“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi
Chasing Perfection to Catch Excellence
At Sage Hill Cavaliers, we go above and beyond to ensure our puppies develop into well-adjusted, confident companions for life. We believe the early weeks of a puppy’s life are crucial for shaping their temperament and future behavior. That’s why we incorporate the scientifically-proven Puppy Culture method into our raising philosophy.
What is Puppy Culture?
“Puppy Culture” is a philosophy and program designed to provide puppies with a well-rounded foundation for a happy life. Here’s a glimpse into what this method entails at Sage Hill Cavaliers:
- Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS): Starting from just 3 days old, we gently introduce puppies to a variety of stimuli using the ENS protocol. This has been proven to improve their stress response and overall heart health.
- Gradual Exposure: Over the 9-10 weeks your puppy spends with us, we progressively introduce them to various sights, sounds, and experiences. This includes things like vacuum cleaners, children, other dogs, different flooring textures, and even people in wheelchairs.
- Building Confidence: By gently exposing our puppies to a wider world, we help them develop confidence and adaptability. This reduces the risk of fear-based behaviors like aggression later in life.
Always Learning and Growing
At Sage Hill we are always striving for perfection, that means going beyond just good. In addition to the Puppy Culture Method we also use the following practices in our puppy raising protcal.
Volhard’s Puppy Temperament Testing: Matching Personalities for Perfect Homes
We incorporate the Volhard Puppy Temperament Test to gain valuable insights into each puppy’s personality. This information helps us tailor our exposure program and ultimately match each puppy with their ideal forever home.
While Puppy Culture provides a strong foundation, here are some additional ideas to consider for your unique “How We Do Puppies” protocol at Sage Hill Cavaliers:
Preparing for Your Life Together: Potty Training & Crate Training
We understand the importance of a smooth transition for both you and your new puppy. That’s why we begin introducing basic potty training and crate training routines before they go home. This head start makes the adjustment period easier for everyone.
Enrichment Beyond the Basics
Each puppy is uniquely different and requires different enrichment programs. We keep our program small so we can have utilize our time and energy with these enrichment programs. Click to see some of the different practices we use to help each puppy grow into the life long lovable family member you have always dreamed of.
Enrichment beyond the Basics
- Food Puzzles and Games: Engage your puppies’ minds and problem-solving skills with interactive food puzzles and games. This not only entertains them but also helps prevent boredom and destructive chewing.
- Sensory Play: Introduce puppies to different textures and materials through playpens filled with crinkly fabrics, balls of varying textures, and even safe household items like cardboard boxes. This stimulates their senses and encourages exploration.
- Confidence Building Activities: Incorporate obstacle courses with ramps, tunnels, and wobbly bridges to build confidence and motor skills. This can be done safely and gradually with supervision.
- Puppy Playdates: Organize supervised playdates with other puppies of similar ages and temperaments. This allows for safe social interaction and teaches valuable canine communication skills.
- Field Trips for Fido: Take planned outings with your puppies to expose them to different environments like dog-friendly parks, outdoor cafes, or pet stores (with proper health clearances, of course). This helps them feel comfortable in a variety of settings.
- Exposure to Friendly Canines: Arrange introductions (with owner permission) to well-socialized adult dogs of various breeds. This provides positive canine role models for your puppies to learn from.
Individualized Attention:
- Tailored Training Sessions: Incorporate short, focused training sessions based on each puppy’s individual development. This caters to their learning styles and strengthens the human-canine bond.
- Quiet Time for Cuddle Bugs: Schedule designated quiet periods for cuddling and relaxation. This allows introverted puppies to recharge and fosters a sense of security.
- Identifying Quirks: Observe each puppy’s personality and identify unique quirks or anxieties. Address these concerns early on with positive reinforcement and gentle desensitization techniques.
Socialization with a Twist
- Puppy Playdates: Organize supervised playdates with other puppies of similar ages and temperaments. This allows for safe social interaction and teaches valuable canine communication skills.
- Field Trips for Fido: Take planned outings with your puppies to expose them to different environments like dog-friendly parks, outdoor cafes, or pet stores (with proper health clearances, of course). This helps them feel comfortable in a variety of settings.
- Exposure to Friendly Canines: Arrange introductions (with owner permission) to well-socialized adult dogs of various breeds. This provides positive canine role models for your puppies to learn from.
Individualized Attention
- Tailored Training Sessions: Incorporate short, focused training sessions based on each puppy’s individual development. This caters to their learning styles and strengthens the human-canine bond.
- Quiet Time for Cuddle Bugs: Schedule designated quiet periods for cuddling and relaxation. This allows introverted puppies to recharge and fosters a sense of security.
- Identifying Quirks: Observe each puppy’s personality and identify unique quirks or anxieties. Address these concerns early on with positive reinforcement and gentle desensitization techniques.
Continuing the Journey: Resources for Lifelong Learning
By the time you welcome your Sage Hill Cavalier home, they’ll have a solid foundation for socialization. This doesn’t mean their training is complete! We provide you with resources and guidance to continue this important work once your puppy arrives home. “With Open Arms and a Level Head: How to Bring a Puppy Into Your Life “With Open Arms and a Level Head” is an 8 hour course we purchase for all puppy owners to help with the ongoing socialization process and transition home. Remember, a happy and well-socialized dog is a confident and loving companion.
Are you Ready!
If you have decided that Sage Hill is a good fit for your next family member start with our application!