We also have started incorporating Avidog, Superdogs and Badass Breeders programs for our puppies as well as a few other programs that we feel will benefit!

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Our puppies are whelped and raised in our home until about 5 weeks old then they go in and out of our home and a heated/air conditioned building right next to the house through the doggy door. 

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Our puppies leave to their new homes up-to-date on their shots and worming, started on crate, leash and potty training. They will have been on many car rides (3 by 10 days, then 1 per week until they go home). One of those trips is normally a trip to the carwash. They are exposed to different surfaces, a grooming table, wobble boards, singing/dancing toys, lots of noises, a collar and leash. We can ship puppies through a nanny, but we prefer you meet you personally at the airport and you fly home with the pup in cabin.  Puppies are structure evaluated using the Pat Hasting's Puppy Puzzle method and the help of our handler and personality/temperament evaluated at 8 weeks using the Avid Dog and Clothier methods and a professional evaluator as needed. There are no good or bad puppies, no good or bad scores in the personality evaluation but there are differences between puppies that enable them to fit better in one home over another-matching them to the right home is of utmost importance to us. We want you to 'fit' each other as you will have a 10-15 year relationship. Our prices start at $2500 and go up, depending on pet/show/breeding, etc.  We rarely sell to breeders but when we do it must be a breeder who's whole purpose of breeding is to improve the breed and their own program, not just trade dogs.  They must also do health/genetic testing prior to breeding.

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We are breeding for the 'whole package'.  Our dogs do performance events - agility, rally, obedience, acrobatics (doggy dancing), disc dog, etc then walk in the conformation and WIN! We keep only those puppies for our program which will improve the breed in both structure and personality, especially looking at resilience to bounce back after something traumatic happens.  We do not keep a pup from every litter or even many litters for that matter, it depends on how each litter evaluates, we are looking for puppies to keep from consistent litters so they will throw that in the future of our program. If mom is squirrley, reactive, inappropriate to things, sensitive to noise, puppies will learn it.  It will be imprinted on them so temperament on our females is of utmost importance. Some litters we keep more than one in our program.  Most of our puppies for show/breed prospects are placed in co-own/partner/guardian/pet homes. Ask for more info on this program. Only about 50% of those dogs will be bred in the future after we see how they mature as adults.

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Reasons why you should adopt your new family member from 74 Ranch:

• At 74 Ranch, we do extensive genetic testing on both parents (OFA, CERF, PRA/PRCD, HC, MDR1, CDDY/IVVD, CEA, NAD and Non-HSF4 cataracts, etc). We are very strict in keeping any breeding prospects back- to keep our standards high. We run numbers on the genetics - COI, epilepsy to avoid future problems (if possible).  We are now allowing people to pick their top 3 choices while young but they understand a change can be made (meaning I might keep a pup back for my program or the pup/s they want just do NOT match their family) We would rather match our puppies according to their personality and their potential new home, than by looks, color or gender. We do structure (Puppy Puzzle) and personality evaluations (AvidDog method) at 8 weeks using a conformation judge and a professional dog trainer and evaluator in Indiana when needed.  So if you want a particular sex/color puppy it could take a few litters to find one that matches you/your family.  We will not place a puppy just because you like the look of the puppy. If it doesn't match it won't make either of you happy in the end.

• We do NOT make you feed a certain food or give a certain vitamin in order for our contract to be viable. We will give recommendations only!

• We raise our puppies in our home WE ARE NOT a kennel. We have 1 kennel setup on the place (with a yard attached, building/room attached with heat/air) that we RARELY use.  We start crate training, manding and potty training at 5-6 weeks old, and play with puppies and train them individually at a very young age. We routinely separate them from litter mates, taking them for car rides, and exposing them to new things almost daily to build confident, well-socialized individuals who are adaptable in every environment.

