Something new!
When we send puppies home, each pup comes with a Puppy Package. This ALWAYS includes a jar/container of the food they are currently feeding. We are now includingRoyal Canin Puppy Kits with your puppies, as I've been thrilled with how puppies have been taking to Royal Canin these past few litters I've sent home. Believe me, I've tried it all throughout the years. I just want our puppies to thrive on a food and this one seems to be such a hit! Those of you that have already reserved a puppy have already gotten an e-mail recommendation from me from Royal Canin with the food your puppy is currently eating. It comes with a 20% coupon on your first order. Some key pointers: Shipping through Royal Canin is always FREE! Unlike Chewy, you don't have to spend such and such amount to qualify for Free Shipping. You can get a smaller size and it's still Free Shipping! If you sign up for their Autoship, you save 5%. There's no real easy way to say this, so I'll just come out and say it.
I lost Bindi last night. I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for her these past 4 weeks, she really kept them babies nice and chubby. But its been a bit of a struggle with her. I didn't want to say anything on here for fear of stressing out the families getting her little boys. But it is is now up to me to keep them going. I think we will be ok, I've been working on transitioning them for the past week to reduce the nursing demand they had on her. I'm fairly certain she passed from eclampsia/hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). I'll never forget what my Mom told me all those years ago when I decided to venture into my own breeding program. She said, you think long and hard about this because at some point, you will lose a female, and 9 years later, that time has finally come. An updated photo of Phoenix's pet Pug, Pickles. He's decided to name his Blueberry pup nicknamed Cloudberry.... Chips.
Pickles & Chips 2023 - Dog Food
I’ve debated on whether or not to write this post for awhile now. Selfishly, I’d rather keep it my own “dirty little secret.” But it is worthy of sharing. Most of you will continue to do what you do. Some may read this post in it entirety, others will start and skip right over it. This is something you really need to have an open mind for if you’re one of those people. “Dog Food Snobs” I’ll admit many times throughout my breeding career I’ve been in the very same boat. I myself, have been a victim of a Dog Food Snob. I didn’t have an open mind. I followed the marketing, the things I read on social media, the commercials… I followed all of that. If Facebook says it’s true, it must be right? Facebook…. honestly, how credible is that? A meme told you so? Really? So far 2023 has taught me I have a low tolerance of many things. Perhaps I’m getting to that age where I just don’t have the time or energy to deal with the little things I once did. I was always the person to be there to lend a helping hand but I’ve been continued to be dealt with various situations that I no longer will take part in. I’ve learned to let it go and walk away. Starting out I’ve pretty much tried everything. I’ve fed Diamond, Taste of the Wild (grain free is supposed to be great right? — Ugh! Read up on DCM), Victor, Sport Dog Food, Pro Plan Sport (with great success for 3 years straight until something didn’t agree with my dogs… more on that later), Muenster (the owner ate his own dog food for 30 days, that must be ok? Right? Now I chuckle), Inukshuk (made in Canada), Purina Dog Chow & Puppy Chow, Purina One Adult & Puppy. Do you notice the trend? I did all these foods that really have no science behind them. Where am I now? Back to Purina. It’s where I’ll stay for the rest of my breeding days and pet owning days. Sure people (mostly other breeders) have come to me trying to get me to try their brands. Foods like Paw Tree and TLC, they are mlm type companies. I get it. It’s a tough time right now and breeders need all the kick backs they can get. It all sounds great. Fresh Pet foods you buy in a refrigerator section in your local grocery store? Those should be best right? I too, again, fell for a lot of the hype. I joined this group and learned so much, and I encourage you to do the same: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanineNutrition/ Going forth, I will only feed/recommend 5 companies that understand the importance set forth by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association or WSAVA since that’s quite a mouthful. Those 5 companies are: Purina, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Iams, and Hill’s Science Diet Yes, despite what you’ve been told about Beneful (oh no!) this is a great food option to feed your dog. Purina has so many options for EVERY BUDGET. Same with the other 4 companies. Things I’ve learned by joining this group. Do NOT mix foods together. You’re causing more harm than good. The food is already formulated and completely balanced for your dog. It really messes things up if you mix together different brands or different proteins. Don’t do that! DCM…. oh boy…. there are so many of those fancy boutique brands that cause that condition. You don’t want to unknowingly do that to your pet. There’s so much more! But you’ll have to join the group to see for yourself. Science. Yes I said it. We’ve got to stop believing what we read on the internet or because someone told you so. Chicken allergies? Highly unlikely a dog really has an actual chicken allergy. If you are one with an open mind and ready to give this group a go, please join it. There is so much to learn. Because when it comes down to it, we all want the same thing for our dogs. To live as long as they can and to be as healthy as they can. Where are all my MZBostons and Phoenix's Frenchtons at?
