The Bosun Dog Project

02/14/2026

A few Bosuns sending you some puppy love for Valentine's Day!

02/12/2026

Very excited about Laura's upcoming talk for the Brain and Behavior Academy!

6 pm (GMT) - 25th February 2026 - Webinar and Q&A - Once purchased, you will have a minimum of 12 months access to the recording.

01/21/2026

Hi Everyone!
I want to use 2026 to review where the Bosun Dog project is, and reveal where we are going. My plan is to highlight each group as their birthday comes along.

This means we start with our amazing foundation dog Zephyr, and her brother Scuttlebutt. Scuttlebutt lives with wonderful friends of ours and they adore him. He also has a bakery named after him: Scuttlebutt Bakeshop, LLC

Zephyr and Scutty turn 9 today. Zephyr gave us our first two litters of Bosun puppies. She was bred first to a wonderful Icelandic sheepdog and then to Cyril Cherniak's dog Kai. More on them when we highlight those litters.

Zephyr is doing great. For a 9 year old she is remarkably active. In fact, she is our most energetic Bosun, even more energetic than her three younger relatives. Being 1/2 Border Collie and 1/2 Labrador probably explains that.

She has a vet appointment on her birthday and we will be doing a full health work up to get some more information on how she is doing. Zephyr and Scutty are the oldest Bosun's and their long term health and vitality is super important to our program. Being a new breeding program we really have almost no data on longevity. And a dog with a long, happy, energetic life is one of our goals.

One issue that Zephyr does have, is she is mostly deaf. This has come on quite rapidly over the last year and a half or so. It's hard to pinpoint when it really started. We will address this with the vet today, but we suspect this is related to her Merle coloring. Even though she is a heterozygous merle (not a double merle) a small percentage of single merle dogs are also deaf. You can read more about it here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19192156/
The good news, is this has not affected her happiness. She is still ball crazy, snuggly like having a giant rock in your bed, and an all around great dog. Everyone who visits loves her. I adore her and I owe her so much.

More on Z's origins in the next post.

12/25/2025

A handful of Bosuns wishing Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate!

11/27/2025

Happy Bosun Thanksgiving! Here is Skua and Mocha (Sea Birds), Minke (Sea Creatures) and Kasia (Milk and Cookies).

Wishing you a day of fun, food, friends and family both furry and non-furry alike.

11/09/2025

As breeders, it’s important to us that crate training starts early!

We want our puppies to see the crate as a safe, comfortable space and not something to fear. To build that positive association, we give our puppies special chews during crate time. It becomes their little moment to relax, enjoy, and unwind.

By the time they head home, they already understand that the crate is a cozy, calm place to rest. This early exposure makes transitions smoother and sets the foundation for confident, well-adjusted dogs.

11/05/2025

These are the moments we cherish because they’re the heart of what it means to have a Bosun Dog ❤️

At Bosun Dog Project, we raise puppies to be confident, friendly, and truly family-ready.

From early socialization and enrichment to positive crate training, every step is about helping our dogs grow into companions who love, support, and delight their families every single day.

To learn more about what we do and how to apply for a puppy, visit our website: https://bosundogproject.com/

11/01/2025

Socialization is one of the most important parts of raising a happy, confident puppy.

One simple tip: invite friends over to meet and play with your puppy.

New people, new voices, and gentle interactions teach them that humans are safe and fun.

Keep it positive, let your puppy set the pace, and watch their confidence grow. Every new friend is a building block for a well-rounded dog!

Visit our website to learn more about our functional breeding program and how we raise confident, well-rounded puppies!

🐾 https://bosundogproject.com/

10/29/2025

You haven’t lived until you’ve tried herding puppies…🤣

10/23/2025

At Bosun Dog Project, every puppy is raised to thrive as a confident, happy companion, ready to bring joy and love to their family.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do and how you can apply for a puppy!

👉 https://bosundogproject.com/

10/20/2025

Don’t stress about perfect loose leash walking when your puppy is young.

Right now, walks are about discovery, curiosity, and fun. Let them sniff every corner, roll in the grass, and explore at their own pace.

These little adventures teach them about the world, build confidence, and help them grow into happy, well-rounded dogs.

Loose leash walking can come later. First, let them enjoy being a puppy!

Follow .dog.project for more puppy raising tips!

Visit our website to learn more about our functional breeding program and how we raise confident, well-rounded puppies!