WELCOME TO SWIFTWIND Perm. Reg'd

Breeders of Standard Poodles and Afghan Hounds
















Jim Deptuch
2787 Herd Road
Duncan B.C.Canada.
Phone (250)746-5805
V9L 6A3

Swiftwind breeds registered Standard Poodles and Afghan Hounds in the province of British Columbia Canada,on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley . If you are interested in receiving information on Standard Poodles,Afghan Hounds,Breeders, or just general dog information please contact me at tempestd@shaw.ca.
The following is information that may help you in buying a puppy. If you have any questions or comments please let me know.
We have Poodle and Afghan puppies available occasionally or we can usually let you know where puppies are available.Poodle puppies sired by CH. REDPEPPER SWIFTWIND The MARQUIS (The Marquis).

Links

More information

Finding a Conscientious Breeder

Now that you have decided to buy a puppy you will have to find a breeder. While the advice that follows could be applied to all breeds I will try to focus on the breeds that we breed here at Swiftwind.
Breeders are usually the best source for a pet because they have a reputation to protect and are held somewhat accountable by the Canadian Kennel Club or in the U.S. the American Kennel Club. Many breeders compete in dog shows,agility trials and obedience trials as well as special competitions such as search and rescue,tracking,retrieving,weight pulling trials and taking their dogs to visit geriatric centers. They put much effort and research into their particular breed to make sure the temperament and conformation(bone structure and physical appearance) of their breed is maintained and improved.

One of the best ways of locating a breeder is by asking those people who you see walking a nice looking dog of the breed that you anticipate purchasing. You can also phone the local dog club and go to local dog shows where there are sure to be specimens of the breed for you to see. Many times there will be ads in the local papers for your breed.Breeders of quality puppies will not sell their puppies in pet stores as they will want to screen prospective purchasers. Sometimes breeders will post a notice in their vets office. Breeders may often question why you have chosen their particular breed as they want you to understand the different needs of the breed. They may even recommend that you try a different breed if they feel theirs will not be suitable. When you have located a breeder or breeders make an appointment to view the litter.You should question the breeder about health problems in their breed, they will be willing to discuss these problems and indicate what steps they have taken to minimize hereditary problems.Keep in mind that all dogs purebred or otherwise will have health problems . The breeder will want a deposit to keep the puppy for you as they usually have a waiting list. Most breeders sell their puppies on a nonbreeding contract unless other arrangements are made.This means that you sign a contract that says you will not breed that dog , spaying or neutering may be part of the contract.This prevents buyers from breeding their pets to whatever comes along . Very often the breeder will not want you to handle the puppies until they are about 5 weeks old or have had their first immunization shots. The breeder will be willing to show you the mother and often the sire ,it is not always possible to see the sire as breeders go far afield to get the best match for their female.. The breeder will provide you with pedigree information and may even be able to arrange for you to see other puppies(now adults )that they have bred. The puppies should be active and alert and even a little plump. Don't expect the puppies to run up to you at the first meeting as they will need to get acquainted first.If you have a choice of puppies play with them a bit to get an idea of their temperament you may find you like the quietest one or contrarily you may find the rowdy one more to your liking. Breeders will want to know if your lifestyle will allow you to take care of a puppy,especially the first 4 weeks you have the puppy it will require a lot of time to house train and socialize. Keep in mind you now have an additional family member who will need to be cared for when you want to go on that ski trip or a holiday.The breeder will want to know if you have the appropriate yard arrangements for their breed.Some breeds will require a high fence or a large yard for exercise while others will be quite happy with a 15 min. walk on a leash a few times a day.

