How we raise our puppies
Family Raised
Our puppies are raised in a designated puppy area that is cleaned and sanitized at least 2 times a day. Cleaning solutions used are safe for new puppies to be around. Gloves are required when handling the puppies for their first 1-2 weeks of life and shoes are taken off when working in their area. We believe a clean environment is key for having healthy growing puppies.
Our puppies are nurtured in an environment that includes infants, children, adults, seniors, and various farm animals. This exposure ensures they become accustomed to being handled by individuals of all ages.
Health Testing
Temperment and health is our highest priority. Before a dog joins our breeding program they go through different tests important to their breed. Such as, temperament, genetics, OFA and/or PennHIP. Health testing is so important to produce the best offspring possible and eliminate health issues.
Empowered Breeder
Here at Matthews Legacy Farm (MLF) we have years experiencing and researching practices to ensure our puppies are off to a great start and are ready to adapt to new situations they will encounter with their forever families.
We raise our puppies on several curriculums— Badass Breeder, Puppy Culture, and some of our own techniques. These programs focuses on building the foundation for therapy and service dog training as well as a lifelong loyal companion. Our curriculum starts your dog on the right foot from the day they are born.
ENS/ESI
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) is a training program that introduces mild stimulations to very young puppies (days 3-16) in a controlled way. This curriculum helps encourage neurological growth, which improves the development of the pup’s immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance. You can learn more about ENS here.
Early Scent Introduction (ESI) is a training program for puppies designed to enhance their ability to identify, and react to, specific scents. Starting at day 3-16, we introduce a strong scent to the puppy for brief intervals, and record the puppy’s reaction. ESI has several benefits—improved confidence and stability, greater nose awareness, and more adaptive to change. You can learn more about ESI here.
Desensitizing Puppies
As soon as puppies start opening their ears (around 2 weeks of age) we start sound training. We live in a world full of loud, new and unusual sounds. All of these sounds our dogs will encounter—from noises inside the home (such as the vacuum or dishwasher), to environments such as the dog parks (birds chirping or dogs barking), and the outside world (traffic, storms, fireworks). Teaching a puppy to be comfortable with all sorts of sounds is key to having a well-balanced and behaved dog. You can learn more about how we sound train on our blog.
We acclimate the puppies to foreign objects and new surroundings each day. This practice helps them adapt more easily to new surfaces and environments later on in life. We introduce new areas in the home/yard, offer unique toys, and have them play on sensory mats. We are cautious and mindful of puppies fear periods to ensure that we are never scaring them, but instead creating positive experiences.
Socialization
Teaching a puppy positive socialization at an early age is crucial to creating a well-balanced dog. Our puppies are frequently interacted with by adults, children, and grandparents. We are purposeful in our methods of handling, socializing, and playing with them, ensuring they understand that both people and dogs are safe. The timing of socialization is critical, aligning with the various developmental stages of the puppies. Our goal is to nurture confident puppies that are comfortable with new people, dogs, and experiences.
Puppy Evaluations
Our goal is to connect every puppy with the perfect family! To achieve this, we utilize puppy evaluations as an essential resource. These evaluations assist families in choosing the most suitable puppy while also providing insights into the unique needs and personalities of each puppy, ensuring a smooth transition as they prepare to welcome their new companion home.
We test for things like— energy level, prey drive, human focus, socialization, touch tolerance, confidence, motivation, sound and sight sensitivity.
After the puppy evaluations are completed we give our families their report cards, professional photos, videos of the puppies interacting, and descriptions of their personality traits. You'll have a 2 days to review this information, after which we can schedule a FaceTime call or you can visit our farm to select your puppy.
Connection
We pride ourselves in providing the best experience you’ll ever have getting a puppy. We provide transparency, daily updates on instagram, and weekly emails so you can watch your puppy grow. Responding to emails and DM’s are done within 24 hours to provide raving fan service. See what others have said about their experience with us here.
What’s included with your puppy?
All of our puppies go home with:
- 2 year health guarantee that covers genetic conditions.
- Detailed vet clearance & up-to-date vaccinations.
- 4 weeks of free pet insurance
- 30 days of free access to our professional dog trainers
As a cherry on top, every puppy goes home with a MLF bag full of our favorite products! Come take a peek what’s inside.