Raising happy, healthy puppies begins long before a litter is ever born.  It starts with the careful selection of the dogs we choose to breed.  We are highly selective and evaluate every potential pairing through three essential lenses: temperament, health, and structure.

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Temperament is our top priority.  Even a dog with excellent health and flawless structure will not make a good companion if it lacks a stable, people-oriented temperament.  Health is equally critical; we want our poodles to live long, comfortable, and active lives.  For that reason, all of our dogs undergo extensive health testing, and we require the same level of testing from any outside stud we use.  Structure is the third pillar of our evaluation.  While some believe structure only matters for show dogs, correct structure directly impacts soundness, mobility, and longevity.  A well-built dog is less prone to injury and better able to remain active well into their senior years, something that benefits every family pet.

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How puppies are raised is just as important as how they are bred.  All of our dogs are raised in our home as we do not operate a kennel.  They are an integral part of our daily lives, spending their days at our feet, evenings on our laps, and nights in our beds.  This close bond and home-based environment help create confident, emotionally secure dogs.  Well-adjusted dams raise better puppies, and the way a mother cares for her litter has a lasting impact.  Research even shows that positive human interaction and affection during pregnancy can have beneficial effects on developing puppies.

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We also place great emphasis on prenatal care and nutrition.  Our pregnant dogs receive carefully balanced diets to support both their own health and the healthy development of their puppies.  We primarily feed Royal Canin, supplemented with human-grade meats such as beef, turkey, and chicken, as well as fiber-rich foods like pumpkin, sweet potato, and blueberries.  During pregnancy, our dogs receive probiotics to support gut health—important because puppies inherit their initial gut microbiome from their mother.  We also use targeted supplementation, including reproductive support vitamins prior to breeding, prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, and lactation-specific supplements after whelping until puppies are fully weaned.

 

Our puppies are raised using Puppy Culture and Avidog protocols.  This includes early neurological stimulation (ENS) and early scent introduction (ESI), which support neurological development and resilience.  Because grooming is a lifelong necessity for poodles, we introduce puppies to basic grooming early, during the developmental window when they are not yet capable of fear.  This helps create puppies who are comfortable and confident with routine grooming throughout their lives.

 

As puppies grow, they are gently introduced to a variety of experiences.  They interact with our adult dogs and learn to coexist with our cats.  We begin litter training to support easier housebreaking, and we introduce crates gradually by starting with open crates in their play area and slowly progressing to short periods with the door closed.  Puppies are also introduced to clicker training and basic skills such as sit, down, recall, and walking on a lead.

 

While puppies will still require continued training and housebreaking in their new homes, our goal is to provide them with a strong foundation that supports an easier transition and sets both puppy and owner up for long-term success.