Why choose grifscamp?
Committed to Health and Temperament
I, Marilyn, raised Katherine on a small hobby farm and we were blessed to be able to raise many different types of animals. Katherine was active in 4-H and FFA throughout her childhood and amassed a collection of trophies by the time she graduated. Those early years created a love for animal husbandry and started a knowledge base that she still draws from today. I grew up on a small farm as well, my mother was raised on a dairy, so farm-life runs in our blood!
We raise our dogs in the house, in the middle of everything we do. There are no outdoor kennels, no separate barns, no concrete runs. The dogs have never spent a night outside, they sleep in our bedrooms. We focus on introducing certain forms of stimulation at just the right time to create the largest benefit for their future family life.
One of the things we love to do, is help families feel connected to the entire experience. We invite families to visit while their puppy is growing up, so they can share in the wonder and all of the changes over the 8 weeks of development. There are safety protocols in place, and everyone must follow them to allow in-person visits, but the benefits are priceless!
The Grifscamp difference starts before the puppies are even born
All of our breeding dogs have been certified to OFA standards for hearts, eyes and patellas. If a dog doesn't pass the health testing, we won't breed them. We also do DNA testing for the major genetic conditions that plague Cavaliers as a breed, only the healthiest dogs get into our program!
Pregnant mamas have 24 hour companionship for the last week of their pregnancy. It is extremely important to us that no one whelp their puppies alone. Most of the time, the mama-to-be sleeps next to Katherine and any signs of labor wake her up.
Once labor begins, we are both in attendance and each puppy is born into our waiting hands. We have a state of the art incubator, with oxygen concentrator, that helps us keep each puppy strong and warm during the whelping process.
The puppies are socialized from day one by being handled and cared for in our living room, at the very center of everything we do. They are not left alone for the first week, receiving 24-hour care and supervision. As they grow, they are introduced to the older dogs in our pack. We have a couple of mamas who love to mother ALL babies whether they birthed them or not!
Over the following weeks, they experience the vacuum, loud noises, noisy toys, different textures and temperatures, playtime on the deck, short separations from their litter and much more. Each new experience leads them closer and closer to a calm, confident temperament that approaches new things with curiosity...not fear.
By the time the puppies are 7 weeks old, they are confident and running through the house for playtime with each other and the older dogs. We encourage families to visit their puppies once a deposit has been placed and the puppies' eyes are open. That means that the entire litter gets socialized with additional people and the puppies know their families by the time they go home. Often, local families are able to visit weekly! (We have safety protocols that everyone is required to follow in order to visit in-person, we must keep the tiny babies safe)
The Grifscamp Difference doesn't stop at Go Home Day
We have a Facebook group that is just for people who have our puppies. That makes it a fun place to share photos, milestones and get support. Many people set up playdates and reach out to siblings through the group.
Our dogs are always welcome to come back to us for any reason. No judgment, they have a home with us until we find their next chapter. We are always here for you, for the lifetime of your dog.
Puppies in our litters are usually reserved by a week old, so don't wait! Get on the waitlist now! Grifscamp puppies are $2500-3500 depending on the parents/litter.
Thank you for checking us out and I look forward to helping you find a furry heartbeat soon!