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What IS Natural Rearing?

Fri, 14 May 2010 10:44:32 -0500

What IS Natural Rearing?

By Dr. Jeannie Thomason
www.nrbreedersassociation.org

Natural Rearing is a term that was coined by the great pioneer in natural feeding & rearing practices, Juliette de Bairacli Levy. An English woman, in 1930, who started studying to be a veterinarian. She began feeding raw foods and rearing her Afghan Hounds naturally and treating diseases with herbs. Her book, "The Complete Herbal Handbook For The Dog And Cat" has been used by dog owners and breeders for many years.

Natural Rearing can actually be called a "preventative" in that it is the feeding & husbandry method that most closely raises your dog's overall general health and builds and maintains a strong immune system. Natural Rearing proponants view the animal as a "whole" individual being, much more than just the sum of its parts.

This method is actually as old as mother nature herself and it basically requires that your animals be fed a diet and be cared for as close to how they would live and eat in the wild, Along with this includes living in a pack environment, on clean ground, having plenty of free access to fresh air, sunshine, clean, pure drinking water and plenty of free running exercise.

Bitches and Queens are allowed to raise and wean their young on their own schedule (that is without humans removing puppies or kittens from their mothers care to "artificially wean" them) and along with this goes the all important disciplinary lessons taught by the dam to her young! It is part of a natural method of learning canine/pack or feline/pride social skills and is extremely important in the formation of stable temperament!

Nutrition is of utmost importance and the canine and feline diet should reflect the dog's and cat's carnivorous design. Dogs and cats fed a raw, meaty bone based diet enjoy overall superior health, evidenced by clean white teeth, fresh breath, pink healthy gums, shiny eyes, glossy, odor-free coats, small firm odorless stools. There is no substitute for fresh, wholesome food, clean water, exercise, plenty of fresh air, sunshine and avoidance of chemicals and drugs to the greatest extent possible.

One of the goals of natural rearing is to minimize the need for any veterinary assistance. Prevention of ill-ness and fostering of well-ness can be achieved if a total program is followed. Providing your animal with the best chance of "being all that it can be" is a lofty goal, worthy of the extra effort it takes to accept the responsibility and think for yourself.

Eliminating the over-vaccinating of our animals and not using chemicals in, on, or around our companion animals.

The basic principals of natural rearing are both simple and elegant. Yet to the newcomer, the wealth of detailed information can be overwhelming. Probably the hardest part is first "un-learning" what we have taken for granted for most of our lives. Simply stated it means going back to nature, keeping things as simple and true to species as possible.

The Natural Rearing Breeders Association is here to provide you with accurate and time tested information, education and support whether you are a breeder, a pet owner or care giver.

Natural Rearing Ethics

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:50:37 -0500

Qualifications? Ethics?

Where Do WE Stand?

Please, let me explain.....

It is our (my husband Jerry and I) strong desire to be fully qualified as members of the Natural Rearing Breeders Association by this time next year, that will be spring of 2011! The NRBA has a "Code of Ethics" that requires all potential members to read, agree to and sign. They have very high standards for those who wish to join.... and some of the requirements take some time to achieve! Please, I am working towards it!

It is of utmost importance for you, the reader, to know that I learned about this organization only several months ago. After researching it fully, we decided to strive to become a member in December, 2009. Please keep this in mind as you read their qualifications and our responses below. Thank you.

Code of Ethics... and Responses:

As a member of the Natural Rearing Breeder Association, I state that:

1.) I am committed to feeding/rearing my dogs on raw meat and bone diet and do not feed processed kibble or canned foods. I minimally vaccinate or do not vaccinate at all (except where required by state laws).

"I have been feeding all of my dogs exclusively a raw diet since November, 2009. They get a diet of roughly 80% raw meat (chicken, beef, venison, fish, rabbit) 10 % bone and 10% organ meat (kidney, liver, etc). They love their new diet and have been thriving on it!! I am amazed at the results: their coats are so soft and shiny, their teeth are again sparkly clean (they were getting a build up of tartar from eating the high quality kibble), they have no bad breath, they have very little waste and it does not smell!! I love this diet because it is so easy!

Our puppies will be weaned on to raw meat also. They will begin with a ground mush and slowly, as their teeth develop, we will introduce small meat chunks and bone... only as they become ready.... and just like a 'wolf mom' in the wild would do with her pups."

Vaccines:
"With the exception of the Rabies vaccine (under Wisconsin state law) our older dogs, "Mowgli" & "Maisy" have not been vaccinated in over three years. We believe that their past vaccinations will cover their immunity for the rest of their lives. If I ever have any problem with a virus, I will only treat them homeopathically or with which ever natural modality best fits. I am currently in search of a local Homeopathic Veterinarian who will do blood titer tests if it were ever necessary.

In regard to my younger female, "Mari" she has only had her first round of puppy shots (DHLPP) before she came home... and no vaccinations since. Rabies is the only exception, which that was given to her after 20 weeks of age, when her body was mature enough to handle the toxins injected into her.

Please go to the Rabies Challenge Fund website to find out more about the studies that are being preformed to prove the duration of immunity of the Rabies vaccine in dogs. It's exciting work and they are hoping to prove that the rabies vaccine will have a duration of 5 and even 7 years..... maybe for the dog's entire life, only with one vaccination!! http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/

We do not vaccinate our puppy litters (I have not followed this practice for four years) because we do not believe that their bodies are strong enough at 6 or even 8 weeks of age to bombard and overwhelm their immune systems with 5-7 different viruses and all of the chemical preservatives and toxins at one time. We believe that the pups carry their mother's natural immunities with them for several months, as our pups still will nurse, as long as the mother allows, still sneaking milk snacks until they go into their new homes. The manner in which vaccines are given, by injection, is completely un-natural... nature does not inoculate toxins directly into the blood stream to produce antibodies to strengthen immunity in our natural world. Proper antibodies are only developed through natural exposure, through the nostrils, by saliva, from ingestion or direct physical contact... never synthetically through a needle. A puppy or dog on a raw diet will have an incredibly strong immune system because what they are eating is providing them all of the natural enzymes and nutrients that they need to easily fight off any unwelcome germs. Please see our Limited Vaccination page for more information and many external links where you can learn more for yourself."

