The Hows, Whats and Whys
While a purebred Collie would have been my first pick, because I dreamed of owning a Lassie, we found that the purebred dogs are experiencing higher than desired COI% (relatedness) which is proven to impact health and life span, among other things. Without the ability to outcross, for introduction of new genetics, it is not known how they will breed their way to a zero or lower COI%..
Which led us to learning about the Scottish Preservation, and Old Time Scotch Collie organizations. We learned about each of them and have found they both have merit in their ideals and goals.
After years of searching for our first dog, Everest, who is currently registered in both organizations, we got to experience, firsthand what they are attempting to recreate and maintain with this land race breed. A moderately coated dog with larger eye, who is a biddable, child loving, farm dog who looks after their family, flock and home. Always giving notice to changes or dangers in their environment.
There are, in fact, some surprisingly real similarities to the beloved show "Lassie" and actually living with a Scotch or Scottish Farm dog in your home. While I was just a child who dreamed of a dog this wonderful. We realize now we are living the dream.
We welcome you to schedule a time meet our dogs, and puppies, if you have not met this fine breed already.
We focus on genetic diversity so that we can later breed back into the larger pool of Scotch and Scottish Farm dogs, who are mostly related, in some manner, at this time.
We are in a season of outcrossing for maximum diversity. Bringing litter COI to 0% in these current litters. After this season, we will be breeding to bring back, into focus, the traits and characteristics we love most in our collies while trying to maintain a lowered COI%.
We focus on breeding family friendly dogs who love children and animals. While we have had some of our dogs, and their offspring, display herding skills we like to cultivate the service dog characteristics we see in our lines. Since we have already produced a couple dogs who are actively serving their families, it is those traits we focus on and hope to carry forward into our breeding future.
Our dedication to raising a healthy pup begins before conception. Beginning with health and genetic testing that helps us put together the most complimentary pair of dogs. Our desire is to produce dogs that we ourselves would want to own. Well-rounded dogs with longer, healthier lives.
Changing moms diet to accommodate proper development of the puppies begins immediately.
DHA is especially important because it plays a major role in brain and retinal development. DHA is believed to play a crucial role in the proper development and functioning of the puppy's brain, impacting attention, memory, and trainability.
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Puppys are whelped in our home., where mom is most comfortable. That allows us to monitor and protect against any loss of life and so we won't miss one moment of the miracle of their births and development.
We don't x-ray for an expected puppy count choosing instead to forgo the radiation the developing pups would be exposed to.
We are always near to make sure all needs of mother and babies are being met. Also to keep record of their lives through photographs for ourselves and especially for their future families.
Days 3 to 16 we emphasize Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI) along with their routine care.
ENS has shown to benefit puppies by
- Improving cardiovascular performance
- Stronger heartbeats
- Stronger adrenal glands
- Improved tolerance to stress
- Greater resistance to disease
ESI has shown to benefit puppies by
- Improving scenting ability in later life.
- Enhances confidence and stability as adults.
Keeping the options open for a Featherburry pup to be used as a Service Dog or a Therapy Dog is very important to us.
Starting early, we socialize our pups with as many different walks of life, as possible. This is a great way to introduce them to the world without leaving our home.
It is our joy to share these special babies, in a very controlled manner, with our friends and family. There is something very special about a baby animal and for such a short time we get to immerse ourselves in that feeling. Creating cherished memories for our visitors, as well as ourselves.
As they grow older, we have a puppy stroller that allows us to take the puppies on outings, for more socialization in public spaces. This keeps them from being on the ground, as well as, controlling who can have contact with them. The goal is always to make every new experience a positive and stress free one.
To ensure the puppies get a proper introduction to potty training, prior to moving to their forever homes, we move the puppies to an indoor/outdoor area. They will become proficient at using dog doors by 8 weeks of age due to easy access to an approved potty area. They still come inside the house regularly!
Feedback from our adoptive families tell us they are very quick to adapt to a new home and routine with no or few accidents for most of them.
Every puppy will have had exposure to travel, crates, bathing/grooming and nail clipping. We are very familiar with each puppy and can easily share what their level of comfort was with these experiences.
We also follow Puppy Culture protocol when raising our pups. Puppies raised in enriched environments reap numerous physiological benitfits.
- Larger brains
- More new brain cells and neural connections.
- Better brain cell survivability
- Improved ability to learn and memorize
- Increased emotional stability
We start the pups out with a wide variety of various raw foods and soaked kibble in order to ensure the greatest chance of the pups developing the widest and healthiest range of gut flora. Things we often include in the pups meals (in small amounts; it is varied each meal) for example are goat milk kefir, blueberries, bee pollen, ground meat, lionsmane mushroom, rolled oats, spinach, ground ginger and spirulina. Good gut flora helps maintain a strong immune system, which in turn helps the pups develop into the best dog they can be. Our adult dogs mainstay is kibble we rotate, with a bit of balanced raw for variety occasionally.
At this point in time, we accept non-refundable deposits to hold a puppy from a live litter. We do not allow choosing of a specific puppy, to their new family, until after temperament testing has been completed at 7 weeks.
Temperament testing is a valuable tool that can be helpful in placing puppies in homes where they will thrive. We base this on what the dog offers, and what the new owner has the capacity to offer the dog.
Our goal is to guide you in choosing a puppy that assures your dreams and expectations, being placed on him or her, can reasonably be met. Matching your home environment and your desire and/or ability to train the puppy, in unison with the traits the puppy naturally offers, puts everyone in a win-win situation.
Temperament test scores don’t necessarily reflect exactly how a puppy will grow up. A puppy’s environment and socialization from birth until adulthood has big impact too. Which is why we spend so much time, in the first 8 weeks, helping them become the best dog they can be.
This testing tool is not an absolute. This Episode 16 link from Puppy Culture will help explain the value it can play for the owner and the breeder alike.
Episode 16 - Puppy Assessment Tests: Can They Help Match Puppies With Owners? (madcapradio.com)
Each test is scored separately and not averaged. There are no winners or losers. The entire purpose is to use this as a tool to show where this dog, at the time of testing, excels and where it may need more focused work.
The link below will open a pdf to Volhard's test information with full explanation of the test and test sheets.
Now that we have raised a few of our own dogs from birth to adulthood, we can attest that the methods we use significantly influences dogs for the better.
We notice this influence strongest in the areas of trainability and recovery from stress. We find our dogs remain sensitive, as Collies should be, but have an immediate recovery time to stressors. Collies we own, that were not raised in this manner, can spend much more time processing and recovering from those same stressors.
Trainability is accelerated because of the confidence they approach life with. We continue to raise our dogs with only positive reinforcement training and their outlook on life is quite optimistic when going into any new situation.
For those with facebook, we created a Featherburry page for you to share your puppy with the group and to see posts of your puppy's littermates' lives, as well. Mutual support can be found between other Featherburry puppy owners, as they also have gained valuable knowledge and experience you may benefit from.
We will send you home with a quality gift bag of records, information, training equipment, transition food and a scent blanket. All of these things are provided with the intention to maximize the ease in which your puppy is able to transition into your home. A kickstarter kit for you to begin training your puppy into the dog you've dreamt of having.
We are committed to all Featherburry produced pups for the length of their lives, including supporting their adoptive family, or person. We have an overabundance of puppy raising experience, not including our litters bred here, that we can draw upon to help guide you. Your success is our priority, once they are in your home.