When visitors first see our puppies, they almost always look at the coat and colour first. We understand that, they really are beautiful. But with every litter, we think of something else first. Their character.
Over the years we have learned that how happy a dog's life will be is decided far more by how much courage and calm trust it carries within than by its coat. And a good deal of that a dog already brings into the world.
People often ask us why one puppy is braver and another more reserved, even though they grow up in the same room. The answer begins with the parents.
Some of it is written in the genes
Character is partly inherited. This is not a secret known only to breeders, but something confirmed by recent research. A tendency towards shyness or courage passes from parents to puppies, much like eye colour or ear shape.
That is why, when choosing breeding dogs, we never look only at beauty and show success. We are far more interested in what the dog is really like. Whether it calmly accepts a visitor, approaches a new thing with curiosity, whether it can settle. It then passes these qualities on to its offspring.
Many think the father has little influence on character because he does not live with the puppies. In truth he contributes just as much as the mother. So for us the calm heart of a sire matters as much as his looks.
And here lies the loveliest message. Even a puppy that inherits a slightly more sensitive nature can, with a calm environment and kind upbringing, grow into a confident dog. Genes are not destiny. They are only the beginning of the story.
The first home is the mother's belly
People often forget that a puppy's life does not begin only at birth. Its first home is the womb, and there too it already absorbs the world around it.
When a pregnant female is under stress, this transfers to the puppies. Her body works differently in such moments, and the puppies may be born more sensitive and more fearful. That is why our pregnant females live in peace. No noise, no moving, no unnecessary disturbance. This is the first gift we can give a litter before we even see it.
We remember one of our females who was especially calm and content during pregnancy. Her puppies were relaxed and curious from the first day, as if they already knew the world was a safe place. You don't forget moments like that.
But there is something else encouraging to know. Warm maternal care after birth puts much right. A calm, happy mother who carefully tends her puppies raises brave dogs. That is why, in the first weeks, we do not treat mother and puppies separately. Her calm is part of their upbringing.
This is why we breed the way we do
All of this is why we have few litters and pour so much heart into them. We choose calm, kind parents. We ensure the serenity of our pregnant females. And we give every puppy time.
Because we believe a dog that comes into the world in peace steps into it far more easily with courage.
References and sources
Scott JP, Fuller JL (1965). Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. University of Chicago Press.
Overall KL (2013). Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats. Elsevier Mosby.
Serpell J, Duffy DL (2014). Dog breeds and their behavior. In: Horowitz A (ed.), Domestic Dog Cognition and Behavior. Springer, pp. 31–57.
