I have people ask me quite frequently about our breeding program when we show 2 - 3 litters due close together.  Over the years we have been breeding, we learned that just because you breed a dog, does not mean they are going to have puppies.

When we know we are taking a trip, we work on making sure none of our girls are expecting (or close to being due) when we are going to be gone.  We did that a few years ago when we went to Hawaii for our 22nd wedding anniversary.   

Last year, we only had a couple of litters because we were very strategic on who we were going to breed and who we weren’t.  Some of the girls we bred did not take.  So, this year we decided to breed our girls when they came in heat and get a better idea on what was happening. 

We have discovered a couple of the girls are just not taking when we breed them, so now we have more knowledge and can work with our vet with that information to see what is happening.  This will help us plan accordingly and be able to plan our breeding schedule so that we do not have so many litters at once and then have no puppies for months. 

My waiting list gets quite long when this happens and I hate to disappoint families that are waiting on a puppy and then find out our girl is not expecting.

Right now, we do not have any puppies, but are expecting three litters in July.  We aren’t sure that Sugar is expecting, so we may only have two litters.

This will be Faith’s first litter with our new male Buddy.  I will have pictures and pedigrees up by the end of this week.

Many Blessings!

Debbie

We take lots of puppy photos around here and trying to get good ones can be challenging.  I need to create a photo album of all the “outtakes.”  When taking six week pictures sometimes I have over 200 photos just to get 4 good pictures of 8 puppies! 

We have learned a few tricks for capturing good ones, but it does require a bit of patience, something that Billy has more of than me.

Taking pictures of English Creme Goldens is even more challenging due to their coloring.  If the sun is shining just right, the puppy’s coat can looked washed out.  If the flash goes off in the right angle, the puppy can look like it has “gold” on its coat and there is none to the eye.

We have found taking the pictures in the shade or on a cloudy day the best lighting — early morning and evening works as well.

1. Have a squeaky toy!  This helps the puppy to “stop” for a moment with their ears perked up.
2. Set your camera on “action” shot.
3. It takes two people — one to set the puppy, one to take the picture.  If you are doing it alone, plan on extra time to just “hang” out so that you can catch the puppy exploring, squeak a toy and be ready to take the picture.
4. “Throwing” a white cloth up helps to distract, but be ready to take the picture.

Different things work for different puppies (just like our children)  Some immediately run to play, when using the squeaky toy, instead of stopping.  So, experiment.  Different noises also work — the “Shhh” sound also works well.

Video taping Billy and I taking pictures of the puppies — now that would make some funny entertainment. 

Happy Picture Taking!
Debbie

Last year I attended a conference and they did a presentation on Kangen Water.  While I was impressed, I didn’t follow through checking it out more.  I went to another conference and there was a lady sitting next to me with a water bottle with the label Kangen Water.

We got talking and I was surprised there were so many benefits to drinking alkaline water!  She even started telling me about the amazing results her friend’s pet had drinking the water!

Kangen Water turns acidic water into healthier alkaline water and it can do wonders for your body.

Some of the benefits include:

Slows down aging process
Promotes healthy weight loss
Boosts body’s immunity against disease
Increases absorption of important vitamins and minerals.

Check out my website for more information — (Yes, I did get a Kangen Water Machine and LOVE it) http://www.healthywaterhealthybody.com/

Many Blessings,
Debbie

We created a survey to see what our FAB Direct Sales customers would like to see next:

a forum?
an interactive calendar?
a photo album?
a newsletter/autoresponder system?

We’re working with the coders now to decide what we add to MyRazorr next — if you or know anyone that would like to be heard on this, there’s still time to vote at http://www.tinyurl.com/MyRazorrSurvey

Take a Tour!

MyRazorr is an All-in-One Direct Sales Team Management System created for consultants, representatives, directors, managers, and all business building leaders!

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Have a great day!
Debbie

We have a puppy Cody that is getting ready to go to his new forever home next week.  He started “chowing’ down his food a couple of weeks ago.  We have had puppies/dogs hurry and eat their food, but this is different.  He acts like he is starving and never seen food before. 

I am not sure what triggered this, but wondering if it is the cat standing there, eyeing the bowl, and moving closer inch by inch!  LOL I have seen him glance very quickly at her and then back to “gobbling” down his food.

I ordered a bowl that was recommended to me called the Brake Fast Dog Food Bowl.  We got the bowl in yesterday and he actually left a few morsels in his bowl last night! 

I will keep you posted on his progress.  If you are experiencing this and order the bowl, please let me know your results.

