SPECIAL REPORT

by Dr. Will Falconer

CHOOSING A NATURAL

REARING BREEDER

HOW TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

© 2019 Vital Animal

WHAT IS NATURAL REARING, ANYWAY?

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A very old term, natural rearing speaks to raising youngsters in a manner that respects Nature’s laws. We find ourselves in a tiny time warp now, in the past two hundred years or so, where we’ve lost touch with the natural world to a great extent.

People often don’t even believe their senses in our current age. Clients tell me stories of their naturally raised dogs drawing people in like magnets, unable to resist petting them and gushing over how magnificent they are.

Inevitable questions arise. “How did he get so amazingly beautiful, so strong, so agile, so perfect in his behavior, so…”

The answers scare them.

“We feed him a raw meat-based diet, similar to prey.” “He no longer gets pesticides for fleas or heartworm.” “He’s unvaccinated, and I’ve seen that alone made a huge difference, compared to my last dog.”

The questioner, once elated, gets a serious look on her face, stops petting that magnificence, and backs away a few steps.

“Oh.”

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Raising a natural youngster often includes those decisions just mentioned, among others. The goal is to bring the domesticated animal into the warp and woof of what’s kept the ancestors and wild cousins (wolf, bobcat, wild Mustang) thriving for millennia.

Yes, we live in modern times, but no, all that’s modern and domesticated does not necessarily produce health. Packaged food and vaccines are two perfect examples.

In fact, most of the truly vital animals I know have gotten that way by largely avoiding most modern medical practices, even though they are regularly sold as “prevention” and “being a responsible pet owner.”

You might be seduced briefly by that shiny package of pet food that promises to be “100% nutritionally complete.” But, upon digging a bit, you’d also learn the sordid history of those supposedly complete foods causing disease and death. Carnitine and taurine deficiencies happened.

Oops.

Like what’s being fed, what’s not dropped onto shoulders, and not injected, natural rearing would include fresh air, exercise, socialization, pure water, species appropriate fresh food and thoughtful decisions about neutering.

ELEMENTS OF NATURAL REARING

THE PROBLEM WITH SELF IDENTIFICATION

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You may have run into this: a vet calls herself “holistic,” and yet recommends revaccinating your already vaccinated animal. Perhaps every three years. Maybe even <cringe> annually. Both recommendations, by the way, even in the world of conventional veterinary medicine, have been recognized for decades to be baseless practices. Worse, they carry a significant risk of harming your animal.

If you’re aware, as I hope you are now, of duration of immunity, you’ll remember that veterinary immunologists (the folks who don’t sell vaccines, but study them thoroughly) called out way back in 1992:

“Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal…Furthermore, revaccination with most viral vaccines fails to stimulate an anamnestic (secondary) response…. The practice of annual vaccination in our opinion should be considered of questionable efficacy…”

So, what qualifies someone to append the word “holistic” to their job description? You guessed it, there are no real standards.

As a smart consumer, you need to be cautious with those who self identify and may do so to make a buck versus take their chosen job description seriously.

And so it is with “natural rearing” breeders and “holistic” vets.

The definition among the folks calling themselves NR breeders is wide ranging and vague. We surveyed all we could find and came up with quite a significant disparity among them in both adult and puppy management practices.

WHAT PART OF THIS IS NATURAL REARING, PLEASE?

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My researcher was tasked with finding the best of those calling themselves NR breeders, and we graded them for you in the list below.

There were actually some really surprising practices among her survey that were just obviously not going to qualify these folks to make the crème de la crème list at all.

Here are several practice from people who called themselves NR breeders:

Feeding a low quality kibble to the pups after weaning.(From heaven to hell)

Weaning before Mom was ready, like at 5 weeks old. (Economic decision?)

Sending to a new home by 6 weeks old. (See above: “These guys are just costing money, let’s get some cash!”)

Flea and tick and heartworm pesticides used in parental stock and/or youngsters

Vaccinating youngsters

Vaccinating breeding stock

Now, the last two may sound like “normal” procedures to some. But, while widely practiced, they are not in line with natural rearing principles. Remember, animals are not born broken and in need of “repair” or “completion” by a vaccination. Not true in the wild, and not true if you’ve got your natural rearing hat on while you’re making health decisions for domestic animals.

OUR GRADING SYSTEM

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I chose the criteria that I’d be looking for if I set out to buy a puppy today.

