Available Dog Connection Program Dogs

Dog Connection Program

The Dog Connection Program is designed to ensure a smooth and successful transition for dogs into their forever homes. We achieve this through a comprehensive interview process conducted by Miranda. She'll take the time to understand your lifestyle, family dynamics, and preferences to help you find the perfect canine companion. This personalized approach eases the dog's adjustment and sets the stage for a happy, well-adjusted pet.

Here's how it works:

  • In-depth Interview: Miranda will discuss your living situation, activity level, experience with dogs, and expectations for a new pet. This helps her paint a clear picture of your ideal dog.

  • Matching Expertise: Based on the interview, Miranda will recommend suitable dogs, considering their personality, energy level, and individual needs to ensure the best possible match.

  • Reduced Stress: By carefully matching dogs with families, we aim to reduce the anxiety and behavioral issues that can arise from a poor fit.

  • Training Foundation: Every dog selected through the program is enrolled in the RCTA Training Program, providing them with essential skills and setting them up for success in their new home.

  • Empowered Pet Parents: We provide dog training education to equip you with the knowledge and tools to nurture a happy and well-behaved companion.

Our Breeder Requirements:

To ensure we work with responsible breeders who prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs, we have the following requirements:

  • Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS): This early intervention program helps puppies develop better neurological systems, leading to improved stress response and overall resilience.

  • Rule of 7: Puppies should be exposed to 7 different surfaces, 7 different objects, 7 different locations, 7 different people, 7 different challenges, and be handled by 7 different people within their first 7 weeks. This promotes confidence and adaptability.

  • Socialization: Puppies need early and ongoing socialization with various people, animals, and environments to develop into well-adjusted adults.

  • Volhard Temperament Testing: This standardized testing helps assess a puppy's temperament and predict their future behavior.

  • Vaccination Schedule: Adherence to a proper vaccination schedule is crucial for protecting puppies from preventable diseases.

  • Purebred Requirements: For purebred dogs, we require breeders to provide OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) compliant testing for the parents to ensure they are free from genetic health conditions.

  • Non-Purebred Requirements: For mixed breeds, we require breeders to disclose the health and genetic history of the parents.

This program is dedicated to creating lasting and loving bonds between dogs and their human families.

Education

Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a series of exercises done with puppies between 3 and 16 days old. It involves introducing mild stressors for short periods to stimulate their neurological system. This is thought to improve the development of their immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance.

The five exercises are:

  1. Tactile stimulation: Holding the puppy gently in one hand, stimulate between its toes with a cotton swab.

  2. Head held erect: Gently hold the puppy upright with both hands, allowing its head to fall naturally back.

  3. Head pointed down: Gently hold the puppy with both hands so its head is pointing towards the ground.

  4. Supine position: Gently place the puppy on its back and allow it to sleep.

  5. Thermal stimulation: Place the puppy on a cool, damp towel.

Each exercise is done for 3-5 seconds. The whole series is done once a day.

Potential benefits of ENS:

  • Improved stress tolerance

  • Stronger immune system

  • Increased cardiovascular health

  • Enhanced problem-solving skills

The Rule of 7 is a puppy socialization guideline that encourages breeders and owners to expose puppies to a variety of experiences before they reach 7 weeks old. It suggests that by this age, puppies should have experienced seven different things in seven different categories. This helps them develop into well-adjusted adult dogs.

Here's a breakdown of the Rule of 7:

  • 7 different surfaces: Carpet, tile, wood, grass, gravel, concrete, linoleum, etc. This helps them become comfortable with different textures and footing.

  • 7 different objects: Balls, rope toys, plush toys, metal objects, paper/cardboard, etc. This encourages play and exploration with various textures and shapes.

  • 7 different locations: Inside the home (kitchen, bedroom, living room), outside (yard, park), car, etc. This helps them adapt to different environments and reduces fear of new places.

  • 7 different people: Men, women, children, elderly people, people with hats or glasses, etc. This helps them become comfortable with a variety of people and reduces fear or aggression towards strangers.

  • 7 different challenges: Climb on a small box, go through a tunnel, climb stairs, play hide-and-seek, etc. This helps build confidence and problem-solving skills.

  • Eaten from 7 different containers: Metal bowl, plastic bowl, plate, etc. This helps them adapt to different feeding situations.

  • Eaten in 7 different locations: Crate, yard, kitchen, etc. This helps them associate eating with positive experiences in various environments.

Benefits of the Rule of 7:

  • Reduced fear and anxiety: Exposing puppies to various stimuli early on can help them become less fearful of new experiences as adults.

  • Improved social skills: Early socialization with different people and dogs helps them develop appropriate social behaviors.

  • Increased confidence: Overcoming challenges and exploring new environments helps build confidence.

  • Enhanced learning ability: Early stimulation can promote brain development and improve learning ability.

The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) is a standardized temperament assessment designed to evaluate behavioral tendencies in puppies. Developed by Wendy Volhard, it aims to predict adult dog behavior and help match puppies with suitable homes. Ideally, the test is performed on puppies at 7 weeks old.

Here's how it works:

The test consists of 10 exercises conducted in a specific order, each designed to assess a different aspect of the puppy's temperament. A neutral person, not the owner or breeder, conducts the test in an unfamiliar area to the puppy. Here's a brief overview of the exercises:

  1. Social Attraction: Assesses the puppy's willingness to approach and interact with a stranger.

  2. Following: Evaluates the puppy's willingness to follow a stranger.

  3. Restraint: Tests the puppy's reaction to being gently restrained.

  4. Social Dominance: Assesses the puppy's response to being gently rolled onto its back.

  5. Elevation Dominance: Evaluates the puppy's reaction to being lifted off the ground.

  6. Retrieving: Tests the puppy's willingness to retrieve an object.

  7. Touch Sensitivity: Assesses the puppy's sensitivity to touch on its paws.

  8. Sound Sensitivity: Evaluates the puppy's reaction to a sudden loud noise.

  9. Sight Sensitivity: Tests the puppy's reaction to a startling visual stimulus (like an umbrella opening).

  10. Stability: Observes the puppy's overall stability and confidence.

Scoring and Interpretation:

Each exercise is scored on a scale of 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating a stronger trait. The scores are not averaged; instead, each is interpreted individually to create a comprehensive temperament profile. This profile can help predict the puppy's:

  • Trainability: Willingness to learn and follow commands.

  • Independence/Dependence: Level of reliance on human companionship.

  • Dominance/Submissiveness: Tendency to assert control or submit to authority.

  • Sensitivity: Reaction to various stimuli.

  • Confidence: Overall self-assurance.

Benefits of the Volhard PAT:

  • Matching puppies to homes: Helps identify puppies best suited for different lifestyles and owner personalities.

  • Early identification of potential issues: May reveal tendencies that require early training and socialization.

  • Improved training success: Provides insights into the puppy's learning style and potential challenges.

Important Considerations:

  • Not a definitive predictor: While the Volhard PAT offers valuable insights, it's not a foolproof predictor of future behavior.

Temperament Testing Puppies

Temperament Testing puppies from breeders or shelters helps paint a picture of how a dog will react to certain environmental stimulation.