BIRTH - 4 WEEKS: Puppies start their training at birth with lots of handling and stimulation to give them a jump start on the socialization process so vital for well-adjusted adult dogs. Many of the most common problems adolescent dogs develop come from fear - fear of the unknown and unfamiliar. By exposing our pups to a lot of people, places, situations, and sounds, our puppies grow in confidence and thus the ability to deal with unfamiliar situations.

Our puppies are also raised in a specially designed environment to help them develop good habits, primarily in the areas of elimination, chewing/biting, and jumping excessively when excited. Their puppy house is designed to encourage elimination outside rather than inside, and they are trained “where” to eliminate rather than indiscriminately wherever they happen to be (this “passive potty training” is vital if you are acquiring a CMD as a companion dog that will be inside the house often). Meals are served entirely through chew toys as they progress beyond nursing. This helps puppies release excess energy in a healthy manner as well as what is appropriate to chew/bite on.  

  

4 WEEKS: Obedience training starts. All dogs, including livestock guardians, need to know basic obedience commands (come, sit, stand, down). These are important for doctor visits, recreation, travel, etc.

6 WEEKS: Pups start field trips, increasing their exposure to the outside world, unfamiliar people, and new situations. They start becoming more outgoing as they learn people are friendly and the world is not a fearful place.

8-10 WEEKS: More field trips, and the “stay” command is introduced. All training is refined, and upon request, special arrangements can be made with us to train your pup to meet your particular needs, such as crate training (extensive training may require additional fee).

And of course, our pups live among our livestock from birth, being trained by both their mother, our other dogs, and us. We breed for the best puppy "nature" can achieve, but "nurture" is just as important. So when you bring your puppy home, other factors will come into play to shape your dog’s temperament. They are:

               - when and how you interact with your dog

               - the environment you bring your dog into

               - the dog's individual personality as well as yours

               - other animals in your household

A puppy needs a lot of guidance the first year so we send buyers home with the information needed to raise great dogs, and we are happy to consult with anyone who has purchased one of our pups.