- Weeks 0–2
Close to mom
Puppies nurse about every 2 hours and stay huddled together under gentle heat. We weigh them morning and evening and check eyes, nose and stool every day.
- Weeks 3–5
First routines
Separate sleeping and potty areas begin, along with handling, talking and early exposure to new textures and sounds.
- Weeks 4–5
Teething
We offer rubber toys and braided bully sticks only. No rawhide or string toys.
- Week 5+
Play and explore
A play area joins the pen. Puppies tumble together to learn boundaries, and explore one at a time with supervised quiet time to build independence.
- Week 6
Weaning begins
Goat milk mixed with soaked food is introduced. If mom is doing well, puppies may keep nursing up to 10–12 weeks.
- Week 8+
Getting ready for home
Puppies move to hard food and practice a dependable sleep and potty routine, surrounded by the everyday sounds of a busy household.
Responsible breeding
Knowing when to breed, and when not to
Our goal is never simply to have another litter. If breeding is not in a dog's best interest, her well-being comes first. Always.
Readiness, not the calendar
We never intentionally breed a female on her first heat. We look at the whole dog: her health, maturity, size, temperament, body condition and veterinary guidance.
Health before every litter
Both parents should be in good condition and free of known health or temperament concerns. We use breed-appropriate health screening when available. No color, size or hoped-for litter matters more than our dogs' health.
Time to recover
Each breeding decision is made individually. A mother must return to healthy condition before another litter is considered. A difficult pregnancy or recovery may mean a longer break, or that breeding ends altogether.
A loving retirement
We may retire a dog earlier than planned whenever that is the kindest choice. Retirement from breeding never means retirement from being loved.
Purposeful placement
Finding the right home matters as much as raising the puppy
Getting to know you
We'll talk about your household, other pets, daily schedule, home and experience with toy breeds, so together we can decide honestly if one of our puppies fits your life.
A clear written agreement
Puppies offered for sale come with a written purchase agreement covering health records, deposit and refund terms, any health guarantee, registration, and care responsibilities.
If life changes
If you can ever no longer keep your Tiny Paws dog, we ask that you contact us first. We'll help find a safe path forward.
A lifelong relationship
Our responsibility doesn't end on go-home day. Send us pictures, share birthdays and milestones, and reach out anytime with questions.
The Tiny Paws Breeder Promise
We will never knowingly place the production of puppies ahead of the well-being of our dogs.
We will keep learning.
We will keep improving.
We will love them first.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Colossians 3:23