Here’s what we asked and how we assigned points:

I’d urge you to ask minimally these questions, and probably more:

1. Are you open to me sending you an immune boosting supplementfor my pup?

2. If I opt to, would you give my youngster nosodes for parvo anddistemper before I pick him up? 3. Do you sell me a pup free and clear ofobligations, to raise the way I see fit?

Question Award Criteria Points possible

Do you vac pups before homing? Winning Answer: No 20

Do you vac breeding animals? Winning A: No 20

What age weaning? Who decides?

1. A: Mom decides2. A: 8 weeks or older,

breeder decides

1. 202. 15

A: Raw, balanced diets 20

How many generations of pups have met these criteria?

1. A: 3+2. A: 1-3

1. 202. 10

BONUS PTS

Do you use a homeopathic vet (or equivalent) to treat your breeders constitutionally?

A: Yes 50

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE 150

What’s fed to weaned pups?

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Inherited chronic disease is common among all creatures down here on the planet. Perhaps you can track what your own parents suffered from and what health challenges you deal with and see the similarities.

My inherited disease was extremely clear:

Eczema appeared on my right thumb base in my late 30’s at the exact spot (!) that my mom rubbed creams and ointments into her right hand for years prior.

Prostate disease killed my dad, and both my elder brother and I had issues with our prostate glands. One got it later in life, one earlier. One got surgery, one not.

Unlike modern medicine, homeopathy, with its century’s long history shows the potential to cure the chronic diseases. Therefore, its highest use, in my mind, is using what’s called constitutional prescribing. This can be used to cure breeding adults, so that offspring come into the world with no or minimal inherited disease tendencies.

It surprised me as we surveyed breeders calling themselves natural rearers that so few took advantage of this. It takes a trained homeopath to do this work. It’s much more involved that using arnica for injury or arsenicum for diarrhea and vomiting.

A trained homeopath will hunt up recurrent symptoms (which might appear subtle, like shedding year round, doggy odor unless bathed regularly, weepy eyes, waxy ears, etc.) and find “whole animal remedies.”

These prescriptions are carefully chosen, carefully matched to the patient, carefully dosed, and carefully evaluated, until all symptoms disappear. AND (the important part) the whole patient is clearly left in top health, vital energy, balanced behavior, and stays that way without the continued use of remedies.

That state is called cure.

Breeders who told us they did this got bonus points for it. We asked who their vets were to verify this.

THE PROMISE OF HOMEOPATHY / BONUS POINTS

1.

2.

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THE LIST, PLEASE

So, here’s what we came up with, amid lots of attempts to contact breeders who never responded and many who were weeded out for things like vaccinating their puppies and breeding stock. Note: This list has been updated to nearly double the numbers of breeders who qualified, thanks to further research. Current to the best of our knowledge on May 28, 2019.

