FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
1. What dog/puppy food do you recommend? ~ We recommend the Purina Pro Plan line of food. The puppies are fed the Purina Pro Plan Sport Development High-Protein 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula Puppy Food. The puppies all go home with a bag to get them started in their new homes and to use if their families want to transition them to a different food. Our adults eat the Purina Pro Plan Sport Performance All Life Stages High-Protein 30/20 dry dog food. We alternate between chicken, salmon, and beef.
2. Do you dock tails or remove dewclaws? ~ We do have dewclaws removed, but we do NOT dock tails. We believe that the common, painful issues that dogs can have with dewclaws makes it a preventative health measure. We do not dock tails as it is a cosmetic modification and we love their long, wagging tails.
3. Do you sell breeding rights? ~ No, we do not sell puppies with breeding rights. As part of our full contract there is a non-breeding requirement.
4. What are the transportation/delivery options to get a puppy home? ~ There are a few options available for families that aren't able to come to our property to pick up their puppy. We ourselves are able to meet up to 2 hours away for the cost of fuel. Common meeting locations are Champaign, IL, Paducah, KY, St. Louis, MO, and Terre Haute, IN. Many people who live further away choose to fly home with their puppy. We meet people at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport where they are able to fly in-cabin with their puppy (we do not allow a puppy to travel in cargo). Puppies who are flying receive extra training in their flight carriers to help them with the experience of being on a plane. For families who are wanting to do ground transportation further than the 2 hours away that we personally will meet, they are able to hire a transporter. We do have family/friends that can quote transportation around their work schedules. Note: Any 3rd party transport must be cleared with us prior to booking the transportation.
5. Do you personality test puppies? ~ No. In short, Trait/temperament testing that is done before 12-16 weeks has been shown to be unreliable long-term. We've had puppies who have been shy at 8 weeks that ended up very outgoing and vice-a-versa. There's definitely a nature and nurture component both. We raise the puppies to be well socialized, but new owners have to keep up on obedience and socialization. I own the assessments for temperament and I see some breeders posting about a puppy's temperament/personality at 3-8 weeks. I personally believe that is a sales tactic and misleading to new owners, so I try to be very honest about the flaws in early testing. *Note for those specifically looking for a dog to train for specialized services: Depending on the service you are planning on training for, the best option might be to find a breeder that specifically breeds service dogs and keeps puppies until the 12-16 week age when they can be accurately assessed. We do have a past puppy that is a classroom support animal and 2 others that are support animals for people with special needs, but that is very different than a specialized service dog (e.g. police dogs, medical alert dogs, seeing eye dogs).
6. What age do the puppies go to their new homes? ~ Puppies begin going to their new homes at 8 weeks old.
7. When are payments due and what methods are accepted? ~ Reservation fees/deposits are due via cash, check, or Zelle within 24 hours of signing the contract. Final payments are due via cash or Zelle (no checks) before or at the time of puppy pickup. *Note: Families can pay via GoodDog, but they will have to add 6.5% of the amount to the payment to cover the fees that GoodDog charges to breeders for customers using their platform.
8. Will coat color change/fade? ~ Most reds do lighten over time. There are several factors that come into play including diet, hormones, grooming, and genetics.
9. What health testing is done on the parents? ~ The parents have all recommended, age-appropriate genetic and OFA testing completed. Results are available on our Pack page.
10. Do puppies go to the vet before they go to their new homes? ~ Yes, all of the puppies are seen at least twice by a licensed veterinarian. They are seen when they are 2-5 days old for dew claw removal and a quick health exam. Puppies are then also seen before they go to their new homes to get their Illinois Department of Agriculture Health Certificates.
11. What health guarantee do puppies have? Do the puppies have health insurance? ~ Puppies have both a short-term and long-term health warranty, as well as, 30 days of free Trupanion insurance. The short-term warranty confirms that the puppy was seen by a licensed vet before leaving our care and has received the age-appropriate vaccines. The long-term warranty covers 60 months from date of birth against any debilitating congenital conditions. Full terms of the warranties can be found in the full contract.
12. Where are the puppies raised? ~ The puppies are raised in our home which allows them more interaction with people and exposure to normal sounds and sensations. Their whelping box starts out in our office/laundry room and then they move to their play area in the main part of our living space around 3 weeks of age.
13. How are the puppies raised? ~ We use Puppy Culture and Avidog curriculums in raising our puppies. While Avidog provides great structure for the logistics and healthcare components of pregnancy, whelping, and raising, Puppy Culture is the standard for the cognitive and behavioral aspects of raising puppies. There are many overlaps between the 2 resources.
14. What are in the puppies Go-Home Kits? ~ Their Puppy Binder (includes vaccination, registration, microchip, health, and training information), 3 Puppy Culture booklets (Be Your Puppy's Advocate, Puppy Fitness, and Spay/Neuter), a Snuggle Puppy (with familiar scents, heat packs, and beating heart), harness, leash, travel bowl, Nylabone toy, training treats, backpack, and 4-lb bag of Purina Pro-Plan Sport Development dry food. Puppies flying will also have a carrier and bathroom packs for in-flight use.
15. What kennel/crate do you recommend? ~ I recommend a 36" wire crate with a divider. The divider allows the crate to be expanded as the puppy grows.
16. What should I get and do to prepare before bringing a puppy home? ~ As soon as you know when you will be picking up your puppy you should schedule their new patient exam with your veterinarian to be within 5 days of receiving your puppy. You should also have a safe, puppy-proffed area of the home designated where the puppy will be. DO NOT let a puppy roam the entire house. They are likely to get into trouble and it will make housebreaking more difficult. You can use gates to limit a puppy to one area or use freestanding playpen panels to create a space if you have an open floorplan home. You should have beds, lot of toys (especially teething toys), a wire crate, a brush and comb, ear cleaner, toothbrush, and food/water bowls ready. I highly recommend taking the Puppy Culture course for owners "With Open Arms and a Level Head" especially if you are a first-time dog owner.