At 6 weeks of age, the Swedish Vallhund puppy I’m getting is being seen by the vet for his first exam, first set of shots, microchip, worming, and heartworm preventative.
Once I get him at 8-9 weeks of age, I am to have him seen by MY vet within 3 days to get an opinion on his health and condition from someone I trust.
He has a 1 year temperament guarantee.
2 year inheritable disease guarantee. (Anything like hip dysplasia, would show up at this time).
For “pet” dogs that aren’t going to show or performance homes, she requires that they be spayed or neutered by 2 years of age and NEVER BRED. If I don’t do conformation, I plan to neuter by 2 anyway to insure proper growth and bone density.
She also requires that any dog that needs to be sold or transferred be returned to her UNLESS she approves of where the dog is going to. Basically, she has the right to refuse the sale/transfer/adoption and repossess the dog and MUST BE NOTIFIED.
She registers the dogs with the AKC under her name, then transfers ownership herself to their new homes.
She has 1-2 litters a year from different females (one litter a year per female), usually just one a year, and sometimes just one every two years.
Her breeding dogs are health tested with DNA profiles. I’ve looked them up on a Vallhund database (at least the ones listed there from the kennels they were born at) and they have a very low percentage of inbreeding.
If you get a dog from a breeder who doesn’t offer things like this, then you need to seriously question the breeder. Back yard breeders and puppy mills wouldn’t have these sorts of guarantees or failsafes in place.
IF YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THESE GUARANTEES AND YOU AREN’T LOOKING FOR A PERFORMANCE DOG OR TO SHOW, ALWAYS LOOK TO RESCUE FIRST.
My “pet” dogs will still come from rescue in the future.
Some people may think that it doesn’t make sense, but you can support GOOD breeders and GOOD rescues at the same time.
Celtic Hounds 