09/11/2026
Well said ! 🙏
We love him but...
Every devoted breeder dreads that message a few days after puppy collections.
The text starts something like this:
We love him, but...
And we know what follows:
But he barks.
But he mouths.
But he cries in the crate.
It breaks our heart because what they're describing isn't a problem, it's a perfectly normal puppy.
They are a confused, overstimulated baby, newly separated from their Mum, littermates and the only life they've known. I assure you they aren't deliberately misbehaving. They are learning. And learning is messy.
Everyone dreams of the easy version they read about online - The dog that sits perfectly and never chews a cord or a sock or a pair of un**es. They forget that behind every well-mannered adult dog is a person who poured countless hours, insurmountable patience, and consistent training into their pup's daily routine. A person or family who were realistic about what to expect in a young dog.
Even the most beautifully raised puppy doesn't come pre-programmed. We do our best during their first 8 weeks, and our buyers will unequivocally attest to that. They leave us ready to grow with their new humans, to learn their rhythms, their routines, their expectations.
Pups don't need perfection, they need patience and consistency. As breeders, we see and hear about the heartbreaking results when someone wasn't quite ready for the hard parts; the sleepless nights, the puddles, the tiny, sharp teeth during their land shark phase, the crying, the cheekiness. All developmentally typical behaviours.
We remind ourselves it's never the puppy's fault. They didn't choose this. A puppy isn't a project or a phase. It's a commitment. A living breathing being that we loved and nurtured around the clock for 8 weeks on end. That we raised and prepared for the best chance of success when they leave our home.
Puppyhood is messy and frenetic and wild and unpredictable. But moreover, it's rewarding, fulfilling and whizzes by so quickly that before you know it, you'll be back clicking submit and ready to do it all again when you choose to add another to your world.
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