The Red Shadow Difference

“Breeding is a Privilege, not a right. We are responsible for every life we create from the day they are born, till the day they cross the rainbow bridge. Our commitment to all of our dogs & their families is for life”

Does picking a breeder really matter?

In the world today, their are so many breeders. The sad reality is that anyone can make puppies & sell them. The question is – what makes a Breeder a “Responsible Breeder” instead of a Puppy Mill? What is it that determines a “Ethical Breeder” vs a Backyard Breeder?

Breeders need to be asking themselves: What right do they have to “Play God” by creating life? How can they justify this & most of all, what Standards do they hold themselves too?

The only line in the sand we as breeders have is our actions in what we ARE doing or ARE NOT doing, that define us. As a Breeder we should be eager to prove to owners the standards we hold as its a win win for both sides.

Owners: Have the biggest power in this. Educated Owners have the direct ability to make sure they are getting a puppy from the BEST breeders/ Rescues, know the Red Shadow Kennels Flags right away & most of all – have the ability to put puppy mills, backyard breeders & over loaded shelters out of business by not supporting them. Bad breeders will always out number the good breeders, however if a bad breeder can’t sell their puppies, it means they are not creating more, making a profit or having them go into shelters.

Breeder’s Responsibility: To be meeting the Requirements covered with each topic below before, during & after having puppies.

Owners Responsibility: To educate themselves on these standards & to hold the kennel they are working with accountable for meeting these standards through questions & proof before committing to purchasing a puppy from them.

The “Standards” of Breeding

1.) What is the reason for creating life?:

This question is the foundation for everything other standard after it. Its the FIRST thing a breeder should be able to answer, justify & build on. Are they trying to better a breed? Or did they just decide puppies are cute and they wanted to have some? Are they trying to work towards a goal of structure, temperament, performance etc… or did they just decide they love their adults dogs so much, that they just had to breed them. We are hoping you can see the big difference in these answers as any breeder who used the love for puppies, wanting to experience a litter, accidentally having a litter or is doing it for any type of financial gain, is not going to meet any other standards past this, let alone can be considered anything but a puppy mill.

- - - The best breeders will be able to answer this seamlessly. They will be able to tell you with pride about how they are working to better a breed, how much work they put into their titles, their health clearances, if they are producing dogs for a specific type of work & how they started vs where they want to be with their program. These are all excellent signs of a responsible breeder.

- - - Its a known fact in the community of responsible breeders that if a breeder is making money & truly living off of the puppies they are selling, they are doing something wrong. As the over all costs of raising a litter can far surpass the costs that go into the parents, program & puppies when standards are met. This does not take into account the amount of time a responsible breeder is putting in daily for their dogs. While we do think responsible breeding should have a balance financially for the kennel, it comes down to being a labor of love much of the time, since any profits should be going back into the breeding program.

2.) Health Clearances:

What Health Clearance are being done on the Parents before breeding? What health clearances are available to that specific breed & are they all being done?

- - - Genetic Health Clearances (DNA Testing) – UC Davis Pawprint genetics or OFA. Ex. Tollers have over 10 Genetic health tests we do on all the parents before we make any breeding decisions. These include:

- - - Specialist Testing – Hips/ Elbow xrays & their certifications – OFA or PennHIP

- - Repeatable Health Clearances – Maybe done every year or every breeding cycle. Ex. CERF Eye Clearances or Bruciliosis Testing.

3.) What Health Guarantees & Stipulations are in the Puppy Contract?

Their seems to be 3 approaches breeders take when it comes to their contract:

- - No Contract/ Formal Paperwork: this is a huge Red Flag & is often a classic sign of a backyard breeder & no proof of the breed of dog your getting or the commitment of the breeder after the puppy leaves.
  - Contract that is FULL of as much as possible: This can take on a very “controlling” approach – this can be signs of a good breeder as it has its pros & cons, but needs to be weighed with other standards listed. Breeders who put more in their contracts tend to care a lot more for their puppies & want that sense of security when they leave that the owners will or will not do certain things with the puppy. However, one of the negative things to consider about this type of contract as it maybe coming from a kennel that does not want or need any type of relationship with the family once the puppy leaves & is kind of that last piece of security they want without needing on going involvement
  - “Educate Not Dictate” Approach: from the start, Red Shadow Kennels learned that the best way we could build our community, prove out owners with the education, support our puppies long term & still have a Professional/ Clear Contract was to take an approach of Educating our families instead of Dictating them. While we do have a lot in our contract that is common with responsible breeders, we always wanted to educate out owners on specific things to allow them to make the informed decision themselves, rather than not coming it & simply putting a clause in a contract as a form of control. We have found that our education classes have been the top way we connect & get to know our families, while giving them the same tools we have had for the success & long term health of our dogs.

