How do I get more information about your breeding program and puppies?

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Please fill out our contact form and we will connect with you to personally address and questions that you have regarding our breeding program, plans for future litters, etc.  Breeding and raising healthy and happy Berners is our hobby and our passion.  We are not a commercial business. We invest a lot in our dogs and in our puppies. Health testing, optimal nutrition, thorough veterinary care, early puppy development, intensive care and development are all part of what we do to ensure the well being of our dogs and puppies. 

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How does the contact list work?

You may request to be placed on our contact list after our initial discussion with you. Placement on the list will provide you with early notifications of our planned breedings and of the birth of a litter, etc.  We do not collect any fee for being placed on our contact list.

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What is the price of your puppies? 

Our puppies are priced at $3000 - $3500.  All the puppies in a litter are the same price and come with limited AKC registration.  Limited AKC registration means they are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) as purebred Bernese Mountain Dogs and are able to compete in all AKC events, except conformation shows.  They are intended to be performance companions and pets, and are not intended for breeding.

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What is your process for placement of puppies in their forever homes?

The first step is for you to be placed on our contact list.  When we have news of a planned litter, we will let you know, typically by email.  If you are interested in a puppy from that litter, you can let us know and we will stay in touch with news about the litter (due date, expected number of pups, etc).  A few weeks before the litter is due, we will connect with you by phone to understand more about your prefernces in a puppy (gender preference, if any; personality traits, desired activities and jobs you would like to do with your puppy, etc). 

A few days after the litter is born, we will let you know if there is a puppy in the litter for you and you will be asked to give us a non-refundable $500 deposit to hold a puppy of your chosen gender (if you have a gender preference).

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You will be matched with your puppy when they are approximately 6.5 weeks old.  At this time you will be asked to provide the remainder of the purchase price (i.e. purchase price minus the deposit) and will sign the Puppy Purchase Agreement.  We will also schedule a time and date in advance for you to pick up your puppy, when they reach 8 weeks of age.

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Can we choose our puppy?

Yes, and No.  We will work with your to undertsand all of the traits that you would ideally like to have in your puppy.  You will be able to pick the gender of your puppy, if that is important to you.  We spend approximately 700 hours with each litter, from the time they are born to the time they go home to you.  During this time, we are working with each individual puppy and with the litter, observing, teaching and nurturing.  Through this process we get to know each puppy quite well and are in the best position to make the best possible matches for you and the puppy.

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What kind of health testing do you do on your breeding dogs?

We conduct all the health testing recommended by the AKC for the Bernese Mountain Dog as a breed. This includes OFA hip radiographs, OFA elbow radiographs, OFA eye exam, OFA cardiology exam and genetic testing for Degenerative Myelopathy A and B and Von Willebrand’s disease. These tests of our breeding dogs are required to qualify them for their CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) numbers and help ensure the health of the puppies.

 

Where are the puppies raised and how are they cared for?

The puppies are raised and sleep in a loving home environment, with plenty of time to explore the great outdoors in their fenced-in-yard. We take age-appropriate puppies on ouside excursions to acclimate them to new surroundings and car rides. We provide extensive socialization and enrichment for our puppies and follow best practices for early puppy development (e.g., Puppy Culture). They will receive their initial vaccinations and will be de-wormed according to the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommendations.

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Why do you offer incentives to those owners who train and compete in AKC activities and events?

Bernese Mountain Dogs thrive on building a strong bond with their people. We believe that a wonderful way to build a solid bond with your pup is to train them for a “job,” an activity or sport. All our puppies are eligible for AKC registration. The AKC offers countless opportunities to gain titles in a vast array of activities (e.g., therapy dog, canine good citizen) and sports (barn hunt, agility, rally, fetch). We wish to honor your accomplishments and the time that you devote to training your pup in these activities through our Performance Recognition Program.  Through this program, you can receive up to $200 in awards for earning AKC performance and companion titles.

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Why don’t you ship puppies?

We do not ship puppies because a puppy is at a very delicate stage in its development and the stress it will endure being shipped in the cargo section of a plane may undo our careful emotional development of the pup and may lead to lasting emotional and potentially physical problems.