Holistic Flea & Tick Prevention: How Stokeshire Raises Healthier, Happier Puppies Naturally
At Stokeshire, we believe that every puppy’s journey to becoming a beloved family companion starts long before they join your home—it begins with the care and attention we provide from day one. A key part of this commitment is ensuring our puppies and their mothers grow strong and healthy through thoughtful, holistic flea and tick prevention strategies. By pairing natural cleanliness and care with science-backed solutions, we raise happy, resilient puppies ready to thrive.
Flea & Tick Prevention for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs
One of the most frequent questions we’re asked is, “What flea and tick prevention methods are safe for pregnant and nursing dogs?” It’s an important and thoughtful concern. While oral preventatives like NexGard (afoxolaner) are highly effective for regular use, they aren’t safety-tested for pregnant or nursing dogs. At Stokeshire, we take a cautious approach to ensure both mothers and their growing puppies are protected.
Our Approach
During pregnancy and nursing, we exclusively use fipronil-based topical treatments, such as Frontline. Fipronil has a well-documented history of safe use in breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs, providing peace of mind and effective protection against pests.
Here’s how we tailor flea and tick prevention at this critical stage:
Pregnancy & Nursing Period: Frontline provides safe, science-backed protection for moms and their litters.
Post-Nursing Transition: Once the puppies are weaned, mothers resume their normal preventative care using oral options like NexGard.
This simple adjustment not only safeguards the mother but offers the healthiest start for her puppies.
Flea & Tick Prevention for Puppies
When it comes to puppies, their delicate systems demand special care. Until they reach the age and size appropriate for most standard flea & tick treatments, we rely on natural, safe practices to keep them pest-free.
Keeping It Simple and Safe
At Stokeshire, we focus on the following preventive measures:
Frequent Bedding Changes
We maintain an immaculately clean environment for our puppies. Regularly changed bedding and careful sanitation help deter fleas and ticks from making themselves at home in our nursery.
Supervised Outdoor Play
Puppies love to explore, and outdoor exploration is essential to their development. We ensure their romps happen in carefully maintained, mowed areas, reducing the risk of exposure to ticks.
Veterinary Guidance
At around 8 weeks of age, most puppies are ready to begin a veterinarian-approved flea and tick prevention program. When your Stokeshire puppy comes home, your vet can recommend a treatment tailored to their specific age, weight, and regional risks.
Through these thoughtful practices, we ensure our puppies remain healthy while supporting their natural development and love of play.
Recommended Natural Flea & Tick Shampoos
TropiClean Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo Max – A top-rated plant-based formula, rich in lemongrass, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, and sesame oils. It kills and repels pests, is soap-free (so it doesn't interfere with spot-on treatments), and is cruelty-free. A solid pick for washing during outdoor play seasons .
Richard's Organics Flea & Tick Shampoo – Made with 100% natural essential oils (peppermint, cinnamon, clove, cedarwood, rosemary). Paraben-free, dye-free, soap-free, and safe for dogs from 12 weeks, this vet-recognized formula kills fleas, ticks, and repels mosquitos in a gentle way .
Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Flea & Tick Shampoo – Utilizes geraniol and peppermint oil in a sulfate-free blend. Safe for all ages (puppies included) and formulated without synthetic pesticides—ideal for sensitive or developing puppy skin.
Eqyss Natural Flea & Tick Shampoo – A pH-balanced shampoo combining cedarwood and other essential oils. Clinically tested, gentle on coat and skin, and safe with topical preventatives for dogs and puppies over 12 weeks
Nature Play at Stokeshire: Building Resilience and Joy
A happy puppy is one that feels confident in the world around them. At Stokeshire, we incorporate nature play into our daily routines to nurture resilience and encourage curiosity. Puppies thrive in the great outdoors, exploring textures, sounds, and smells under our careful supervision.
The Benefits of Nature Play
Physical Stimulation
Climbing over fallen logs, racing across the grass, and chasing after fluttering leaves builds strong bodies and nimble instincts.
Mental Growth
Each adventure presents opportunities to problem-solve, creating curious and adaptable puppies.
Lifetime Calmness
Exposure to varied environments at a young age helps reduce fear and hesitation in new situations later in life. Puppies raised with nature play are more likely to remain calm and confident as adult companions.
Nature play offers more than just fun; it lays the foundation for a joyful, well-adjusted life with their future families.
Beyond the Outdoors: The Doodle School Advantage
For families who enroll their puppies in our Doodle School program, life lessons extend beyond nature play. This structured program blends outdoor enrichment with key training to prepare puppies for their future environments with ease and confidence.
Training Tailored to Real Life
Through Doodle School, puppies are introduced to:
New Textures and Sounds
From the squish of mud to the patter of rain, they learn to adapt to new sensations with ease.
Changing Weather
Whether it’s a breezy morning or a warm afternoon, they experience a variety of climates to build comfort in any setting.
Social Interactions
We guide puppies through positive interactions with other dogs and stimulate the natural friendly temperament that makes doodles so lovable.
By the time puppies graduate, they have not only mastered basic commands but also developed the poise to step into their new homes as confident, well-rounded companions.
Our Holistic Approach
At Stokeshire, we’re proud to combine modern science with the natural joy of exploration to raise exceptional puppies. Every choice we make—whether it’s flea and tick prevention, outdoor adventures, or structured training—is deliberate, thoughtful, and focused on creating the healthiest and happiest dogs possible.
If you have questions about keeping your future puppy safe or fostering a sense of resilient curiosity in the early stages, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can give every Stokeshire puppy the best start in life—because when they thrive, so do the families who welcome them.
Contact us anytime for advice or insight. Stokeshire is here to support you and your furry family every step of the way.