Monday, May 2, 2011

Easter pups!

Amore and Osiris had 4 gorgeous girls and 3 handsome boys on Easter Sunday! We were blessed with the 3 boys "Kinder", "Teddy" and "Jellybean" (JB) and 4 girls "Candy", "Bunny", "Robin" and "Ducky"


**We have one boy available**

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Burrow Is Available!

**ADOPTED**

Burrow is a lovely boy from our Flare and Osiris litter born January 25, 2011. He's our fuzzy teddy bear who's very cuddly and super sweet. We are looking for a loving pet home for this young man. If you are interested in more information about adopting Burrow email us at tollchester@gmail.com

Why Is Your Breeder Important?

Tollers are all cute as puppies and choosing the right puppy for you can be a difficult task for an average owner.... You are not alone! This is the primary reason why having a breeder with knowledge of the breed and their pedigree's is extremely important.

Are you a family who's active, loves outdoor activities and wants a puppy to be able to "keep up" with your active lifestyle? Then you probably would want a puppy that has high to moderate energy out of the home. A puppy who can hike, bike and play all day with your family. If you are also a family who enjoys down time at home after school and enjoys playing video games, spending time on the computer or just having a little R and R after work? Then you probably would want that same puppy to be able to settle down and sit by your feet or next to you on the couch during these times... not one who will be running laps in your living room!

Your breeder should discuss with you what level of energy you are looking for in a dog and what lifestyle your family has. A knowledgable breeder will be able to give you guidance on puppy selection by helping determine which puppies in their litter are high/moderate or low energy. The level of energy of the puppy determines what activities this puppy can commit to. Your breeder should also be able to tell within the first 8 weeks which of these puppies has an "off" switch. A high energy puppy with an off switch can make a great dog for an active family who likes spending time doing a little R and R. While a puppy without an offswitch will need a dedicated family who has someone at home a majority of the day to occupy the puppies time with activities to keep the puppy stimulated.

Your breeder should also meet you or discuss with you what training background you have had and what temperament you are looking for in a puppy from a training perspective. The breeder uses this information to determine if you are looking for a alpha/omega/beta dog in temperament. A knowlegable breeder has the ability to evaluate the level of dominance each puppy has along with how submissive they are to determine the best method of training for the puppy.

On Average, many people tend to be attracked to the alpha dogs in a puppy pack because they are the most assertive puppies. These puppies are typically the ones who will be the first on your lap and the first to nip your nose. They are also the 'leaders' of their litter and the other pups tend to follow or challenge them. When a breeder evaluates the litter for a family and average companion dog is not a dominant/alpha dog in characteristics. An average family is looking for a puppy who's easy to train and takes to leadership fairly effortlessly.. these dogs are typically omega and beta dogs in the litter.

Last but deffinetly not least is how your dog is put together! A hands on aproach is always the best way for a breeder to accurately evaluate the structure of your puppy. Pictures of the litter are a great tool to look at and help with final decisions and we use pictures and mirrors in all our litters for evaluations. However, hands on will give you a better feel for how the coat is altering appearance of the dog. Hands on also helps you uncover things like incorrect joint formation, hernias, and incorrect bites. Make sure your breeder has fully evaluated your dog prior to 9 weeks of age. A structurally sound dog is not only a 'better' show dog it's also a 'better' preformance dog, working dog, and family dog. Any dog who will be excercising more then 45mins a day needs to be correct in structure in order to preform accurately.

It doesn't matter if the dog you are purchasing is for show, preformance or 'just a pet' you want the puppy that is best suited for your home. We suggest choosing a breeder with at least 5 years experience in their breed. If he/she doesn't have years of experience, then it's important they have leadership from a mentor who does. Many of the traits discussed above can be seen at 6-7 week evaluations so we encourage all puppy people to make sure their breeder is doing temperament testing on their pups prior to placement. The most important thing is trust your breeders instincts on your puppy!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

"Taz" is looking for a pet home!

**TAZ HAS A HOME IN ARMSTRONG BC**

Taz, Tollchester's Wild Child is available from the Osiris and Diva litter born January 9, 2011. He is a very outgoing sweet boy who loves hugs and kisses. Taz is a family man with moderate energy. He has a lovely off switch which provides him with the energy to play with your children and yet when indoors he will chill and watch TV with you. We are looking for a loving companion home were he can be a wonderful family pet.

**Both is parents are health tested and come from a long line of health tested and champion show dogs**

If you are interested in Taz email us at tollchester@gmail.com

"Fly" is looking for a companion home!

