HEALTH

All of the dogs that we breed are screened for genetic health problems. This includes X-raying hips and elbows and submitting them for evaluation to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Our breeding animals are screened for eye problems by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist. In addition, we have our dogs checked for autoimmune thyroiditis and other thyroid problems. Both eye and thyroid test results are submitted to the OFA for their evaluation and certification.

We are dedicated to breeding healthy and sound dogs capable of working in the field or other athletic activities such as agility, so we only breed Welsh Springers that have hips and elbows certified as free of dysplasia and other potentially crippling problems.

We also consider mental soundness to be an important aspect of our breeding program. We breed for stable, smart, and sweet temperaments that make for beloved family dogs.

We do not dock tails since we have found that our Welsh Springers use their tails as rudders when doing agility and other athletic activities. We do not remove front dewclaws since these provide important support for the lower front leg, especially when dogs are running and jumping. We do have our veterinarian remove rear dewclaws which are essentially nonfunctional and can be easily torn.

PUPPY REARING

All of our litters are whelped and raised in our home. Our main family room is turned into the “puppy room” to maximize our interaction time with our puppies. We handle each and every puppy multiple times every day to facilitate strong bonding with people.

A crucial aspect of our puppy rearing is early mental stimulation and socialization. We use Bio-Sensor Method and Avidog techniques to stimulate neurological development. We also bring over many people, including children, to handle and play with our puppies. During this period our home looks like Grand Central station but this is a really key time for dog socialization and we want our puppies to get the enrichment that they need to become well adjusted adult dogs.

Our puppies are raised in a varied environment which offers them many opportunities for physical development, problem solving and exposure to lots of different sights, sounds and smells. They are introduced to housebreaking, car rides, and crate training. We take them to different areas of our home, particularly the kitchen during meal preparation and eating so that they become accustomed to normal aspects of daily living. They have lots of fun playing in our very large fenced backyard which includes wooded areas, agility equipment, and lots of different types of surfaces. Once they are weaned, they are introduced to our other dogs so that they learn how to interact with other adult dogs.

We also play early training games with each puppy to teach them beginning skills which include come when called, retrieving (including game bird wings), and body awareness. Since some of our puppies will do agility, they are introduced to some puppy-appropriate agility foundation activities such as walking on an uneven, slightly tipping surface and going through a tunnel.

PUPPY NUTRITION & HEALTH

Our dams are fed a kibble-based diet that includes Omega3 supplements and additional proteins from a variety of sources. Our Welsh Springer dams are dedicated mothers and willingly nurse their puppies well past when they are weaned. We wean our puppies with a high quality kibble based food that is free of artificial colors and flavors.

We strongly believe that puppies should be raised in an environment free of potentially harmful chemicals. This includes their bedding and surfaces that they live and play on. We do not use any fertilizer, herbicide, or pesticide on our plantings and lawn where they will play.

Our puppies also receive the following health care before leaving to go to their new homes:

• Regular check for intestinal parasites (worms and Giardia) and deworming if necessary
• Vaccinations
• Eye screening by a board-certified ophthalmologist
• Micro-chipping and registration of the microchip
• Health check and certification from our veterinarian