Breeding Program
It is the professional belief of Haus Ulv Kennels that in order to produce the best working dogs possible, one must first start with dog that possess healthy genetics, balanced drive, power, and courage and then raise the puppies with absolute commitment and attention to detail during their first year.
These high quality dogs acquired for breeding will pass on the desired traits to the offspring for the work that will be expected in law enforcement and other K-9 working venues. Besides genetics, the way a puppy is raised greatly effects how it will behave when it is older. Therefore, the puppies will be raised with that in mind. Haus Ulv Kennels breeding program is designed to produce dogs with the correct health, genetics, and temperament for the rigorous training they will go through in K-9 services or on the sport field.
These high quality dogs acquired for breeding will pass on the desired traits to the offspring for the work that will be expected in law enforcement and other K-9 working venues. Besides genetics, the way a puppy is raised greatly effects how it will behave when it is older. Therefore, the puppies will be raised with that in mind. Haus Ulv Kennels breeding program is designed to produce dogs with the correct health, genetics, and temperament for the rigorous training they will go through in K-9 services or on the sport field.
From day 3 and as long as they are at Haus Ulv Kennels, they will be introduced to physical stimulus by human interaction on a daily basis. Approximately around 3 weeks when the puppy's eyes and ears are beginning to open they are exposed to noises and visual stimulation. As they get older they are introduced to many different small obstacles that must be negotiated each day with their food as a reward. This helps to build a strong desire to work. Weeks after, they begin walking on different surfaces, climb up and down stairs(only a few at a time as not to stress their growing joints) cross over little “garden bridges” and crawl over wobbly boards and through tunnels. Swimming will be added to the puppy enrichment program depending on the season. As they progress they become more agile and the difficulty of the obstacles increases as does different noises. They spend several short sessions a day playing on many different surfaces and obstacles. They eat three times a day at this age and each meal is awarded after obstacles or series of obstacles that have been successfully navigated, always making it a positive and rewarding experience.
By 6-8 weeks they are spending 30 minute sessions in a large fenced in area outside 3-4 times daily. They begin spending more time separated from their litter mates and have one on one focus and shaping training. This allows them to build a stronger bond with a person instead of wanting to stay with their siblings and only having confidence through their “pack” or being aloof to people. In this time, after they are covered by a few series of vaccinations, they are taken out on trips in public for social and environmental exposure. This helps to ensure good social behavior when they are older and easy transition to a new handler. The social and environmental enrichment continues to increase throughout the puppies stay at Haus Ulv Kennels. As the puppies grow they continue to become more confident in different environments. They are exposed to many different real life scenarios ie: different types of open and closed stairwells, various slick surfaces, crowded areas, noisy places,elevators, escalators, busy streets, the airport (across the street where the military helicopters do training), and a trip to the city (Nashville) where the young dog will encounter many if not all of the above scenarios. Also. through their training they will be encouraged to chase and grip on to a tug rag and bite pillow. This builds up their prey drive and grip, that will help in with formal obedience training, scent detection and apprehension training. Formal obedience training will begin when the pup has reached a minimum of 6 months old depending on dog's maturity.
By 1 year of age, a good balance of prey and defensive drive has been built to a good working potential. By the time the dog reaches 12-15 months, if staying at Haus Ulv Kennels for training, the dog will be ready to enter to a police departments training program or working dog venue such as IPO, KNPV,French Ring, Mondio or PSA. Our puppy program prepares the dog for every possible environmental stress it might encounter when working or in day to day life.
Haus Ulv Kennels starts with good bloodlines and only breed dogs that compliment those lines to ensure a higher percentage of pups in each litter to be healthy and be able to go on to any working venue. We only have one litter at a time so each puppy can get the personal attention it needs. Also, puppies are raised in the house not stuck out in a kennel.
By 6-8 weeks they are spending 30 minute sessions in a large fenced in area outside 3-4 times daily. They begin spending more time separated from their litter mates and have one on one focus and shaping training. This allows them to build a stronger bond with a person instead of wanting to stay with their siblings and only having confidence through their “pack” or being aloof to people. In this time, after they are covered by a few series of vaccinations, they are taken out on trips in public for social and environmental exposure. This helps to ensure good social behavior when they are older and easy transition to a new handler. The social and environmental enrichment continues to increase throughout the puppies stay at Haus Ulv Kennels. As the puppies grow they continue to become more confident in different environments. They are exposed to many different real life scenarios ie: different types of open and closed stairwells, various slick surfaces, crowded areas, noisy places,elevators, escalators, busy streets, the airport (across the street where the military helicopters do training), and a trip to the city (Nashville) where the young dog will encounter many if not all of the above scenarios. Also. through their training they will be encouraged to chase and grip on to a tug rag and bite pillow. This builds up their prey drive and grip, that will help in with formal obedience training, scent detection and apprehension training. Formal obedience training will begin when the pup has reached a minimum of 6 months old depending on dog's maturity.
By 1 year of age, a good balance of prey and defensive drive has been built to a good working potential. By the time the dog reaches 12-15 months, if staying at Haus Ulv Kennels for training, the dog will be ready to enter to a police departments training program or working dog venue such as IPO, KNPV,French Ring, Mondio or PSA. Our puppy program prepares the dog for every possible environmental stress it might encounter when working or in day to day life.
Haus Ulv Kennels starts with good bloodlines and only breed dogs that compliment those lines to ensure a higher percentage of pups in each litter to be healthy and be able to go on to any working venue. We only have one litter at a time so each puppy can get the personal attention it needs. Also, puppies are raised in the house not stuck out in a kennel.
"The breeder can indeed lay the foundations of a good and serviceable dog but the trainer must see to it that he brings to their highest possible development, the physical and mental foundations already laid and thus his is the more grateful task."
Max v Stephanitz
Max v Stephanitz
At Haus Ulv Kennels we strive to keep Captain Max von Stephanitz's wishes alive in keeping the German Shepherd breed a versatile working dog.