**FLY HAS A HOME IN POWELL RIVER BC**

Fly, Tollchester There's Only One Way Up is a very handsome young man with a sweet temperament from the Harmony X MacKay litter born January 8,2011. He is the calmest toller you will ever meet, next to his mommy. He is a very cuddly boy who loves to snuggle on your lap. Fly has a slight independence with a mind of his own which could be a slight challenge for a family new to dogs. He is looking for a loving companion home where he can be a loving pet for a wonderful family.

**Both his parents are health tested and come from a long line of health tested and champion show dogs**

"Fizz" is looking for a preformance home!

**FIZZ HAS A HOME**


Fizz, Tollchester's Seven Up is a gorgeous boy from our Harmony X Mackay litter. He is very sweet and loves kisses. Fizz is a very smart boy who will be fun to train because he loves to 'work'. He has moderate energy with a wonderful 'off' switch making him a perfect companion for in the home as well as in the field. We are looking for a loving companion home for him who is interested in doing conformation, sports or hunting with him.


**Both of his parents are health tested and come from a long line of health tested and champion dogs**

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Steve is looking for a home!


**STEVE HAS A HOME**

For those of you who have seen 'Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs' our Steve is not a talking monkey with a mustache fetish! He is the best toller puppy a family could have. Steve is a mommas boy who is a very dedicated family man. He loves to spend time with his family and will do anything to keep you happy. Steve is very smart and learns very quickly! He is a gentle man and a very sweet natured boy. Steve is a typical toller who is slightly aloof and will alarm bark at new people on his property. However with people he knows and loves he's has been known to melt anyones heart who is close to him.
We are looking for a loving companion home for this young man. He needs a home with a family who can love him forever.
If you are interested in Steve email us at mailto:tollchester@gmail.com for more information.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Up Litter

The "Up" litter born January 8, 2011 
 Sky (F), Cheer (F), Fly (M), Flip (M), Coaster (M), Fizz (M), and Spark (M)
  *2 girls and 1 boy are reserved. We will be accepting 4 male applications for this litter*





"Mackay" BPIG CAN CH Tollchester's All Fire'd up is a gorgeous boy from the only AKC/CKC Best In Show female to male breeding in the history of the toller!
  He has been bred to our amazing girl "Harmony" AM CH Tollchester's California Dreamin who is the sweetest toller you will ever meet!
 
We are extremely excited about this breeding which should produce not only gorgeous tollers but also puppies with wonderful companion temperaments! 
  We currently have three reservations held by Leanne Armstrong of North Vancouver, Shayne St.Germaine of Vancouver BC and one will be staying at Tollchester. If you have more questions about this breeding or would like to place your name on the reservation list for a puppy email us at tollchester@gmail.com

The Child Litter

The "Child" litter born January 9, 2011 
 Angel (F), Bacardi (F), Dazzle (F), Slash (M), Chucky(M), Hank (M), and Taz (M) 
 *We have 1 boy and 2 girls are reserved! We will be accepting 3 male and 1 female applications for this litter*


 
 

"Osiris" CAN LUX CH Tollwest Tollchester Turn'M On is a gorgeous boy from BELGIUM. He has a ideal family companion temperament and is a true ladies man.
 
 He was bred to our lovely girl "Diva" Tollchester's Problem Child who is a very sweet and cuddly companion. We anticipate moderate energy puppies with a wonderful family companion temperament and lovely structure.

This litter should produce some all around wonderful dogs that posess the abilities to do what ever their owners put their minds to.


We currently have three reservations held by Yves and Loni of Nanaimo BC, Randy McKinnon of South Surrey and one will be staying at Tollchester. If you are interested in the litter or have more questions feel free to contact us at tollchester@gmail.com

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Your Puppys First Day Home

Your puppies first day in your home is one of its most important! Remember: Be prepared!
Before your puppy gets home it's time to puppy proof your house!
  1. Make sure all electrical cords are stored away from the puppy
  2. Make sure you have trash cans with lids or your garbages are out of site and out of mind. Hidding them in cupboards or on counter tops is a good way to store them away from your puppy
  3. Make sure all dangeous liquids are in a safe place. Tollers are extremely smart so if your puppy learns to open cupboards I'd encourage baby proofing the cupboards so they can't be opened
  4. Clear of any tables that the puppy can reach on 2 or 4 feet!
  5. Make sure all chewable objects are stored away (including socks and underwear!) Make sure you have a plethora of toys to give your puppy to occupy his/her time
Toys to get your retriever include squeeky rubber balls, rubber tennis balls, teddy bears, kong which you can fill with peanut butter, frisbee etc.. Remember your puppy maybe too nervous the first day to play so give him/her time to warm up to your family and their new home.

