All About Our Puppies

40 years ago at Sunset Maple Poodles, all of the new families came into our home to choose their puppies. It was fun but not particularly safe for us or the puppies. Now that we know better, we do better.

Puppies inherit their initial immune systems from their mothers, this gives them protection for the first few weeks to months of their lives.  Unfortunately, it looks like each litter has a different level of protection and possibly even each puppy.  Without extensive testing, we have no way to know for sure when that level of protection diminishes. There are studies being done now with the hopes of creating more efficient vaccine protocols to best protect dogs and puppies.  (See Dr. Jean Dodds https://creekside-kennel.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/vaccination-protocol1.pdf)

Now we know that someone can unknowingly bring in a disease or virus that the puppy’s immune systems are not ready to fight off. Even if they only handle one puppy and it goes back with the others, the entire little can get sick or even worse. Remember just a few years ago when the dog flu passed through?

While I am sure that no one wants to intentionally hurt the puppies, some people do not understand how much of a serious impact it can have to visit the puppies after they have been to an animal shelter, a hospital, or a horse barn. Rather than trying to add more to the list of places people should not come from when visiting the puppies, and then hope they are being honest, I have decided to give the puppies the most protection I can and not let anyone visit to choose a puppy. I will, however, be more than happy to answer as many questions as you might have or show you the puppies to the best of my technological abilities.

With Limited AKC Registration (no breeding rights or ability to show in AKC Conformation competitions) the price for one of our puppies is $2500.00 USD.

With Full AKC Registration, the price for one of our puppies is $4500.00 USD

Things we recommend purchasing to care for your puppy:

• Crate
• Collar and Leash
• Gentle Puppy Shampoo
• Puppy Treats for Reward and Training
• Chew Toys- We Recommend Beef Bully Sticks
• Good Nail Clippers

Helpful tips to best care for your new puppy:

• After meals and waking up, take your puppy outside to eliminate.
• At 8 weeks old, you can expect your puppy to sleep 18-20 hours a day.
• Limit play periods for 8-week-old puppies to half an hour until they build up stamina for longer play.
• Establish consistent feeding times and take your puppy outside promptly after eating.
• Avoid punishing your puppy for accidents inside the house.
• It’s your responsibility to learn the signs when your puppy needs to go outside and encourage future communication by letting them out.

Remember, understanding and responding to your puppy’s needs is crucial for their development and successful potty training. By following these tips, you’ll create a positive environment for your puppy and foster effective communication between you and your new furry friend.

What to do when accidents happen:

• First, clean up the initial mess. If still wet, blot up the moisture without smearing or rubbing. Blot repeatedly until the carpet is almost dry to the touch
• If the stain has dried, moisten it and apply a carpet stain cleaning product specifically formulated for pet stains.
• Simply mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with a quart of warm water and spritz on the stain. Allow the vinegar spray to soak for several minutes and then blot until the spot is dry.
• You may also try to mix a quart of water and a stain-fighting laundry detergent in a spray bottle, then spray it on the spot. Allow this mixture to soak for a few minutes, then blot, rinse with warm water, and repeat as necessary.

At Sunset Maple Poodles, we adhere to meticulous enrichment practices aimed at nurturing the well-being and optimal development of our beloved puppies, empowering them for a future brimming with love, growth, and fulfillment. Our comprehensive is as follows:

1. Nurturing Development: We engage in bio sensory stimulation exercises, benefiting our puppies with improved cardiovascular performance, stronger adrenal glands, enhanced stress tolerance, and increased disease resistance.
2. Enriching Experiences: Every day, we introduce our puppies to new stimuli, fostering brain development and growth during their crucial developmental spurt.
3. Sensory Exploration: At 4 weeks of age, we open their world to a plethora of sights, sounds, touch, and motion, providing a rich sensory environment for their exploration and learning.
4. Social Bonds: Between the fourth and sixteenth week, we prioritize hands-on interaction, ensuring our puppies receive loving care, maternal support, and valuable socialization with other dogs and humans.
5. Problem Solving and Learning: We engage our puppies in training tasks and puzzles, encouraging their problem-solving abilities, and rewarding their successes with affectionate gestures like hugs and belly rubs.
6. Scent Awareness: Early on, we introduce our puppies to various scents, familiarizing them with different smells and stimulating their olfactory senses.
7. Potty Training: From the third week of age, we start litter box training using pine pellets, teaching our puppies the concept of designated potty areas. Weather permitting, we also initiate outdoor potty training to reinforce proper elimination habits.
8. Smooth Transitions: To ease the transition into crate training, we introduce our puppies to sleeping in open crates, preparing them for a positive experience when they join their new families.