Our Practice
The Approach…
In short, our approach toward rearing pups begins with understanding the vital role that these dogs will play within the family unit of their future homes. We maintain a strong set of core family values that apply to all those within our household, including our Labs, Bichons, and Shichons that are very much a part of our own household.
Gathering upon a lifetime of experience in growing, caring for, and raising a large family… we have built a tested foundation for nurturing the very best dogs available. We understand that, as animals, they have the greatest chance for success when we apply extensive oversight from the point of conception on through being introduced to a new home. We do our very best to provide the finest in nutrition, environmental stimulus, and social interaction that is conducive for proper development in a young puppy’s formative developmental stages.
The Best in Nutrition…
We’ve adopted a calculated feeding program that introduces grain-free organic foods in conjunction with crucial macro and micro nutrients for both the mother and her litter. Providing a strong foundation of proper nutrition ensures that our Lab, Bichon, and Shichon puppies have all that they need to grow a healthy body during early stages of growth and development.
In addition to an enriched feeding regimen, we have taken the time to understand the variety of ailments that can occur when rearing young dogs. Rearing pups for well over a decade has helped us gain the right experience and education to put together the most effective combination of holistic, cultural, and traditional treatment practices — with the goal always being to produce the healthiest and happiest puppy-dogs. When it comes to the overall health and well-being of our dogs, we put forth the very best to ensure all bases are covered.
The Best in Social Development…
In connection to meticulously overseeing proper nutrition and health, we take a strong pride in providing a stimulated learning environment that promotes the fullest social and psychological development possible. All of our puppies are raised within the confines of our home, allowing us to continuously monitor each litter and attend to each pup on an individual/hourly basis.
What sets us apart from other breeders is that we refuse to let our puppies, in all their fluffy pint-sized cuteness, gain exposure to negative stimuli that can often devolve into detrimental behavioral traits. It is our deep understanding in the intricacies of care taking that guides how we treat all of our puppies and their mothers; that is, with the highest degree of love and affection so that they may too cultivate these same attributes with the families that adopt them.
The Expectations for Each Puppy of Each Litter…
We begin potty training at 2.5 weeks old, so you can expect your puppy to come home on day 1 with a relative understanding of where to use the restroom! Pups are taught to potty on absorbent pads which, in turn, is a great way to teach and transition them to use the restroom outside.
Every litter will have two veterinary check-ups by the time they are 8 weeks old. As part of their first visit @3 days old their Dew Claws are removed, this is done by a veterinarian in a proper surgical setting.
Throughout their time with us the puppies are monitored on a close, daily, interaction program and are supervised by a human eye about 15 hours/day.
First Core Vaccinations will be administered @ 7.5 weeks old.
Stool samples are collected from each litter to be sent to a lab and tested for parasites (ie. worms, etc.)
Each puppy is administered Natural & Conventional Deworming medication as needed.
Upon transition to solid foods we will supplement diets with NuVet Plus Daily Vitamins to encourage healthy immune systems and robust nutrition.
As a part of our program, we afford paid Basic AKC Pre-Registration to each and every puppy (with exception to Shichons - being a mix of two different breeds disqualifies eligibility for AKC Registration.)
Each puppy goes home with our Puppy Gift Pack, which includes: a litter-scented blanket, nursery toys, chew bone, and New Owners Handbook containing health records & to-date certifications.
*NOTE: Puppies are made available on a first-come-first-serve basis. A puppy can be reserved with a non-refundable deposit ranging between $500 - $700. We begin accepting deposits as soon as the litter is born. Please submit a request for information through the" “Contact Us” page for more details.
Definitions, AKC & OFA Certifications…
One of the challenges newcomers face when diving into the world of purebred dogs is how to sort through the droves of information that’s out there. Below you’ll find some useful explanations that may provide clarity around unfamiliar terms and concepts often associated with purebred dogs.
Purebred Dog — a dog whose father(sire) and mother(dam) belong to the same breed and are both of unmixed descent since recognition of that breed.
Pedigree — the written record of a dog’s genealogy; essentially a dog’s documented family tree. A pedigree often displays 4-5 previous generations and includes ancestral information such as the dogs’ name, registration number, conferred titles, DNA profile, health accreditation, etc.
Dog Registry — an organization that tracks, records, and catalogs information concerning purebred dogs (ie. names, breed, color, owner info, pedigrees, DNA info, etc). Registries are responsible for issuing unique identification and certifications (aka “papers”) for each recorded animal. This term is often used interchangeably with the term Kennel Club.
Kennel Club — an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the welfare, promotion, and maintenance of more than one purebred dog breed. Most all Kennel Clubs serve as registries, however, they often promote a greater campaign that advocates for better education, health, and service concerning the purebred community.
AKC (American Kennel Club) — a not-for-profit organization that is know as the nation's oldest, largest, and most esteemed pedigree registry for purebred dogs. One of their main goals is to adopt and enforce uniform rules regulating the conduct of persons interested in exhibiting, running, breeding, registering, purchasing, and selling dogs. All of our dogs and offspring belong exclusively to this group.
Champion (Ch.) — a title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of defeating a specified number of dogs in specified competition at a series of AKC licensed or member dog shows. Examples include:
AFC – Amateur Field Champion
Ch. – Conformation Champion
FC – Field Champion
OTCH – Obedience Champion
HC – Herding Champion
Grand Champion (GCH.) — a title conferred on a dog competing against other designated Champions in specified competition at a series of AKC licensed or member dog shows.
AKC Letter of DNA Analysis — a program ran by the AKC that uses DNA analysis to more precisely verify parentage of AKC dogs and allows breeders, dog owners, and the AKC the ability to ensure that the AKC Registry is the most accurate in the world. This process identifies and documents the unique DNA profile of the dog tested; DNA Analysis is required for moderately active sires as a measure to combat puppy mills trying to breed males to many females. Overall it helps strengthen the registry by improving accuracy and helps disarm puppy mills from falsifying pedigrees.
OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) — an organization that developed and maintains a database of Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and eye examination in dogs. The OFA sets the standard for the examination of dogs screened for these conditions. While certain preliminary exams exist, a dog cannot be officially tested & certified until they’re at least two years of age. Dogs are subject to the following grades as determined by a licensed ophthalmologist according to OFA standards (please see www.ofa.org for official language):
Hips Graded —
PASS = Excellent Conformation, Good Conformation, or Fair Conformation;
RETEST = Borderline Conformation (retest in 6 months);
FAIL = Mild Dysplasia, Moderate Dysplasia, or Severe Dysplasia
Elbows Graded —
PASS = radiograph consensus reveals no evidence of Elbow Dysplasia;
FAIL = Grade I Dysplasia, Grade II Dysplasia, Grade III Dysplasia
Eyes Graded —
PASS = no observable hereditary eye disease present;
FAIL = at least one of ten possible hereditary eye disorders present in observation