Sabrina Beck

All of our puppies recently completed the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, a temperament assessment designed to help identify each puppy's natural strengths, confidence level, social tendencies, and responses to new situations. While the Volhard test was originally developed with working breeds in mind, it is widely used across many breeds to help breeders and families make the best possible home placement decisions. The test does not determine a puppy's future success, but it provides valuable insight into personality traits such as confidence, independence, trainability, resilience, and social engagement. Results are interpreted as a guide rather than a pass/fail evaluation. A puppy that scores as more confident and independent may thrive in performance, sport, or active companion homes, while a puppy with softer, more people-focused responses may be an excellent fit for families seeking a close companion. Neither result is "better"—they simply help match each puppy to the environment where they are most likely to succeed. The evaluations were performed by Paige and Morgan of Next Level Dog Sports in St. Cloud, Florida, and the results will be used alongside our daily observations to help ensure each puppy is placed in the home that best fits their individual temperament and potential.

First vaccines this week - everyone was great. I was SHOCKED that on the drive we only had 1 puppy talk for only 2 minutes and the rest of the trip was silent! Yeah for crate training and ride exposure! They were 100% unconcerned about being in a new place - they came out of the kennel and started being themselves! Even the mask didn’t stop them from saying hi to the doctor! I am really so proud of these babies! I feel that not only the breeding pair was spot on but that they have been properly exposed to things as they develop! Anyway - cheese is a great distraction when being poked! Next visit will be #2 distemper and bordetella - no reactions from anyone so let’s keep that going! None had the appearance of soreness and only 1 scratched the spot after the shot so pretty great. *Lepto will be recommended at 12 & 15 weeks - it is a nasty disease and is transmissible to people and very present in almost all states now…

Puppies are raised with: • Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) • regular handling • normal household activity • vacuum noises • dishes and kitchen sounds • trash bag sounds • simulated storm noises • obstacle and coordination exposure • tunnels and varied textures • confidence-building exercises • engagement games • grooming introduction • brushing exposure • clipper sound desensitization beginning at 3–4 weeks • face and feet handling/clipping exposure • scissor exposure • nail trims every two weeks • enclosed crate introduction beginning at 4 weeks • wire crate introduction beginning at 5–6 weeks • water and pool exposure beginning at 4–5 weeks once physically stable • marker training foundations • whistle recall foundations • early potty training marker association New surfaces and environmental experiences are introduced every 3–4 days to help develop resilient, adaptable puppies capable of confidently approaching new situations.

A bit of meeting new friends…and then complete exhaustion. Trigger is the first I have seen go full pancake and it was so hard to to squish the cute!

Fun times in the morning! So fun they had an 8 puppy pile up to sleep it off and get ready for the next play time.