We sometimes get asked why we only allow families to visit our pups after they are allocated( around 7-8 weeks age). This is not surprising, given the number of ‘what to do when buying a dog’ websites that advocate for visiting the breeder and meeting the puppies and the pup’s parents first before deciding to reserve a puppy. The problem with these sites is their priority is the buyer, not the breeders’ or the health and safety of the puppies and the mother. Below are the reasons we don’t allow visits with the puppies before they are matched with buyers on the waiting list. Please remember that our pups are home raised – in our house. This means you can’t come visit the adult dogs or me, without also ‘visiting’ my pups and their Momma. (unless it’s between litters; in which case we accept visits at that time.)
Safety of the Pups:
- Pups immune systems are very immature. Many unsuspecting visitors have brought disease (parvovirus, distemper, etc) with them when visiting pups, the result of which is the death of the entire litter. Many germs are benign to healthy adult dogs but are dangerous to puppies and nursing mothers. I personally know several breeders that have lost puppies or entire litters to germs brought in by visitors.
- Stressed out Moms create stressed out pups. A new mother is emotionally charged and in hyper protective mode. When a stranger comes to visit, Mom becomes stressed causing her body to create cortisol, which goes into the milk. The puppies consume this cortisol rich milk and become stressed themselves.
- Panicked Moms hurt pups. When a stranger comes to visit, Mom’s state of mind changes rapidly. She feels threatened and moves quickly to assess the threat. Many Moms have unintentionally stepped on or crushed a pup in their urgency to get out of the whelping box to assess the threat.
- I don’t ‘own’ the pups. All the pups are sold to families. I am simply the guardian. However, I have been entrusted with the care of these pups for the first critical weeks of their lives. As guardian of other peoples’ dogs, I must do everything I can to protect them. If one of the pups was yours, I’m certain you would expect me to do that for your pup.
Safety of my dogs and family
- People that email me are strangers. I don’t know anything about you other than the fact you emailed me with basic information (which may or may not be true) about yourself and your family. I am inviting you, a stranger, into my home. This creates a threat to the safety of my dogs and my family.
- We have a normal family life. We have family activities, responsibilities and commitments. Inviting strangers into our home interferes with our ability to live as a normal family.
- Time spent with visitors is time not spent with my pups and dogs. Raising puppies and dogs is a very demanding 24/7 job. Every minute I spend with visitors is time not spent working with and caring for your pup so that you have the best pup possible or enjoying and caring for my own dogs, which is why I breed to begin with.
- We are not a petting zoo. Some people think visiting pups is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I will not compromise the health and safety of my pups, my dogs and my family so someone can snuggle with pups. Only serious and committed buyers are worthy of that compromise.
So how can we help you have confidence we aren’t a puppy mill or a fake website asking for a $500 deposit?
- ‘Like’ our facebook page. In the upper left corner of the home page on our website is a Facebook button linking to our Facebook page. On it there are lots of snapshots and some videos of our puppies that do not make it on to the website. There are more frequent updates there as well as other helpful tips or just fun stuff. Other families can also post on the page and you can communicate with us through the page as well.
- Ask for References. We are very happy to provide references from adoptive families or our guardian families, or our Vet (who knows us VERY well).
- Schedule a visit in advance in between litters so you can see our place and meet the adult dogs. We can arrange to have guardian dogs here if need be.
- Attend one of our open houses. We periodically hold an open house at a public location where many of our guardian dogs and families as well as some of our pet dogs and families all meet for a fun visit.
- Skype us ! 🙂 We are happy to have face time through Skype. We can take a call on our phone or laptop so we can walk around and show you the puppies and exactly where they are raised and where they play outside and inside.
What happens if you place a deposit, and come to our house and do not want to purchase a puppy?
We will refund you your deposit. Please understand that we do not want unhappy families or unhappy puppies. We want families to be happy with the puppy they take home. We love our dogs too much to have them in a home that is less than thrilled with them, or worse yet, need to rehome them if they are returned. Deposits are only non-refundable if they have been reserved and then you simply change your mind after we have turned away other applicants.
We thank you for your understanding that we will not compromise on the health and safety of our pups and hope you see this as a positive quality of a reputable breeder.