Puppies can be nervous their first day in their new home and environment. To ensure your puppy doesn't get lost make sure you have an ID tag prepared for your puppy with his/her name on it along with your phone number. Your puppy will previously be microchipped with a CKC identification which will initially direct the puppy back to your breeder. However, there's never any harm having too much identification for your puppy!

Make sure you have a place for your puppy to sleep. Crates are a great option for a puppy because it creates a den like environment for them. Crate training is a wonderful tool for car travel, air travel as it provides a comfortable, quiet, safe environment for your puppy. I highly recommend crate training and when crate training always keep it simple and FUN! Check out our crate training page for more information on how to successfully crate train your puppy. If you don't have a crate a dog bed in a quiet environment in the home is another option. Some puppies are used to sleeping in a pack with their sibblings so having something cozzy to snuggle up with is always a good option - a large blanky or teddy bear.

Your puppy may need to go to the bathroom when you arrive home. Make sure you take him/her out to the area you wish for them to use. When they potty in the area give them lots of praise prior to bringing them indoors. Typically our puppies will be litter box trainned with shavings prior to going to their new home. If you provide them with a shavings box make sure you place it in a area where you can see them going into the box. When the puppy approaches the box pick them up and take them outside. More on potty training can be found on the potty training page.

Your natural instinct is going to make want every family member to hold the puppy 24/7. The first day is important for your puppy to learn about his new environment so make sure there is a good balance between snuggles and time for your puppy to investigate your home. Snuggling creates a great bond between you and your puppy so they are important. However, investigating makes the puppy comfortable in a new environment and opens them up to their surroundings. Balance is the key to success!

When your puppy is exploring your home and property remember not to leave them unattended. You can follow them around or encourage them to different areas of the home by calling them. The key the first day is to make sure the environment your puppy is introduced to is quiet and calming. Loud noises may frighten your puppy so introducing them slowly is the best option.

The best place for your new dog to meet other dogs is within your yard. Once they are comfortable with the environment that place makes for a great environment to learn and interact.

Once your puppy has finished exploring, cuddlying and interacting with your family it's time to introduce meal time. Make sure the puppy is relaxed and calm when dinner time approaches. Don't forget! Let your puppy outside each time they eat, drink or sleep to ensure potty training success!

KEY! Don't start training the first day. It's always very tempting to take your puppy out once you get home to introduce them to everyone and everything but please wait a day. This day will already be overwhelming for your puppy and it's important for them to focus on their new environment and the people within it.

Friday, December 31, 2010

15 Things To Look For In A Breeder

Choosing a Breeder
 
1. Please don't buy a puppy because he's less expensive than another puppy of the same breed. You may be sacrificing quality. Ask your breeder why his/her puppies are "cheeper" then another breeder to ensure you are getting what you pay for! It may be worth spending that extra $200 now rather than paying $2,000 when health or behavior problems arise.

2. Never buy a puppy from a pet store. Too often these puppies come from "puppy mills". If you don't know what a puppy mill is, look up the term "puppy mill" on the internet or call your local animal shelter. The only way to stop puppy mills is to stop buying puppies from pet stores. This does not include those pet stores that have shelter puppies available for adoption.

3.Good pedigrees will contain such abbreviations as the following by dog's names: Ch. (show champion), CD (obedience-companion dog), UD (obedience-utility dog). These titles prove the dog, by whose name they appear, has good body structure and/or does well in obedience work. There are numerous other titles so check which titles mean what and why they may be important for your breed.

4. Keep in mind that though a litter is advertised as AKC/CKC registered doesn't mean they're quality pups. AKC/CKC registered means that the puppy is eligible for registration with the American Kennel Club or the Canadian Kennel Club. For quality, look at pedigrees and health records.

5.The breeder should know what their breed was meant to do, general history of the breed, health problems that may affect their breed, and what homes their pups would do best in. Be wary of the breeder that makes their breed out to be perfect. They usually are just interested in money since no breed is perfect for everyone.

6.The breeder should ask you questions before they agree to sell you a puppy. Such as: Do you have time to care for a puppy properly? Can you afford feeding/grooming costs? Where will the puppy live (indoors/outdoors)? Why do you want a puppy?

7.A health guarantee should be given with every purebred puppy sold. The breeder is responsible for bringing your puppy into the world and therefore should be responsible for it until it no longer graces the earth. Breeders offer varying guarantees so check out what hereditary health problems may affect your breed and be sure your health guarantee covers it to some extent. Dont expect the guarantee to cover such things as accidents, parasites, nonhereditary diseases, etc. You should also have at least 72 hours after picking the puppy up from the breeder to take your new pup to your vet. If your vet should find a health problem your breeder should allow you to return the puppy and choose another one, wait until the next litter arrives to choose one, or return your money.