2.) I do not use chemical products in, on or around my dogs such as commercial wormers, flea preventions, floor cleaners, lawn pesticides, etc.

"There is no need to use harsh chemicals when there are wonderfully natural ways to address each of these dangerous synthetic chemicals. Our culture has lost the ability and understanding of what our God has created for us in His creation in the form of essential oils, herbs, natural remedies and recipes, and simple common sense. I also, at one time, used to believe the advertising schemes and grab the chemicals off the shelf

at the store, because that was easier, I thought. I was mistaken and mis-led. With a little bit of time and learning, I have found natural

ways to do things, clean things and repel pests!" See the page: No Chemicals.

3.) I have been feeding a raw species appropriate raw meat and bone diet to my breeding dogs for a minimum of three years.

"Again, this takes time as we have only been feeding raw meat and bones since November, 2009. In some ways, we are still experimenting with different meats and organs and ways to feed!"

4.) I breed my dogs with care and attention for the preservation and improvement of my chosen breed.

"We hope that it is noticed through this website and in person that we do care about these dogs, and this breed, and that the care and attention given them is a huge commitment and passion of love."

5.) I test my breeding program in an objective venue such as conformation showing, work, tests and/or trials, etc.

"This area we will freely admit we are lacking in.... yet. I used to show horses years ago and I am well aware of the "political-ness" that can be involved in that, or any competitive arena. We are very open to trying new possibilities and we plan on attending some AKC events and learning more about some of the local dog groups. Hopefully we will find a good fit!"

6.) I research health, temperament, and conformation for each litter I breed.

"We are a very small breeder and only breed the dogs we own. We have researched my lines as best as we can and we know that the dogs we have are very solid and healthy. We are proud of the fact that our dogs do not come from any large kennels whose only source of income is by breeding and showing.... we are not motivated by money, we have no desire to flaunt our bloodlines just to increase the purchase price of our puppies. What we do here is our passion, and our dogs or puppies are not how we pay our bills."

7.) I ensure that my dogs that are offered for stud and the bitches that are accepted for stud service are in good health and free from communicable diseases and sound structurally.

"We do not actively stud out our dog or deal with any outside breedings at the present time. ALL three of my dogs have been genetically tested and are completely free and any communicable diseases, or other genetic or otherwise imbalance. They have been cleared of any genetic diseases, weaknesses and imbalances through natural alternative medicine. We do all of our own heath testing as we are both Certified Technicians in Computerized ElectroDermal Stress Analysis (CEDSA) can easily re-balance any issues homeopathically. Our dogs are VERY healthy.... and so are their puppies. If there ever is an issue of parasite, a virus, or any chemical imbalance, we can find it and deal with it homeopathically until their body regains the proper balance again."

8.) I rear the puppies in a human home where they will get a maximum of human contact and socialization.

"We believe this is one of the foundational necessities to rearing a healthy, happy puppy. Our puppies are raised inside our home with us and are accustomed to all of the usual household noises and sounds. along with being well socialized with the older dogs in our family. The older ones definitely teach the younger ones proper puppy manners." See our page on Emotional Development.

9.) I health test all my breeding dogs for the diseases and/or health problems prevalent in my breed and provide copies of all appropriate health and genetic clearances to puppy buyers.

"Currently, we do not have all of the official clearances from the necessary orthopedic and health foundations. My male, 'Mowgli' was OFA cleared in June of 2009, but had a horrible reaction to the anesthesia that he was given to be "put out" to d the x-rays. I was concerned to put my female through that also, until last winter, when I began to learn that there is another way to get these necessary tests accomplished, through a homeopathic veterinarian, which I am still interviewing for. I decided against exposing her to radiation and potential toxins when her heat cycle was due in less than two months from that time. But, she was late and didn't come into heat until the end of March this year.

Again, we recently decided to strive to achieve to meet these standards with our dogs, so we do not have all of these clearances yet. As stated in #8 above, we are Certified CEDSA Technicians and we do have proof that our dogs are healthy and have done all that we can homeopathically to ensure their optimal health. But not yet with the official standard clearances... but we will have them by the end of 2010!"

10.) I provide health and temperament information on my breed in general as well as on my specific dogs or puppies to all prospective puppy buyers.

"All of our puppies will come with their own individual CEDSA Health Analysis Report and with our personal lifetime assistance in preventative health for their puppy, if they so choose. Any breed information and past parent health information will also be shared as well!

11.) I register my litters with the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, or other all breed or breed-specific registries that have similar standards.

"All of our litters have been, and will continue to be registered with the American Kennel Club. "

12.) I provide all required documentation with each puppy, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the registry.

"Yes... of course!"

13.) I personally and carefully screen each prospective puppy buyer to ensure that the home is appropriate for the breed and the individual dog and make every effort to place puppies in homes where they will continue to rear them "Naturally".

"WE always carefully screen each family that is interested in one of our puppies. Because of our puppy visitation times, we get to know the potential puppy buyers quite well. We always retain the right to refuse to sell to a buyer that we are not comfortable with or has an unfit home for a large dog.

This 2010 litter, will be our first litter to wean and raise to a raw meat diet. We are looking forward to this opportunity and will share with all of the new puppy buyers about what is best for their puppy. We will make every effort to educate our puppy buyers as to the dangers of the commercial kibble diet, the dangers of over-vaccinating, and the dangers of pesticides and chemicals. If they love their puppy and desire to continue to raise it as suggested, we hope and pray that the new owners will abide by that and my "coaching with them" will always be available, for the lifetime of their dog.

13.) I remain available to my puppy buyers for the life of the puppy to mentor if need be and provide education in natural rearing.