Health Guarantees: Breeders should have a clear section about the health Guarantee of the puppy when it comes to Genetic testing done on the Parents, the Hip/ Elbow Clearances & the timeline for the guarantee. Any other specific illnesses that may not be something we can test for, but that we can educate & work to prevent. As well as the responsibility of the owner in preventing, acting on & communicating health concerns.

Contract Wording: While this gets into a bigger topic. Wording is key in a contract & can mean a lot. A great example of this is in our contract we use the word “Sterilization” instead of “Spay/ Neuter” to allow families to have options for the surgery they choose.

4.) Titles (Conformation &/or Performance):

What titles, achievements or Recognition have been done with the Parents & Pedigree Lines that are being Bred. This is one of the TOP ways a breeder should be able to justify breeding their dogs. They should know the standard they are trying to improve with the next generation, the pros/ cons of the parents they are trying to work & the understand of the breed standard they are committed to following.

One of the biggest misconceptions pet owners can make thinking that titles are not a big deal being they are not looking for a “Show or Performance dog”. Some families may want to tell their breeders they are just looking for a “pet” so why should they care about the accomplishments of the parents? Here is why:

- Every title a dog earns is another improvement towards its breed, the standard & the quality of the puppies produce. Every puppy benefits from the success both structurally & behaviorally of the parents.
- MOST puppies from a litter are NOT show dogs or high performance dogs, however when we breed for them, every puppy in the litter is more likely to have better structure for health, better balanced temperament for families & is more likely to be a biddable representation of its breed.
- Their is a very big different between dogs of a breed that have these titles vs don’t. Some of it you can see physically, some of it could be behavioral through sound vs unsound temperament, & some can be displayed through the health of the dog ex. Better structure = better mobility & less physical health concerns.

5.) Official Purebred Registration:

Step 1: Breeder/ Kennel: What type of Registry is the Breeder/ Kennel Registered with? Is the Breeder current & in good standings with their Registry?

- - In order to produce “Purebred” Dogs a Breeder MUST be Registered with a Organization that is deemed official in the records keeping of pedigrees for that breed.
  - The breeder’s name & Kennel name is Registered as their own. No other kennel can register the same name.
  - Breeders must keep up with yearly registration fees, they must maintain good record keeping, they must provide their puppy owners with legal ownership registrations & they must follow all rules assigned by the registration they are part of in order to keep their certification.
  - Their are multiple Organizations a breeder can be part of:
    - - Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)
      - American Kennel Club (AKC)
      - United Kennel Club (UKC)
      - Independent Organizations that maybe breed specific.
  - Their are multiple reasons a breeder might choose one organization over another. In some cases it maybe where the puppies are born Ex. a Canadian Breeder will most likely be registered with the CKC as they can’t with the AKC (However each puppy can be registered with multiple as long as the first registry is done by the breeder).
    - - In some cases their are purebred dogs that don’t have the history or pedigrees yet to qualify for recognition by the biggest registries (CKC or AKC) so other organizations like the UKC are known for accepting these breeds sooner in their history.

Step 2: Litter Registration: The first step the a Kennel takes when a litter is born is to Register the Litter as a whole. This notified the Organization of a litter born on set date, how many of each sex was born, & who the registered parents are.

Step 3: Individual Puppy Registration:

The final step is for each puppy to be registered individually. This is usually done right before they go home to their new family as it included the puppies new ownership, microchip registration, purebred Certificate & pedigree. This may also include a “Non-Breeding Agreement” &/or ” Co-Ownership Agreement”depending on the breeder & the future plans for the puppy.

- THIS is what makes a “Purebred” dog official & special! It is both the legal ownership for the family & the confirmation of pure-blood lines of the dog.

6.) What Education does the Breeder have in Canine Whelping, Reproduction & Medical Care:

We know most breeders are not in the Veterinary Field, but this doesn’t mean they can’t get certifications to educate themselves on how to do better for their dogs & the puppies. Most Regular Veterinarians are not trained on Neonatal care for young puppies. Often times they don’t have the tools needed unless they already specialize in Reproduction. This means that many illnesses a puppy could face can be prevented by the breeder with the right education. Breeders can take courses in Canine Repro, Pet First Aid, Canine Immunology, Nutrition, Sterilization & so much more! Breeders have a lot ore power than they think when it comes to medical care for puppies.

