I should add some details about my treatment of my dogs. Because I keep aboriginal breeds of dogs, I try to provide them more freedom then average dog owner does. It is important to see what the dog decides and what is better. Adel has two doghouses of similar size in her pen. One had carpet covered with hay and another one just carpet. She likes a thick layer of hay in winter. In the summer, two days prior to parturition, she began digging a lot, but did not make her den. Finally, she pulled out all the hay and the carpet in the doghouse, which she did not use much before. It was the mother, who made her choice. When I came to check her up, I moved all the puppies in the other doghouse with carpet on the floor. To my surprise, she immediately started moving the pups, one by one, back on the bare plywood floor. Well, mother nature knows the best. I keep and sell puppies of hunting breeds, not big toy breeds. Every puppy, if sold, goes with money back guarantee on health and genetic defects, if I did not notice some. One condition, the new owner should follow my instructions how to keep the dog. Most hunters find my conditions of keeping dog wonderful. Saluki is a hunting breed. A good mother Saluki keeps her nest and the puppies clean until they start walking and eating solid food. On the bare plywood floor it is much easier for her to keep it clean. If they need bedding, they always have the second doghouse a few inches apart and can move in. It is not new with my dogs, I had before. Mother dog does not want all that junk may people put for them, especially when weather is hot. If you keep toy breeds, you deprive your dogs of elementary choice of making their own decisions. If you experiment, you will learn more what your dogs really need. Keep them the natural way.
