Our puppies were bred for temperament and health, and we did everything we could to give each one the best possible start — and to make life with that puppy as enjoyable as possible for the family who took them home. Here’s the protocol we followed with every litter.
How we raised our puppies
- We started with a breed that is genetically healthy and of sound temperament.
- Our breeding dogs stayed with us at all times — never sent away to a kennel between litters. Happy mothers make happy puppies.
- Puppies nursed from their mother until weaning happened on its own time — we never forced an early weaning just to send a puppy home sooner. No puppy left until it was properly weaned.
- Once weaned, puppies transitioned directly onto a BARF (raw food) diet.
- Every puppy was hand-raised in our home, as part of our family, supported by Early Neural Stimulation from days 3 to 16.
- Daily enrichment activities: indoor and outdoor play, time with children, car travel, exposure to cats, multi-sensory toys, and everyday household noises like the TV and vacuum cleaner.
- Crate training and both indoor and outdoor potty training were started before puppies went home.
Sending a puppy home
Every puppy went home with a package of tips and guidelines to help with the transition, and we made ourselves available for the lifetime of the pet to support families with any questions or concerns — backed by a health guarantee. That combination of preparation up front and support afterward was always more important to us than the handoff itself.
What to look for in a breeder today
We no longer breed, but the protocol above is a good yardstick for any litter you’re considering. A responsible breeder should be happy to tell you where the puppies are raised, how the parents were health tested, what the puppies eat, how early socialization is handled, and what support and guarantees come after you take a puppy home. If those questions get vague answers, keep looking.
Our guide to finding a responsible breeder has the full list of questions to ask, the health tests to check for, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
Related guides
Finding a Responsible Breederquestions, health tests and red flagsRead the guide →
Early Neural Stimulationthe day 3–16 exercises we did with every litterRead the guide →
Puppy Development Week by Weekwhat those first 12 weeks looked likeRead the guide →
Bringing a Puppy Homethe first week and a supplies checklistRead the guide →