What breeds are available from Sweet Pine Puppies™?
We have several breeds that we work with. We want to ensure the puppies we match with families fit well together. Each breed is unique and brings something different to the table, which makes it possible for us to match our dogs with families that fit each other’s needs. We have a variety of breeds so that we can ensure we meet the needs of any family. Currently we have Labrador Retrievers, Labragottos, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bernottos, Golden Retrievers and Goldengottos. Please contact us for more information on each of these breeds and to help determine which would fit best in your home.
What type of puppy training curriculum do you do? What is Sweet Pine Puppy Preschool?
We do ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction) curriculum with all of our puppies from day 3-17. Starting at day 18, we use a daily handling curriculum to ensure all puppies are well socialized and used to being handled and loved by humans. At about 4 weeks, we begin puppy recall training and a low-level basic obedience/manners training. We also begin potty training, introduce puppies to crates, carriers, leashes, collars and car rides. Before they go home we do thorough temperament evaluations to help us with matching the puppies and their forever families. For more information, here is our full Sweet Pine Puppy Preschool program: https://sweetpinepuppies.com/puppy-preschool-program/
Why do you use ENS and ESI? Is it good for the puppies?
Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction) are ways to help puppies if done correctly. It’s not just about exposing puppies to new things, it’s about how we do it and when we do it.
When doing our curriculum we align it to the developmental benchmarks of our puppies, we are purposeful and intentional with our handling, which helps increase touch tolerance, and we ensure that we meet their needs in order to continue having balanced and fulfilled dogs who are calm and confident as they explore new experiences as they go through life.
It’s not just a program but a method that truly makes a difference for our puppy success.
Are you a reputable breeder?
Yes, we use ethical breeding practices and are not a puppy mill. We have over 10 years of experience in breeding and finding wonderful forever homes for our animals. Our dogs are given the best in-home care and are dearly loved as family members by us and our children. We have genetically tested and OFA cleared all of our dogs, and routinely have vet visits to ensure their optimum health. Our dogs are registered with AKC and CKC, and all puppies go home with a pedigree certificate, microchip and registration papers. For more information, please visit our About Us page.
What is a Labragotto?
A Labragotto is a Labrador Retriever and a Lagotto Romagnolo cross. For more info, please see our article introducing this cross Labradoodle Reinvented – The Labragotto.
What is a Lagotto Romagnolo?
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a breed from Italy which is commonly known for their truffle hunting skills. They are one of the predecessors of the Poodle and have the same non-shedding coat. Click here to read more information on the Lagotto Romagnolo.
What is a Sweet Pine Bernotto™?
A Bernotto is a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Lagotto Romagnolo cross. A Sweet Pine Bernotto™ is a Bernotto™ who has been put through our Sweet Pine Puppy Preschool program and has completed their temperament assessments and evaluations. For more info, please see our article introducing this cross What is a Bernotto™?
How do I move forward with getting a puppy?
Please fill out a Puppy Application and then we will contact you to set up a visit or video call so you can meet the puppies. Additionally, we are more than happy to receive messages on FB, text messages and phone calls at our business number, messages from our Contact page, or emails at SweetPinePuppies@gmail.com for more information or questions. Once your application and deposit is received, your puppy is reserved!
What can we expect when we pick up our puppy?
Puppies will go home after they are 8 weeks old, have been fully weaned and are doing well on solid food, have passed a vet check, and have completed the Sweet Pine Puppy Preschool program. When you come to pick up your puppy, we will have a go-home goodie bag for you. This is a canvas bag with about 2 days of food, a blanket with their mother’s scent, a folder with helpful articles and tips on training puppies and how to handle common questions and situations with introducing puppies to their new home. It will also have their microchip registration papers, their litter registration papers (birth certificate etc), their well-puppy visit vet paperwork, a roll of doggie waste bags and a piddle pad (for the car ride home). We will also show you the training we have started the puppies on and answer any questions.