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying a bitch by doing an ovariohysterectomy (removal of ovaries and uterus) as opposed to tubule legation greatly reduces or completely eliminates( depending at what age it's done) the possibility of mammary tumors. Diseases of the genital tract itself such as (pyrometra)are prevented . These tumors are hormone-dependent, that means that the tissues NEED the influence of estrogens and progesterone to develop. That is why most veterinarians will recommend spaying BEFORE the first heat, that way since the ovaries haven't produced hormones because the dog hasn't reached puberty, the mammary tissues could not be exposed to them and therefore it's impossible for them to develop cancer later. In the case of breeders, they spay them later which is still better than not doing it at all. A dog with tubule legation is at the same exact risk for cancer than a non spayed dog( maximum).
Neutering reduces the incidence of prostate cancer and if done at an early age may decrease his wanderlust if a nearby female is "in season". However the puppy should be at least 8 to 10 months old.

Crate training/House training

Most breeders recommend crate training for the puppies that they place.Crate training gives the puppy a place that is secure and the owner peace of mind that the puppy will be safe and won't be eating that new sofa or pulling medicine bottles off the shelf. Crates will assist the owner while house training the puppy as a dog will seldom mess its bed area.When travelling the crate assures that the pet will be safe in the hotel room or in a room of the home you are visiting and will make you and your dog a more welcome guest wherever you travel.

A crate should be large enough to hold the puppy once it has become full grown and should be of the enclosed variety rather than an open wire box as the puppy needs the security of the cave like atmosphere.

Keep in mind that crate training a puppy requires perseverance as some puppies will attempt to intimidate their way out by whining and barking, but this will soon pass.Keep in mind that a puppy requires hours of sleep during the day until about 8 months old.

All of the puppies that we keep are crate trained as we travel to dog shows and even at the show if we are not near our dogs they are in their crates away from poking fingers and unwanted attention. By the same token when we are with our dogs they are on their grooming table soaking up petting and attention.

Puppies that we keep are introduced to a crate at about 8 weeks of age . The usual method is to give the puppy a treat as its goes into the crate , soon puppy will have figured out that going into the crate is very a desirable act as goodies are forthcoming.The puppy should be exercised (defecated and urinated) before being put in the crate and when the puppy is taken out about three hours later the puppy should be immediately taken out and exercised.(It should be noted that at all times after puppy has eaten it must be taken out and exercised ).This reinforces the puppies normal routine of "wake up and pee,or eat and then defecate".In the evening before bedtime puppy will be taken out and exercised and then put to bed with the appropriate goody being forthcoming, the puppy will not need a drink of water then because you will have had water available during the day. Sometimes puppy will wake up and have to be exercised at night. You will get up and take puppy out and then return puppy to the crate.PLEASE NOTE:YOU WILL ACCOMPANY PUPPY TO THE EXERCISE SITE. Do not expect a puppy to go out by itself during house training .While this constant puppy "exercising"can be time consuming, put it down to quality time with your new pet.

Remember that this first four weeks or so will be stressful for you and your puppy but the next many years of companionship will be the reward.

Now that puppy is crate trained you can leave him/her for eight hours and expect a clean crate, even if the odd mistake occurs at least it will not be on the carpet which can put a strain on a developing relationship.Even if you decide to let your housetrained pet have the run of the house while you are away,leave the crate open so that it has a place to go during stressful events such as thunderstorms and to keep the crate training current for those times when you are travelling.

Food and Feeding

Puppies should be fed a good puppy food 3 times a day until they are 16 weeks old,then they should be switched to adult dog food. Do not give your puppy milk,dogs are carnivores.DO NOT supplement your puppy with various vitamins and minerals as this may increase the growth rate and cause skeletal and joint problems,unless recommended by your vet. When the puppy is 16 weeks old change to 2 meals per day,when changing dog food whether it be from puppy food to adult food or from one brand to another,always mix the foods half and half for a few meals as dogs can get diahrea when food or water is changed.Find out from your breeder the appropriate amounts for the breed you have chosen. There is nothing wrong with feeding you pet table scraps after it is 4 months old as long as you do not feed such that your pet does not eat its regular rations. Do not give your puppy any type of bone that it can splinter as it may become lodged internally.Your vet.can help you if you are having trouble with your pets diet.

Poodles Of Swiftwind

If you have any questions please e-mail me and I will try to answer them. Revised October 14/2004