Natural Rearing at Wavemaker
“Natural rearing” has been part of Wavemaker language for many years. For us, it describes a husbandry philosophy: pay close attention to the dog in front of you, build health through good daily care, and avoid doing things simply because they are fashionable or automatic.
It does not mean rejecting modern veterinary medicine if it is needed.
What it means here
We place heavy emphasis on appropriate nutrition, healthy body condition, clean living spaces, fresh air, sunlight, exercise, enrichment, rest, low stress, homeopathy, herbs, tinctures, non-conventional medicines and close daily observation. We prefer not to expose dogs unnecessarily to chemicals or medications when there is no reasonable benefit.
A good decision is one that considers evidence, the individual dog, exposure risk and the consequences of doing nothing.
Vaccination
We support thoughtful, individualized preventive care rather than blanket rules. Make your own decisions based upon your own supporting research. Vaccine decisions, should you choose to give them, should consider the dog’s age, health, lifestyle, geographic exposure, prior vaccination history and applicable law. Current veterinary guidelines distinguish core vaccines from non-core vaccines and allow protocols to be tailored to risk. Antibody titers may be useful in some specific circumstances and should be taken into consideration where warranted.
Parasite prevention
Heartworm, tick-borne disease, fleas and intestinal parasites do not present the same risk everywhere. Prevention should be based on geography, season, lifestyle and veterinary guidance. We do not present unproven “natural” repellents as guaranteed substitutes when a dog is at meaningful risk of disease. Please do your own research.
Veterinary care
We use veterinarians, specialists and reproductive professionals when their expertise is needed. We ask questions, seek second opinions when appropriate and want to understand the reasoning behind a recommendation. The goal is not the fewest possible medical interventions. The goal is the right intervention at the right time.
What has not changed
Our responsibility to the dogs has not changed. We health test, observe temperament, keep detailed records, support the people who own dogs we have bred, and take responsibility for Wavemaker Staffords for their entire lives.
Natural rearing, at its best, is not ideology. It is attentive stewardship.