We live on five acres in Onalaska, Washington. Please don't picture my dogs running free, they're not. I don't believe in kenneling my dogs, but they are maintained in a fenced area. Hello....ever heard of coyotes, porcupines and other, unfixed male dogs looking for a short-term, meaningless relationship? The poor things only have about three acres of freedom.
My dogs are all trained to voice command, they're house trained and several sleep with me at night. They do have to take turns, since seven dogs is just a bit much, atleast for my husband.
The puppies are born and kept inside for the first couple of weeks. When old enough, puppies are moved into a protected puppy pen so they have more room to move. I start box training the puppies and expose them to the great outdoors, weather permitting. The puppies interact with my other dogs and any other pups on hand as well as cats, neighbors and family. They are kept isolated against any persons or animals that might be a risk.
All the dogs I breed are raised by me from pups. I pick my puppies from champion show lines only. And then only certain lines with the "look" I like. I research the family tree to try to get a puppy with a three generation "healthy" line so that you get the healthiest pup possible while remaining true to the breed standards in terms of look, trainability, intelligence and disposition. All the dogs are tested at various times and ages to assure that they are and continue to be healthy and disease free.
