FAQ

This page will attempt to answer questions that I am asked most frequently. If your questions are not answered here please feel free to contact me by email or phone. We appreciate your input and strive to improve the information available to our current and perspective families.

How often do you have litters?

Currently we have one to two litters per year. Each litter can produce from 4 to 8 puppies.

Will you fly your puppies?

I do fly my puppies, but prefer they either be picked up or ground transported. It is always very hard to decide on putting a puppy on an airplane as this is not a normal experience for any puppy. At 8 weeks of age the pup begins entering the first “fear stage” in their life and much of what they are exposed to can have detrimental affects on their future coping skills. Being handled to rough at the airport can traumatize a pup and can cause behavioral insecurities. A shy, timid or reserved pup will be much more traumatized than a more confident pup but both will experience some level of trauma from their experience. They would just have different coping skills.

Now with that said, pups can still be very well adjusted even when flown. If that is the only way your pup can get to be with you then flight arrangements can certainly be made. It’s just important for you to know that they may be more skiddish and unsettled longer than if they had been picked up and driven and spent time with their new family.

Many people work their vacation around picking up their new pup so that they don’t have to fly them. This is a great alternative and offers the pup time to bond with their new family on the ride home.

Another option is to fly into the airport and take the pup back as “carry on”. This way you are there to comfort them and they aren’t left alone in a strange, dark and noisey place. By checking with the airlines to determine what the largest sized “soft sided” carrier you can bring on the plane, you can be prepared to pick up your bundle and take them back with you on your flight home.

Also available are ground transportation services. These services usually charge more to transport your pet and it takes longer for your pet to arrive at your home. If you are interested in this type of service it is important for you to do your research, get referrals, and find out what their policies and procedures are before you commit to using them.

I prefer not to fly my pups once they reach 10 wks of age.

Why do you say these dogs need to be an indoor/outdoor dog? When I was growing up we kept our family dog outside all the time and he did just fine. Why can’t I get a dog from you and just keep him outside. Besides, that’s where a dog belongs.

Well, for one, I don’t believe a dog does just fine outdoors by themselves. Most dogs including the Native American Village Dogs are very “pack” oriented. They need the companionship of their family and other dogs. They feel a responsibility to their family and cannot do their job if they are kept away and isolated from their family. These dogs thrive on being with their family and love the outdoors, especially in the cold winter months, but there has to be balance. A dog who spends to much time indoors or crated could begin having behavioral issues because of the fact they are not being allowed the freedom to move around and play at their convenience. Having a safe environment for your dog is of utmost importance. They need a safe place to run and play. These dogs do best when they can have the freedom to come and go as they please. That way they can come in and spend time with the family and when they get to warm or want to go outside they can. It’s all about balance. They need their families and the companionship of them to be happy. Another dog in the household will help as well, especially if you will have to be gone for long periods of time during the day.

Are the Native American Village Dogs able to be registered? Are they AKC registered? what about CKC?

The Native American Village Dogs are a new breed. The AKC requires many generations of breeding along with a large amount of breeders and dog owners. They also require that there be an established breed club and breed club website. There are other requirements as well that need to be met and it can take centuries to get recognized by the AKC. The CKC is not as hard but it is still very difficult to get recognized with them as well. When a new breed is created getting a registry that will accept the beginning foundational breeding stock as well as the offspring is important in order to establish your line. IVK has found a registry that will allow us the flexibility to utillize the breeding stock we chose to help create the breed.

Currently the NAVD’s are registerable with the NAPDR (North American Purebred Dog Registry) and the ACHC (American Canine Hybrid Club). As the breed gets closer to being considered “purebred” we will approach other registries.

The “big” registries want to make sure that a breed that is in “creation” and pursuing “purebred” status is going to stick around before it takes them on to their registry. Many breeds do not stay around long enough to meet the strict requirements of registration. IVK is working hard to make this happen, and with the help of others this breed will continue to grow.

Do you require all families to have a fenced yard?

Yes. It is required that you have at least a 6′ fence. There can be exceptions under certain circumstances. There has been some success with an invisible fence system but I cannot guarantee that each dog will respect it and not attempt to break the barrier in an attempt to chase rabbits, squirrels, cats, birds, etc. These dogs can be very strong willed and stubborn and that could cause the dog to ignore the warning and cross the fence line anyway. Once they cross the barrier they will not be able to return to the yard without getting jolted and this could lead them to not want to re-enter the yard under any circumstances, even if the fence is temporarily turned off. You basically use it at your own risk. IVK does not recommend the invisible fence system.

If you do not or can not have an actual fenced in area for your pup, we do not recommend this breed for your family. Keeping your NAVD on a chain or cable for long periods of time is NOT an acceptable option.

Does this breed of dog really need the companionship of another dog?

This would depend on your family. If someone is able to be home most of the time, it isn’t as necessary to have another dog for you NAVD to play with. If your family is like many and the NAVD would need to be left home alone for long periods of time every day, it really is best to have another dog to keep them company. The NAVD is a very social animal and needs the companionship and interaction that would be provided by another dog in your absence.

How is the NAVD with children?

