At Top Hat GSMD's, our puppies are whelped in our home by my husband, Bud, and I. They are watched over night and throughout the day and are handled several times a day by various family members. All of the puppies are weighed daily to ensure that everyone is gaining weight appropriately. Whelping the puppies in our home means that our pups are exposed to all normal household sights and sounds; vacuums, doorbells, barking dogs, telephones, etc. At approximately four weeks, we begin to allow visitors to handle the puppies in an effort to help socialize them at an early age. They meet people of all ages from infants, to elderly, and every age in between. As they get older, they go for car rides and walks out in public so they may explore the outside world. Last, but most certainly not least, they meet our horses, our cats, and our chickens!
From the time that their eyes open, at around day ten, I begin to clip their toe nails. Swissies are notorious for not liking their feet touched, so trimming them weekly and touching them on a daily basis is very important from this early age onwards.
Before you take home your Top Hat GSMD pup, at approximately eight weeks, they are a temperament tested, their conformation is evaluated, and they are all checked by a veterinarian. More about all this later!
I place puppies with their new families based on several factors. The puppy application is the first step in the evaluation process. This application gives me an overview of you and your family as well as some idea about your lifestyle. I try to meet with my puppy families at least once before the pups are born and then again when the pups are over four weeks old. I then begin evaluating the puppies' personalities. Some even stand out for various reasons from birth! All puppies are temperament tested using the Volhard Temperament test. This testing is done on day 49 and gives us a good idea what a pup's response will be to different scenarios. The test basically confirms what we already are thinking about each puppy. At eight weeks, the puppies are evaluated for conformational correctness. During this exam we determine which pups will go home as pets and which pups will be placed in homes that are interested in the show ring. Lastly, just before they go to their new homes, they are vet checked. During this visit, they are given a physical exam including a thorough eye exam. They are also micro-chipped for permanent identification and they receive their first vaccinations. Taking all of this information into account, I then make my finally puppy placements!
I am available to my puppy families day and night. I encourage everyone to stay in touch and I am always happy to have pups come stay with me to avoid commercially boarding if the need arises. Playdates are also always welcome!
Thank you for visiting Top Hat and Tails Greater Swiss Mountain Dog!
From the time that their eyes open, at around day ten, I begin to clip their toe nails. Swissies are notorious for not liking their feet touched, so trimming them weekly and touching them on a daily basis is very important from this early age onwards.
Before you take home your Top Hat GSMD pup, at approximately eight weeks, they are a temperament tested, their conformation is evaluated, and they are all checked by a veterinarian. More about all this later!
I place puppies with their new families based on several factors. The puppy application is the first step in the evaluation process. This application gives me an overview of you and your family as well as some idea about your lifestyle. I try to meet with my puppy families at least once before the pups are born and then again when the pups are over four weeks old. I then begin evaluating the puppies' personalities. Some even stand out for various reasons from birth! All puppies are temperament tested using the Volhard Temperament test. This testing is done on day 49 and gives us a good idea what a pup's response will be to different scenarios. The test basically confirms what we already are thinking about each puppy. At eight weeks, the puppies are evaluated for conformational correctness. During this exam we determine which pups will go home as pets and which pups will be placed in homes that are interested in the show ring. Lastly, just before they go to their new homes, they are vet checked. During this visit, they are given a physical exam including a thorough eye exam. They are also micro-chipped for permanent identification and they receive their first vaccinations. Taking all of this information into account, I then make my finally puppy placements!
I am available to my puppy families day and night. I encourage everyone to stay in touch and I am always happy to have pups come stay with me to avoid commercially boarding if the need arises. Playdates are also always welcome!
Thank you for visiting Top Hat and Tails Greater Swiss Mountain Dog!
Thank you for visiting Top Hat Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs!