Breeding & Caring For The Puppies That Become Working Dogs Dogged Justice

How many loads of laundry does it take to raise a puppy? Who takes care of the pregnant dogs? How are the dogs paired for breeding? Colleen & Jim are joined by Breeder Caretaker Wendy Clock Johnson from Canine Companions for Independence to answer all our puppy breeding and raising questions. They also discuss why this process is so important for successful working dogs. 
 
Episode Highlights 
1:00 - Meet Wendy Clock Johnson the Breeder Caretaker for Canine Companions For Independence 
3:30 - How Wendy becoming a breeder caretaker 
5:30 - The process for breeding and and length of service
7:30 - What happens if a breeder caretaker needs help 
9:30 - The challenges of socializing dogs right now
12:15 - All the loads of laundry to do!
14:45 - From pregnancy, to whelping boxes 
19:30 - Maximum puppy cuteness, Jim shares the science
23:15 - Pairing the dogs for breeding
26:30 - Seeing characteristics passed from parent to puppy
27:45 - Recognizing the skills generationally 
30:15 - Wendy shares a few examples she’s seen 
31:30 - Why purposeful breeding is useful
34:00 - Mission critical tasks we rely on dogs for
36:30 - History, hit rate, and choosing the environments
39:00 - Milestones the breeder caretaker manages 
40:30 - An unexpected conditioning moment 
42:45 - When puppies are ready to go to the puppy raiser
44:30 - Delivering the puppies to the raiser & when they return 
48:00 - Wendy’s experiences working in these programs
49:00 - The types of working dogs that Canine Companions for Independence raises
52:10 - Identifying the characteristics to put the dog in the right working environment
54:30 - Collen reflects on the observed actions dogs pick up
56:00 - Frannie’s personality that Jim enjoys
58:00 - Blake asks for dessert
59:30 - Sabina & Mara at home with Wendy
1:02:30 - The social media puppy raisers have created 
1:04:00 - When public has been surprised by these dogs
1:06:00 - The moments that make this work great
1:10:00 - Where dogs go to when they are not able to be placed as working dogs
1:13:00 - A special community built around raising these dogs
1:14:30 - What happens when Sabina & Mara retire
1:17:00 - Roles of the dogs after they are retired 


Links To References
Canine Companions for Independence 
Assistance Dogs Of The West - Facebook 
PADS - Pacific Assistance Dogs Society