View
the photographs below from our previous litters!
Marsha
& Mikey pups the day they were born... |
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Marsha
& Mikey pups 1 week old... |
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3
weeks old and enjoying their first puppy
food meal! |
As
soon as their bellies were full they fell
fast asleep! |
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...a
little black beauty! |
...and
a handsome yellow! |
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The
above litter was born on November 14th, 2008.
8 healthy pups, 5 black girls, 2 yellow girls
and 1 yellow boy! Great job by Mom...
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Mandy
and Jonathon are the proud parents of two
of our last litters. The produced exceptional
pups.
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Mandy |
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Jonathon |
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How
cute are we? |
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Here
we come! |
We
are big into puppy biting and playing |
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We
are big into puppy biting and playing |
We
also like toys! |
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Big
pile! |
I'm
posing pretty for the camera! |
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Mandy
and her 8 new puppies. We have 4 yellow boys,
3 yellow girls and 1 black girl. Mandy did a
great job whelping. All are healthy and nursing
well. This litter will go their new homes on
or around January 30, 09. In this picture they
are only about 12 hours old! |
My
pups are born in my house, in my office where they
stay for the first 3-4 weeks being handled (snuggled
and cuddled and talked too) almost hourly. As soon
as their ears come down and their eyes open, I have
toys in there for them. About 4 weeks is when they
actually start playing with toys but I do put them
in early just in case - I like them to learn at an
early age what is acceptable to play with and chew
on. At 3 weeks I begin feeding them puppy food and
they move to the other end of my house, which is set
up to deal with messes much easier than in my office!
My puppy kennel is where they stay until they go to
their new homes.
At
4 weeks we also put crates in their pen with doors
off to let them play in, and become comfortable with,
being in crates. From 3-6 weeks they eat, sleep and
play. They grow and develop so quickly. I watch them
go through all of their stages - staggering around
on wobbly legs, learning where they eat and sleep
and not to eliminate in that area. They learn to drink
from a water dish -and of course play in it - after
all, they ARE water dogs! We romp around the house
and explore new textures of flooring and get used
to new things with Mom and siblings there to give
them confidence. The pups start to exhibit their own
personalities now. I am always aware of the personality
developments as it aids me in the placement of the
pups. It also tells me who is the boss of the litter
and who may need an extra snuggle or two from being
bullied around.
As
soon as they have their first vaccinations at 6 weeks
we start outdoor potty training. We become VERY scheduled.
They eat and go right out the door (yes, even in winter)
to "do their business" then back in for
play, outside again, etc. Then, we begin putting 2
at a time in a crate (to comfort each other) with
doors closed, they take naps in their crates. This
makes the overnight transition MUCH easier. We go
for car rides with their Mom and their siblings so
nothing is scary. They also have 4-5 trips romping
through my house a day learning not to chew lamp cords
and just general exploring which gives them confidence.
All of this builds the pup's confidence and teaches
them to take any new experience with confidence, not
fear.
By
the time the pups leave for their new homes they have
spent a few nights in their crates alone, which makes
the transition to their new homes much easier. I also
let my clients borrow the puppy crates with all the
familiar scents to make the puppy comfy. This also
eliminates the new owners buying more than one crate.
When the pup outgrows the little crate they will only
have to buy one large crate.
My
pups usually go out at 8 weeks - it does depend on
the maturity of the litter, so it can vary.
The
price for my puppies range from $1,200.00-$1,500.00.
I
prefer that my clients have either an Invisible Fence
or a permanent fence to keep the puppy/new member
of your family safe. I will not sell a puppy to anyone
that wants to tie the dog out, use an overhead run
or keep the dog outside or in a garage.
I
have a clause in my contract that says if for any
reason you cannot keep this dog either next week or
10 yrs. from now, the dog must be returned to Carriage
Hill Labs. I feel a great sense of responsibility
to the dogs that I bring into this world and never
want to see any of them in a compromised situation.
I
also board back my own kids. If you will be away and
live close enough (they come from all over the country
to stay back here) the dog can come back and stay
here with his relatives while you're away, at the
normal rate of board. This gives me a chance to evaluate
the litter throughout the development and the dogs
love being here. Being here is not like being in a
commercial kennel. Boarders here spend time in the
house with me, outside supervised playing with their
relatives and have been known to sleep upstairs with
my family at night! Board is currently $30.00 per
day.
I
send out surveys to see how things are going, especially
any health concerns. This allows me the opportunity
to put any health issues or problems into my database,
trace it back to see where it came from and work to
eliminate the problem in future breeding. I try to
stay in touch with all pup owners through the years.
I enjoy getting pictures and updates on their progress.
Another
strong suggestion is a microchip to permanently identify
your Lab. I am seriously considering doing the microchip
here, before the pups go their new homes. The microchip
is inserted under the skin on the nape of the neck.
It has a number that can be read with a scanner that
will link the dog back to the new owner and me. The
government has mandated all shelters and pet testing
labs to scan for microchips. It is a small piece of
insurance should your pet get lost or stolen.
Puppy
kindergarten and at least beginner obedience is very
important for your pup. For pups locally, I can suggest
several trainers/schools to attend. Some clients have
sent their pups for training to a wonderful trainer
in Northwood. For those unaccustomed to dog/puppy
training that is also an option. Nancy keeps the pup
for 2 weeks and teaches the basic obedience and housebreaking.
She follows up with home visits if necessary.
Please
use the "Contact
Us" form if you would like more info on our
pups.
