Turnkey Dogs

In certain cases, and from time to time, we have older puppies and mature dogs to sell.  Some people appreciate bypassing the young puppy stage and bringing home a companion that is housetrained, has begun basic obedience training, and is accepting of being crated when the need arises.  After all, raising a young pup, while incredibly rewarding, can also be a bit of an ordeal, especially in the early weeks!  Please inquire if this is something in which you are interested and we can discuss options and pricing.

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I also have, from time to time, retired breeding dams and studs for sale, as well as dogs that we have raised for our program and decided not to use, for one reason or another.  These are all well-adjusted dogs and have been well-loved in our home, but in order to keep refining my lines (a service to us all), I simply cannot keep every dog, forever.  Believe me, I have tried, but practicality, as well as my husband’s waning patience with the number of dogs lounging around at my feet, dictate that I make responsible decisions for all of us. 

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It is, obviously, very difficult to let go of a dog that has been mine for a year, or two, or three, but, if a stable, suitable match can be made, I sometimes, will consider selling a retiree.  These dogs are often a beautiful match for the right family, and I rationalize that as much as I give and do for my dogs, the one thing I don’t have enough of to go around is one-on-one time (just ask my five children to expound upon this).  At the end of the day, if I can match an adult dog with a great home where they will be the apple of someone’s eye, I consider it my parting gift to them.  A huge advantage of buying an adult dog from me is that they come with a lot more training and socialization than a newborn puppy. 

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Additionally, part of my breeding model is to breed a dam, at most, three times, and then to retire her.  I have great success with reconditioning her body at that point, to the extent that only someone with a trained eye would even know she has ever whelped a litter!  This is important to me, both for aesthetics, and more importantly, the health and longevity of the dam. 

 

I generally breed on the second or third heat cycle, and adhere to prevailing veterinary advice to breed back to back.  Some people are concerned by the notion of doing consecutive breedings with a dam, but breeding a female twice a year is the relative equivalent to a human woman birthing a child every two years, and most of us would agree that that is perfectly safe and doable!  The truth is that skipping a heat does not save the dam from the hormonal degradation of the heat cycle on her reproductive organs, thus, if you are going to breed at all, it is better for the dam to start early and end early.  These things considered, then, a dam can be done with her breeding career here by the time she is two years old. 

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If I adopt out an older dog, the process is a little different.  You will come, spend time at the farm, and get to know the dog through repeat visits.  If you feel it is a good fit, you will then have the opportunity to do a trial in your home.  This generally lasts about a month and gives you both time to try it out.  If at any time, you decide it doesn’t feel like a good fit, you bring the dog home to me.  I, obviously, always want to ensure a great fit for my puppies, but with my older dogs, in some ways, it is even more imperative to me that the match be perfect!  It’s a process, but one that is negotiated along the way, often with a beautiful outcome for all!