When our dogs reach twelve months of age and their joints are fully developed, and we’re confident in their beautiful, balanced temperaments, they complete full health testing for hips, elbows, eyes, and a full DNA panel.

At eighteen months of age, our girls reach full maturity. We breed to higher welfare standards, never breeding a female under eighteen months. Most will have their first litter around two years of age

When our females come into season, we complete progesterone testing to accurately pinpoint their fertile days. This makes matings calm, quick, and far less stressful for our girls.

We always perform an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and to estimate how many puppies our girls are expecting. This gentle process helps us plan their care, nutrition, and rest, ensuring both mum and puppies receive the very best support from the very beginning.

All of our girls give birth in the comfort of our family home. We have a dedicated whelping room, calm and cosy, filled with the sounds and scents of home. Every detail is prepared with care so each mother feels safe, supported and relaxed as she brings her puppies into the world.

After birth, families receive a link to our 24-hour live Puppy Cam, allowing them to watch their puppies grow, feed, and develop in real time. It’s a wonderful way to feel connected and to share in every milestone from the very beginning.

From birth to around four weeks of age, our focus is on caring for mum while she does most of the nurturing. During this time, we quietly begin Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and gentle Early Scent Introduction (ESI) to support healthy development and calm, confident temperaments. It’s important to us that you can see, through our 24-hour live Puppy Cam, that mum is happy, relaxed and content while caring for her puppies.

We start weaning our puppies at around four weeks of age. It can be a wonderfully messy time as they learn to eat on their own, and you can watch every moment live on our Puppy Cam.

From four to six weeks of age, our puppies begin to explore their world with growing curiosity. They start to play with their littermates, respond to new sounds, and enjoy gentle handling every day. We introduce soft toys, different textures, and calm household noises to build confidence and resilience. Every new experience is positive and reassuring, laying the foundation for a happy, well-balanced puppy.

At around six weeks old, our puppies go outside for the first time. They feel the grass under their paws, smell the fresh air, and start to explore safely with their mum close by. These early outdoor moments help them grow in confidence and enjoy new experiences at their own pace

As our puppies grow, they start meeting new people, hearing everyday sounds, and exploring more of the world around them. They spend time with our family and visitors, learning that new experiences are safe and fun. This gentle social time helps them grow into calm, confident puppies ready for life with their new families.

Between six and seven weeks of age, we complete full temperament testing and create a detailed puppy profile for each puppy. This helps us understand their personality, confidence levels, and energy type, so we can match every puppy with the family and lifestyle that suits them best. Our goal is always to create the perfect partnership between puppy and family.

Before our puppies leave for their new homes, they each visit our vet for a full health check and are microchipped. This ensures every puppy is healthy and developing well before joining their family. We believe in giving each puppy the best possible start, both physically and emotionally.

As our puppies get ready to leave for their new homes, we focus on building their confidence and helping them adjust to small changes. They spend time away from mum, enjoy car rides, gentle grooming, and crate time, all to make their move as smooth and stress-free as possible. Each puppy leaves us happy, settled, and ready to begin life with their new family.

We do everything we can to prepare our families for life with their new puppy. We share guidance on diet, exercise, grooming, crate training and settling in, so both family and puppy start off with confidence. Our support does not end when your puppy goes home. We are always here to help with any questions, and we can be reached at any time by email.

The day our puppies go home is always filled with love and a few happy tears. Each puppy leaves us confident, well-socialised and ready for family life. We make sure every family feels prepared and supported for this special moment, knowing they are taking home a puppy raised with care, patience and love from the very beginning.

Bringing home a Willow’s puppy is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship. Our commitment to our families does not end when you collect your puppy, it continues for the lifetime of your dog. We are always here to guide, advise, and support you, no matter how small the question may seem. The best way to contact us is by email, and you can always rely on a thoughtful, caring response. You are never alone on your journey with a Willow’s puppy.

At Willows, we love keeping in touch with our families long after their puppies have gone home. We arrange a couple of meet-ups each year where our Willow’s dogs and their families can enjoy a walk together, share stories, and see familiar faces. It’s a lovely way to stay connected and celebrate the wonderful community that has grown around our dogs. Please follow our Facebook page for updates and information on our next gathering.