Outstanding Dogs
Outstanding Health
The journey into an organic and sustainable lifestyle completely transformed our lives and health as well as the way we raised our dogs/puppies. A holistic approach focuses on maintaining vibrant health through natural rearing practices – we believe there is no substitute for a species-appropriate diet, an abundance of room to run and play, fresh air, mountain spring water, and sunshine. And, we are blessed to live in a beautiful country setting that enables us to provide this wonderful environment for our dogs.
The care-providers at Cottage Garden possess unique skill sets and educational backgrounds of Animal Science (with extensive experience in genetics and animal nutrition), dog training (including titles in the AKC hunt test arena), studies of Permaculture and Herbalism (encompassing aromatherapy and homeopathy) and vast and ongoing research into holistic care practices.
The link below provides a wealth of information/insight into our natural rearing philosophies
Socialization
We have a well-rounded and diverse team of adults and children who participate in puppy socialization. Our adult dogs, cats (Tiger, Fiona, and Lady Grey), rabbits, chickens, and other animal friends also fill important roles in this process.
From birth, they are greatly loved and given lots of individualized attention to maximize the successful attainment of age-appropriate intellectual and sensory development. We are able to highly integrate puppies into our daily routines that include walks in the woods with opportunities for water play, digging, and stick collecting.
Exposure to a multitude of sensory stimuli including short car trips and experiencing myriad sights, sounds, and smells during their time with us assures a confident puppy who is ready to integrate into their new home and family with ease.
Quality Nutrition
We believe that high-quality nutrition is extremely important in the growth and development of healthy puppies. The best nutritional start possible is initiated through feeding parent dogs and puppies raw in combination with premium kibble. Good nutrition during gestation and after birth is crucial to the foundational building blocks that positively impact your puppy’s lifetime health.
The raw portion of their diet includes organic chicken, beef, lamb, eggs, and goat milk produced on our farm without the use of GMOs, chemicals, pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones.
Our babies are introduced to solid food at 3 weeks of age and follow a natural weaning schedule initiated by the mother dog.
Vaccine Protocol
Careful selection of a core vaccine schedule is a foundational component of canine health and longevity! We care about the lifetime health of our puppies and consider it our responsibility to minimize immune system assaults that could lead to diseases including cancer and allergies in the future.
Our recommended vaccine protocols are based on extensive research and the advice of immunization experts. You will be provided with lots of information to assist in making the choices you feel are best for your puppy.
Upon request, your puppy will receive one vaccination for parvo prior to going home OR you may choose to postpone this to a later date to be done by your veterinarian. Either way, we believe you – the puppy parent – should be involved in this very important decision.
