What we Offer

Puppy Package

We offer a puppy package that includes a Care Booklet and Training Booklet to help you take the best possible care of your new family member. We also offer advice on what extra supplies are of benefit. We offer lifetime support, including proper training advice. We have a secret FB Group for our Puppy Families to connect. We are here for you!

lots of picture updates

We offer regular photo updates so you may see the development of your puppy. This helps with the wait.

We also offer regular visits to see the puppies as they're growing. If this isn't possible, we send video updates.

Socialization is a key

It is important that the puppies are socialized with many different people. We take care to ensure their health by ensuring hand washing, etc. It is much better for them to see more people than to shelter them. It also helps their immune systems to be safely exposed to the outside world.

All of our puppies are exposed to different sounds and smells. We play different types of music to them, and see that they have a variety of experiences.

We also do early neurological stimulation to boost immunity and help them be calmer, better adjusted in life. This helps them become confident, non fearful companions, who have an easier time adapting to new situations. We take them to visit the elderly and children.

Temperament assessments

We also carefully match up the right puppy for the right family. This ensures a smooth transition. We match energy levels, personality traits and also personal desires. We know our puppies best and take this very seriously.

We have temperament assessments done on our puppies by a professional dog trainer in order to help us match the personality of your puppy with you and your lifestyle. This is just an extra tool to see how they respond in an unfamiliar situation.

your dogs ancestry and health

All of our dogs are from excellent lines. We do health testing on all of our breeding dogs prior to being bred. We test eyes, patellas, heart hips and elbows. We typically post most of our health testing at OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) AKA The Canine Health Information Centre (CHIC). Did you know that you can look up any dog’s health testing by typing in their full registered name as long as the breeder publishes the results?

We also do full genome testing through Embark and test for some rare diseases to make sure we do not pass on genetic problems. Embark genome testing lets us know if the dogs are genetically diverse. This is based on science, not mathematical probabilities as was done in the past. This is the best way to help ensure health of the dogs and the breed. Embark also tests for over 175 different health conditions as well as physical traits. Although Cotons are a relatively healthy breed, we want to make sure that the proper testing is done in order to keep it that way.

We are Committed for the lIfetime of your dog

We offer a commitment to always be available for advice throughout your companion’s life. Paula, the founder, is a certified dog trainer through The Animal Behavior College in order to help out with training advice.

She has attended the following seminars and taken the following courses and remains with Chapala Bay in an advisory capacity:

Animal Behavior College - Dog Trainer, Online Course as well as apprenticeship and practicum
Myra Savant Harris - Canine Reproduction and Puppy Intensive Care
Dr. Robert Hutchinson - Canine Reproduction
Dr. Marco Bregliano - Canine Reproduction
Dr. Jean Dodds - Canine Immunology Seminar
Pat Hastings - Structure In Action Seminar
Dr. Terry Faber - Dental Seminar
Turid Rugaas - Training Seminar
Sabine Contreras of The Dog Food Project - Canine Nutrition
Suzanne Clothier - The Enriched Puppy Seminar
Suzanne Clothier - Building Observation Skills
Suzanne Clothier - From Maddening to Maturity, Understanding and Helping the Adolescent dog
Suzanne Clothier - Drives, Brakes & Steering: Keeping Your Dog in the Think & Learn Zone
Trish King - Dogs Everywhere, dog to dog interactions
Ian Dunbar Online Course - Canine Sexual Behavior & Reproduction
Ian Dunbar Online Course - Dog Breeder Behavior & Training Program
Institute of Canine Biology Online Course - DNA for Dog Breeders
Institute of Canine Biology Online Course - Genetics of Behavior & Performance
Institute of Canine Biology Online Course - Strategies for Preservation Breeding

Chapala Bay Cotons