Great companion dogs are both born and made: it’s about 1/3 genetics, 1/3 fetus and young puppy diet and environment, and 1/3 what happens in her new home.
We started with four (as of 2008) excellent foundation dogs and for 20 years have been selectively breeding in the continual pursuit of our ideal. From a genetic-point-of-view, our 8th generation Charlee Bears dogs have remarkably few health or temperament defects.
Equally as important for a dog’s long-term health and intelligence is its diet and environment as a fetus and young puppy. Our puppies, after the age of 3 weeks, are brought up primarily in a natural environment, not in pens and kennels. From an early age, they get to explore our large hilly, rocky, fenced-in backyard, well guarded by their father, grandmother, and sister from a previous litter. They explore, and learn to find their way home over rocks, through high grass, and up short steep hills. This natural environment challenges puppies physically, helping to properly develop their muscles and bone structure; mentally, forcing them to think and make decisions on their own, which builds brain cells and develops confidence, such as knowing they can find their way home; and socially, as they learn to get along with other adult dogs besides their mother. At night they sleep inside the house in a large pen.
This upbringing, combined with a fresh, high-protein, balanced-fat diet rich in brain nutrients, one of the primary topics of Steve Brown’s new book, builds a solid foundation for long term brain and body health.
We think we do the first two-thirds—from genes to ten weeks old—as well as anyone. We want clients who will do their one-third, so that they have a truly great dog. Our puppies need further training and education, to be fed properly with at least some fresh foods, get lots of exercise, especially short-sprint type running, and, of course, they need lots of love. We search for clients who will treat our dogs like friends, not performance robots. Most of all, our clients must allow our puppies to fulfill their purposes in life, to give and receive love.
Caution. Smart dogs may be difficult puppies, If you’re not ready for a sometimes-headstrong puppy, ask about the availability of adult educated Charlee Bear dogs.
Research has shown that good dogs help improve the health of their families, including reducing stress and blood pressure; we believe the “intelligent teddy bear traits” for which we breed, maximizes these benefits.
Charlee Bear pups are born and raised only at Charlee Bear Farms, Eugene, OR. Founded in 1985 in Maine, we’ve bred 125 dogs, and 10 puppies born 12/3/08, usually breeding a litter every other year. Almost all of our puppies in the last 10 years have gone to present Charlee Bear dog families on the east coast. We’re reserving most of the puppies from our 2008 litter for new, west coast families.
See photos of our latest litter, born 12/3/08!
Charlee Bear dogs are protected with a registered trademark and can only be bred by Charlee Bear Farms or with the permission of Charlee Bear Farms. This ensures that every Charlee Bear puppy is bred, fed, and educated properly.
Soft, hypo-allergenic, medium-size, dogs specially bred, fed, and raised to be healthy, intelligent, loving companions. Charlee Bear dogs know that their purpose in life is to give and receive love.