FAQS

All of the dogs at Pickerel Pups are standard size.  We do not shrink down our dogs, and do not have mini dogs. While we can not guarantee the exact size our puppies will be full grown, we can have a good guess at possible full grown size with the help of our Embark packages that estimates adult weight.  Each pup comes with their own Embark panel (a $150.00 value).

Puppy culture is a type of puppy training method that starts at a very early age and includes ENS and ESI learning.  It helps puppies with socialization skills and brain development.  

At Pickerel Pups, we do what we can to help our litters grow and develop to be the best dog of their ability. We weigh puppies daily, and on days 3-16 of life we start introducing neurological stimulation. ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) is when we take the puppies through a series of exercises which will help the puppy’s rapid neurological growth and development. According to the American Kennel Club “Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to ENS, including improved cardiovascular performance (heart rate); stronger heart beats; stronger adrenal glands; more tolerance to stress; and greater resistance to disease.”  

We also introduce our puppies to a variety of scents (ESI or Early Scent Introduction) starting on day 3 of life which is a training program for puppies that enhances their ability to identify, and react to, specific scents.  Alexandra Horowitz, author of Inside of a Dog,  states “Dogs examine and understand the world through their noses like we see and make sense of the world with our eyes. The area in the brain that processes the data picked up by the nose is 40 times larger in dogs than humans. A dog’s ability to smell is a function of their intellect.”  Puppies who excel in the scent area make excellent candidates for companion, service, and therapy dogs. Naturally some dogs have more of a natural nose instinct compared to others. By doing this training and recording their reactions it helps us match the right pup with the right individual need. There are several different “Puppy Culture” programs out there, but Pickerel Pups prefers Jeanette Forey’s BAB (Bad Ass Breeder) groups and Dre Nolan’s My Loyal Hound program. 

Once puppies have their teeth, we introduce them to puppy mush that we make with ground dog food and water (starting around 4 weeks of age).   We recommend a high quality dog food with little fillers and natural ingredients.  We think Fromm is a great choice for your pup.  We also give our dogs homemade dog treats that could include pumpkin, yogurt, natural peanut butter, fresh fruits and veggies and bone broth.