My approach to breeding and raising my puppies
During gestation (pregnancy) my bitches are fed a high protein diet of
dry kibble mixed with boiled chicken, broth and cottage cheese. Later in the
pregnancy they are given a daily low dosage Calcium pill. Calcium helps
strengthen contractions when whelping.
During Whelping (giving birth) my bitches are offered broth and water for hydration. Honey is given for energy. You try having 12 puppies and see how tired you get! Between puppies the bitch is taken outside for a walk around the front yard and a drink of fresh water.
Our puppies are born in the house in a whelping box that measures 48x48. Later an additional area is added for a play area. A pig rail is provided in the whelping box so mom doesn't accidentally lay on a pup.
When the whelping is done all the pups are weighed. A thick fleece is put down in the whelping box to keep the pups warm and mom comfortable. This fleece is changed twice a day to keep mom and pups dry and clean. When pups are two days old the dewclaws are removed. Pups are weighed daily and recorded. All pups are checked for cleft palates.
At 4 weeks mom starts weaning her little ones. At this time we provide high quality puppy food (we grind it up in the blender; we found this works better than anything else) and add warm evaporated milk.
At 2,4,6,8 weeks the puppies are wormed with Nemex ll wormer. Pups are vet checked before going home.
Here at Scott's 24K Goldens we use the 7 on 7 rule. By 7 weeks of age they have been on seven different surfaces: cement, gravel, wood chips, tile, carpet, hardwood and grass. This gets a puppy used to being in different places and on different textures.
We do not allow pups to go home before 8 weeks of age. This provides for much needed socialization and interaction with siblings and mom. (California law prohibits puppies from going home before 8 weeks of age.)
All puppies go home with a "Puppy Packet" (binder) which includes the following:
- AKC papers
- OFA clearances on the Sire and Dam
- Common Knowledge
- Strengthening the bond between you and your dog
- How to socialize your puppy
- Toxic plant list (plants you may have in you yard or house)
- What to do for a poisoned dog (poison control phone number included)
- Tips on Crate Training
- How to housebreak your new puppy
- Signs of Canine Illness
- What is an emergency with my pup
- Poison proofing your home
- Canine Hip Dysplasia
- General Cardiac information
- The Golden Retriever Foundation
and much much more........
Each puppy goes home with a toy that has the littermates scent on it, a new toy and and a small bag of puppy food.
REMEMBER WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOG.
Thank you,
Joanne Scott
Scotts 24K Goldens
During Whelping (giving birth) my bitches are offered broth and water for hydration. Honey is given for energy. You try having 12 puppies and see how tired you get! Between puppies the bitch is taken outside for a walk around the front yard and a drink of fresh water.
Our puppies are born in the house in a whelping box that measures 48x48. Later an additional area is added for a play area. A pig rail is provided in the whelping box so mom doesn't accidentally lay on a pup.
When the whelping is done all the pups are weighed. A thick fleece is put down in the whelping box to keep the pups warm and mom comfortable. This fleece is changed twice a day to keep mom and pups dry and clean. When pups are two days old the dewclaws are removed. Pups are weighed daily and recorded. All pups are checked for cleft palates.
At 4 weeks mom starts weaning her little ones. At this time we provide high quality puppy food (we grind it up in the blender; we found this works better than anything else) and add warm evaporated milk.
At 2,4,6,8 weeks the puppies are wormed with Nemex ll wormer. Pups are vet checked before going home.
Here at Scott's 24K Goldens we use the 7 on 7 rule. By 7 weeks of age they have been on seven different surfaces: cement, gravel, wood chips, tile, carpet, hardwood and grass. This gets a puppy used to being in different places and on different textures.
We do not allow pups to go home before 8 weeks of age. This provides for much needed socialization and interaction with siblings and mom. (California law prohibits puppies from going home before 8 weeks of age.)
All puppies go home with a "Puppy Packet" (binder) which includes the following:
- AKC papers
- OFA clearances on the Sire and Dam
- Common Knowledge
- Strengthening the bond between you and your dog
- How to socialize your puppy
- Toxic plant list (plants you may have in you yard or house)
- What to do for a poisoned dog (poison control phone number included)
- Tips on Crate Training
- How to housebreak your new puppy
- Signs of Canine Illness
- What is an emergency with my pup
- Poison proofing your home
- Canine Hip Dysplasia
- General Cardiac information
- The Golden Retriever Foundation
and much much more........
Each puppy goes home with a toy that has the littermates scent on it, a new toy and and a small bag of puppy food.
REMEMBER WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG FOR THE LIFE OF THE DOG.
Thank you,
Joanne Scott
Scotts 24K Goldens