket to Ride
The pups also had their first car ride!  It was a short one to start to get them comfortable travelling in a vehicle.  We'll be taking them on increasingly longer trips over the next weeks.  
Getting to know you
This week the pups continued their socialization by meeting even more nice new people who came by to visit!  We've been moving their play area to different locations inside and outside, to get them used to being in diverse spaces and  surfaces.  Their individual personalities continue to emerge as they are being exposed to an increasing number of experiences and interactions.  They take everything in stride and bring us joy every day. 
the puppy diaries

Week 5

Growing Up Fast: This Week in the Nursery!
It has been another whirlwind of activity as the puppies continue to transform into curious, playful little explorers right before our eyes. Here’s a look at what they’ve been up to this week:
Big Appetites & Healthy Growth
The pups’ weights are steadily increasing. To support all that growing, we have officially started the weaning process. The pups are now enjoying their first tastes of solid food, and while it took some experimenting with flavours and textures, they are now loving their new menu options! In addition to their soft diet, we also introduced marrow bones to the group this week to build jaw strength, and all five pups enjoy gnawing on them.
Outdoor Adventures & New Sights and Sounds
Another highlight of the week is that the puppies went outside for the first time!  Watching puppies experience grass under their paws and sniff the fresh breeze for the first time was pure joy. Along with their outdoor excursions, we are continuing our sound desensitization program. Whether it’s the vacuum hum, clacking pans, recorded city noises, or music ranging from choral to hip hop, these pups are learning to take the world’s "racket" in stride with confidence.
Meeting and Greeting
Socialization is in full swing! We’ve continued to have lots of different visitors this week, which helps the puppies learn that new humans are friends who come in many different shapes and sizes and who wear all kinds of different headwear. When they aren't greeting guests, the pups are spending much more of their waking time playing with their siblings and Momma. These play sessions are vital for learning "dog language" and boundaries.
Potty Training
Believe it or not, the "business" side of things is moving right along. Potty training is going well, with the pups showing a great natural instinct to use their designated areas. We are so proud of their progress!
All in all, these pups continue to develop wonderful personalities and a brave sense of adventure.
We can’t wait to see what next week brings!
the puppy diaries

Week 4

The pups have graduated! 🎓🐾
This week, the litter officially moved out of the whelping box and into a much larger play enclosure in the living room. They now have plenty of space to wrestle with each other, hang out and play with Momma, and explore all sorts of new toys and textures.
They've also started their "sound sensory" desensitization! To get them ready for the real world, they’re listening to everything from city noises and soccer games to thunder and fireworks. 🎶⚡️
Other big milestones this week:
  • Teeth are here! 🦷 They are still nursing for now, but weaning will start soon.  Momma Luka is nursing them from a standing position frequently now, helping them to develop their balance and core strength.  
  • Potty training is underway and we’re celebrating some early success! 🚽✨
  • Social butterflies: They are loving their visitors and getting used to lots of different cuddles and handling.
Their individual personalities are really starting to shine through, and we love watching their world expand!
the puppy diaries

Week 3

It's been a truly eventful week with our growing pups! They have more than quadrupled their birth weight, a testament to Momma Luka's excellent care. Their socialization journey has begun with enthusiasm; they've already met and been lovingly handled by several new friends. The bee-hive house in the whelping area is a big hit, providing a cozy hangout spot. We're keeping things fresh with daily rotations of stuffies and other objects for new experiences, and they've been introduced to a potty area. Watching them gain confidence in walking and start interacting playfully with each other has been incredibly fun and rewarding!
the puppy diaries

Week 2

The world is getting a whole lot bigger for these little ones! This week, the puppies hit some huge milestones.  Their eyes are officially open, and we’re seeing them take their first adorable, shaky "toddles" on all four legs. They are growing like weeds—having already tripled their birth weight—and have officially graduated from their tiny neonate collars! We continued the ENS and ESI work; both will be wrapping up early in week 3. For the early scent introduction (ESI), moose hide got resounding "paws up," but lavender, not so much. 
the puppy diaries

Week 1

The puppies are now one week old!  

A parcel of puppies

Meet Hope, Jasper, Chase, Yoho, and Fernie!

Our quintet of puppies is growing fast and they have doubled (or almost doubled) their birth weights!

Their first days have been a mix of eating, sleeping and exploring -- all in the process of developing their minds, bodies, balance, mobility, and stress tolerance. 

Eyes still closed

Exploring the world through touch and scent.

In addition to daily handling, we started Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), a series of gentle movements that help the pups' development, resilience and coping mechanisms. We also started Early Scent Introduction (ESI), exposing the pups to a new scent every day like moss, orange, and coffee. By incorporating ENS and ESI, we’re supporting our puppies natural development so they can grow into confident, well-balanced companions. We'll be watching for the puppies' eyes to open in the next week. 

Natural Mother

Luka is a loving and responsible mother 

This is Luka's first litter and it has been amazing to watch her mothering instincts kick in. She has become very skilled at the tasks required for raising neonate puppies, and is keeping them warm, clean and well-fed.