"It has always been our policy to remain available to the puppy owners for the lifetime of the dog! In fact, we have had several "Puppy Parties" for our previous litters and their families!! Proof that we deeply care about the welfare of our progeny and that they are well cared for.

We are also looking forward to continuing to share our knowledge with our puppy owners, present and future! As I continue in my education to become a Doctor of Veterinary Naturopathy, I am continuously learning about new methods and modalities of caring for our pets, naturally!"

Puppy Party 2008 from our first litter!

14.) I take back puppies at any time during their life if necessary, ensuring that each dog I breed has a home for its lifetime.

"This has always been a part of our policy and will continue to be so! We never want one of our puppies to end up homeless and a home will always be welcome here for any of our "furry relatives!"

15.) All puppy placements are done by me, the breeder, never by third parties such as brokers, dealers, or wholesalers, nor through auctions, or as prizes.

"We have never used this marketing tactic and never will! We want to know where our puppies go... even if they change ownership, for any reason, we ask that the owner let us know."

16.) I will sell no puppy or dogs to a commercial facility, puppy broker, pet shop, puppy mill or their agent. I refuse to sell any puppy or adult dog to a buyer who cannot or will not provide evidence of ability to properly care for the animal.

"We feel very strongly about this and will never market and animal this way."

17.) I hold myself responsible for the welfare of every dog I breed and/or sell.

"We absolutely agree!"

18.) I will conduct myself at all times in such a manner as to reflect credit on the sport of purebred dog showing and Natural Rearing of my specific breed.

"We hope and pray that we always will treat others as we would want to be treated... with kindness and respect."

19.) I am a member in good standing of a breed-related, show-related, canine education-related, working dog-related, or rescue-related club or organization.

"We are members of the American Kennel Club in good standing. We hope to become involved in another dog group also."

I have provided three references (with phone numbers and/or mailing address included below or on a separate piece of paper) as requested by the Natural Rearing Breeders Association

Links of interest:

Natural Rearing Dog Breeder's Association
http://www.nrbreedersassociation.org/

Get your free copy of "Dogs... Naturally" Magazine and
subscribe: http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/subscribe.html

Go to the Animal Talk Naturally home page at http://www.animaltalknaturally.com/ for over 300 shows about caring for your pet, naturally, click to listen!

No Chemicals

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:22:16 -0500

We believe that ANY chemicals can be harmful to our dogs and your puppy. We do not use any chemical cleaners, pesticides, pharmaceutical de-worming medication, or even any harsh puppy shampoo. All of these items can be easily and effectively addressed with the use of essential oils and homeopathic remedies! This is a fascinating area to learn about and it is amazing that we have the ability to use ALL that nature intended in these powerful and effective products!!

For instance:

When cleaning the puppy pen area-

This page is still under construction-

come back!

Emotional Development

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:23:03 -0500

Continued from Home Page:

We want your puppy to live a long and healthy life! This must start before your puppy is conceived, through development and into it's very first breath of life! From there, your puppy's healthy development depends on having every one of it's newborn's needs met. Th first weeks of development are so crucial to the lifelong physical, emotional and behavioral aspects of your pup, soon to be dog.

From our standpoint, we have experienced the full spectrum of a dogs life; from the beauty of birth to the devastation of death. We know how much it hurts when a pet dies. The loss of a pet can be so significant to a family that it is our intention to present to you the healthiest puppies we possibly can. The only way to do that is to follow nature... yes, nature, and it's common sense. This means, to follow the wonderful example of The Creator, and to follow God's example of how He cares for His Canine creations.

This page is still under construction-

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The Fine Print

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:31:37 -0500

Full Puppy Policy (the fine print)

It's important stuff!

1) We believe that a good, well balanced, happy puppy is the result of nature and nurture working together. Without one, you can not have the other. The proper physical characteristics must come from sound bloodlines, but even the best bred pup can be a behavioral nightmare. A puppy's first 3 months of life experiences, will determine how it's personality is formed for the rest of it's life.

2) A dog's genetic nature may make for a beautiful dog, but if that dog is raised without the proper food, shelter, with other dogs, or with positive physical human interaction (love), it will never develop to it's full potential. These missing pieces can result in life long problems of moodiness, rage, biting, chewing, constant barking, continuous anxiety, behavioral obsessions, social problems with other dogs or people, withdrawal, obstinacies, food disorders or uncontrollable wetting... to name a few. An insecure, traumatized or abandoned puppy will NOT make a good family pet - period. There's no bones about it. These are the dogs that mostly fill our animal shelters in this country. A good dog trainer can help an owner or family with a dog exhibiting some of these types of problems. Negative behavior such as this can be "modified" or "re-directed", but a dog can never fully unlearn a bad behavior. This is the importance of finding a good dog breeder who has raised your puppy properly and with all of the elements necessary for life long health!

3) We can tell you, with confidence, that our dogs are in excellent, prime condition physically and emotionally. Both dogs are very happy and very healthy. There is an overwhelming history of longevity in the previous three generations of both pedigrees. Maisy's sire, "Sir Reginald XXXVI " (SN47484107) DNA #V394446, lived to be 15+ years of age. Many dogs in this line exhibit life spans of 11 - 14 years. That record alone speaks volumes to the genetic health of these dogs. This is a really good sign that these bloodlines lines are proven to be solid and produce healthy dogs, full of life and vitality. Please view their pedigrees on the Meet The Parents page and our health policy on the Natural Rearing Ethics page.

4) If you would like to pick out a puppy, you can do so only according to the order of receipt of your non-refundable deposit after the puppies are born. The deposit will count toward the purchase of your puppy. Please don't send in your deposit before the pups are born. At birth, the people who have their names on our approved waiting list and send in their deposit will secure a puppy. When the pups are 5 weeks old, all depositors will be notified, each in their order to schedule a time when they can come to choose their puppy. After 5 weeks of age, the pups can be chosen upon deposit to approved homes. Before that age, it is really hard to know the personality of each puppy!! They are different, but mostly... there is never a bad pup in any litter!! Some can be a bit more dominant than another, or a slightly different color, or have different markings, but they are ALL really great pups!!