8.If you're buying a large breed puppy be sure the health guarantee covers hip dysplasia. Most breeders will either reimburse a portion, or all, of the cost of the pup or give you another puppy from another litter should your puppy be diagnosed with hip dysplasia at two years of age.

9.Never buy a puppy from some one who breeds more than three different breeds of dogs. People who breed more than that are usually out for money and dont care about the quality of their puppies.

10. Check out your local animal shelter for a puppy. They are often overfilling with puppies and dogs looking for a home. Often, dogs adopted from animal shelters turn out to be wonderful pets. They're just happy you gave them a second chance at life!

11.If you want a purebred dog but dont plan on entering any competition, look into your local breed rescue club. They often have adult dogs looking for new homes and sometimes puppies.
 
12.When deciding on a breeder or animal shelter, check where the puppies are raised. If the pen is dirty the pups may be difficult to house train.

13Ask your local vet if they know anyone with puppies the breed you are looking for. The vet can tell you if the parents are healthy and if the breeder is some one you'd care to buy a puppy from.
14.Get references from your breeder of others that own puppies from them. Call these people and ask them to tell you about their experience with their breeder and if they would recommend getting a puppy from the breeder. Theres no better way to find out about how ethical a breeder is and check the quality of their pups than talking to people who have dealt with them in the past.
 
15. Trust your instincts! If you feel uncomfortable with a breeder, leave. Don't be afraid to tell the breeder you'll just keep looking. A reputable breeder will understand.

Dis is available to an approved home!


"Dis" Tollchester Not Likely, born on July 23, 2010 is available to an approved home.

**Both come from a line of champions and health tested tollers**

Dis is a very cuddly boy who loves to be with you. He's our "teddy bear" who loves to be on your lap. Dis is a smaller boy who will likely be around 35-40lbs full grown. He will be too small to be a show dog but would make an ideal companion. His structure is superb which also would make him a fun dog to try agility or flyball with. This special boy is looking for a home to love and snuggle him.

Dis's purchase price includes CKC registration, microchip, vet check, vaccinations, deworming, temperament testing, conformation evaluations, and a puppy package which includes toys, collar, and a written contract including rebates on health clearances/spay or neuter.

If you are interested in Dis or would like more information feel free to contact us at tollchester@gmail.com

Friday, November 12, 2010

Confetti is looking for a home!

**Confetti has found a home**

"Confetti" Tollchester's Birthday Wishes is available to an approved home interested in adding this lovely young lady to their family. She is from our "Tyson" BISS CAN AM CH Anando's Off Center Toller Tyson and "Piper" CAN CH Tollchester's Christmas Wish litter born July 23, 2010.


**Both Parents are health tested and come from a line of champions**


Confetti is an outgoing girl who is very sweet and intelligent. She would make a great family pet because she is a people pleaser and learns quickly. Confetti would do well in recreational agility as she is a moderate energy girl who is very agile.


Confetti's purchase price includes CKC registration, microchip, vet check, vaccinations, deworming, temperament testing, conformation evaluations, and a puppy package which includes toys, collar, and a written contract including rebates on health clearances/spay or neuter.


If you are interested in Confetti or would like more information feel free to contact us at tollchester@gmail.com

Bliss is looking for a home!

**Bliss is living with a lovely foster family in Mission BC**


"Bliss" Tollchester Love Is Divine is a pretty girl from our co-owners litter in North Vancouver from "Picasso" CAN CH Jocar's Mystic Self Portrait, and "Lucy" Tollchester I Love Lucy. She is available to an approved home interested in showing and/or breeding. We would also consider a companion home that is interested in letting us show/breed Bliss.

Bliss is a gorgeous female from our 'Love' litter by Picasso and Lucy born August 12, 2010. She is an outgoing girl with a 'look at me' personality. She is a great combination of outgoing and smart with sweet and cuddly making her an ideal companion for a loving family.

If you are interested in Bliss or have questions feel free to email us at tollchester@gmail.com

Destiny is looking for a home!

"Destiny" Tollchester's Future Wish is a lovely girl from our "Tyson" BISS AM CAN CH Anando's Off Center Toller Tyson, and "Piper" CAN CH Tollchester's Christmas Wish, litter born July 23, 2010. She is available to an approved home interested in showing/breeding. We would also consider a companion (pet) home who would be interested in us showing/breeding Destiny.

Destiny is an outgoing girl who is independent and ver confident. She is a girl who knows what she wants and tries to use her jeti skills to get her way. She would make a wonderful show dog as she is very self assured and a bit of a show off!

If you are interested in Destiny or would like more information feel free to contact us at tollchester@gmail.com