I’ve had families move to California, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Nevada… that’s the reason behind those states. I have South Dakota snowbirds in Florida I think too. Weaning and vaccinating tend to cause stress on puppies.
We've been trying puppy electrolytes to help combat these GI upsets. Re-Sorb can be found at most farm stores, mix with a gallon of water. Puppy Lyte is available through Revival Animal Health. Basically, it's like gatorade for puppies and dogs going through a stressful time. I passed my second AKC inspection on September 7th.
The old inspector has retired for my region so I got to meet the new inspector who lives in Lincoln, NE. I learned a few new tips and ideas from her. I also found out I can become an AKC Bred by H.E.A.R.T member because of the JHC testing I do. I took the opportunity to join that program of AKC. Realistically, Butters isn't going to be big enough for my program. :(
Such a bummer to as she's got the best personality. I love everything about her, but she's only 11.4 pounds at 9 months old. That's just too small for me to take the chance on breeding her, so I will be placing her into a pet home. Update: Butters will join a previous MZBostons family who has a VooDoo x Bindi pup, Enzo, on September 10th and made her home in Minnesota. We couldn’t let him go a single day without a Pug.
Thank you Rozeboom Puggles for making this guy's day! Please keep Phoenix in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow as he has to do one of the hardest things as a pet owner.
His sweet lil pug, Ellie, will be helped across the rainbow bridge with the assistance of our wonderful Vet along with Phoenix by her side. Never an easy thing to do especially when you always wish they could live forever. 1/27/16 - 8/31/22 Lily (formerly Saturday) went home and her new momma did her very first professional photoshoot.
Gina Nichols Photography Shakopee, MN Yeti
We loved you 5 Years and 3 days shy of 4 Months... but we will always love you. My Mom had just gotten her Mini Cooper when we picked him up in it 3 days later at Flyin' J in Sioux Falls. He was born in Florida, went to a breeder in Texas, and I paid to have her deliver him to me when he was around a year and a half old. He's what started my fawn obsession. Well today, August 1st, was the day folks. It was time for others to love him too. I'll admit this one was tough. Certain dogs always are. But... When I find them the perfect home, it makes it a little easier. Yeti is one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. He loved to flop on his back on his back for a belly rub. I called him a little flounder. He'd prance around in the yard like a gazelle and play with his outside toys. Just an overall lover boy. You're one in a million Yeti spaghetti. Enjoy your life in Minnesota! Thank you Jon and Stefanie for delivering him to Stef's parents. He will be an "only dog" unless his kids Huck and Maisey stop by for a visit. He truly deserves all the one on one attention he can get! He deserves it. One of the parts I dislike about breeding is all the de-worming and vaccinations you have to do.
I get it. It's a lot. They are all very much needed. It's the after effects I don't like. It tends to stress out their little GI systems. Poop goes runny/mushy/sometimes a little blood in the stool, mucous, you name it... As breeders we are trying to prevent what stress brings out when puppies go home. These things live in the gut normally. We all have bacterial flora. When it gets out a little out of wack that's when we see the ugly part of things. Like going home. It's a big transition for them. I've recently learned about a new product that I think might help a bit. Pro-Pectalin You give 1 mL every 8 hours and boy do things really start to firm up. It's something that should be kept on hand in times of stress.... such as de-wormings, vaccinations, boarding, transitioning to new homes, etc. Click on the picture and you can order it right from Chewy.com I'm always learning something new each and every day. I've always kept canned pumpkin in my cupboard for cases of constipation and diarrhea. But sometimes it seems like you need something more to get things firmed up. I've recently learned about another product where I purchase my NeoPar vaccinations, needles, and syringes, from, etc. I'll let you know my thoughts on that product when I give it a whirl for cases of diarrhea. Click on the Photo below if you'd like to try Pro-Pectalin too. Update:
My vet had a cancellation and Yeti was neutered July 15th. He will go to his new home on August 1st. The time has come. Yeti is set to be neutered and retired on August 5th. This one will be especially difficult. But no matter what, I know it's always the right decision to make as a breeder. I could live in the middle of nowhere and it's not really fair to keep them all, especially when they can go on to have a such an impact on another person or family. Yeti's been a great dog in our lives but I want him to be the center of attention in someone else's I will be searching for his next chapter - the perfect retirement home. |
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