Optimally Raised Puppies-Premium Lab Difference!
What is an Optimally Raised Puppy?
At Premium Labradors we do things differently. As lovers of Labradors and science, we have done the research into animal health and well being and applied this knowledge to our breeding program. Many of the issues that Labrador owners have with there dogs can be avoided and mitigated. Issues like Hip and Joint problems, allergies, skin, ear and stomach problem, behavioral issues including anxiety and aggression. Please take the time to explore the topics below and discover all the things that make a Premium Labrador puppy an exceptional puppy
Health and Temperament development begins Pre-whelp(Pre-birth)
- The Science is clear, a dog's temperament starts with calm genes. This relates to how a dogs nervous system is programed. Certain traits are breed specific. To capitalize on these traits we start with calm parents. Temperament is highly inherited
- The second step in producing calm, non-reactive puppies is keeping the Dam(mother dog) calm throughout her pregnancy. Science has proven that controlling the release of Cortisol by pregnant moms will allow the puppy's nervous system to optimally develop for calmness. Cortisol in pregnant moms changes the puppies brains and develops pup brains that are ready to fight and be on alert(anxiety) as soon as they are born. Nature is adaptive for individual survival. A calm home environment trumps a noisy, stressful kennel for producing calm puppies
- Many skin, digestive and allergy issues can be avoided by improving the microbiome of a dog with natural, healthy, human grade food. Our dogs and puppies are feed a diet based of a variety of healthy human grade foods. This ensures that the dogs immune system is programed to produce all kinds of enzymes and house healthy bacteria to prevent stomach, skin and allergy issues
- Worming the mother dog from 40 days gestation to 14 days post whelp ensures no parasite infection to interfere with puppy health and development
Birth and Whelping Environment
- Mother dog gives birth in her home with 100% supervision from an experienced Breeder/whelper
- Whelping pen has a firm warm base to avoid malformation of puppies bones and joints that can occur due to slippery whelping surfaces
- Litter is supervised 24/7 for the first week or two
- Mother dog is kept happy and calm and trusts the environment her puppies are in
Early Bonding and Communication Training
- Training a puppy is vital, but, even more important is bonding and learning to communicate with your dog
- At Premium Labradors, we start the puppies at 2 weeks, as soon as they open there eyes to look humans in the eye, the science behind this is solid. Eye to Eye contact causes the brain to release Oxytocin which is the bonding hormone. A bonded dog will seek to please its owner. Owners that are bonded to their dog will have more empathy for the dog.
- At 2 weeks, until the puppy goes home, each puppy has two, five to ten minute sessions of being cradled like a baby by a human, their bellies rubbed, sung to, cooed too, all while looking into a humans eyes. It sounds weird but it works! The puppies love the interactions!
- all owners are asked to chose the name for their puppy so we can also use these sessions to get the puppies use to there new names
- We ask that when you go home you continue these bonding exercises
- Teaching dogs human language is vital to their development. Talking to your dog and naming objects and actions improves the bond and communication between humans and animals.. We start at 2 weeks teaching the puppy nouns and verbs and ask that you continue this for the dogs life.
Training
- Labradors in general are exceptionally smart dogs. Your Premium Labrador has been raised to optimize that intelligence
- It is important to train your puppy to do the basic skills; Sit, down, Leave it etc. but further to that it is vital that you teach your puppy to understand language and communicate. This is done by naming items and actions in your daily life. 'Leash on' 'Go outside' 'with mom' 'Go Car' By talking to your dog and naming actions and items your dog will learn to decern words and their meaning. So commit to talking to your dog and labeling there world with our words. Your dog will be happier and better adjusted
- from about 2 weeks on we 'catch the puppies being good' and reward this behavior. It is amazing what a puppy can learn in the first 8-12 weeks of life just by naming and rewarding positive behaviors
Puppy Development
ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation)
- ENS starts at three days old. Early Neurological stimulation (ENS) and Early scent Introduction (ESI) ENS are simple exercises to which you expose puppies from days 3-16 to help aid their development, resilience and coping mechanisms.