Breed Breeder BasicPoints

Bonus Points

Total

Australian Shepherd Kyanite Acres 100 150

Australian Shepherd Bonza Australian Shepherds 90 90

Australian Shepherd Olde Bay Aussies 70 70

Australian Shepherd Harvest Moon Aussies 100 100

Australian Shepherd Run Amok Farm 60 60

Bernese Mountain Dog Dr. Sara Fox Chapman 100 50 150

Border Collie Ignited Border Collies 100 100

Border Collie Sexy Beast Border Collies 70 70

Border Terrier Boldwin Border Terriers 100 150

Cane Corso PrideNJoyz Cane Corso 100 100

Carolina Dog Nature's Way Carolina Dogs 100 50 150

Catahoula Leopard Dog Cat's Cradle Catahoulas 100 50 150

Chihuahua MicMac Chihuahuas 100 100

Flat Coated Retriever Donibruk Flat Coated Retrievers 80 50 130

German Shepherd Stronghold German Shepherds 100 50 150

German Shepherd

Sapphire German Shepherds 100 50 150

Brandenburg German Shepherds 100 150

German Shepherd Von Mathausen German Shepherds 100 100

50

50

German Shepherd

50

Breed Breeder BasicPoints

Bonus Points

Total

50

German Shepherd Sapphire German Shepherds 100 50 150

German Shepherd Brandenburg German Shepherds 100 50 150

Great Danes and Ibizan Hounds GDAB Great Danes and Ibizan Hounds 100 50 150

Italian Greyhound Lepus Sighthounds 100 50 150

Italian Greyhound Rhamah Greyhounds 100 50 150

Nova Scotia Duck TollingRetrievers Portstar Tollers 100 50 150

Carolina Dog Nature's Way Carolina Dogs 100 50 150

Golden Retriever Stellar Goldens 100 50 150

German Shepherd Kriegsund German Shepherds 100 100

Golden Retriever Stellar Goldens 100 50 150

Golden Retriever Golden Paw Prints 90 50 140

Golden Retriever Gold C'Ker 100 100

Great Dane GDAB Great Danes and Ibizan Hounds 100 150

Havanese So Cute Havanese 100 100

Ibizan Hound GDAB Great Danes and Ibizan Hounds 100

Irish Wolfhound Arahu Irish Wolfhounds 100 100

Italian Greyhound Lepus Sighthounds 100 150

Italian Greyhound Rhamah Greyhounds 100 150

Boxer Gentry Boxers 100 100

Australian Shepherd Harvest Moon Aussies 100 100

Labrador Retriever Evenstar Labradors 100 100

Papillon Sherjak Papillons 100 100

Whippet Hound Kisharo Whippets 100 100

Australian Shepherd Run Amok Farm [14] 80 80

Golden Retriever Gold C'Ker 100 100

Vizlas Vitali Vizlas [15] 100 100

Standard Poodle Jeanette Hayward 100 100

West Hyland White Terrier Christine Swingle [16] 100 100

Newfoundland Affenbar Newfoundlands 100 50 100

Standard Poodle Brielle Poodles [17] 100 50 100

Sussex Spaniels Remedi Sussex Spaniels 100 50 100

Border Collie Borderflies [18] 100 100

Tibetan Terriers Trisong Tibetan Terriers 100 100

Border Collie Ignited Border Collie [19] 100 100

Cane Corso Pride N Joyz Cane Corso 100 100

Mastiff TailCreek Mastiffs [20] 100 100

Chihuahua Micmac Chihuahuas 100 100

Havenese So Cute Havenese [21] 100 100

Breed Breeder BasicPoints

Bonus Points

Total

Labrador Retriever Fall River Labrador Retrievers [1] 100 50 150

Bernese Mountain Dog Dr. Sara Fox Chapman [2] 100 50 150

Catahoulas Cats Cradle Catahoulas [3] 100 50 150

Border Terrier Boldwind Border Terriers [4] 100 50 150

Jack Russel Terrier Swanback Jacks [5] 100 50 150

Standard Poodles Genteel Standard Poodles [6] 100 50 150

German Shepherd Stronghold Germand Shepherds [7] 100 50 150

Australian Shepherd Kyanite Acres [8] 100 50 150

Leonberger American Beauty Leonburgers [9] 100 50 150

NewFoundland Moonribbon NewFoundlands [10] 100 50 150

German Shepherd Sapphire German Shepherds 100 50 150

50

50

Labrador Retriever Mining Camp Labradors 100 50 150

Newfoundland Blue Moon Newfoundlands 100 50 150

Golden Retriever Golden Paw Prints [11] 90 50 140

Flat Coated Retriever Donibruk Flat Coated Retrievers [12] 80 50 130

German Shepherd Von Mathausen German Shepherds 100 100

Irish Wolfhound Arahu Irish Wolfhounds 100 100

Australian Shepherd Bonza Australian Shepherds 100 100

Australian Shepherd Olde Bay Aussies 100 100

German Shepherd DDR Kriegsund German Shepherds DDR [13] 100 100

Shetland Sheepdog Behaven Shelties 100 100

Boxer Gentry Boxers 100 100

Jack Russel Terrier Swanback Jacks 100 150

Labrador Retriever Fall River Labrador Retrievers 100 150

Labrador Retriever Mining Camp Labradors 100 150

Labrador Retriever Evenstar Labradors 100 100

Lagotto Romagnolo Lagotto Lady Kennels 60 60

Leonberger American Beauty Leonbergers

Mastiff TailCreek Mastiffs 100

Newfoundland Blue Moon Newfoundlands

Newfoundland Affenbar Newfoundlands 100

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Portstar Tollers 100 50

Papillon Sherjak Papillons 100

50

Shetland Sheepdog Behaven Shelties 100

50

Standard Poodle Genteel Standard Poodles 100

Standard Poodle Brielle Poodles 100

Sussex Spaniel Remedi Sussex Spaniels 100

Tibetan Terrier Trisong Tibetan Terriers 100

Vizsla Vitali Vizslas 90

West Highland White Terrier Bonnie Brier 100

Whippet Hound Kisharo Whippets 100

50

50

50

50

50

50

50

100 15050

50

50

50

150

100

100

150

150

100

100

150

150

150

100

90

100

100

150

150

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16 Golden Retriever Golden Paw Prints 90 50 140