Its important breeders have a level of understanding before relying on their vet if things go wrong. As they maybe the best chance for a puppy before heading to the clinic.

“Myra Savant-Harris” – One of the Top Repro Specialists & Educators in the Field. Red Shadow Kennels was Certified in her Canine Whelping & Reproduction Class before becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician. We strongly encourage all breeders to purchase her books before their first litter & to have the right Whelping Medical Set up. We also Strongly recommend her home Made Puppy Formula Recipe for all mothers & Puppies.

- https://myrasavantharris.com/shop/ols/products/canine-reproduction-and-whelping-a-dog-breeders-guide
- https://myrasavantharris.com/shop/ols/products/puppy-intensive-care-a-breeders-guide-to-care-of-newborn-puppies

Whelping Equipment Breeders should have & be educated on: Incubator, Oxygen Supply, heating pad, heating lamp, Veterinary Bedding, IV Fluids, Weigh scale, repro books/ resources, Whelping box, pig rails, emergency supplies (Ex. Oral Calcium), Stethoscope, Needles/ Syringes, Tub Feeding Supplies, Deworming/ Antibiotic Medications, Bandage materials/ creams, Veterinary Grade Cleaner – “Virkon” etc….

7.) Puppy Enrichment/ Raising Protocols:

What sort of program or enrichment exercises is the breeder doing with the puppies before they go home? Ex. Puppy Culture Vs Avidog

- - Breeders have the puppies for the most influential part of their life. it maybe a short time, but it can have a very Positive or very Negative outcome on the puppy if the breeder doesn’t know what they are doing.
  - Their are a number of different programs Breeder can follow to enhance the puppies life, their ability to adapt to stress/fear & how well they handle the change of going to their new home.
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  - These programs often cover things like
    - - Early Neuro Stimulation (ENS)
      - Fear Periods – What they mean, why they are so important, how a breeder can prepare & get the puppies through them with the most positive outcome.
      - Why Breeders should keep their puppies for no less than 10 weeks due to sensitive fear periods (Fear Periods at: 5 weeks & 8 weeks & later in the first year

- - - - What enrichment toys a breeder should be introducing to the puppies: Adventure Box, textures, Wobble/ uneven surfaces, ramps, stairs, tunnels
      - What sounds are the puppies introduced too once they can hear? Ex. Red Shadow uses a playlist of Thunderstorms, fireworks, city sounds, motorcycles, electronic tools, airplanes & so much more.
      - What fear periods, milestones & tools should owners know after they bring their puppy? As their are still critical moments after 12 weeks of age to follow.
      - Do the breeders help the owners get involved involved in the program.

Red Shadow Kennels is a Strong Supporter & Advocate of the Puppy Culture Program: Considered to be “The Gold Standard of Puppy Rearing Programs”

- - To learn more about Puppy Culture: https://shoppuppyculture.com/products/puppy-culture-the-original-film

8.) Age Puppies go Home:

What age does the breeder let the puppy go home? Any earlier than 10 weeks of age can have a very negative effect on the puppy long term. This ties back into the “Puppy Culture Program”, which teaches use about one of the major fear periods between 7-9 weeks.

- Fear Period: a period where a puppies brain development results in a irrational sense of fear. In some cases its the first time a puppy can experience residual fear to stimuli. During this time a puppy can be fearful of things its been used too everyday, it can react negatively to various sounds, objects & movements that otherwise would not be a problem. Sadly if the environment is not controlled or kept calm during this time it can result in a puppy having life long fear daily. Ex. a puppy in a new environment during this time who is startled by a object or noise may develop fear of big objects moving, loud noises (Fireworks/ thunder storms), fear of people or other dogs etc.
  - - Its important breeders never let a puppy change homes during this time.

9.) Meeting the Dogs in the Breeding Program:

One of the more common Red Flags, we see in the breeding community is when a breeder tried to meet a owner somewhere to hand over a puppy. Meaning owners don’t get to meet the Adult dogs, see the breeders home/ set up & the process is more like a transaction. In many cases this is common for breeders who are trying to hide something, don’t want owners being able to tract them down/ contact them after adoptions & can be a strong indicator of a puppy mill breeder. As someone who works in the Veterinary Feild – a lot of life threatening cases with young puppies have been with breeders who do this. Often times the breeder than can’t be contacted/ tracked once the owner realizes something is wrong.

Breeders should be excited to show families their home, their dogs, their awards & everything that goes into their program. For us, every family we approve for a puppy becomes part of our community & part of our Red Shadow Family for life.

