A Word About Contracts:

Things to Consider before you Sign.

 

Our puppy contract is based on a mutual understanding and respect for one another. It serves to protect both the purchaser and the seller equally.

 

A Buyer's Prospective:

As a buyer, you may spend a lot of time searching for the right breeder, and then waiting for the right puppy. You put out a lot of money for this pup and entrust the breeder to stand behind their pup and offer you help, advice, support, and even a refund when circumstances call for it.

As an American citizen in good standing with the law, you have the right to own pets, and to breed them as you see fit--as long as you bring them no harm and abide by local, state, and federal laws. If you want to purchase a dog for breeding, that is your right. If you want to breed purebreds or so-called "designer dogs," that is also your right.

 

A Breeder's Prospective:

As a breeder, I feel an enormous responsibly to each pup I produce. I am faced with the task of finding suitable, loving, and responsible homes for every single pup I bring into the world--all while trying to get a price that will cover all the time and expenses I have put into my breeding program. Thus, I have every right to be very selective when choosing families to entrust with my babies. I feel obligated to ensure the pup's future, and at the same time protect the breeds I have come to love from being over-bred, poorly bred, ending up homeless, abused, neglected, or sentenced to death at an animal shelter.

As an American citizen and breeder in good standing with the law, I have the right to decide who to place my pups with, and on what terms I will let them go to these families. If I choose to place my pups on a spay/neuter contracts and prohibit my "pet" pups from being bred by their new families, that is my right as a breeder.

 

What's Fair is Fair

In my contract, I make many guarantees to the buyer in regard to how I am willing to assist them and what I am willing to do for them. For example, I offer a 72 hour healthy pup guarantee, as well as a 2 year (26 month) genetic health guarantee. I make myself available to answer the buyer's questions or concerns for the life of the dog--not just until it leaves here. I offer my home as a second home for the dog for the duration of its life, meaning I am willing to take the dog back at any time should the buyer ever be unwilling or unable to care for it. Likewise, I expect that buyer to make some guarantees to me as well. I expect the buyer to guarantee me that they will spay or neuter their pet and never breed it without my permission. I expect them to notify me of any serious hereditary health concerns. I expect them to guarantee me the right of first choice if they can't keep the dog, so I have the piece of mind of knowing it will always have a good home and never end up homeless or on the street. When two parties come together like this, both have much to gain. They buyer gains a new puppy and companion for his or her family, and the breeder gains the feeling of knowing their pup is in good hands and will lead a long, happy, and healthy life.

 

Don't Sign it if you Don't Mean it:

As a buyer, you would be quite upset, to say the least, and would probably pursue a lawyer if you felt that the breeder you purchased from was not living up to what they agreed to. If they tried to get out of giving you a refund when you clearly deserved it, you would not be happy. If they weren't willing to help you or to answer any of your questions, you would feel like they lied to you. If they refused to take a sick puppy back, you would feel that they were scamming you. Likewise, when a breeder learns that a buyer has not held up their end of the contract by breeding a dog that was supposed to be spay/neutered, we are not happy and want to contact a lawyer. If we find out that the buyer gave away or sold the dog to someone else we knew nothing about, we would worry if it had a good home or not. The point is, we both have to trust one another. If I don't feel comfortable, I won't sell one of my pups to you. So, if you don't want to spay/neuter your pet because you want to breed it or because you don't think it's right to cut off a dog's "manhood," find another breeder who's terms you can agree to. DO NOT sign a contract and then do whatever you want anyway without regard to the terms of that contract. You would not let us get away with that as breeders, so don't try it on us either. Remember, it works both ways. It all boils down to honestly, integrity, and respect.

 

A Final Note:

It is my philosophy that a puppy is only as good as the guarantee it comes with. When researching various breeders, make a point to read their contracts BEFORE visiting them and falling in love their dogs, before being added to a waiting list, and before sending any form of payment to reserve or purchase a dog or puppy. No one wants to think about what could happen, but you need to prepare yourself. In the event of a health issue, for example, you need to know you have available to you. Not all heath guarantees or puppy contracts are the same! Each breeder has the choice of offering you a guarantee or not, and if they choose to offer the purchaser a guarantee, what the terms of that guarantee are.

Of those that have chosen to offer a guarantee, some make very strict stipulations. For example, I have seen guarantees that only offer you a replacement dog, but not necessarily money back. Some may require you to return or in some cases even have the dog put down, before they will offer you a replacement or a refund of any kind. Personally, I believe a good guarantee will offer a refund OR replacement and still let you keep your pet. They may require proof of a health problem first, but as long as you're honest, you'll get what you are entitled to according to the terms of your agreement. Other guarantees may require you to only feed a specific brand of dog food, and show receipts as proof, in order to qualify for a guarantee claiming the diet could be part of the cause of the health problem. Again, a good guarantee will let you choose what kind of diet to keep your pet on--as long as it's balanced and provides sufficient nutritional value. Other guarantees yet may only offer a refund for a health problem up to just 1 year of the dog's life, or less. The reality is, most common, genetic health issues will make themselves known within the first 2 years or so of a dog's life, and certain health clearances can't even officially be obtained until at least 2 years of age. This is why we believe that a good guarantee will cover the dog for at least the first two years, or 26 months.

The bottom line is, a worthwhile guarantee will be realistic and fair. Many breeders will advertise a "health guarantee," but few are really worth anything. And last, but certainly not least, make sure you fully read and understand the guarantee. Contracts are legally binding documents--not to be disregarded or taken lightly.