17 Flat Coated Retriever Donibruk Flat Coated Retrievers 80 50 130

18 German Shepherd Von Mathausen German Shepherds

100 100

19 Irish Wolfhound Arahu Irish Wolfhounds 100 100

20 Australian Shepherd Bonza Australian Shepherds 100 100

21 Australian Shepherd Olde Bay Australian Shepherds 100 100

22 German Shepherd DDR

Kriegsund German Shepherds DDR

100 100

23 Australian Shepherd Run Amok Farm 80 80

Breed BreederBasic

PointsBonusPoints Total

There were, unfortunately, not too many breeders to choose from who did everything “right” (my definition) and your breed of choice might well not be in this list.

The ones who do these true NR practices likely have their litters spoken for even before they are conceived. I suspect demand far outstrips supply. If that’s encouraging for you as a breeder, I urge you to seek out a good vet homeopath to get all your ducks in a row and up your game.

You’ll be doing a service not only to the continuity of the breed but to the pet owning public who wants the healthiest youngster possible to live a long, vital life with.

There are many lists out on the web of breeders claiming NR status and I’d urge you to exercise due diligence before you take any at face value.

IT’S STILL: BUYER BEWARE

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16 Golden Retriever Golden Paw Prints 90 50 140

17 Flat Coated Retriever Donibruk Flat Coated Retrievers 80 50 130

18 German Shepherd Von Mathausen German Shepherds

100 100

19 Irish Wolfhound Arahu Irish Wolfhounds 100 100

20 Australian Shepherd Bonza Australian Shepherds 100 100

21 Australian Shepherd Olde Bay Australian Shepherds 100 100

22 German Shepherd DDR

Kriegsund German Shepherds DDR

100 100

23 Australian Shepherd Run Amok Farm 80 80

Breed BreederBasic

PointsBonusPoints Total

There were, unfortunately, not too many breeders to choose from who did everything “right” (my definition) and your breed of choice might well not be in this list.

The ones who do these true NR practices likely have their litters spoken for even before they are conceived. I suspect demand far outstrips supply. If that’s encouraging for you as a breeder, I urge you to seek out a good vet homeopath to get all your ducks in a row and up your game.

You’ll be doing a service not only to the continuity of the breed but to thepet owning public who wants the healthiest youngster possible to live a long, vital life with.

There are many lists out on the web of breeders claiming NR status and I’d urge you to exercise due diligence before you take any at face value.

IT’S STILL: BUYER BEWARE

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I started out in conventional veterinary practice in 1980, using all the latest drugs and surgeries. After seven years, I was inspired to begin holistic re-training and established a full time, solo, homeopathic practice, treating animals globally from Austin, Texas.

To reach more people, I began blogging and sharing the wealth of information that I gleaned from years of study and holistic practice.

Around 2010, I made the connection that my sick animal patients were often falling ill from veterinary intervention that ironically, was being done in the name of prevention. I was spending my hours and days treating one sick animal at a time, many of whom were victims of over-vaccination, toxic pest control and toxic, lifeless diets, and yet these preventable problems weren't going away, because the diseases were now often chronic and long lasting.

Today I live on 200 acres of pristine nature in the Hill Country of Central Texas and I'm inspired daily by walking the land there and swimming in natural water ways. Animals that visit my clinic often think they are just visiting a friend…and the truth is, they are.

ABOUT ME

My calling to teach became crystal clear, and Vital Animal was born. I educate animal owners how to raise wildly healthy animals in tune with timeless natural laws.

My purpose is to help you sidestep the damage of conventional “prevention” with a better way, which I call The Natural Path.

Welcome to the natural path,

Dr. Will Falconer

I'm glad you're here and I look forward to serving you and your vital, healthy animals. Make sure you stay up to date with all the latest. Like and Follow my Facebook page, FB.com/VitalAnimalPack where you will find lots of informative content along with my Facebook LIVE broadcasts where you can ask me anything about your pets.