Valhalla breeding philosophy gets us off to a good start. But the breeding selection is just the beginning. Once we have a confirmed pregnancy, the fun begins.
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All expectant moms are started on folic acid in addition to quality feed. This helps prevent neural tube defects such as cleft palate. They continue to run on the farm until 6 weeks of gestation. At that point, they aren't allowed to chase birds of prey anymore. At 50 days, they are X-rayed to confirm the number of puppies expected. We are in constant contact with vet's office until the pups are on the ground and stable.

Puppy Culture Protocol:
I am a huge fan of Puppy Culture. In fact, I ask my puppy homes to invest in their CDs and protocols. We start with neuro-stimulation and follow with age-appropriate challenges that are designed to help the puppy learn to problem solve. They begin crate training and are litter trained while very young. It is amazing what these pups can learn and master. "Manding" begins as the pups master most of their confidence-building challenges. Manding is teaching a puppy to sit quietly while asking for something. This is a gross simplification of the process. In the end, you have a puppy who is comfortable in their own skin and the world around them. The protocol emphasizes a good deal of various life exposures at age-appropriate times. This "education" continues through the 16th week, which is why I ask my puppy people to invest in the program.

The Selection Process:
This is where we carefully evaluate all the pups and match them to their prospective families. We do not place pups based on color preference, coat, or gender. We purposefully DO NOT let people "choose" their pups as correct placement based on TEMPERAMENT is CRUCIAL for EVERYONE involved. However, we do take their personal preferences under advisement when assessing the pups and potential placements.

Home:
By the time the puppies leave around 10 weeks, they are well on their way to being crate-trained and are learning to be house-trained. They have been vetted at least twice and have their microchips, 1st vaccines, worming, and health checks. Their eyes have also been checked by ophthalmology as cataracts do occur infrequently in the breed. The pups who fly will be well accustomed to their flight bag. We may also offer to fly with a puppy if needed and at current flight nanny rates. Each puppy comes with its own goodie bag and medical records. He is also registered with AKC.

After:
Along with each puppy and goodie bag comes a lifetime of breeder support and guidance. A puppy born at Valhalla will always have a place at Valhalla.