Its springtime in Northern Michigan where my home is. Things are emerging in the garden and in the landscape. I had hoped to be raising puppies this spring but it was not meant to be. Instead I am watching baby Robins grow on my front porch and raising Valor, a puppy I acquired from a wonderful partner breeder Lucy Sharkey, all the way from Texas!
Valor is special because he is 65% lab and has a long haired, furnished coat. Those genetics are a rare combination and combined with his two health tested, resilient parents, I have high hopes for his future. However, 5 years into being a breeder I've learned enough not to count my chickens before they are hatched. It will be many months before we know if Valor will pass all the tests to be a breeding dog. In the meantime, Im happy to soak up all the puppy snuggles I can get.
Things are "emerging" for the CDP as well. I am excited to announce that several wonderful humans have agreed to join me on this journey and to give their blessing to the project. Jessica Hekman, founder of the FDC is going to be advising on health testing based on individualized assessments for approval of registrations and breedings. There has never been a dog registry with a person of Dr Hekmans experience and credentials guiding the breeding strategy. This is truly a revolutionary project. We will be relying on the FDCs database development efforts heavily as we grow. FDC is working with passionate mixed breed breeder who also happens to be a software engineer in Finland to develop a pedigree database. This database is going to be EXCEPTIONAL and will allow , once its ready, member breeders to add dogs, access their data, and print their own pedigrees.
We are also excited to be partnering with Embark in their breed club program and will soon be able to offer discounted DNA kits to members.
The Companion Dog Registry has live applications on the site and we are ready to register dogs, create registry certificates, and build pedigrees! CDR registration is open to approved breeders. You can apply to join as a member breeder for the first year free, or read more about the requirements for registration here. There will be modest registration fees. Fees include addition in the database of course, listings on the website, registration certificates, free microchips, and the option to invite puppy parents to participate in regular email surveys on behavior and health! This will be invaluable information as we work to improve our ability to produce the great dogs we all seek.
Anyone who would like to support the project and the effort we are making to set a new standard for excellence in pet dog breeding we would love to have your help.
Please consider following us on facebook or joining the private group. We are also able to accept donations to support the registry development. Donations are not tax deductible.
Happy Spring and may you have many good things emerging in your life this season.
Carolyn