The main focus of our breeding program is the Health and Temperament of the breeding pair.
A great deal of thought and care goes into the puppies I produce. Both Sire (Father) and Dam (Mother) will have an OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) rating of Excellent or Good hips. All of their parentage will have known health clearance certificates. In this manner, the puppies produced, will not carry any known health issues of our breed.
Puppy placement is taken very seriously. I don’t offer our puppies on a first come, first serve basis. I match puppies to their families. I do the best I can at choosing the best puppy for each family. I do this by getting to know the potential families, watching the puppies from birth, and temperament testing. All prospective homes are pre-screened through our Puppy Questionnaire, visiting, and phone calls. Puppies are placed into your care based on your home, lifestyle, and the puppy’s temperament. Only owners that are willing to spend a lifetime having fun with an outgoing energetic companion will be considered for a Riptide puppy.
Weekly Puppy Milestones
WEEK 1 – Human contact, brain, and senses stimulation starts their first week.
WEEK 2 – Starts their familiarity with being groomed. Visual awareness begins as their eyes are opening.
WEEK 3 – Potty training on interior pads and outside areas. The puppies now are able to see and hear. This is also the start of their socialization with friends and family visiting our home to meet and greet them.
WEEK 4 – Visitation by their new families.
WEEK 5 – Kennel training and more potty training. Outdoor activities such as travel in the car in a crate, swimming, and playing in different areas on different surfaces.
WEEK 6 – Further outdoor time to allow for puppies to explore.
WEEK 7 – Temperament and Conformation testing done by experienced testers. The puppies will also receive their first set of puppy shots and be microchipped.
WEEK 8 – The long-awaited date—they may go to their new homes!
Vaccinations for your Puppy
Puppy Exercise Guidelines
At Riptide I strive to produce a puppy that is well formed in every way. I am active in a variety of performance events in addition to conformation events. This allows me to condition my dogs and your future puppies so that when they leave my home and come to yours they are already started on their path to success. Having an active dog, especially a portie who are naturally of that temperament, is having a happy and healthy dog.
Below is a nice chart that demonstrates what and when to do to assist your new puppy forward towards a life of happiness and great health.
There is an excellent video explaining the specifics of the chart you may view.
You may download a printable pdf of the chart below.
I am so very pleased with each and every puppy that have been purposefully bred to conform to the breed standard, to ensure positive temperaments, and to be the best companion to those persons welcoming one into their families. Just take a look at those adorable puppies by following the link below!
Future Breedings
A new litter is just around the corner.
Health Certs
Other Considerations for your puppy
Enhance the Riptide Portuguese Water Dog puppy experience simply by having your new puppy remain with me for an additional Two Weeks. In this time, the Powerful Puppy Culture Training program will be completed. The fee for this specialized training/boarding is currently $250 per week. Your puppy will come home having already been exposed to and learned the following:
| Early Neurological Stimulation | Emotional Resiliency Exercises | Safe and Early Socialization |
| The Enrichment Effect | Developmental and Fear Periods | Puzzles, Games, and Problem Solving |
| Anti-Aggression Protocols | Leash Walking | Recall |
| Potty Training | Crate Training | Manding |
| Problem Prevention: Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety, Biting, and Jumping |
For more info on the Puppy Culture Program click the Puppy Culture Heart below.
Once puppies are born we will upload images frequently.
Make sure to click on the button below to see them.