5) I will color code the puppy according to the owners choice so that when the puppies are ready to go home on, _____(date)_______, you will receive the same puppy that you choose!

6) I will attend to all of the puppies initial medical needs and de-worming by natural methods only. If veterinarian intervention is needed, I will assume all costs while in my care

7.) I do not vaccinate my puppies at all and the first only necessary vaccination by law in the state of Wisconsin is the Rabies Vaccine. (please see page on Limited Vaccinations) If any additional medical care is necessary while the puppies are in my care, I will be solely responsible for all aspects of that care, until the date of release to their new owners.

8) I will continue to maintain all aspects of the physical and emotional responsibilities involving the puppy's care until; 1) the new owner takes the puppy to it's new home, AND 2) the final balance of the amount due is received. The final amount due is $500.00 per puppy, male or female, on, if not before, ______(date)_______.

9) I reserve the right to refuse the sale of a puppy to anyone for any reason which I believe any buyer may or will be unable to provide a more than acceptable home or quality of life for said puppy. This decision is left solely discretion of myself, Ellen Welk, and/or my husband, Jerry Welk, as the breeder of these puppies, at any time before the final payment is made.

10) What We Are Not.
Sometimes expectations can lead us into difficulties, even let us down. I'd rather discuss positive things here, but I need to share with you about the things that I am not.

1. I am NOT a dog a professional dog trainer.

2. We do NOT run a puppy mill.

3. I am NOT someone who is looking to make money from our puppies.

11) I will discuss with you, the buyer, the commitment and responsibility necessary to care for a puppy as it grows into adulthood, and for the rest of it's life. I am always available for questions and I encourage you to contact me.

12) I will provide for you, the buyer, the best possible puppy information and assistance available. I am a truth seeker and, if necessary, will assist you in finding out how to solve problems with your puppy from the time you adopt your pup throughout all of the days of it's life! I understand that your dog can, and will, become a part of your family. If any problems arise with your dog, in any area, I will help you to find the solutions or guide you to the resources that you may need.

13) If you become unable to care for your dog for any reason at any time, I will provide a home for him/her. Pet ownership is a serious commitment and can not be taken lightly. If you call me, and all other options have been exhausted, I will provide a home for your dog, whether temporary or permanent. Never take your dog to an animal shelter or give it away to someone who may be unable to care for its needs either financially or emotionally. Take the dog back to the breeder. This is one guarantee that I will defend and uphold. Your dog will always have a home with me, and/or, I will find him another very loving home to fit his/her needs. Please keep my contact information available and updated so that you can reach me if you have found no other solution.

Jerry or Ellen Welk

4507 Andrew St.

Oshkosh, WI 54904

(920) 252-0787

ewelk@yahoo.com

Puppy Policy

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:38:28 -0500

• Whelped on: ____(date to come)__________

• Cost: $500.00 each

• Puppies will be ready to go home on _______, at 8 weeks of age.

• A partial deposit will hold a puppy until ________.

• A puppy can only go home after the above date and the final payment is made.

• Owners who have spoken for a puppy with a verbal commitment and a $100.00 (non refundable) deposit will be able to chose their new canine family member beginning on __________, at 5 weeks of age. Puppies will be chosen in the order of down payment received, or spoken for. After that, picking your puppy will be on a first come, first serve basis.

• Remember, no puppies will go home before the age of 8 weeks!

Puppy Policy

All our puppies are sold with FULL AKC registration and will come with their registration papers, 3-generation pedigree, and their own adoption certificate.

Puppies will be de-wormed with an all natural homeopathic remedy, if they test positive for worms (we test them, ourselves). Each puppy will come with a CEDSA Health Analysis and report of any imbalances in their body. If there are any imbalances, found they can be balanced easily with the proper homeopathic so that the body will correct itself. Please read our page on Naturally Reared Ethics especially #7, #8 and #10.

We NEVER let our pups go before at least 8 weeks of age. It is our hope and prayer that each and every puppy we raise and send off will be going to their first and only home as a treasured family pet and companion... to love and to be loved!

We LOVE to keep in touch with our puppy owners! To us, you are like "furry family" and we enjoy hearing updates and certainly receiving photos!! Your photos and stories always make my day!! We want to be available for you if the future if you have any health questions, challenges, or even if you can no longer keep your dog... for what ever reason. Your dog will ALWAYS have a home with us and/or we will re-home him to the perfect family. We do take responsibility for the life of every dog that we raise.

"Puppy Party 2009"

Picking Your Puppy

When the puppies are 5 weeks old, I will notify the future owners in their respective order that I received their deposit (or according to their placing on our list), to come and choose their puppy, beginning __________. By this time, their personalities will have begun to develop and you can start to see some of their distinguishing characteristics and behaviors.

Note: For those of you who would like to read the more detailed version of our policies, please see the last page, “Naturally Reared Ethics & The Fine Print”.

Still interested? We'd love to talk to you!

Jerry or Ellen Welk

4507 Andrew St.

Oshkosh, WI 54904

ewelk@yahoo.com

About Us

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:26:10 -0500

Who Are We?

My husband, Jerry, and I, love and dearly enjoy the Golden Retriever breed. We currently own three Golden Retrievers, "Mowgli", "Maisy" and our new addition, "Mari". We love these dogs because of their stability, loyalty, beauty, and their ability to think. I believe that these dogs are among the best of any dog breed or any pet that a family can possibly own. We are people who know and love these animals.

Natural Rearing & Breeding

Currently, I am going to school for my degree as a "Doctor of Veterinary Naturopathy". That is a big title for an "Animal Naturopath"! It doesn't mean a veterinarian. What I am in training to do, is to learn and educate people about how to care for their pets, naturally! This means to feed your pets a species appropriate diet: raw meat and bones for our carnivore dogs, cats and ferrets; minimal vaccines (Rabies is the only vaccine required by law), no chemicals or pesticides, no flea or tick medication, and plenty of fresh water, sunshine, exercise and tons of love!!!

