Our Responsible Ridgy Didge Breeding Program
We select the very best pup from each litter to breed into the next generation. Not every selected puppy makes it to the breeding program, and this is heart-breaking at times, but we think the results are worth our stringent standards.
When old enough, each selected pup is genetically tested and health screened:
- genetic testing for all screen-able canine diseases, there are 39 at the moment and it is continually increasing.
- the coat is tested for fleece/wool,
- teeth are checked for alignment,
- hips & elbows are X-rayed for joint integrity,
- eyes health is checked
- heart health is checked, and
- temperament is evaluated.
All of this is a very big investment in time and money, but is so very important for our puppies, families and the breed.. See the full list of tests on our Genetic & Health Screening page.
Breeding Grounds
Our breeding dogs live with their forever families from the time they are 8 weeks old. This ensures every dog has their own family to love and be loved and to live a very enriched life.
We live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and so do our guardian families.
Cobberdogs love the sand and water, and our dogs love visiting the pristine beaches. Our dogs are part of a family, and they enjoy traveling and socialising.
Your family is welcome to visit your puppy after first vaccinations and health checks.
Ridgy Didge Parent Dogs
Cobberdogs are very special to us. So here at Ridgy Didge all our parent dogs are real loved pets with families and homes. They live with local guardian families. Find out about our Guardian Program here.
We work closely with our guardian families to keep the dogs as healthy and happy as they can be. These dogs come in to our property at mating and whelping time. The guardian mother dogs only have two litters of pups before they are retired from breeding, and live permanently with their families.
All our puppy parents are DNA screened for potential common diseases and very carefully considered before being mated. This ensures the best mother-father combination. We look at temperament, size, coat type and colour, strengths and weaknesses. By doing this we are confident we can provide the very best possible little pups that grow into beautiful pets.
Ridgy Didge Puppies
Birth
Ridgy Didge puppies are born inside our home with us by their side. Whelping, as it is called, can take up to eight hours and just like humans, the mums sometimes get tired and need help. We simply observe during the entire process, occasionally providing a little assistance and support. If there is ever urgent need, we are just ten minutes away from a 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital.
Handling
Having puppies in our home means they get lots of family stimulation from day one, especially when grandchildren visit and have gentle, supervised cuddles. It also gives us good opportunity to start Early Neural Stimulation (ENS). This involves handling the puppies daily, by gently turning them on their backs and stroking their tummies, placing them on different textured surfaces, tickling between their toes and so much more. All of this attention prepares Ridgy Didge puppies for lives as wonderful, tolerant, resilient, affectionate Australian Cobberdogs.
Growing Up, Weaning & Diet
Once they start to move around and explore, our pups go outside into spacious pens with grassed runs. Because of this, the pups very quickly learn to toilet outside their room. They have lots of things to play with and to look at and experience. These include enrichment equipment, moving bridge, wobble board and plenty of textured toys and tunnels.
Mum still feeds the pups twice daily until about six weeks then they are weaned. The puppies’ diet then consists of Lyka in various flavours. During their last weeks with us, from six to eight weeks of age, we start crate training, just a couple of hours a day. Pups also learn to sit before their meal becomes available. Smart little cobbers learn so quickly. At night they come inside again where we have heat mats in winter and air conditioning in summer.
Health Care
Our puppies are wormed at two, four, six and eight weeks of age. Regular shampooing in organic wool wash begins at four weeks, and then they are dried and their ears cleaned and nails trimmed ever so carefully. This bathing routine also takes place before each vet visit and before leaving us to go to their new home. The puppies are vet checked, vaccinated and micro-chipped at 7 weeks, and health cleared before going off to their families at 8 weeks of age. The pups go home with four weeks of free pet insurance from Trupanion.
Photo Records
We take plenty of photos along the way to send to the puppies’ respective families so they can be part of their early growing up. This is really important for our further-away and interstate adoption families who usually can’t visit.
Going Home
All puppies go to their new families between 8 and 9 weeks. The Pedigree with MDBA (Master Dog Breeders Association) Registration Number comes later, once all puppy names are submitted. Pups go home with four weeks of free Pet Care pet insurance. They have started crate training and toileting and puppy parents are given loads of information to help make their transition as smooth as possible.
