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We have
no puppies at this time.
Next
planned breeding: early 2010
 Ariosa's
goal is to consistently breed dogs of excellent
working drive, temperament, conformation, and health, all
while retaining the clown-like characters we love. As we specifically
choose parents with working temperaments,
puppies will be placed only in homes
with previous dog experience.
(My apologies, having a dog while growing up does not count!)
We are dedicated to matching families
with appropriate puppies. To start the process for a pup from Ariosa,
e-mail
lisa@ariosa-swds.com
. Please start the conversation by
including a brief description of what you are looking for in a puppy and
how you decided upon adding a Spanish Water Dog to your family. I'll be
looking for active, dog-experienced households. The pups from this
litter will be moderately-driven SWDs and will thrive in homes which can
provide a thinking job and regular exercise. Once the breeding has taken
place, I'll send interested folks a Puppy Packet and Questionnaire. The
Questionnaires are designed to help you tell me what you are looking for
in a pup.
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TIMELINE
Ariosa pups are ready to go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age,
after their temperament tests and conformation evaluations.
Temperament Testing
at 7 weeks: This test can be a real nail-biter. Each puppy is
individually tested for several characteristics including curiosity,
self-assuredness, friendliness toward strangers, desire to retrieve, and the
ability to recover from surprising sights and sounds. The test can be a
little iffy--sometimes a pup may be just settling down for a nap when its
his turn! But looking back on the results from previous litters, the tests
have pretty accurately predicted adult temperament. It is just another
insight into the puppies that helps me place puppies appropriately in their
new homes.
Conformation Evaluation
at 8 weeks by AKC judge
Pat Hastings. This
evaluation gives me insight as to what the dog will or won't be able to
physically do as an adult. This helps me place the puppies into homes
appropriate for their builds. For example, a common conformational problem
in all breeds is a "ewe neck", a condition where the ligaments in the neck
are attached in such a way that the neck can be bent backwards to a greater
degree than usual. A ewe-necked dog will not have difficulties tracking,
chasing balls, doing regular agility, obedience or most other activities.
However, the muscles in his neck will tire more quickly while swimming, the
rear will slowly sink, and the dog will have difficulty propelling himself
forward--not the best candidate for the boating family.
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