How We Raise Our Puppies

As a dog breeder, we work hard to raise quality, healthy, well-adjusted puppies. We are not “backyard breeders” or a “puppy mill”. Our dogs and puppies live in our home and are a huge part of our family. We spend time with each one of them daily…giving them the love and attention they deserve, working on training, grooming, and making sure they have the mental stimulation to stay a happy healthy dog. It is hard to raise a puppy with all of the care and energy that we put into them only to send them on to a new family. A piece of our heart leaves with each puppy.

Because of the time and attention we give each dog, we are a small operation with only one male and 3 females. We limit the number of litters we have each year so that we can ensure that we have the time to devote to everyone. We raise our puppies using the Puppy Culture and From Newborn to New Home methods. We find that in using these methods that are puppies are happy, healthy, and well-adjusted…ready to face the world and be welcomed into their new families.

We work with our puppies from the day they are born until the day they leave for their new homes. We start them on crate training, potty training, walking on a leash, sit, and come when called. The puppies are worked with on grooming also with weekly nail clippings, being wiped down, even started with baths. They are given enrichment toys to help with their cognitive and mental health.

We feed all of our dogs and puppies raw. A lot of research has gone into this decision and we have found our dogs to be overall healthier with raw feeding than on commercial kibble or canned foods. Our dogs are fed a balanced raw diet consisting of various meats (including some bone), organs, fats/oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, vitamins and supplements. Since 2009, we have followed the protocols set out by Dr. Karen Becker, DVM. We highly recommend her book The Forever Dog.

All of our dogs are seen routinely by our vet, Dr. W. Our females see Dr. W throughout their pregnancy and then our puppies are seen by him for a health check, to receive their vaccinations, and to be microchipped. We have worked with Dr. W on a deworming schedule for our puppies to keep them healthy.

Puppy Culture and From Newborn to New Home

Puppy Culture and From Newborn to New Home go hand in hand and are based on the latest science and studies on puppy and animal rearing. They were both developed by Jane Messineo Lindquist. Jane is a dog breeder, professional dog trainer and the author and director of numerous books and films about dogs

Puppy Culture is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth through the end of their critical socialization period, with age appropriate protocols and lessons.

Puppy Culture is based on the premise that the puppy always leads the learning, and puppies learn best by appropriate experiences at the appropriate time. So what we do is observe the puppy, and, based on the behavioral markers seen, serve the puppy the experience or lesson that is optimal for him at that moment in time.

By letting the puppy lead, we are:

•maximizing the benefit of any given protocol or lesson,

•minimizing any danger of over-facing or scaring the puppy

•creating confidence and self-efficacy by presenting the appropriate level of challenge that the puppy CAN do without failing or presenting a danger to himself.

We enjoy each puppy for the precious individual he is, and work hard to bring out the best qualities in that puppy.

From Newborn to New Home is the next step in Puppy Culture. It dives deeper into raising great puppies, going from neonatal until the puppies new home with more in depth research and lessons for the puppies. Where Puppy Culture is a general guide, From Newborn to New Home is an organized and complete guide to raising a litter of puppies. The step by step daily guide helps to ensure that we are raising the best puppies possible.