OUR Breeding Program
Our Puppy Raising Protocols
Step 1
We start with parents who are sound, meet the breed standard and are health and genetics tested
Step 2
We provide a safe, healthy and stimulating environment in which to grow, learn and explore
Step 3
We provide superior nutrition, health protocols, training foundations and socialization
Our History
I fell in love with Australian Cattle Dogs back in 1997 when I first laid eyes on Nina, my first red girl. Though she belonged to me she had three successful CKC registered litters for her breeder — a way that we could continue to help the ACD gene pool in North America. Losing her at 15½ years was devastating and since her breeder had retired I made the rash decision to jump into a rescue I named Romeo.
Romeo was backyard bred with a very rough start in life. He had been neglected, abused and left in his own filth for extended periods and thus came to me with a suitcase full of bad habits and behavioural issues. I can now make light of how my $400 puppy cost me an additional $4,500 to train being in constant classes for 3½ years, but at the time it was no joke.
You can read more of the good, the bad and the ugly of Romeo here, but suffice it to say that his poor breeding and rearing inspired me to “be the change” with my breeding program
THE IMPORTANCE OF EPIGENETICS
Whether you are looking for a companion, a sport dog or a ranch dog, the epigenetic factors matter. The statement “from working parents” is often used in advertisements for working dogs or horses, recognizing that the skills & behaviours of the parents are valuable considerations in predicting the talent, temperament and ease in training offspring. This is important regardless of whether you are looking for a hiking companion for the family or a working dog.
All of the dogs in my breeding program (including my collection of frozen semen) come from ACDs who have been proven in multiple venues for this reason. Knowing where the dogs are gifted or lacking also helps me better evaluate how to use them in my breeding program and have a better sense of what kind of homes they will thrive in.
Though each of my young dogs dabble in multiple sports, we focus on the sports that they excel in as they continue to mature. These include conformation, herding, obedience, rally obedience, scent detection, barn hunt and trick dog. While competing in dog sports for titles is one kind of “proof” that is easily attached to a pedigree, being “proven” also means asking a dog to perform a trained skill under real life stress like farm chores or being able to walk easily down a busy street with traffic.
Puppy Culture
As a small Canadian Kennel Club registered breeder, I do not breed very often. My dogs are my companions in my home and are considered family. Puppies are raised in my home using Puppy Culture which is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth through the end of their critical socialization period.
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is where we start, at 3 days old, however that is only the beginning! This style of puppy rearing ensures a stable, structured upbringing that results in confident puppies with a substantial amount of training as they leave us at 9 weeks.
Puppies are usually leash broke, sleeping through the night in their crates and well on their way to potty trained. They will have been exposed to horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and cats. I make every effort to have about 100 visitors of varying ages, genders and ethnicities before they go home. From 6 weeks onwards puppies are exposed as a group to sheep and goats in a herding environment for the purpose of “being with” livestock without harassing the livestock as well as providing vital information around aptitudes.
Puppies are independently evaluated by an outside trainer at 49 days to provide valuable feedback for placement in their perfect homes. The family of small children who go camping and the rancher who needs a four-legged hired hand need two very different personality dogs! All of these efforts are made to reduce the stress on both puppy and new family as they transition to their new homes.
Check out the REEL Puppy Blog to see videos and photos from past litters.