Poodle Care, Education and Resources
AKC Poodle Puppies by Serendipite
Even before birth, your Poodle puppy is being cared for. Our breeding mothers receive the finest quality care and nutrition before and during their pregnancy and also through lactation.
We work with Dr. Samantha Souther DVM, DACT, who is a board certified reproduction specialist. Dr. Souther provides genetic counseling and breeding and pregnancy management. One of her main goals, as is ours, is to reduce the prevalence of genetic disease in animals.
Below we cover all the details of our puppy program, from puppy care, health testing, training and socialization.
Health Testing
Health Testing
Poodle health is an important consideration, both at the time of purchase and for the life of the dog. Genetically inherited disorders are present in all living creatures and even in Poodles.
We test all of our breeding mothers for the presence of genetic disorders and publicly post the results of these tests on the OFA website (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). OFA is a clearinghouse for multiple DNA tests. OFA also manages and maintains the CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) files. We DNA test all of our breeding stock for diseases specific to their variety such as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures (NEwS), two types of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), VonWillebrand Disease, Osteochondrodysplasia, Chondrodystrophy, w/IVDD risk factor, Congenital Methemoglobinemia, and now Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) through Paw Prints Genetics.
While hip dysplasia is not common in our bloodlines, we OFA hips on our breeding stock as well. We also carefully examine the testing results of potential stud dogs to make sure we have a healthy match for our mothers. We are committed to producing Poodles that are as healthy as they are beautiful. We are proud that all of our breeding females are CHIC certified Healthy (Canine Health Information Center).
Puppy Socialization
Puppy Socialization
Socialization is the key to ensuring that your beautiful puppy will quickly become a happy, well-adjusted family member. We personally assist in all deliveries and continually monitor the first minutes, hours and days of the newborns’ lives. Our litters are raised in our home with an abundance of attention and handling. Our grandchildren and even our neighbors help to play with and socialize the puppies.
The puppies are introduced to various noises, experiences, surfaces, toys, car rides, motorized vehicles, other pets, and more. We are advocates of Puppy Culture tenets such as early neurological stimulation, aggression prevention, potty training, leash walking and crate training. Puppy raising is very labor intensive but the reward is beautiful, healthy, and well-socialized puppies.
Puppy Vaccinations
Puppy Vaccinations
Depending on the age of your puppy, it will have at least its first round of vaccinations. We will provide you with a detailed vaccination recommendation to share with your veterinarian. We follow vaccine protocols as recommended by Dr. Marthina Greer, DVM, as provided in her classic text Canine Reproduction and Neonatology. We also confer with our reproduction specialist, Dr. Samantha Souther DVM, DACT, to avoid immune system damage or health issues that can be caused by early or excessive vaccinations
Veterinary Health Check
Veterinary Health Check
Every one of our puppies is microchipped for ease of identification. And each puppy is examined by an experienced small animal veterinarian before it goes to its new home. This exam includes a full physical and cardiac exam. We guarantee our puppies to be free of any debilitating or life threatening genetic disease.
Your puppy will have the qualifier of “Healthy Animal” on its veterinary health report. Rest assured, you are getting a healthy Poodle puppy.
Deworming
Deworming
Our puppies receive regular preventative deworming to avoid any parasitic issues. Puppies and their dams receive their first worming when the pups are three weeks old incorporating pyrantel pamoate and fenbendazole. This ensures your puppy comes with a settled stomach and no dormant issues that will surprise you just after your puppy gets home.
Worming is repeated at 4, 6, and 8 weeks. After that puppies are placed on a monthly broad-spectrum heartworm preventative. We use Credelio and Sentinel for puppies and Simparica Trio to protect against heartworm and other internal parasites in our older puppies and adults. Once you take your puppy home, your veterinarian can advise you on a recommended program based on your geographical location.
Housebreaking
Housebreaking
Unlike other breeders, we begin housebreaking at 4 weeks of age. When puppies are put on a schedule early in life, it makes housebreaking a breeze when you take your puppy home. They need to go to their potty area after sleeping, after eating, and after playing. Getting the puppies on a schedule and using a designated potty spot with a command like, “potty, potty” sets the foundational training that makes housebreaking pretty simple. Our Poodle puppies are naturally very smart, and they take to our schedule quickly.
We are obsessive about cleanliness and sanitation. Poodles are also naturally clean, and if raised in a clean environment, they will avoid soiling their living area if at all possible. Often, our puppies are not pooping indoors by 5-6 weeks of age. Our method takes a lot of work, and a loss of sleep, but in the end, we produce puppies that are a joy to take home at 9-10 weeks of age.