All of our dogs live inside our home with us. Our puppies are also raised inside our home. Our pups have been touched and handled from the very day of their birth, and every day since. They have had oodles of visitors, and have been played with by children and adults alike. They are accustomed, and well adjusted to all of the usual home noises; i.e. television, clanking dishes, radio, vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, passing cars, people walking by, etc. They have grown up with these sounds and have learned not to be afraid of them. These sounds are a part of their home life already, which makes our puppies wonderful house pets from the very moment you bring your puppy into your own home. They have even been introduced to the beginnings of potty training and always prefer to potty away from where they eat and sleep and/or outside when they are big enough!

We also hold our Christian faith as believers in Christ, and we believe in God's glorious creation of all things. We believe that the best way to raise a puppy is to give it the love, care and respect that it deserves. We will always be available to our puppy owners for the life of the puppy (we have 'Puppy Parties' too) and we would be glad to help with any questions you may have about raising your dog naturally. We also guarantee that we will take back your puppy, at any point, if you are no longer able to care for it... we want to insure that you dog will always have home. These pups are little blessings, from the Lord God above, and we care for these puppies exactly in that way.... as a part of God's amazing creation and a part of our family.

My Background... Unleashed! (My Bio)

"My past animal experience is fairly extensive and includes some wonderful and unusual opportunities. For five summers, I worked at the Menominee Park Zoo, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where I did a variety of jobs; mostly feeding and caring for animals from everything from geese to exotics. I have bottle fed and handled tiger cubs, a lion cub, two bear cubs, cougar cubs, fawns, and countless young and/or abandoned wild small animals. I worked with training Ring-Tailed Lemurs for several years and for two years I performed elementary school educational programs in the Oshkosh Area School District for the Oshkosh Zoological Society with my special animal classroom guest stars varying from a Ring-Tailed Lemur to Pot Bellied Pigs and ferrets. I developed and provided a spoken presentation program for children, discussing the importance of animals in zoos and shared our guest animals, directly with the children in the classroom.

I also have a wide range of experience in working with hoofed stock of many types, both through the Zoo, and personally. In 1990, I trained a Miniature Donkey to drive and pull a cart. He was the Zoo mascot that year and the hit of the Independence Day Parade as he walked willingly and calmly down the streets of downtown Oshkosh for the crowd. I also worked with halter training many llamas, goats, and even a Zebra foal, for public presentation within the Zoo grounds. Additionally, I have some elementary falconry skills as I also worked with our resident rehab Great Horned Owl, "Frank", introducing him on jesses and presenting him to the public at the Zoo, as well.

I was also employed at a veterinary clinic, as a vet assistant, in Milwaukee, WI, for a few months before we moved back to the Oshkosh area. The vet I worked for has since retired. I also volunteered during that time for the Milwaukee “ARC” (Animal Rehabilitation Center) where we would rehab injured urban wild animals to be released back into the outlying areas Milwaukee County, (now a part of the Milwaukee Humane Society). I also worked in retail at “PetLand” in Mayfair Mall as the Aquatics Department Manager for several months... I learned a lot about aquarium fish and still, to this day, I have a 60 gallon aquarium with African Cichlids! I love fish!

Additionally, I have owned, trained and shown horses for many years. I worked, for three years, with Arabian horses at a barn as groom and assistant trainer for a gal in the area who shows her horses on the Arabian Horse Show Circuit, all across the country. Owning two Quarter Horses of my own, in the past, I am well familiar with, and have ridden both Western and English riding styles, as well as Dressage and Jumping, at an amateur level. Once a horse lover... always a horse lover!!

Over the last 20 years, I have owned two breeding pairs of Golden Retrievers. With our current pair, my husband and I specialize in raising our puppies within our home and socialize them fully so that they are very ready and able to go into their new homes, and become a new family member at eight weeks of age... never before. We love our pups and follow up with all of our puppy owners… we even have a “Puppy Party & Family Reunion” each year for our previous litters, where everyone, dogs and owners, get together for an “Ice Cream Social” for two wild hours of "doggie fun" in our fenced in backyard! Most importantly, I guarantee that if ever a family can not keep their dog, for any reason, that they contact me and I will provide a home for their dog until other arrangements can be made. I deeply care about the future of these dogs and I never want to hear of one ending up in a shelter.

With my current pair, I have had three very successful litters of ten puppies each, and have found wonderful homes for them all, way before eight weeks of age. I have even had a waiting list each year for pups for our next litter. We are looking forward to qualifying for the Natural Rearing Breeders Association in the months soon to come!

Lastly, on a bit of a different note, for the last ten years, I have worked in the office at our church as a Computer Graphic Artist, designing brochures, signs, bulletins and any needed ministry print materials. Even though this type of work was drastically different from my initial focus, in the animal field, I enjoyed it tremendously! However, I have never left my first love, caring for animals, and I am returning to the animal care field, now professionally.

With this in mind, in the Fall of 2009, my husband and I, became certified as 'Computer Electro-Dermal Stress Analysis Technicians'. This technique uses a "bionetics" approach with a computerized testing system that can measure a body's energy balance. With the use of a hand-held stylus or probe, we are able to measure the body's electromagnetic energy through the acupuncture points and meridians on the hand and foot, and measure any imbalances through the computer software. It's completely non-invasive and painless! We plan to utilize this method to help many animals in the quest for disease prevention and natural animal health.

Additionally, I am currently enrolled in Kingdom College of Natural Health in the School of Natural Animal Health to become a Doctor of Veterinary Naturopathy (VND). My education will take at least two more years, but in the midst of the required courses, I am learning all that I can, from many different sources, about natural animal care!

I am very much looking forward to pursuing my career in animal care, with the emphasis on the natural health care aspect of animals... furry, feathered, hoofed and fins alike!!"

