Details of Tait's Bassets Program for Excellence
1. DATA- BASE
With help, we have created a data-base that allows us to track the life happenings of our puppies from conception to passing away. This includes all of the de-wormings, vaccinations and veterinarian physicals of every puppy. The “Daily Tasks” printouts make sure all of these events are done on time and recorded. During the “Departure” procedure, each customer receives a print of all of these events and our recommendations for the rest of the puppy shots.
2. GENETICS
We work very hard to select the best dogs to keep from our breedings and to acquire dogs that further our goals for excellence. We then want customers to report any significant health and temperament issues, so that we can offer advice and record these for making breeding decisions. We also welcome and enjoy compliments on our success. We retire any female or male not making consistently very nice puppies. Our data-base allows us to search the records of the offspring of each female and male as well as particular matings. Dogs we have acquired are from show champion bloodlines. We currently have one male that is a show champion.
3. TEMPERAMENT
We want our dogs and the puppies we produce, to be easy-going friendly. Not aggressively friendly (in your face), not grumpy aggressive, not shy, and not wanting to be dominant of their humans or other dogs (and therefore harder to train). We watch how our dogs behave here the kennel and get feedback from visiting customers, from phone calls and from emails. Frankly, Tait’s Bassets are known for their pleasant, friendly nature. The young dogs we choose from our breedings to stay here for breeding must be out of our best mothers and fathers and must show us as they grow that they have the temperament we want. Also, we will not hesitate to retire dogs that do not have the qualities we want. One of the advantages of having a sizable kennel is the luxury of having many litters to choose replacement breeding males and females from to continue to improve the quality of our puppies.
4. LONG TERM HEALTH
We work to maximize the likihood that each of our puppies grows up to be a healthy adult for the long term. We work to have them leave here healthy. We feeding them welland have them leave here eating dry Premium Edge puppy food. We doing routine treatments to assure as best possible that they are parasite free. And before leaving our veterinarian of 18 years, examines every puppy.
Also, by doing selection of our breeding stock based on data-base records and our knowledge and records of every individual adult, we have worked to minimize the likelihood of health and structural problems.
5. DOG FOOD
Quality food builds healthy mothers and puppies.
After much reading and in kennel trials, in the Spring of 2009, we returned to CANIDAE All-Life-Stages dry dog food. We have been very happy with the results. It is made with whole meats and fish, whole grains and lots of other good things. No meat by-products and no corn. (We have found that corn is a very common allergen in Basset Hounds.)
Here are links to their website:
This link is about CANIDAE - All Life Stages dog food:
http://www.canidae.com/dogs/all_life_stages/dry.html
This will tell you the closest CANIDAE dealer:
http://www.canidae.com/company/storelocator.html
We do sell small and large bags of this food to our customers.
6. LARGE OUTSIDE RUNS
24 hour access to our large outside runs is part of making our dogs happy and social. The runs average about 15’ wide and 50’ long.
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7. INNOVATIVE EFFECTIVE INSIDE STRUCTURES
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8. DEPARTURE PROCESS
Our procedure when the puppies leave here is very important to us. We want our customers to be fully ready to have a successful puppy ownership.
Information and training includes 16 page “Tait’s Bassets Instructions” for getting started with your puppy. Also, customers receive the Tait’s Bassets Guarantee and the Health Record detailing the de-wormings and shots given and recommended future shots.
9. EXPERIENCED CARING STAFF
There are currently four us working in the the kennel.
John Tait –Owner/manager. Started when he was 10 in 1960. He was away from kennel for about 10 years from 1969 to 1979. So, count about 42 years experience in Tait's Bassets kennel.
Jeff Davis –For 7 years has managed the health protocol and does most of the weekday chores and shares weekend chores and visitor care with Sara. He came to us as a very experienced vet tech.
Sara Aftewicz started working at the kennel on weekends the Summer of 2011. She came to us with a great deal of animal care experience. She does a great job of introducing our visitors to the kennel and our puppies and their parents.
Ev Kepler began helping in the office (Summer of 2011) one day a week (usually Tuesday.) She has Bob her Basset from our kennel and can answer many questions concerning our puppies.
Elton Tait – (50 years - “Kennel Master” Emeritus) passed away July 19, 2010.
10. “SERVICE AFTER THE SALE”
When needed, we want people ask for advice on training and health issues after they have their puppies at home. All of what we do here is aimed at a long, happy and successful for our puppies. Helping owners overcome problems is part of our total effort.