- These exercises progress daily for the entire 8-12 weeks the puppy is with their mother and littermates
Potty Training
- Puppies open their eyes at two weeks. This is the ideal time to start to potty board train the puppies. The goal here is to ensure that a puppy never gets use to living in a dirty environment.
- At 2.5 weeks our puppies have learnt to use the potty board and by 6 weeks are keeping their living area clean and are transitioning to 'outdoor' potty time.
- Most of our puppies go home 'almost' potty trained. All puppies have accidents until 4 to 6 months but many of our clients report NO accidents!.
Nutrition, Weaning and Vacinations
- If a breeder only feeds their dogs kibble and other high processed dog treats....run! This is one of the main factors for dog's longevity being cut in half, the high rate of cancer and all the skin, ear, stomach and immune issues. Dogs need live, real food
- Don't trust me, trust the science! Buy this book, Your dog and wallet will thank you
- Mother Dogs are fed a well balanced diet of both raw and cooked Human grade foods
- Puppies are started on 'mush' at 3 weeks and at 3 weeks and 3 days are introduced to a variety of Human grade raw and cooked food. Science is clear, this is the best way to improve a dogs immunity and health and avoid common problems of allergies, skin, ear and stomach issues
- Mother dog determines when she will stop nursing. This maximizes the amount of immunity that the puppies have at all times. Allowing the puppies to nurse also keeps them calm and happy which promotes a calm nervous system
- Puppies are vet checked and vaccinated at 7 weeks. This gives the puppies bodies time to adjust to the vaccines and acquire some immunity before they head out into their new environments at 8 to 12 weeks
- All meal times are supervised. This is vital to correct any development of food aggression
Separation Training
- At about 4 weeks we begin separation training. This is a progression of getting puppies comfortable playing in smaller groups and away from the mother and littermates
- By 6 weeks, each puppy is happily having one on one human playtime for 10 minutes a day
- By 8 weeks each puppy is content being alone for 10 minutes or longer
- These exercises teach the puppy confidence and security. Each puppy progresses at their own level and is kept calm and happy through these exercises
Socialization and Outdoor Play
- Our puppies begin exploring the outdoors at about 4 weeks(weather permitting) Outdoor play is essential for the puppies health. exposure to the microbes in the soil help build the dogs immune system.
- Many Breeders do not let their puppies explore outdoors as they fear picking up Parvo and other disease. We believe that the small risk is worth the benefit of building a healthy immune system and becoming confident in any environment.
- Puppies need positive stress situations to grow, become confident and increase brain development and problem solving abilities. We are constantly challenging the puppies and rewarding their successes.
- Puppies are exposed to different environments designed to stimulate all of their senses.
Circadian Rhythm Training
- Our puppies start their life under the light of the windows
- It is important to teach puppies and their little bodies the difference between night and day so that they learn to adjust their sleep patterns
- Weather permitting, the day begins in the sunshine and much of the day involves outdoor play
- by the time the puppies go home, most are sleeping 6 to 8 hours thru the night with little to no potty breaks or accidents
Our Expectation of New Puppy Pawrents
- As you can see, we put a lot of time, love and science into raising our beautiful, calm, smart, engaged puppies.
- If you are the lucky new owners of a Premium Labrador...Congratulations. We actually only approve about 20% of applicants who apply. Just as you have high expectations for your new puppy, we have high expectations of you. We ask that you make a solid 15 year commitment to your new puppy
- Part of that commitment is to continue the great foundations we have instilled in your puppy and really invest in training, bonding and communicating with your dog
- We are always here to help, judgement free, please reach out if you are having any issues, we can probably assist you in getting back on track quickly
- We really need you to stay in touch and report any health or behavioral issues you are having so we can be sure to help you with your issues and so that we know the health of our dogs. We will adjust our breeding program accordingly or assist you in helping your dog regain health
- Premium Labrador Puppies should not be spayed or Neutered before 2 years of age
- Premium Labrador Puppies can not be surrendered to a shelter or rescue, they must be returned to the breeder. If you can no longer take care of your puppy please reach out and we will work together to find the best solution for you and your dog