~ Ellen L. Welk ~ Updated 5/2010

Additionally

We know that you may have some questions about some of the things we do for our pups, but everything we do, does have a purpose... and it is for the best interest of our puppies and for their future fur-ever families!!

We hope and pray, that you will find the perfect puppy for your family, and that he or she will become your best four-legged friend ever.

Ellen Welk's Profile

Create Your Badge

Jerry or Ellen Welk

4507 Andrew St.

Oshkosh, WI 54904

(920) 252-0787

ewelk@yahoo.com

Puppies Available

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:50:17 -0500

We are currently "with pups" expecting another litter and we will have puppies born around May 31st, 2010!! They will be ready to go into their new homes mid-July, 2010!

(after you read Naturally Reared Ethics
and The Fine Print at):

Jerry or Ellen Welk

4507 Andrew St.

Oshkosh, WI 54904

ewelk@yahoo.com

Feeding a RAW Diet

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:20:54 -0500

Raw Meat and Bones

A diet of dry kibble is by no means "natural" and it actually causes significant damage to the dog's internal organs and immune system. Feeding a diet of RAW meat and bones is one of the BEST and most natural things that you can ever do for your dog. WHY? Read more below!

This is a video of the first feeding of raw chicken to my dogs. (part 1) November 2009

A domestic dog's DNA is only 1% different than the wolf's DNA! That means that the wolf is 99% exactly the same as the domestic dog!! So, think, "Whatever a wolf eats, is what I want to feed my dog"! Well, a wolf eats PREY! A wild caught diet of prey from pheasants, deer, grouse, nest eggs, rodents, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, etc. Yes, wolves are also "opportunists" meaning that they will also eat what they can scavenge. Typically, a wolf will eat a kill or a downed animal and gorge themselves on it. Then they may not eat for a day or two, until they find more food. They may nibble on some wild berries, but generally, they will pass them by unless they are VERY hungry. Wolves, as dogs, do not produce enough of the enzyme called "amalyse" to digest the carbohydratres that they may eat. It is unnatural for them to eat grains of any kind! Their body can not digest it! A similar analogy, by comparison, would be if I would try to feed a rabbit to a pet bird! Silly!

THIS IS WHY FEEDING YOUR DOG A
DRY KIBBLE IS SO UN-NATURAL!!

This is a video of the first feeding of raw chicken to my dogs. (part 2) November 2009

Not only are they unable to digest most of the ingredients in the kibble, they are unable to digest whatever nutrition actually is in (or added to) the commercially processed pet foods, including all of the chemicals and preservatives. Any meat that is cooked over 180 degrees is basically providing your carnivore pet very little nutrition. Our pets need the live enzymes that is found in a raw diet to truly be healthy and to increase their longevity! We want our of our furry family members to life a long health life!

Dog and cat kibble has only been around for 150 years, at the most. What did our carnivore pets eat before there was specific dog food??? Hummm.....

I am completely convinced after doing the real research about carnivore nutrition and feeding my dogs this myself that I am a total believer in a "species appropriate" diet of raw meat and bones. Dogs can survive on commercial pet food, but will they thrive? Hey, don't just take my word for it.... do some research your-self, check out some of these great links below, and then, you decide.

Links to understanding raw feeding:

http://www.RawLearning.com

http://www.RawFed.com

http://www.RawFedCats.org

http://www.RawFedDogs.net

http://www.RMB4HealthyPets.com

http://www.bconnex.net/~langevin/html/raw_meat_diet.html

To learn, interact and ask questions:
Yahoo Groups/Natural Health Care for Dogs
Yahoo Groups/RawK9s

Articles to Raw Feeding:

Raw Feeding FAQ's

Pet Food Ingredients Revealed!

Removing the Fears Associated With Raw Feeding

Transitioning Your Dog to a Raw Diet

Kibble Is STILL Kibble

Cooked Vs. Raw Meat and Bones

Species Appropriate Nutrition - Foundation of Health

Feeding Dogs a Raw Diet - Practical Answers to Questions

Kibble Kills

Natural Rearing Vs. Survival of The Fittest

Salmonella: The Bad bacteria

Adding Up Ingredients in Pet Food

The Question of Bacteria

Pet Food - Our Pets are Dying for It

Outcry Over Pets in Pet Food

Is the Food You're Feeding Your Pet Killing It? (and making your vet rich?)

"Animal Talk Naturally" audio podcasts on Raw Feeding:

Cats & Dogs: The Carnivore Truth, Part 1 - Dr. Johan Joubert
http://blogtalk.vo.llnwd.net/o23/shows/show_553998.mp3

Cats & Dogs: The Carnivore Truth, Part 2 - Dr. Johan Joubert
http://www.animaltalknaturally.com/podpress_trac/web/4916/0/Cats_and_Dogs_The_Carnivore_Truth_Pt2.mp3

Kibble is Kibble is Kibble, Naturally
with Drs. Bloomer & Thomason
http://blogtalk.vo.llnwd.net/o23/shows/show_546144.mp3

Tipping Away from Fear with Dr. Myrna Milani
http://www.mmilani.com/files/mwm-podcast/mmilani_43-20090624.mp3

Here is a link to a very sad YouTube video about what is really in pet food: (please don't watch if you have a weak stomach)

What's Really in Your Pet's Food?

Our Dam: "Maisy"

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:31:38 -0600

Our Dam - "Maisy"

AKC "Jewel's Maisy Day Grace"

AKC# SR30758203
Whelped: 11/27/05

"Maisy" with her 10 puppies born on April 16, 2009 - 6 females and 4 males!