• Training and Exposure: We use the Puppy-Culture method as well as AviDog, UltimatePuppy, Badass Breeders and Carmen Battaglia Superdogs in raising pups so your puppy can be raised with the most skills and potential to live the best live possible. We do ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) from 3-16 days old as well as introduction to scents. Puppy Culture pups have proven to have greater resistance to stress and disease and a stronger heart and adrenal system.  The pups are more stable and they have an increased learning ability with better retention. They are also less fearful and better able to cope and recover from frightening experiences. “Puppy Culture” is based on the expertise of veterinary behaviorists, breeders ,and dog trainers.  It is scientifically proven to greatly improve outcomes for puppies. We have followed many of the recommendations that you will see on Puppy Culture….now you can take over where we left off to socialize and train the most amazing puppy! Our dogs are raised in our house and a fenced area where they can run and play but be protected from outside elements (cars, coyotes, other dogs, etc.). They have a dog building that is heated and air conditioned they can go in and out of through a doggy door.  The "smaller dog world" borders the house (and our patio) which they come in and out of continually throughout the day.  They have all kinds of toys to stimulate their little minds.  We have horses, cattle, chickens and cats so they are socialized with them when they get to go into the "big world" under watchful supervision.  Our dogs and puppies all eat raw dog food along with kibble. They learn how to go through the doggy door and are usually going potty outside before they leave. They are exposed to several footings: rock, dirt, grass, weeds, foam, blankets, newspaper, tarps, concrete, tile, carpet, and wood flooring. We use dog bowls for feeding, as well as frisbees, cookie sheets, ceramic dishes and Kongs.  They are exposed to many sounds at a young age: people, vaccuum, tv, blender, clapping, hitting pan for noise, soft music, loud music, etc.  They are exposed to many toys: rope toys, squeeky toys, crinkly toys, cardboard boxes, nylabones, tennis balls, frisbees, yard/children toys like slides and tunnels, kongs, etc. We can keep your puppy a little longer if you have plans for vacation or something comes up as long as it is fully paid for.  We handle the puppies daily, take pictures of them weekly and update the site regularly. We weigh them every day the first 10 days, then at 14 days then weekly to be sure they are growing at the right pace. They are weighed weekly thereafter.  They run with the older dogs as soon as they are old enough (usually 5 to 6 weeks). They get 3 car rides by 10 days old then 1 to 2 times per week until they leave at 8 weeks old so car sickness is very rare in our puppies. 

• Our puppies are microchipped before they leave. They come with a packet of information: health record, training/socializing info and a bag of goodies - treats, food, toys, blanket, collar/leash, bones, microchip, educational material, health record, etc.

• We also do NOT raise any other breeds, we specialize in Miniature Americans and we have just a few - no Puppy Mill here.  We normally have 20 or less pups per year so all get individual attention.   We place most of our dogs on a spay/neuter agreement as pets even if they are a nice pup that could be shown in the conformation ring.  We do not sell our pups to pet stores, puppy mills, large breeders or put them up for auction nor allow our clients to nor do we sell same litter siblings.  We view it our RESPONSIBILITY to improve the breed, not just breed to produce pets or make money.  We provide a 30 month guarantee against genetic issues and will take back a pup adopted from us if a purchaser cannot keep it.  We provide advice and guidance for the lifetime of the dog.  Visitors are welcome at the ranch (for the most part).  We do not wean our pups before 8 weeks old and don't breed our females until they are 2 years old or older and have their testing done. 

• We were very involved in our breed club, MASCA, for over 10 years but due to the direction they are headed we have decided to become more active with AKC.  We also took our first dog AKC Miniature American in Jan. 2019.  We started the WayOutWest Mini Aussie club locally to promote the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Michele was the secretary of that club and was the show secretary for many shows including several Nationals. The club is not active at this time as none of the board members are pursuing MASCA programs/shows, we are all AKC now.  Possibly in the near future we will become active again with AKC or UKC.  74 Ranch slowed down in showing our dogs in late 2019 due to having our first grandchild here on the ranch and reaching many of our breeding program goals. 

• We are here for you for the life of your dog. We will help inform you on everything from training to raw feeding to vaccination protocols. We will allow you to speak your voice on things such as vaccinations, allowing you to choose what we give your puppy at 8 weeks old.  We now only give our pups (the pups we keep in our home) Parvo and Distemper shots and they are given 72 hours apart (if possible). We are willing to give the 5 way vaccinations to our client's puppies but we have chosen the 'less is more' approach, so will inform you and allow you to make your own decision before you even take your puppy home.  We have a list of resources we will email you around the time you pick up your puppy which will help you raise it to be a great dog!

• HONESTY - We are honest with our pedigrees, testing, pictures, evaluations, comments, etc. and have proof to back any of it up! And you are welcome to come here and see for yourself!

• Our puppies come with a 30 month genetic health guarantee. We offer choices for vaccinations. We will vaccinate your pup before it leaves with your choice of 1) No vaccine if you choose or 2) Parvo, then 3 days later Distemper with either 1 or 2 with an Anti-Vaccinosis homeopathic treatment for 2 days (doesn't counteract vaccine, only the side effects from them). See contract for more details on our genetic health guarantee.  WE do NOT use heartworm medications and can explain and show you why!

• We do NOT breed for color, eye color or haircoat, we breed the best specimens to better the breed! We are very concerned with temperaments so are careful to keep only parents who should pass great temperaments and personalities on to their progeny

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