Many Blessings,
Debbie

Lexi (Park Avenue Goldens) and Aspen (Wisteria Goldens) announce the arrival of 5 boys and 3 girls.  They arrived into this world on Memorial Day late afternoon and early evening.  Mom and babies are doing great!

Here is a peak at the new arrivals:

They are now taking deposits — you can contact them at jamie@parkavenuegoldens.com

I receive many questions about Wisteria Ranch each day.  “Where is it located? We are in Parks, AR.  We have 15 acres, which is almost completely fenced.

Many families ask “how are your dogs raised?”  We do have a kennel building that is climate controlled for our adults, with huge fenced areas surrounding the building. 

We have two fenced areas that connect to the “Golden Pond,” which was built just for the Goldens to swim in.  They have been known to “break” the ice in the winter to have a quick swim.  Brrrr…

We don’t have concrete runs; our English Crème Goldens have plenty of land in which to run, swim, and play. 

We keep a few dogs in each area and they are rotated daily for their turn in the pond, as well as the “play” area which is a big fenced area back behind our house.  This is an extra big area, as all our fenced areas are large.

Our females give birth inside our home in an area we have created just for the moms and puppies. 

When the puppies are about 4 weeks of age, we move them to an area (still in our home) that has a doggie door.  The mom helps to train them to go potty outside and keep their living area clean.

We have crates in this area without the doors, so they begin to get used to sleeping in them.  We do put them in a few minutes each day with the door closed and gradually increase that time to about an hour.

At about 6 ½ weeks to 7 weeks we begin crating them at night.  We either have them in our bedroom with crates on each side of our bed or Billy sleeps in the family room with them.  We crate train as a gradual process, as to get them comfortable with being in the crate. 

This helps with the plane ride for those puppies we ship, as well as the transition to their new homes.

We put a lot of love, time, and care into raising our puppies, to provide a healthy, well adjusted pet for families!

We hope you enjoy a few photos of our place here at Wisteria Ranch!

Many Blessings,

Billy & Debbie

I have many families that ask “How do we let the puppies go?”  I always refer to Billy and I as being “foster” parents.

We know we are raising them to go to great families to love and care for them.  We know they are not ours to keep and therefore, raise them with the love and care, and intent on helping them transition to their new forever home.

It is hard to express the joy we feel and how touched we are when we receive comments like these from the families that have just received their puppy:

“Tyler’s sweet disposition, personality, and all over loving and easy going nature, has a direct reflection on all your hard work and dedication to your ranch. It certainly does show Debbie with these sweet babies… Never enough thanks in the world…”

————

“I just want to say thank you for all you did with our new baby Gracie.  She is an amazing dog and we love her so much already.”

————

“Emma is prettier in person than her pictures.  She is adorable and a true gem.  Thanks again”

————

This is how we do what we do!  We know how much they are loved and cared for and how much joy they bring to other families.  It seems selfish not to let them go!

We know there are many choices in where families can get their English Crème Golden Retriever, but we are truly honored they have chose Wisteria Goldens.

Many Blessings,

Billy & Debbie

We travel to Dallas whenever possible to ship puppies to their new forever families.  It is about a 6 hour drive for us one-way  (including pit shops.)  But, we really like to take them to Dallas when we can, as they are in our care, they get a break during the trip, and we can get straight through flights for them to their new homes 99% of the time.

We are on our way there today and took these pictures of the puppies playing during their break!

We have a little area we discovered in our many trips that has a grassy area and some woods — it is a great place to hang out for a bit.

We usually stay at least a ½ hour to let them run and play, and give them a break with traveling, but today it was a bit shorter as the mosquitoes were horrible.  I guess all the rain and dampness is really bringing them out.

For all of those getting a puppy today, if there is a little dirt - it is clean dirt.

Enjoy the pictures!

Billy & Debbie

Hi Everyone,

We have been busy taking care of puppies! 

Families are picking up their puppies from Libby and Hope this week.  We will be shipping puppies to their new families on Friday.

As always we have enjoyed the puppies while they were here!  We love being Foster parents to them while they are growing, and preparing to leave here to go to their new forever homes.

Two of my nephews are staying here this week and they are having a great time with the puppies, as the puppies are with them!

We have had so much rain here the last month!  I am not sure we have had one day without rain, just a few breaks where the sun has come out for a short time before it starts raining again!

My pinched nerve has finally healed and I have been working hard on getting caught up with my writing (newsletter will go out this week) and will get back to blogging more on a regular basis.

Thank you to all the families that have been patient with my delay in writing back to you, getting pictures of the puppies, and trying to still get that video of these last two litters.  If the rain would only stop!

Have a wonderful day!

Debbie