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The Midsummer Puppy: A Natural and Quality Companion

From the time they are born, Midsummer puppies live in our home as family members. We do not kennel them and they are not allowed to go outside unsupervised. Very few litters are bred each year so that each puppy is handled daily and tracked weekly with weight, growth, and feeding charts. At the appropriate age, puppies are introduced and handled by our children.  Puppies remain with their dam until at least 10 weeks of age. 

Midsummer litters are AKC registered, and from breedings determined to benefit the breed; with soundness, temperament, and conformation in mind. Sires and dams are certified cleared of hip dysplasia (via pennHIP or OFA), clear of eye defects (CERF), and must pass several other health tests.

All of our dogs and puppies are raised with a natural or holistic approach in mind. We follow a limited vaccine protocol and feed a natural, meat based diet consisting primarily of raw meaty bones with some veggies and supplements.  It is our hope that our placement families are as passionate as we are about a natural rearing approach. Please follow the links on our "About Us" page for more information.

Midsummer places socialization as a high priority early on.  Our puppies are whelped and raised in our home, socialized from birth with children, adults, and other animals.  We evaluate our puppies daily for physical and behavioral attributes. From day one we condition them to become well-adjusted family companions. This process begins early on with the biotinus test or the “vigor of life test”.  On day three of the puppy’s life we begin an imprinting program similar to, and including, the Biosensor method.  Stimulation exercises practiced daily between the ages of 3 days to 16 days give the neurological system a head start.  Continuing with the regimen of new daily experiences; different textures, shapes and colors are introduced to the puppy. We include indoor and outdoor playtime with theme days such as ball day, box day, water day, and sand day. The more new objects, noises, and obstacles the puppies are exposed to, the more neural connections they make.  This gives the puppies important positive references to welcome new experiences for the rest of their lives.

As they mature, we move puppies into a separate playing and sleeping areas to encourage early potty training.  Before puppies leave for their new homes at around ten weeks of age, they will have been introduced to: sleeping in a crate at night, obeying simple commands, walking on a leash, inhibiting bite when mouthing humans, and traveling in vehicles (confined in crates for safety).

Formal evaluations for temperament are conducted on day 49 with Volhard’s puppy aptitude test.  Structural evaluations are completed on day 56.  We make final puppy placement determinations using all the information we have gathered throughout the puppies 10 weeks of life.

Interested in acquiring a Midsummer Canaan Dog?

The first phase of our application process begins with an application. Your answers will help us determine suitability of the breed for your family, and also gives you an opportunity to tell us what qualities you prefer in a Canaan Dog. If certain criteria are met, you will be asked to continue onto the next phase of the process by phoning us. This usually entails an informal conversation based on noteworthy areas of your application, so don't be shy and tell us why one of our Canaan puppies would be right for you. These two phases are part of the "getting to know you" process that helps us determine: first, if we are the right breeders for you, and second, to match puppy personalities with family lifestyles. A few select homes who have completed their phone interview may be asked to place a deposit. This is because we feel there is a high likelihood that we can make a puppy match for you.   Before you submit an application, be aware that we strongly encourage all of our homes to properly socialize their Canaan Dog according to our reccommendations, feed a raw diet, and follow a natural rearing philosopsy that includes minimal vaccinations.

Reservation Process, Deposits, and Contracts

Prior to whelping a litter we will accept deposits from only four potential puppy homes. Reservations are restricted to those who have been approved for a puppy, paid their deposit, and have signed our Deposit Agreement. Priority on our reservation list will be given to performance, show, or breeding homes over companion/pet homes. We carefully evaluate our puppies temperament and adherence to the breed standard. Due to our experience with Canaan Dogs, and the time we have spent with each individual puppy, we feel that we are in the best position to decide which puppy best suits your family's needs. Final determinations on structure and temperament cannot be made until eight weeks of age.

Final Contracts
Puppies can be sold as show, breeding, performance, or companion, on either limited or full AKC registration privileges. All puppies shall remain on a co-ownership basis until the owner has fulfilled provisions as stated in the final sales contract. Full ownership may be considered for serious, experienced, and proven Canaan Dog exhibitors.

 

If you are interested in one of our available puppies, please fill out our

Puppy Application