Chimera Kennels

When looking for a pup, be sure to work with professionals. Obviously note the condition of the dogs themselves, but also pay close attention to the overall cleanliness of the dog yard. I have noticed that there are many people that will refuse to show pictures of their housing facilities and that leaves me wondering why. I have seen many dog yards and some boarder line on animal abuse or neglect. If you are buying a puppy or adult dog from such a place you enable them to continue to keep dogs in such conditions. If you don't know the breeder, ask them to let you see their yard. If they refuse, ask why (and use your judgement) but I personally would become skeptical. Because I care for animals to a very high degree, I would like to ask you to please carefully consider my thoughts. A yard should be clean and well designed.  Many yards use chains and barrels. Don't let that discourage you.  There is nothing wrong with this as long as a yard is well kept. I have a few myself that I use at times. A dog doesn't know the difference between a "dog house" and a well set up "barrel" (out of the sun, cut for shelter). Both serve the purpose as a den. In fact, a well cut out and placed barrel will often stay drier than most dog houses because of the round floor that promotes draining. Chains, even though they are not well looked upon by society in general, can also be an excellent way to confine a dog as long as a dog has off time and is properly socialized. Look for cleanliness. Look for well socialized animals. Look for signs of neglect.

All our dogs have house time and regular daily exercise.  Dogs should look well cared for in every aspect...clean water, clean feeding area, good coats, good muscle tone, lively behavior, etc. At my yard, many dogs here probably consider themselves our "house/yard dog" so to speak because I spend time with them all. This system keeps everyone socialized, happy, stimulated, and it works very well.

Another problem I have encountered at many kennels is weight is often grosely exaggerated. A dog's true weight should be measured and reported in a conditioned state, as when lean and fit. Many people put a ton of emphasis on the size of the dog. Yes, our dogs are "big dogs" (ranging from 80 to 130 pounds lean) as I prefer a large working dog; however, I want to address something for those that put a great deal of emphasis on size. To me, size alone is nothing if a dog is not able to enjoy an active and healthy life. A big oversized fat dog laying on the floor is just "a fat dog laying on the floor." A healthy dog is a lean and fit dog. I require that our dogs are ABLE to perform and hopefully this is clearly displayed on our website.

Normal Keep - Kibble, meats, and such...

Our dogs are fed second to none. We refer to our feeding method as 5-1-1. We feed raw foods 5 days a week, kibble 1 day a week, and "scraps" 1 day a weekk. Our choices of raw feed includes chicken, beef, venison, eggs, and fresh fish. We also use some "processed" human grade food items such as canned mackeral, cottage cheese, and even some table scraps within reason. Our choice of kibbles include only premium grade kibbles. Currently, we are using Taste of the Wild. Although I am not a big fan of Diamond dog food, Diamond's "NATURALS" product line is a good food that we have used  (we ued "Extreme Athlete" and "Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice") with good success as well. However, if you can afford feeding premium dog foods such as these then you can easily afford going raw, so you might want to consider our method. Our reason for the 5-1-1 method is we feel raw is the best method, but when one goes completely raw they have to study what they feed to offer good variety in order to make sure all nutritional needs are met. By using the 1 day of kibble and 1 day of scraps, we feel we offer an extra bit of "variety" in their diet, to help ensure they are getting all their needs met. Basically, we view the kibble and the scraps as "supplements."

Kibble

When selecting a kibble, avoid kibble in which the first ingredient is not a meat based source. I prefer at least 24% protein and require that most of the protein in the food comes from a meat source. Also, unlike a human, a dog does very well with high amounts of fat in its diet, so I prefer at least 14+% for pups, and at least 18+% for adults. My reasoning for preferring a lower fat for pups even though they may benefit from extra calories is that fat is harder to digest than protein and carbs...and too much fat content in a recently weaned pup can cause diarrea...and end up in less nutrient absorption. When selecting a kibble, I prefer to use one with little or no grain. Quality vegetables and some fruits are of course desired.

Meats

To maximize the results you get from your kibble, add meat to the diet! Raw beef, raw venison, or ground up raw chicken or boiled chicken quarters are all excellent choices. Do not feed cooked chicken bones to any dog. Also, when feeding raw chicken to pups first grind it up to make it easier to consume...just be sure it is fresh or was frozen fresh and "freshly" thawed (meaning not left out) where bacteria could accumulate. Chicken fat is an excellent source of quality fat. A solid meat cleaver or small hand axe works great to chop frozen meats or small bones up for pups.

Daily feeding directions

This is somewhat going to be influenced by your schedule and willingness; however, add or reduce this amount of food as needed because the best determining factor of the amount of food a canine needs is the dog’s body condition. Read your dog and do what is needed! Most people's pets are overweight. You are not doing your dog a favor by letting them get fat. Just look at the condition of most dogs on the internet and you should be able to see the difference. You should be able to easily feel the ribs (without being skinny) and the stomach should be tucked. Remember, you are also going to be using meats on a daily basis. As stated earlier...For pups less than 6-8 months, I feed twice a day. Once a dog is over 8 months I only feed once a day, but never before high activity. I switch pups to adult food around 10-12 months. I deworm my dogs as a preventive measure.