PUPPY OF THE DAY — Phantom - (boy)

Phantom - our amazing little black bear, is now 8 weeks old! (First 2 photos)

Available in the Innisfil/Barrie area or Bancroft (Ottawa) or Potentially Hamilton

There are lots of adorable puppies photographed on beautiful blankets with bows.

But what was that puppy doing before the picture was taken?

Those first weeks of your puppy's life are a remarkable period of neurological, social and emotional development. Your puppy isn't simply growing bigger. Your puppy is learning about people, other dogs, touch, movement, sounds, novelty, frustration, safety and the world around them.

Our puppies are not spending their first weeks simply waiting in a pen to go home. They experience life.

They go outdoors. They explore. They play. They interact with Mom, other dogs and people. They encounter new surfaces, smells, sounds and environments. They are handled, groomed, challenged appropriately and given opportunities to settle and regulate.

WHAT YOUR PUPPY HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED

• Extensive positive human handling and interaction
• Outdoor exploration, sunshine, grass, smells and nature
• Canine socialization and learning from Mom
• Everyday household sights and sounds
• Different people, surfaces and environments
• Beginning pee-pad/toileting routines
• Introduction to crate comfort
• Following a person and responding to human voice
• Beginning name and recall foundations
• Early sit/lure work
• Collar, harness and introductory leash concepts
• Handling of paws, ears, mouth and body
• Brushing and grooming exposure
• Appropriate redirection of jumping, biting and nipping
• Short periods of age-appropriate independence
• Learning how to settle and be calm

EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION — THE "SUPER DOG" PROGRAM

Our puppies have also completed Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS), commonly known as the Bio Sensor or "Super Dog" program, during the early developmental window.

Early stimulation programs have been associated with proposed benefits including greater stress tolerance, cardiovascular and adrenal responses, exploratory behaviour and adaptability. Research continues to examine the specific contribution of ENS separately from ordinary handling and enriched socialization.

We use it as one small part of a much larger developmental experience.

RAISED WITH A WHOLE-DOG APPROACH

We look at the entire puppy: nutrition, movement, sleep, human connection, emotional security, canine interaction, appropriate stimulation and exposure to the natural world.

Our adult dogs are raw fed, and puppies are introduced to a carefully managed fresh/raw diet as they transition from mother's milk.

Our philosophy is simple: build the strongest foundation we can from the beginning rather than waiting for problems to appear.

ABOUT THIS LITTER

• Coton de Tulear × Poodle
• Expected adult size approximately 14 lbs
• Mom is a registered Coton de Tulear with a wonderfully relaxed, affectionate temperament and is an exceptional mother
• Dad is a Poodle selected in part for his extraordinary colour genetics and is Embark tested
• Male and female puppies available
• Raised in-home in a holistic, enriched environment

The Coton de Tulear is a relatively rare, quiet, playful and affectionate cousin within the Bichon family, alongside familiar companion breeds such as the Maltese, Havanese and Bichon Frise.

AND YES... THOSE COLOURS

These puppies were deliberately bred with unusual and striking coloration in mind, and their colouring will continue to develop as their puppy coats mature.

Beauty may be what first catches your eye.

But how your puppy was raised is what you bring home.

When you picture your puppy beside you a year from now, or ten years from now, the colour will still be beautiful. But temperament, connection, confidence and the developmental foundation underneath that beautiful coat are what will shape everyday life together.

POTENTIAL THERAPY OR SERVICE PROSPECTS

One of our breeding and developmental goals is to produce stable, connected, people-oriented dogs with the potential to continue into therapy or appropriate service-related work. Temperament and suitability continue to emerge as the dog matures.

What we do is give your puppy an unusually thoughtful beginning.

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF


We invite you to come and watch.

• Watch how your puppy approaches people.
• Watch how your puppy explores.
• Watch how your puppy responds to handling.
• Watch the puppies interact with Mom and one another.
• See where and how they are being raised.
• Notice how your puppy settles into your hands.

See what feels right to you.

You're choosing the dog who may share your life for the next 15 years.

Available in the Innisfil/Barrie area.

Expected adult size: approximately 14 lbs
Ready: Mid-September 2026, at approximately 9 weeks
References always available
FaceTime calls available

Please call or text 905-923-7187.

Please do not email, as emails are easily missed. We are very happy to connect personally by phone, text or FaceTime.

A bow and a blanket make a beautiful photograph.

What happened during the other hours of your puppy's first eight weeks matters far more.