*Note: This page needs to be updated. Lately I have changed from taking deposits on individual puppies to taking deposits for “picking positions” on a given litter. This allows new owners to choose based on the puppy’s early temperament instead of solely based on its appearance. For more information on how this process works, please read the explanations given on the “Planned Litters” and “Puppies” pages.
Because of this change, I will sometimes accept a few deposits before a litter is born. As before, however, deposits are typically non-refundable.
Buying one of our puppies:
Before you plan to buy a puppy from me, please research the Border collie breed. These are very high energy, high-strung, intelligent dogs, and if you don't have quite a bit of time to spend with one on a daily basis, this is not the breed for you. They have some special needs:
Exercise: They do not have to constantly work stock, nor do they have to compete in any canine sport to be happy; they can make wonderful pets and family dogs, even without "a job" to do; however, they have to be trained to be calm, and must get lots of exercise. If they do not get adequate exercise, your training will not be very helpful.
Toys/ chews: Give your dog toys if you won't be around for a while, especially if it is inside. While my dogs have never seemed to care much for toys, I am sure that if they were inside much they would want and need them for an outlet for energy.
Training and socialization: Border collies must be trained and socialized. They are easy to train because they are a very intelligent, naturally affectionate breed which thrives on human companionship (remember, they have been bred for hundreds of years to be the companions of shepherds and their families). They must be socialized because they are a sensitive, loyal breed and will either become timid of strangers, or overly protective of their own family if they do not learn to accept strangers in a proper way when they are puppies. Don't allow your dog to develop bad habits: jumping on people, chewing on furniture, chasing cars, chickens, or children, etc. My Border collies have not been nippy toward children, nor have they tried to herd my young siblings. Cleone has gotten herself in trouble with my grandparents by attempting to herd their small terrier, backing up her "eye" with a couple of well placed nips to the rear, but now that I've worked with her on behaving around him, she is much better. She tried to herd Duncan the same way when he was a puppy, but once she realized that she was not allowed to nip him, and that he wasn't the sort of animal which is supposed to be herded, she stopped. The same is true of the cats.
Just for reference, (as of 7/11/17) we have a number of free-ranging chickens, three cats (two of which are 8 w/o kittens), Jersey cows, two horses, three goats, and three children between the ages of 6 years and 21 months. (There are also a number of older children.) The dogs have learned to respect all these, and are not allowed to herd unless I specifically tell them to do so. It was difficult to get them to leave the chickens alone, but it was accomplished and now they are (almost always) very good about ignoring them.
So, if after reading all that, you still want one of my puppies, here is how the buying process works:
Once puppies are born, I plan to post weekly updates on the blog, with pictures and occasionally videos.
Please note that I reserve the right to withhold any puppy from sale to anyone if I feel it will be prejudicial to the puppy's health and general well-being to sell it to that person, or if I feel that it will not be a good fit for the puppy and owner. I'm not looking for perfect owners for the pups, for I know there are no perfect owners, but I want to avoid the wrecks that come when someone buys a puppy just because it is cute, but has no knowledge or lacks the capability to provide it a safe, structured home. I also reserve the right to choose to keep any puppy from any litter.
Step 1: Contact me via email, phone, or text. I will ask you questions to try to determine if the you are a good fit for the puppy, and it is good for you. You will ask as many questions as you want, and possibly come visit the farm to meet the dogs and me. If we are both satisfied, I will put your name on a list, and notify you when the puppies are born. I will not accept deposits until after the puppies are born, and I see how many / what colors/ sexes there are.
Step 2: Place a deposit. After the litter is born and we are both satisfied, you may place a $200, non-refundable deposit, on the puppy of your choice and I will give you a receipt for it. The original deposit can be Paypal,* check or cash.
*3.5% convenience fee applies to PayPal transactions.
Step 3: I will keep you updated on the puppy's growth, health and personality development. I will do this by posting on this blog and will notify you by your preferred means of communication when I have done so. Of course, you are welcome to contact me and check in. I do prefer email since it takes up the least amount of time and I am pretty busy, but whatever works best for you is fine. You can also set up an appointment to come meet the puppies between the ages of 4 and 8 weeks. (Please note: Sunday appointments are not usually an option.)
Each update will include individual pictures of the puppies, and sometimes video.
Step 4: Name the puppy. I encourage you to think about a name and let me know what you choose as soon as possible so I can submit registration papers and start calling the puppy by it. I will give them temporary names when they are born, and if you like one you are more than welcome to keep it. :) If not, just let me know what you will be calling him or her and we will use that name. Please note that all the registered names will begin with SSR and are limited to 14 characters and spaces. (Example: SSR Percival.)
Step 5: Pay in full and pick up your puppy. This is the exciting part- taking that adorable little rascal home! When you come to pick him/ her up, you will pay the balance of the price for them. For this payment I accept cash or PayPal only. (A 3.5% service fee applies to PayPal payments.) If you prefer to pay by check, I will need to receive it at least one week before pick-up so it can clear the bank before the puppy is picked up. (I'm not a suspicious person, just feel it's best to do it this way.)
Please note that if the puppy is not picked up by the age of 9 weeks, a $50 per week or $8 per day boarding fee will apply and must be paid before pickup, unless otherwise agreed upon. I don't mind working with buyers and holding a puppy longer if necessary, but this must be discussed ahead of time and possible boarding fees will also be discussed.
Important:
If a buyer stops responding to communication and has not picked up their puppy by the age of 10 weeks, I will consider that they no longer want the puppy and may resell it, keeping all original fees paid to cover the expense/ trouble of raising it to that age. Of course, I will make every effort to contact a buyer before resorting to this, but if I cannot contact the buyer and the puppy reaches 10 weeks, I will proceed as outlined above.
Papers & Puppy Pack
When you pick up your puppy, you will receive the health certificate, which certifies that they have received first shots, are not infested with worms, and in general good health. I will also give you an individual bill of sale/ pedigree, and ABCA registration papers if they have arrived. Sometimes it takes a while to get the papers back after I have submitted them to the ABCA, and in this case I will simply mail them to you whenever I receive them. All puppies are sold with a contract, which I will need you to sign and I will keep a copy, and you will keep a copy. Puppies are sold without breeding rights, unless otherwise requested by buyer and agreed upon before purchase. This is simply to help preserve the integrity of the breed, not to prevent "competition" in breeding.
Each puppy will come with a puppy collar and leash, and a toy. These things will at least get you started with your new pup.
Before pick-up, I will bathe the puppy and trim toenails, unless it is a last minute kind of thing and I don't have time to do so.
Step 7: Train the puppy to be a useful, happy dog, and live together happily ever after!
Email preferred; see below. Please fill the form out as much as you are comfortable doing. It is helpful for me to know sex/ color of puppy which you are looking for, hence the options given, but if you would rather just send me an email and discuss matters first, that is fine. There is no cost or promising involved in the first contact here; it is just a matter of answering a couple basic questions. :)
Please note that not all colors will be available in every or most litters. For example, I may not get a red merle for years, or possibly will never get one. So please be open to multiple colors, as color is not the most important factor in choosing a dog - or be in touch with other breeders if you want a specific color. Thank you!
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