Puppy Process And HGT’s Breeders’ Roles

Below is some important information about our role as breeders; how we breed with compassion and integrity and the HGT journey the dam, the sire and the puppies endure.

Prior to Breeding our Dams

  • We are a small breeder and only have a couple of litters each year. Our litters are carefully planned only after our females have passed all their clearances successfully. We also do not breed our females in the winter. It is very hard to train the pups in the colder months!
  • Stud dogs are selected only from breeders who have tested their sires for the same clearances. We have a few breeders that we have partnered with on several litters and have produced beautiful – show-worthy – puppies. Arrangements, costs, and exact day planning goes into our artificial insemination program.

Breeding our Dams

  • We test our female’s progesterone levels to ensure for that optimum time to start the artificial inseminations. We normally perform two artificial inseminations to improve the chances of a viable pregnancy.
  • Once we know the breeding is successful, we have an ultrasound one month into the pregnancy to see the water sacs or possible pups.
  • One week prior to the anticipated delivery, we have an x-ray done to see the skeletons of the puppies. This is truly when the excitement starts.

Whelping our Puppies

  • Around the 63rd day, we are helping the female whelp her pups. Some females do not want any human intervention and others, want the human around constantly to reassure her and help her through this process.
  • Once the puppies are whelped, we bring the pups to the veterinarian for a complete health evaluation and to have their dew-claws removed.
  • After we have a set number of males and females, we start to call everyone on our puppy lists.
  • We ask for $200 to hold your puppy. This can be arranged by mailing to us your personal check or bank check or money order. This amount will be applied to the total cost of the pup plus taxes.

Our Puppies Journeys

BRAG SHEETS:

  • From this point on we keep a brag sheet on the puppy which will list all of its vaccinations and its journey with us. We will also send you pictures and emails so you too will know of our new developments!

FIVE-DAY PUPPY GRACE PERIOD:

  • If there is a serious reason for you not to take a puppy that you requested, we will hold the deposit until the next litter. At that time of the very next litter, you will need to make a selection of a puppy or forfeit the original $200 deposit. This is the reason we allow a five-day-puppy-grace-period. During this allocated time, the family needs to make sure that they are ready for the joys and the hard work that goes along with owning one of our puppies. If after the five days the family can decide to opt out of purchasing a puppy or continue with the puppy process and purchase a puppy from us.
  • From week 2-3 the pups begin to see and hear us. Most everything changes in their lives and…in ours!
  • From week 4-5, we start to wean the puppies from the dam’s milk onto liquefied puppy formula and then mushy puppy food.

RITE-OF-PASSAGE:

  • By week 6, we start to train the puppies’ commands. They are quick to learn sit and down. Some even learn the “Say Hi” command or ‘Paw’ command while with us! We start to invite families over to our home to meet the pups in person and experience the pick-a-pup weekend. Only after their 6-week vaccinations though! This beautiful moment happens when each family decides on a puppy and adorns the pup with a red ribbon. This red ribbon signifies a rite of passage or a new wonderful beginning that is planned for their puppy.
  • By week 7, the pups can be evaluated on personality and structure. If we feel that there might be some show quality puppies, we call in the help of a judge/breeder that we know. If there is some “good tail sets”, “stunning shoulders” or some “awesome rear angles”, we make sure the families know!
  • Week 8 is always bitter-sweet. We love our puppies and it is always hard to let them start a new journey. We keep in touch with all our families and we love pictures to see what handsome, beautiful creatures we create!

Registration Information

  • Every puppy is sold with either the AKC Limited Registration (American Kennel Club) or the Registration with the UKC (United Kennel Club).
  • Once you have selected a name for your puppy, you need to fill-out the corresponding registration paperwork and send it back to either AKC or UKC. This will allow you to get the pedigree for your puppy. I will give you all this information when you pick up your pup.

What To Have Available Before Bringing your Puppy Home…

  • You need to have selected a veterinarian and have an appointment scheduled.
  • You need to have a selected a warm, cozy place for the pups kennel that is not directly in the path of commotion in the house where the puppy can sleep.
  • You need to have the selected puppy food readily available. We will give you a day’s supply of our choice of puppy food before you leave.
  • You need to have available for your puppy, newspaper, 2 bowls, chew toys, towels or a large puppy mat.
  • You need to have our telephone number programmed on your cell phones.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends” Corinthians 13:7-8 At HomeGrown Trilogy, we love our dogs and in return they treasure us with the gift of life.