Essays on preservation breeding, natural rearing, and life with Staffords.
Here it is almost ten weeks later and the first puppy leaves tomorrow. Ordinarily I prefer for them to remain a while longer but this puppy is going to an experienced home with a Stafford bitch they bought from us 4 years ago. They also do Puppy Culture so I feel confident he will be
Continue readingThis is a video showing the first steps to teaching leash walking in heel position. The puppies are 9.5 weeks old. I am about a week behind where I normally wish to be at this age but we have been very busy with work thankfully so catching up as I can. This is a Puppy
Continue readingEnrichment begins the day we are born. We are shaped by our surroundings, experiences, nutrition and anything which we encounter – with puppies those first few months are critical. Amazingly enough tiny baby puppies are able to absorb and learn like sponges. We can shape behaviors (both positive and negative) in as short as a
Continue readingOpen your laptop just about any morning to FB and you will see all varieties of nutjobs typing away on just about any topic. I try to avoid nutjobs but seeing as I am involved in purebred dogs and rescue its nearly impossible to avoid completely. The latest craziness was on FB concerning those who
Continue readingIt’s 9:30pm and I’m exhausted. Time to take the oldies out and get everyone settled in for what I hope will be a long sleep. It’s been a hectic day of working, getting things set up for a new online shop for rescue, puppy laundry, feeding dogs, exercising dogs, playing with puppies, cleaning, more laundry,
Continue readingI do not breed to sell showdogs. I do not breed to sell studs and broods. I breed to have a puppy for myself and obviously the ones we do not keep get sold. If you follow this blog then you know already the background of what we put into producing a litter. I want
Continue readingThere are times I question why I decided to breed dogs. This week is one of those times. If you follow this blog then you already know about our last litter – it was bittersweet, exhausting, expensive, educational and fulfilling all at once. Multiply those emotions and facts for this past few days and you
Continue readingI have been known to repeat the phrase “Never stop learning” and I follow that advice myself. Recently I watched an online seminar that I was unable to attend in person. In the end I think watching it online was more valuable as I can go back and rewatch whatever sections I need to get
Continue readingSo here you are waiting for a puppy from the breeder you have developed a relationship with after a lengthy search. You both have agreed that your expectations and theirs are a good match. You have passed the breeders detailed interviews, home checks, reference checks and enjoyed many lengthy conversations over the last few months
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