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Litter Care
Rock Llewellin Setters does everything it can to ensure that it is breeding responsibly. No dog is bred by RLS that would directly contribute unwanted traits in health, hunting ability, temperament, and conformation to the breed. RLS breeding dogs must be up to date with all vet care and in excellent physical shape. The Llewellins are all FDSB registered, microchipped, DNA tested, and OFA Hip certified. The Rocks believe that, because they have allowed for the breeding, they are responsible for each of the puppies' lives and will do everything possible for them. The family raises the puppies how it would have liked each of its dogs to be raised, and extreme care and knowledge are put into the care of litters.
Post-Breeding
RLS bred females, although still allowed to work and play, are handled with great care. Their lives remain unchanged through about the first half of the pregnancy. Then their nutritional needs alter a little bit, and RLS changes the diet regimen. The number of meals and the total daily intake are increased, the feedings are indoors and supervised, and extra nutrients are added to the high-quality food. Expecting dams spend their last one-two weeks, sleeping indoors with the family. If there are any concerns about the upcoming delivery, the dam will be checked or ultrasounded by a veterinarian.
Whelping
When
the time comes for the delivery, the dam is moved to the whelping room.
During the delivery there are several people, including someone in the
whelping box with the dam. 
After
each birth, the puppies' cords get clamped, cut, and treated, and the
pups are thoroughly dried (with the dam's help) and examined. Every
observation about the initial condition of the puppies are recorded
in their individual puppy journals. Their births are the start of the
puppies' ongoing socialization, for which, through much animal, human,
and object introduction and contact, the puppies will gain a better
opportunity to live balanced and happy lives.
First Few Weeks
For the first two weeks, the litter and dam are supervised twenty-four hours a day. They have constant human contact and are also examined daily. From days three to sixteen, RLS does the SuperDog/Bio Sensor Method with the puppies. Bio Sensor is a neurological development stimulation method, that, when done correctly and carefully, has the benefits of improved cardiovascular performance, stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, higher stress tolerance, and greater resistance to disease. Also towards the end of the second week, the litter is introduced to the different environment of the house, where they are taken with their dam for a couple of hours each day.
The third week brings the puppies' introduction to the outside world. Though they still spend the majority of their time inside the whelping room, the puppies' length of time playing and exploring in the yard increases. They are still supervised constantly, and as a result, are handled, talked to, and played with a lot. The puppies' environment expands in this third week to one of mental stimulation.
Socialization and Weaning
By
the fourth week, RLS puppies are very active and playful. They have
distinguishable characters and are responding and interacting with their
environment. Through the fourth to 
eighth
weeks, as much of the puppies' time as possible is spent playing in
the yard and garden (always with someone out with them). Sometimes they
get to spend as much as fourteen hours everyday just playing and romping
around in the yard. In the evenings, the puppies enjoy their time spent
playing in the house. Also during this time, because socialization is
very important, the puppies are introduced to other dogs, puppies, cats,
horses, cows, birds, cars, dirt bikes, tractors, etc.... A minimal of
a dozen different people, kids, and toddlers (not counting the Rocks)
are introduced to the the litter; however, care is taken to avoid introduction
to people or animals who have a risk of carrying a disease. The puppies
are also exposed to everyday family-life and its objects.
At five weeks, the puppies start wearing their puppy check cords, which are just long enough to trail behind them and allow a game of puppy tug-o-war. This puppy play with the cords allows the puppies to become familiar and comfortable with humans' main form of training. RLS also begins the slow weaning process at five weeks, starting the pups off on a mix of soaked puppy and canned food. It takes about three weeks for RLS and the dam to wean the puppies off of the milkbar. By seven or eight weeks the litters will be eating dry puppy food mixed with canned food.
Grooming, Health Care, and Further Socialization
The
puppies' first grooming sessions by RLS are at six weeks, when the pups
have their first bath, ear cleaning, and
brushing. They've had their nails trimmed since they were a couple weeks
old. The first trip to the vet clinic is at six weeks, when their professional
health care begins. As long as the puppies are with RLS, they will receive
their 6, 8, 12, and 16 week old vaccinations. RLS personally deworms
the puppies at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks. Also around six weeks, the
puppies are introduced to the dogs' pool and the kennels. If the pups
are ready, they will begin sleeping in a kennel about this time. Once
the litter gets started on the vaccinations, RLS may begin taking the pups
individually to a nearby city where they get more experience with stores,
strangers, and traffic; RLS sometimes even takes the pups to a motocross track.
Every place the puppies go expands their world and helps to make them
more confident.
Early
Training
The training of the puppies begins as early as four weeks, but is slow and undemanding. Throughout their time with the Rocks, the puppies will get a good start on basic things like come, sit, lay down, kennel, retrieve, and heel. Because the pups are often in the house, their housebreaking is started. They are also started at five-six weeks on pointing with bird wings. If the puppies are at least eight weeks old and it's hunting season, RLS will take the puppies on hunts. At that young age, the pups are able to watch the other dogs work, explore and hunt a bit, and become desensitized to distractions in the field. RLS believes starting fun work in the hunting atmospheres helps to develop an excellent bird dog. As long as the puppies are with RLS, their training will progress.