Puppy Purchase Information

 

Below are some of the most common questions asked by perspective buyers. Please contact us for further information.

 

How much are your puppies?

How do Deposits work?

A waiting list is started on all planned breedings. Deposits are requested from the people on the waiting list after pregnancy has been confirmed. Deposits are only refundable if we do not have the sex of the dog that you requested. You will then have the choice of either transferring your deposit to another litter or we will refund the deposit in that situation only. Deposits are 1/3rd of the purchase price.

 Do your adult dogs have hip certifications?

All of our breeding dogs have hip certifications either from the OFA(Orthopedice Foundation of Animals) or from their countries of orgin. Ar

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What organization is my puppy registered with?

All of our dogs are AKC registered so every puppy is then eligible for registration with the American Kennel Club. The individual registration form for AKC is filled out and sent to AKC on puppy pickup day. Puppies intended for schutzhund can be registered individually then by their owners with either the WDA , DVG, or USA or similar organization.

Do I get to pick my puppy?

We work with the owner to select the puppy for you based on your individual needs and what your future goals are for the puppy-wether it's for work/competition/or companion. We spend an enormous amount of time talking with all owners to help us in the selection process. As the breeders, we know the breeding pair extremely well, the bloodlines, and the traits we were looking to produce in that particular breeding. We also have spent time with the litters 24/7 from birth. This allows us to work with you to pick the puppy that is best for you-so in essence, everyone is getting their "pick". Client satisfaction is VERY important to us.

 Do you do temperament testing on your puppies?

Yes, we do temperament testing on all of our litters. We also use the Bio Sensor Program as we raise our litters. However, we do feel the BEST evaluation of the puppies comes from raising them from birth, watching each puppy as they develope over 8 weeks. Knowing the breeding pair & the bloodlines also helps in evaluating our litters.

What about socialization:

Socialization is extremely important with puppies and in raising a litter. All of our puppies are whelped and raised in our homes with our family. All have been heavily exposed to household noises, different surfaces, children, & other dogs from birth on. We also use the Bio Sensor Program on the puppies. By 8 weeks, the pups have a very good foundation. It is then up to the owners to continue with that process to make the most of their dogs.

Do I get to name our Puppy?

We follow the german method for naming our litters. Each litter is designated a letter of the alphabet and must be registered with the name starting with the designated letter and "vom Triton". We allow the owners to pick the name using the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

Do you tattoo?

At this time we do not tattoo our puppies due to location & distance of qualified tatooers. We do offer microchipping though for permanent identification. We find this to be much more useful than tatooing for all owners for the safety of their pets. We feel it's easier to track down an owner using a chip vs a tatoo. Schutzhund organizations are also recognizing microchip numbers for trials. The scanners can be rented for reasonable fees for trialing.

What shots or worming has my puppy had?

All of our puppies are on a routine worming schedule for 8 weeks and receive their first puppy shot at 7 weeks. Each puppy has a complete health record which is provided to the owner in their puppy packets when the pups leave us. This allows you to take a detailed record to your vet for your puppy's first vet visit. Plus, each puppy is also examined by a licensed veterinarian prior to going to their new homes.

Are your puppies suitable for a family companion?

The goal of our breeding program is to produce dogs that have the correct temperament, drives, and nerves to excel in competition and work. Priority is given to working homes in placements of puppies. That being said; not every puppy in a litter is always destined to go to a working home. People looking for a family companion also want a very sound, intelligent dog with good nerves and temperament-these traits are what all GSD's should have wether you are looking for a companion or competition dog. We do have puppies available that we feel would be wonderful additions to a qualified & loving family. These pups may have a disqualifying fault at 8 weeks that would exclude them from breeding as an adult (long coats, undescended testicle, etc) which makes them "pet quality"; but in no way effects their ability to be wonderful companions. There are also puppies in litters who we feel the temperament and drives are well suited as an active companion. We offer these puppies at a reduced price with a 26-month OFA hip guarantee and AKC limited Registration. This allows a buyer to have a well-bred pet from a quality breeding with lifetime support of the breeder.

What guarantees do you have on your puppies?

We mentioned above the guarantee we offer on our pet quality puppies. All puppies purchased for work or competition prospects are covered by our 26-month OFA hips and elbows. Briefly, both guarantees mean the dog must be x-rayed by a licensed vet at 24 months of age and sent to the OFA for evaluation. The 26 months allows a 2-month window to do the x-rays. We have found that regardless of how much time you do give owners to x-ray, people either are going to do it or not. The people who are going to x-ray will do so quickly-usually shortly after turning 2 since OFA will only actually certifiy a dog at 2 yrs of age. We feel then a 2 month window is sufficient amount of time. If the dog is found to have dysplasia & will not pass OFA, the owner is allowed to keep the original dog and has a year to receive a replacement puppy of equal value from us. We will need proof of spay/neuter of original dog and the copy of the OFA report. Cost of shipping of the replacement puppy is the owner's responsibility. This guarantee only applies to the original owner of the dog. If the dog is bred prior to 2 yrs of age, this guarantee is null and void. This is just a brief version of our guarantees, for more specifics-please contact us.

What is AKC Limited vs. Full Registration?

Any puppy with a disqualifying fault (long coat, undescended testicles, etc) at 8 wks; or a puppy going to a companion home will automatically be placed on Limited AKC registration. Limited Registration means the dog is still registered with the AKC, but cannot be used for breeding. We also request that dogs on limited registration at 18 to 24 months be spayed or neutered. We recommend waiting to until 18 to 24 months since we feel research has shown that this allows the dog to have the necessary hormones for proper growth & maturation. A puppy being sold as a working/competition prospect with the goal of titling in the chosen venue (or certification in SAR, law enforcement, etc-) -will be placed on full registration to approved buyers. We do advocate breeding responsibly and ethically and expect certain requirements be met prior to the dog being bred. These health certifications and title requirements are outlined on our written guarantees. Please contact us for more iformation.

Do you ship? What is involved with shipping? Does the puppy price include shipping?

We have successfully shipped many puppies all over the country. We are located near Chicago O'Hare airport and will help make the flight arrangements for you. The buyer is responsible for the cost of the crate and the flight. Payment of puppy , including shipping and crate must be paid in full prior to the pup being sent. The signed guarantee by the buyer must also be signed & returned prior to shipping the puppy. We pay for the pre-flight health certificate from a licensed vet and there is no charge for us to take the puppy to the airport.

What is the process for getting a puppy from you?

We require an extensive phone interview and or meeting if at all possible. We feel this is the best way to screen our potential buyers. Initial emails are fine, but then a phone call is required. We take the placement of our puppies very seriously. A tremendous amount of time and care has gone into selecting quality breeding dogs, producing our puppies, developing our breeding program, and building our reputation as a breeder. This is a wonderful breed but a shepherd is not for everyone-so we do wnat to be sure a GSD is for you. Our goal is to place every puppy in a forever home with lifetime support from us.