LAWPDOODLE KENNEL

Yes. We define our dog facilities as a "Kennel", but more accurately, the "Doggy Manor". By the definition above, we live in one....since we have a handful of dogs living in our home. It is sad to say, but our dogs actually live better and have better shelter than some people in our own Country. Our dog facilities are located approximately 50 feet directly behind our house where we have a perfect view of the dogs at all times. Adjacent to the Kennel are 8 large yard/run areas for freedom and excercise on a daily basis. NONE of our dogs are "kenneled", except at night or in bad weather. At that time, they have access to a 4' by 8' indoor stall with bedding, and a doggy door that leads to the outside to another 4' x 8' hoseable run with an overhang roof. Each morning, all of our parents, short of nursing moms or young puppies, are let out to run the yards, males and females separated, with access to the kennel for shelter at all times. The kennel was designed and constructed by Rich. Rich built our home and my quilt studio (now a puppy nursery) as well as several barns and buildings on the farm. The kennel is built with quality ceramic tile flooring for sanitary cleaning, a climate controlled indoor enviroment, water and electric and a seperate supply/bathing and grooming area. Whelping takes place in our family room or in our nursery next door. Our objective is to be there during the entire whelping process to assist in times of whelping problems, if necessary, give comfort to the Mom, as well as imprint the puppies through handling from the time they are born through weaning and/or when they go to their new homes. We believe this provides required socialization for a puppy to have the ultimate disposition to give you and your family a loving companion for many years to come. In this business, profit cannot be our priority (any good breeder knows any profit is modest at best if you are doing it right!), but it is the care and quality of our dogs as part of our family and home. This is our Labor of Love! Do your research before you make a decision to buy your puppy (see more information below)....it is important to deal with a reputable breeder who puts quality, research and compassion for their animals before quantity and profit. As a business owner for 15 years, it has always been my philosophy to make prioirity the satisfaction of my customers, as this is the most important building block to a successful business with a reputation of quality and service. May God Bless You, and our prayers are offered to you that you find the perfect pet for you and your family!

It isn't about "Home Breeders" vs. "Back Yard Breeders" vs. "Kennel Breeders" vs. "Puppy Mills"

It's about "Good Breeders" vs. "Bad Breeders"!!!

HOME RAISED OR KENNEL RAISED? WHICH IS BETTER? Depends on the Breeder and more importantly, their purpose for breeding. For us, our Kennel is a Home, a "Doggy Home" and an extension of our Home as well as a Business. We took into consideration our dogs comfort, health and welfare when we designed our Kennel. We do not treat our dogs as "inventory", they are first and foremost our beloved pets. Should we need to retire any one of our dogs through placement in another home, we will do so only through careful screening and assurance that our retired dogs get the "forever home" they have earned and deserve. We believe that our Kennel provides a clean, sanitary environment for our adults and puppies alike. We installed automatic waterers which dispense water much like a hamster bottle, and helps to prevent bacteria and parasites from standing water which can be in buckets or bowls, regardless of the frequency in changing the water. It can be a challenge to provide the same clean/sanitary environment for litters kept inside a home, especially if there are large litters with limited space around children and adults. Once the puppies are older, they not only make more noise, but a lot of mess. Unless the breeder has a very large home with an area exclusively for the puppies, this time can be very stressful and demanding on a family. Oftentimes, it will force the "in-home" breeder to reduce the price of the puppies substantially to "get them out". Little to no screening may be done in placement of the puppies in times of desperation. We've gone to extreme care to be sure our environment in raising puppies is suitable to all involved...doggies and people alike. In addition, we went into this business with serious thought and research, not just to "have puppies for the experience of our family". It is our goal to continue our research, health screening, provide a 26 month health guarantee, lifetime of support....and breeding quality puppies for years of love and joy for your family. Please be careful when assessing the Sales Pitch of ("We are not a Kennel, our dogs and puppies are kept in our Home"). Our puppies and adults are given much love and attention from the time of birth, and to confirm this, you need only to read our testimonies. We welcome visitors to see how our puppies are raised and meet our adults. Our inside runs and outside covered runs are kept cleaned and comfortable. The bottom line....do your research and screen any breeder you are considering by asking why they are breeding inside their home, are they a licensed breeder, and to what level is their annual breeding program? Obviously, important, relevant questions should also be asked of any "Kennel" breeder you are considering as well. We want to place all of our puppies as permanent house pets when they are chosen for their forever homes. Should breeding rights be considered, we will only sell to breeders who we approve and will provide no less care and comfort for their dogs than we do. If you are a Broker, Puppy Mill, or Pet Store...don't even waste our time!

This is one of our whelping boxes located in our family room where some of the puppies are born and moved to the nursery when they are about 3 weeks old. We now have whelping facilities in our nursery as well. Notice the electric heated whelping nest built into the floor of the box. This is a necessity to work with the heat lamp to help avoid chilling in the first hours and days following birth. Rich has custom built our boxes. We have vinyl flooring on the bottom and bath wall panels along the side for easy cleaning and santization. Notice the bumpers, which are necessary to help prevent the Dam from accidently laying or sitting on top of and smothering any of the puppies. The center barrier can be slipped out to open the entire box up for more room as the puppies get older. Buyers are welcome in our home to visit where we raise our puppies.

The photo on the left is an overall picture of our various welping/play boxes in the puppy nursery next to our home. The photo on the right is a picture of one of the three large boxes we have for Mommy and puppies. We will remove the current bumper pictured here when the puppies get older, and replace it with a smaller wooden frame, inside of which we will place paper and shredded paper for potty. Utilizing the shredded paper, generously donated by our local bank, works like kitty litter, so the puppies stay cleaner. Inevitably, as most breeders will agree, they will run through their poo as soon as they poo it! I'm not a fan of wire bottom crates for the duration of puppyhood, although I understand their usefulness in keeping the puppies clean. I just know I wouldn't want to walk on a wire floor all the time! We have one as a "holding pen" (in the photo on the left) where I place the puppies only while cleaning their big box. Below are pictures of the exterior of our nursery and its placement to the left of our home. Sorry about the W/D Boxes. We were in the process of installing a washer and dryer (now completed..no more boxes) in the nursery to be used exclusively for puppy and doggie laundry.