Our philosophy

The Leavitt bulldog has been created as a family and working dog; in order to respect the creator's breed vision, we work our dogs in different canine sports: dog dancing, obedience and agility. Two of our females has been or are Therapy dog: Pashmina has been visitin for 7 years elderly people suffering from Alzheimer, and Chula has also been accepted as a therapy dog.

In order to get a good family dog, but also a polyvalent dog in different canine sport, our puppies follow a precise programm from their 3rd day of life, until they they leave our kennel.

Early Neurological Stimulation

The U.S. Military in their canine program developed a method that still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called "Bio Sensor" was developed. Later, it became known to the public as the "Super Dog" Program. Based on years of research, the military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulation has optimum results. The first period involves a window of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. It is believed that because this interval of time is a period of rapid neurological growth and development, and therefore is of great importance to the individual.

The "Bio Sensor" program was also concerned with early neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. Its development utilized six exercises, which were designed to stimulate the neurological system. Each workout involved handling puppies once each day. The workouts required handling them one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in nor order of preference the handler starts with one put and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup. The handling of each pup once per day involves the following exercises:

1. Tactile stimulation - holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.

2. Head held erect - using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds

3. Head pointed down - holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds

4. Supine position - hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep struggle. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

5. Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation exercises:

1. Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate)
2. Stronger heart beats,
3. Stronger adrenal glands,
4. More tolerance to stress
5. Greater resistance to disease

Tactile stimulation

 

Head held erected

 

Head pointed down

 

Supine position

 

Thermal stimulation

14-21 days:

Things are getting faster: the puppies opened their eyes, they start to ear and vocalize, they start walking and pee and poo without the help of their mother. At the end of this week, around 20 days old, their teeth start to show up. They interact more together and start playing. This week is filled with important changes. It's time to move them out from the whelping box, to introduce new toys and visual objects, and to place them approximately 1 minute per day on a new surface.

The surfaces...

Abyss and Akash on a formed/silver colored cardboard.

Amarock and Arnold Bullnegger

A Panda Bear and Austin Mini Bully

A Small Girl and Angel

Aoutside and Angelina Bullie

Angel and A Small Girl on the plastic with bubbles

Aoutside and A Panda Bear

Austin Mini Bully and Arnold Bullnegger

Angelina Bullie and Amarock

Akash and Abyss

Austin Mini Bully and Abyss on the Fatboy

Angel and Angelina Bullie

A Panda Bear and A Small Girl

Amarock and Akash

Aoutside and Arnold Bullnegger

Aoutside and A Small Girl in the bath-tub

Amarock and Akash

Abyss and A Panda Bear

Angelina Bullie and Angel

Austin Mini Bully and Arnold Bullnegger

The whole team on a plastic cover

Afternoon with socialisation with kids, and as a new surface, a canvas carpet.

21-28 days:

The theme of this week is: the noise. We planned music, noise made with pans, vacuum, and some waking up with big noises. It's the perfect age for the puppies to lean dealing with sudden waking up, and then back to calm. They will also discover new places like the toilets, the living room, the office, ... they will be able to explore these places by themselves.

If their mother allows it, they will meet our other dogs, and eventually the cat (if she wants to!).

That's also the week of introducing dog food, first in a liquid form, and then less and less mixed.

The exploding balloon!

26th day, a little out under the sunshine

28- 35 days:

The puppies are now walking, their vision is quite complete, and they play longer together, but also with their mother. It's time to introduce longer periods outside, new objects and new challenges (escaladate things, go through obstacles, etc.). We will also spend more time with each puppy individually to promote their individuality. This will help them to deal with staying alone later on.

At home, we have installed a little dog house in the whelping box... It's fun to play or sleep in it!

Austin Mini Bully and her fist challenge!

We continue discovering new surfaces... the gravel

The outside pen with diverses obstacles

Puppies having fun in the playpen

5th to 7th week:

The next two weeks will be dedicated to 2 very important aspects of the puppy's life: potty training and socialisation with other people and animals. We will also continue to introduce new plays, new toys and new chanllenges.

As early as their 3rd week, when the puppies started to pee and poo by themselves, we have put absorbant mats in their whelping box, around their vetbed that is their sleeping area. Quickly most of the pups started using the mats. At 4 weeks old, we added a cat box with natural corn litter (used also for rodent and small animals). Again they quickly understood how to use it! After a week, most of their poos are made in their "toilets". The rest of the time, we take them out much as we can so they can do what needs to be done outside.

Here's an exemple of how we arrange the whelping box with the toilets:

6th week:

We took the car for a ride with the puppies and drove to the big road, just to have a look on the cars and motorbike passing by. That was on a sunday so it was quite calm... a good way to start and not to much for a first time.

Socialisation with a two days old lamb:

The gun shot:

Getting used to the crate (with a good meal!):

We introduced two new games:

We've been on a walk to see chickens!

7th week:

We take the puppies out of the property a little more, and we continue the socialisation: metting with a ferret, looking at bikes passing by, road trafic, etc. At the end of the 7th week, appointment at the vet for vaccination and miscroshiping.

8th week:

The puppies come with me at work: a petshop. Full immersion in city's life, meeting different dogs, little walks in the country, the puppies are meeting different type a humans beeing (children, elderly people, adults).

At the end of this week (2 month-9 weeks old), the puppies are living for their new houses... good luck to our little puppies!