"Maisy" with her 10 pups - only 3 days old. 4/19/09

"Maisy" is our five year old female. She is very sweet and loves to cuddle up close. She has many hunting characteristics also, and is often watching birds and geese in the sky. Maisy has a more petite frame, but can pack a big punch when playing with Mowgli. She absolutely adores children and is very gentle and easy going with them. Maisy smiles when she is happy and content. She has gracefully entered into motherhood and is truly the most caring and attentive mother I have ever witnessed. She is a very dedicated mother and will care for her pups beyond the call of duty. She "naturally" weans her pups as we don't believe in removing the puppies from her care at any certain age, date or time. She genuinely cares for them up until the day they leave our home, sometimes giving them a milk snack, but most importantly, she plays and interacts with them at her desire and will teach them proper puppy manners, like only a good mother can. This extended "natural" mothering is very significant to the pups developmental well-being. She is a very relaxed mom and her calm parenting skills produce secure, well-tempered pups.

Maisy is so beautiful!

Maisy has whelped three litters of 10 puppies each! She is looking forward to her next litter coming in May 2010!

Maisy as a puppy.

Maisy's AKC 3 Generation Pedigree
Click on image to see larger size!

Photo Gallery

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:48:34 -0500

Click on an album link below to view some great photos!

☛ Puppies - 2009 Litter-Photo Blog

☛ Puppies - 2008 Litter - Photo Blog

☛ Puppies - 2007 Litter

☛ 2009 Puppy Party & Family Reunion

☛ 2008 Puppy Party & Family Reunion

☛ Yogi Bear and Whinnie

More photos to come!


	Awarded to quality pet websites. (dogs, puppies, cats, horses) Type: Dog Site

Limited Vaccinations

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:22:00 -0500

This page is still under construction-

come back!

Research Takes Lives: Humans and Animals Suffer

http://www.health.org.nz/vacgen.html

Our Future Gal - "Mari"!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:08:54 -0600

Introducing:

AKC "Jewel's Mighty Mariah of Grace"

AKC# SR5774382
Whelped: 7/27/09

"Mari" will be our next female to breed with "Mowgli" when she is two!!

"Mari" at 8 months old! 4/2010

Mari at 9 weeks old! 9/2009

Mari at the pond - 8 months old!

Mari hunting!

Mari catching a frisbee!

"Mari" at six months old, on 1/27/10.

She has such a beautiful face!

She loves her frisbee!

Mari competing with Maisy for the Frisbee!

To view a larger image of Mairah's Pedigree
Click on the image or here

Our Sire - "Mowgli"

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:12:45 -0600

Our Sire - "Mowgli"

AKC "Jewel's Golden Mowgli Bear"

AKC# SR24141903 OFA51F

Date Whelped: 01/20/2005

Mowgli" is our five year old male. He is offered and available at stud for a reasonable fee. "Mowgli" is quite a charming character and very intelligent and willing. He is a "street smart" dog with a great deal of common sense. I have trained him with positive reinforcement only This method of training produces a very happy dog, free-style type of personality in a dog. We love his excitement for life!

He is a beautiful deep golden color, with natural blonde highlights, in his curly, wavy hair. He is quite an athlete; very agile, fast and strong. He is attentive and observant and shows all of the natural characteristics of an avid hunter. He loves the water and even tries to catch fish with his paws! He has a great love for children and is always ready to share his wagging happiness and lots of kisses.

"Mowgli" is so handsome.

Mowgli loves to jump.

Mowgli as a puppy.

Mowgli loves life... and his frisbee!

Mowgli's AKC 3-Generation Pedigree
Click here or on image to see larger size!

For Mowgli's OFA Hip Certification click here

"Animal Talk Naturally"

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:23:30 -0500

Are you interested in learning more about how to care
for your animals naturally???

Then check out: http://www.animaltalknaturally.com/

This is your source for solid podcast learning!!!

Over 300 shows to download - free!

"Animal Talk Naturally" has been doing a weekly radio broadcast, hosted by Dr. Kim BLoomer and Dr. Jeannie Thomason on www.blogtalkradio.com/animaltalknaturallly. Each week they have interviewed professionals from the natural animal health community, discussing various topics like carnivore nutrition, the use of vaccines, pesticide controversies, and have also brought some interesting natural health modalities into perspective and shared how to incorporate them with our pets! Dr. Kim and Dr. Jeannie do a superb job asking the tough questions of top notch professionals from all over the world, and getting the real truth from the veterinarians, animal care professionals, vaccine specialists and behaviorists who have been working in the pet care industry and have realized by their own experiences that natural pet care is the best method for our pets!

"Celebrating the art of natural animal health, the truth of animal nature,

and the love of the human/animal bond! " ~ Animal Talk Naturally

Animal Talk Naturally show focuses in three areas:

   1. Natural animal health and care

   2. Animal nature/intelligence

3. The human-animal bond

Our show airs live every Wednesday at 2:30 PM EST (1:30 CST) on BlogTalk Radio at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/animaltalknaturally or use this link http://www.Holistic-Pet-Audio.com. Immediately following the live show, the recorded podcast version is available at the live site. Each show is also available for free download here on our main site within a day of each live appearance, archived here indefinitely. Shows are all also available for purchase.   For those who prefer to listen at their leisure, or just cannot attend the live show, Animal Talk Naturally’s entire audio library is available for free download or free streaming.  That's over 300 hour long shows!!

The s

how format is changing to a live 30 minute show, featuring commentary, news, and events about natural animal health, animal nature and the human-animal bond. The hosts, veterinary naturopaths, Dr. Kim Bloomer & Dr. Jeannie Thomason, will continue to share their expertise and insights, with a Christian focus, along with announcing upcoming natural animal health events on the new weekly half hour show.... even though this is change from the 60 minute program, it will still be VERY interesting! And, at your convenience, anyone can go back and listen to the past informative podcasts!

Since 2005, Animal Talk Naturally has provided listeners with insightful and thought provoking conversations and interviews with a wide variety of industry experts that share the passion Animal Talk Naturally is known for.

"Whether you have a dog, a bird, a horse, or a cat, Animal Talk Naturally is the place for exciting, educational, engaging, one-of-a-kind shows."

“UN-learning to care for your animals naturally”

Meet the Parents

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 19:41:46 -0500

Presenting:

"Click" on a picture below to learn more!

