We have been raising dogs under the "Bydand" prefix since 1973, with our first litter of Gordon Setters, and have been committed to health, soundness, and temperament since the very beginning. (In fact, there are Bydand dogs in the OFA database dating back to the 1970s!) That commitment continues to this day.
Along the way, we've also produced dozens of champions (and multiple Group-winning dogs) in three different breeds under the Bydand name, because we believe every purebred dog, even the ones who are "just pets", should be good-looking as well as healthy, and when it comes to looks, quality begets quality.
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Because of our reputation for producing consistant quality and our depth of health-screening, Bydand is what is often referred to as a "breeders' breeder". Many of our puppies have found their way into some of the best of the up-and-coming Silk breeding programs either as sires or foundation brood bitches, and all have been successful in the show ring. In addition to many Best of Breed and Award of Merit winners across the country, two of the last three HSDAA National Specialty winners (both owned by Helen and Frank Conticchio of Concordia kennels) have carried the Bydand name.
But because we generally only select a pup or two from each litter for show/breeding homes, the overwhelming majority of Bydand pups end up as well-loved family members, and often as therapy dogs. These pups display the same beauty, elegance and lovely silky coats as their show-going cousins, and we are every bit as proud of them, for they are truly the ambassadors for the Bydand breeding program.
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| Because Silks are an extremely social breed, our dogs live with us in the house. All the adults are reliably housebroken and we do not use "indoor potty stations."
They have their own room right off the kitchen set up with ex pens for eating and sleeping (and to provide security to prevent accidental breedings when needed!) as well as a grooming area.
Opening directly off the dog room are two large oak-shaded play yards, surrounded by a six foot privacy fence and adjacent to the screened-in pool deck.(Athough they are good swimmers, access to the pool is strictly limited and supervised for safety reasons.)
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An additional acre and a half of shaded lawn surrounded by a secure chain link fence provides ample room for some serious racing, which keeps them extremely well-muscled and fit, as well as providing a training area for practicing retrieving and "off-lead recall", which we believe is critical to every dog's safety and well-being.
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| Our puppies are all whelped in expens in the dining area right off the kitchen, so that they get maximum socialization right from birth. We have not used solid whelping boxes in the last 30 years, because we we've realized over the years that they are detrimental to optimum early development.
From the moment their eyes open, Bydand puppies have a view of the larger world.
It is interesting that when raised this way, puppies are much quieter - we never have the constant "puppy yipping" characteristic of a litter raised in a box.
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| As the puppies grow, the screened divider is simply moved out farther, giving them room for a piddle pad and then a litter pan. Once they are ready for weaning (which is a decision we leave up to each individual mom!) their expen is moved into the dog room, so their moms can keep an eye on them, and they begin going outside first thing in the morning to their own little outdoor pen along with the big guys. By 10 weeks, they are already on their way toward understanding the housetraining concept.
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Our standards for breeding and raising puppies meet all the criteria for identifying a good breeder as defined by the Humane Society of the United States. You can access the HSUS criteria (which are arguably the most stringent anywhere) by simply clicking HERE.
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