our mission
We believe:
Animals are a gift from God.
He calls us to be good stewards of that gift.
After all,
“God created every living creature…
And God saw that it was good.”
~Genesis 1 (excerpt)~
&
“EVERY animal of the forest is God’s, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
He knows all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is His.”
~Psalm 50:10-11 (paraphrased)~
Our 4-Part System for Puppy Health
“Know well the condition of your [dogs],
and give attention to your [puppies].”
~Proverbs 27:23~
Okay, that last Bible verse actually says “flocks” and “herds,” but the principal remains true.
It’s not just enough to whelp (a.k.a. birth) puppies. They need special care to make sure they are great pets physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.
Physically Healthy
Nutrition
Long before our puppies are even dreamt of, we make sure their parents are healthy, with nutritious food and regular checkups. That nutrition continues for the puppies through pregnancy, nursing, and learning to eat solid food until they leave us.
Training
Right from the puppies’ birth, we encourage a “clean den,” clearing messes quickly so the furballs are well on their way to becoming house broken by the time they go to their new homes.
Vet Visits
Before they leave us, puppies will be declawed with their initial vet check (3 days old), dewormed several times (weeks 3 and 5), and have first shots and another vet exam (7 weeks).
Mentally Healthy
When puppies are born, just like their bodies need to grow (they can’t see or hear at birth), their brain also needs to grow. Mentally, they are immature.
Early Neurological Stimulation
We perform Early Neurological Stimulation on each puppy from days 3-17. This involves moving them from position to position for five seconds each: right-side-up to upside-down, playing with their ears, tickling their toes, petting their fur backwards (against the “grain”), resting them on an ice pack, . . . Each event encourages growth of different parts of the brain.
Environmental Stimulation
We also make sure puppies experience all sorts of room situations: loud noises, quiet space, rough housing, snuggles, . . . We can’t control everything these puppies will experience, but we expose them to as many as we can.
Emotionally Healthy
“People Puppies”
Dogs are pack animals. Of course as babies, in their minds, their litter is their pack. But that isn’t the plan for their future.
So we work hard to show them people not only belong in their pack, but that their people are the leaders of that pack. Yes, we snuggle them and hand feed them when they’re ready for it.
But also:
“Dog Puppies”
This means, yes, each puppy comes running for his people, but he is also happy to play with other dogs. We introduce them to safe family and friend pets so Mama isn’t the only adult dog they’ve met.
Socially Healthy
Puppy therapy is the best!
By the time our puppies are ready to go to their forever-homes, they have already brought joy to so many of all ages, from 3-yr-olds to senior citizens, elementary school students to college kids, one on one and in groups, cuddled for an hour or passed back and forth . . . Sharing puppy therapy with one and all.
They’ve enjoyed laughs, comforted tears, shared dances, and matched snore for snore when their snugglers have fallen asleep with them on their chests.
In short, these puppies have brightened many spirits—and experienced all sorts of social situations in the process.
Happy, Healthy Puppies
Yes, the weeks these puppies are with us are very full. It takes work to raise great pets. And we love EVERY minute of it.
By the time they’re ready to leave us, we admit they take a piece of our heart with them.
But we know that’s our job. To raise them to the point where they are ready to be the best pet for their permanent family. Smart, well-rounded, healthy, and ready to follow their people anywhere.