Our Sire Our Dam

AKC "Jewel's Golden Mowgli Bear " AKC "Jewel's Maisy Day Grace"

(Click on each photo above to get to know "Mowgli" & "Maisy" better!)

Mowgli & Maisy.

Playing with a stick.

Mowgli & Maisy at "Wacky" (Welk's Wacky Wonderland) Spring '08.

They LOVE swimming!

Mowgli and Maisy at our Puppy Party as proud parents!

Mug shots!!!

MORE photos ahead...........

To contact us click here ➙: About Us

Happy Puppy Owners

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:29:50 -0500

Below are some happy puppy owner testimonials!!

Buddy

Hi Ellen and Jerry,

Buddy joined our family in August of 2007. He was a puppy from Mowgli and Maisy’s July 2007 litter. He has been a great dog right from the start. He potty trained very easily (within a couple of weeks). When he was old enough to go to puppy classes he sailed through them with flying colors. He is always eager to please us and very responsive to training. During class they referred to him as the “all American dog” and had us demonstrate a lot of the techniques.

Buddy has grown to be a very handsome dog, as you can see by the pictures I have included. Our kids absolutely adore him… well, we all do. He is so loving and gentle. He is there for the kids when they need a friend to cuddle with and he knows just how to play with them. He has never gotten too rough with any of us.

Buddy also loves the outdoors. He loves going on walks and chasing balls in the backyard. I also started inline skating with him last summer. We go out every morning (weather permitting). I can tell how much he enjoys getting outside to run and I love to exercise with him. When it isn’t messy outside, we take him to the dog park. He just loves to run and explore. It is amazing how well he gets along with all the other dogs.

Last summer we took Buddy camping with us. We weren’t sure what to expect because neither Kevin nor I had ever taken a dog on a camping trip before, but we were pleasantly surprised! He had a great time and was very well behaved. He slept in the camper with us and went on a lot of hikes and walks.

I could just go on and on about how wonderful he is and how much we adore him. We want to thank-you from the bottom of our hearts for such a wonderful addition to our family.

God Bless,

Ellen

(Photos of Buddy and Family below!)

Sonny Sophie & Sam!

In September of 2007 my Springer Spaniel “Charlie” was very sick. My husband Joe and I decided we would like to bring another dog into our house since we also had an 11 year old German Shephard .

Five days before Charlie died I found this wonderful website that Jerry and Ellen had designed. I emailed Ellen, told her my story and that we would be interested in adopting a little boy from them. I also wanted to know when the next litter was expected because I did not want to bring a puppy into the house while my Charlie was so sick.

I received an email back almost immediately from Ellen saying they just happened to have one little boy left- NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH LEFTOVER- and totally understood my situation. If I wanted to wait she knew where I was coming from because they had been there too. When I found out Ellen and Jerry only lived an hour away from us, I could not help but feel God had a hand in this connection. What I thought I wanted was not what God knew I needed.

Joe and I were in Oshkosh the next morning at 9:00 a.m. Jerry, Ellen, Maisy, Mowgli and the sweetest little golden ball of fluff we had ever seen greeted us at the door. Two hours later we were bringing “Sonny” (short for Sunshine) home.

There was an instant bond between Charlie and Sonny. It was as if Charlie knew I would need the love and comfort this little one would give me after he was gone and he was right

Sonny always has been the mellowest dog and amazes people how well behaved, gentle and loving he is. Our vet calls him, “the puppy with an old person’s soul” he just always seems so much wiser than his years.

Only after Charlie was gone did Sonny start to play with “Sadie” our Shepard. As the time passed they also became inseparable. On occasion Joe and I would talk about the possibility of adopting another dog after Sadie was gone because Sonny was never without a playmate. When the time came---

I asked Ellen if we could adopt another one of her puppies so Sonny would not be alone. On September 4, 2008 God blessed the Welk household with another bundle (I should say bundles) of joy. Two days later we went to Oshkosh to meet the new family. We made numerous visits to spend time with Jerry, Ellen, Maisy, Mowgli and the pups. We got to see them grow and develop into gorgeous, smart, loving and gentle dogs.

This is where our story gets good—I wanted a female and picked out this pretty little girl, which Joe thought was perfect. However it seems that while I was wrapped up in our new little “Sophie” Joe was wrapping himself to a little male in the litter. This little guy was the biggest in the litter and even a bigger fluff ball. We started watching him and while the other pups played he would sit and watch Joe. After this happened several times, we stated talking…do we or don’t we? We talked with Ellen and Jerry about it and decided that we would wait to see if this little guy got adopted right away. The deal was if he was not spoken for by the time we were to take Sophie home, then we were supposed to have him too.

Then there were 3 – Sonny, Sophie and Sam

Sonny will be 2 yrs old July 6, 2009 and Sophie and Sammie are 8 months old. They go to daycare alternately one day a week to have “away” time from each other but when one comes home it is like renewing an old friendship.

Sophie is my little princess—it is all about her. She will instigate rough play but then runs to hide under my legs when things start to escalate. She is also the little whiner. Whenever she wants something she uses this sad little whimper until you see what she wants.

Sam is a duplicate of Sonny. It is getting harder and harder to tell them apart.

Thank you Ellen and Jerry for letting Joe and I adopt these 3 wonderful dogs. Our lives are definitely fuller and richer because of them. Even on bad days they have the uncanny ability to laugh.

With love,

Chris & Joe

Bailey

Bailey has been a dream come true. If I'm sad or lonely, all I have to do is sit on the floor and pat my lap and he comes right over and lays directly on my lap. That's a small feat for a 55 lb dog. He's been growing slowly, but I think he'll top off around 60 or 65 lbs. "Ella" and him get along great. They finally realized that ropes are for playing tug of war with each other and they have loads of fun running laps in the back yard, the field, and the dog park. He's had absolutely no health problems either!

Sincerely,

Jamie

More puppy testimonials to come.....

Puppies - 2007 Litter

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:49:19 -0500