The NAVD is excellent with children, especially if there are children already in the home when you first get your pup. The NAVD’s tend to bond very quickly with the children and learn to love and protect them right away. Of course, it is important that you begin teaching and training the pup immediately as to how to properly interact and play with the children. Waiting to train your pup and/or allowing bad play behaviors, even just one time, can lead to a very difficult experience in integrating your pup into the family. If you don’t have children when you get your pup, but plan to in the future, it is very important that you expose your pup to children of all ages frequently so that when the time comes, it will know how to act and treat the children you eventually have in your home.

Do these dogs have wolf in them?

These dogs do have wolf in the “lineage” but it is considered to be so diluted that they are considered domestic dogs. Some states and counties do have restrictions to having ANY dog with ANY amount of wolf in the line, even as little as 1%. It is your responsibility to make sure, before you purchase a pup from IVK, that you research any restrictions or laws regarding owning a dog with any percentage of wolf in them. These dogs can have a very wolfy look to them. It would be a horrible end to the life of your new wonderful friend and family member if this information were to be discovered after you have purchased and bonded with your pup. In cases where it is unlawful to own a dog with any percentage of wolf in them, they typically require euthanization and do not allow for re-homing or sending the dog out of the state or county.

How do the NAVD do in really cold weather?

These dogs love the cold weather and have northern breed blood in them. Their double layered coat offers them the optimal insulation and is designed for warmth and protection from the coldest of temperatures. The undercoat provides warmth and insulation against the cold and the outer coat provides an insulating and waterproof barrier. You will notice the snow will not melt off their outer coat until they come into a warmer temperature.

The offspring from Kachina Inola do not handle very cold (single digit temps) and below freezing weather as well. They can tend to get cold and will need to have a place to get in out of the cold. As I continue to perfect this breed. I am hoping to continue to mold and shape these dogs to get the best of the best so that all the offspring will be able to handle the coldest of weather.

How does the NAVD handle heat or warmer climates?

As long as the dog is provided plenty of fresh water, shade and a place to get out of the elements they can be outside in warmer temperatures and climates as well. It is best to provide them a plastic kiddie pool, placed in a shady spot, so they can cool off in the water. Some NAVD’s love the water and will entertain themselves for quite some time playing and splashing in the pool. If you are at home it is advisable to bring them indoors with you until the weather cools down outdoors, especially if the weather gets into the 90’s and 100’s. If you live in an area where the temperatures typically get into the high 90’s and high 100’s it would be advisable to invest in an air conditioner for your dog’s dog house or shelter, which can be installed, to offer relief for your dog when you can’t be home. Remember, these dogs are Northern breed dogs and are bred for the really cold weather.

You may also notice, if you live in a warmer climate, like Florida, that the heavy undercoat they develop for the colder winter months may shed as it comes in since it is not needed. Thus, you may experience shedding more than the typical once a year springtime shed that is normal in our climate.

Is the NAVD really “hypoallergenic”?

It has been our experience that the NAVD does not cause allergic reactions in the majority of individuals who have respiratory-type allergies to dogs. So far those who typically develop hives seem to be able to tolerate these dogs as well. If the person has a strong sensitivity they may still have an allergic reaction, although typically not as severe.

If you or someone in your household is allergic to most dogs it is required that a hair sample be sent to test for sensitivity. If possible, an in person meeting of the breeding dogs or their offspring is even better, if that can be arranged.

Does the NAVD get along well with other animals?

We have many past customer with house pets (cats, birds, etc) and the NAVD does very well with them, especially if the other pet is already in the home when you bring home your puppy. We’ve been told that it is usually the original pet that has the issue with the invasion of a puppy into their space. When you have other pets in the home it is important that you train your pup on how to play and interact with the pet beginning from the moment it enters the home for the first time.

I have heard this breed is not trainable and is not fit for a family, what do you have to say to that?

Well, I think you would have to ask those that have pups from me right now. I think that they would disagree Many of the families that have pups from me, with the exception of a few, have children in their homes. One of the pups from Molly’s litter in 2008, at 4 mos old, scored 192 points out of 200 points on her CGC test. She scored the highest points in her class and many of the dogs were much older than her. I have another pup in Canada that is excelling in her training classes, so much so, that after just 3 basic obedience classes the trainer pushed her into the intermediate classes (and she was only 4 1/2 mos old). I have a family that has two of my pups that have an autistic child and they are very happy with them and have stated on numerous occasions that they feel it has helped their son to relax. He has actually fallen asleep on the floor when he had his arms around them and outside in the yard while he was watching them play. I have had similar comments from other owners as well. If the dogs are handled correctly and trained according to their temperament, you should have no problems training them. If you try to train a very shy, timid or reserved pup the same way you would train a more confident, outgoing pup, you could end up creating negative behaviors that would be hard to break and cause aggressive reactions to your training techniques. The training methods you chose for your pup need to be catered to their personalities. You will have a happier dog with the right training than you will with training that is to harsh or not molded to your dog’s personality. It’s not a cookie cutter thing. You have to be flexible with training techniques to find the one that works best for your pup and that will help bring out the best positive outcome. There are many good trainers out there that can help you train your puppy. Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer), The Volhard Method, The Monks of New Skete and clicker training are all methods available to help teach your puppy.