Please Note: Its common for Breeders to not always Own the Male of the Litters they have. However, they should be open to sharing details about the Sire of the litter with all puppy owners if your not able to meet him.

10.) How old are the dogs in the breeding program:

Many breeds can’t safely be part of a breeding program until their hip/ elbow Clearances are completed & they are considered a adult. This varies in the breed due to some dogs have a shorter life-span, but usually falls around the age of 2 years. Tollers do not reach maturity with the Bone Growth Plates until the age of 2, this is why organizations like the OFA require growth plates to be closed in the dog before they will certify the official results.

Some breeds like Giant breeds may take longer to achieve this, while smaller breeders with little to no chance of these type of dysplasia can mature younger. Its important to understand the breed, the age & make sure a breeder is not choosing to breed a very young dog.

DNA Health Clearances can be done at any age in the dogs life. While some of the other time sensitive Testing we do is based on when the females are in heat, the time between testings or based on the dogs breeding history.

By letting dogs mature, it also allow responsible breeders the time to make sure the dog is healthy structurally & behaviorally, before deciding if they should be part of a breeding program.

11.) Relationship/ Lifetime Support:

Does the breeder want any sort of relationship with the family after the puppy leaves? Would they be their for you when you contact them? Do they want updates on their puppy?

Some key indicators of this will be if the breeder has been very transparent, you have meet them & their dogs in person, they have kept you informed as the puppy grows, they have asked you lots of questions & been detailed in the interview process. But most of all they are showing a clear love for their dogs, puppies & what they have created.

We understands and respects that this “Standard” may not be what owners are looking for. We understand that some families may not want to be as transparent with their breeder or feel they want/ need the long term support. However, it can be used as a tool to indicate a better breeder over all & the balance of the relationship can be defined from their.

Red Shadow Kennel’s biggest love & motivation past our dogs, the shows, raising our puppies & everything in between, has ALWAYS been the connection we have with our families. Its what keeps us going, its what we strive for & its why we work to have such a high level of Standards. If their is one thing we know for certain: We would never have a litter of puppies again if we thought we could no longer have any sort of relationship with our families when they leave. As not a single thing we do would be worth that pain for us.

Our kennel is proud to say we are 6 generations from our foundation & Heart Dog “Phoenix” who started it all & their is not a single puppy we have ever raised that doesn’t carry a special piece of her & every dog we have had. Our families carry a piece of our heart with them when they have a Red Shadow Puppy & we strive to be their for them 24/7 for life.

Red Shadow Kennels offers lifetime support to all our families: Sharing our expertise in Veterinary Medicine, The breed, health Concerns/management, Training, Nutrition, & so so much more. We offer 24/7 Support via a private Facebook messenger Chat per puppy, Access to our owners only Facebook Support Group, Access to our Boarding, Grooming, Reunion Events services in our home. Access to our community of families, the other owners of their litter & regional support groups, which all allow owners to connect with one another. <3

12.) What does your puppy come with?

Not all breeders put together a “Puppy Package” & it maybe a sign of their standards as a kennel. Puppies should come with the basics: Full Registration/ Ownership Details (Certificate legally needing to be sent to the family with in 6 months), Microchip Registration, Signed copy of the contract, a full medical Brochure from a vet (Puppy Exam, Vaccine(s), Deworming, Medications). Recommended: A scented Toy &/or blanket from the kennel that will help the puppy adjust to their new home through a familiar scent. Any materials or learning the breeder recommends or teaches during the process.

What does the Red Shadow Kennels Puppy Package Include?

- - Full CKC Registration/ ownership Submission on day of pick up – Owners receive
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    the official Certificate from the CKC/ Us within a few weeks
  - Microchip # & Registration
  - Signed Copies of the Red Shadow Puppy Contract & Supporting CKC Documents
  - Birth Certificate + Pawprint
  - Three days of Raw Food for pup to start on
  - Access to the complete “Puppy Culture Program”
  - ALL Red Shadow Seminars, Articles & Documents
    - - Including Classes on Canine Nutrition, Limited Vaccine Protocols, Sterilization, Grooming, Safe Parasite Management & much more!
  - Scented Toy & Blanket from our dogs to help puppies transition in their new homes with a familiar scent
  - Clicker Training Tool
  - Tick Twister Removal Tool

For more information, contact us here.

Red Shadow Kennels

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Welcome to Red Shadow Kennels!

Red Shadow is a Registered CKC Kennel of Award Winning Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. Our mission is to constantly raise the bar in Ethical & Responsible Breeding.