Frequently asked questions
When can I take my puppy home? Your puppy can go to your home at 8 weeks of age.
What training has my puppy had at 8 weeks? Your puppy is trained to use a litter box and a doggy door, some crate training. Leash and crate training provided upon request at additional charge.
What does my puppy come home with? Your puppy will come with a care package that includes dog food (a few days supply), treats, toys, health record, limited AKC registration and an AKC Reunite microchip.
Why is my health warranty dependent upon feeding LA dog Food? The first two years of a dogs life are the most important time for growth and development. LA is the most nutritionally complete food that is on the market. Feeding LA will ensure puppy receives all nutritional requirements for proper growth and development. Your puppy and it's Mother are fed LA food. Changing dog food can disrupt the development of the digestive system of your puppy causing discomfort and illness as well as compromise the immune system of your young puppy. You will be sent a link to order food and required to order prior to your puppy arriving home at 8 weeks. LA has a Healthy Start Package with everything you will need for a new puppy including food, treats and shampoo Go to Abingtonhealthypets to order your start package and learn why its the best food for your new puppy.
Take the Healthy Pet Challenge to find out why our Dog Food is the safest, healthiest and best dog food on the market Go to ABINGTONHEALTHYPETS
Why is my registration limited (not for breeding)? I have spent many years researching the MAS breed to develop healthy, happy dogs. Breeding dogs is not for the novice owner and should not be done "for the experience". In some cases I will allow breeding rights but this will always be done on a co-own with strict terms. All puppies sold on a
co-own. I reserve the right to stay on as co owner for any puppy placed for the lifetime of the dog.
What can I expect from my puppy when full grown? MAS dogs are of medium size (13-18 inches) and weight can vary depending on bone density. Some MAS are finer boned than others and weigh less. MAS are medium energy level and are very easy to train due to their desire to please. If left without training or regular exercise, MAS dogs may develop bad habits. It is up to us as owners to make sure puppy and adult MAS have a balanced lifestyle of exercise, play, love, nutrition and health care that includes routine vaccinations.
Will my puppy shed? MAS puppies will shed their puppy coat by the time they are a year old. You may not notice the puppy coat shedding as much as the seasonal shedding that occurs with adult MAS. With routine grooming (using a rake to remove the undercoat) you will see little shedding. Routine grooming should be done on a monthly basis and include toenails and teeth cleaning.
Will my puppy get along with cats or other dogs? Your puppy will have been exposed to older dogs and should get along fine with cats and children so long as they are exposed to cats and children at a young age and in a safe, nurturing environment. You should always supervise the puppy when around children or other pets.
What health testing is done on my puppy? The Sire and Dam of your puppy will have been thoroughly tested for Aussie related diseases including PRA/PRCD, MDR1, HC, CEA, DM, OFA Hips and Eye certs. Puppies will have eye certs completed if appointment is scheduled before pick up day. The lifetime health warranty offered on your puppy is for these above listed diseases. Why is the hip warranty on my dog dependent upon spay/neuter done after the age of 18 months of age? Recent research has shown that early spay/neuter is detrimental to a dogs natural development.
It doubles the risk of hip dysplasia and joint disease and can triple the risk of developing cancer. Information about early spay/neuter can be found at
https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/an-update-on-the-health.html
https://breedingbetterdogs.com/article/reported-risks-associated-spay-neuter
More information can be found at www.ashgi.org
Why does my puppy have two colored eyes? Complete Heterochromia in dogs or people is a beautiful but rare genetic mutation with NO health related issues. It is considered a variation in eye color of the iris and has no affect on vision. There are many versions of Heterochromia including: Sectoral Heterochromia Also known as partial heterochromia. One of part of the iris is different in color from the remaining part of the eye. Central Heterochromia There are different colors radiating from the pupil giving an impression of spikes of colors. Acquired Heterochromia Usually due to inflammation or injury. It may be due to the use of certain eye drops. Some eye drops change eye color or damage the iris. The presence of some brain tumors may alter the color of the iris. This may show effects in one or both eyes.
Will the AKC registration on my puppy be in my sole name? No, Your registration will be as a co-own in your name as well as my name. You will be able to enter any AKC event you wish with your puppy/dog.
What happens if I can no longer care for or want my dog? As the breeder I will assist you in re-homing or placing your dog. Once a dog leaves my home I can no longer guarantee what the dog has been exposed to. For that reason I cannot guarantee that I can take the dog back directly into my home. As the owner you are responsible to properly socialize and train the dog as well as seek Professional or medical attention for all issues including medical and behavioral. If you want to return a dog due to behavior problems or a medical condition not covered by my health warranty, I will assist you in placing the dog BUT there WILL be a fee involved. Fee will vary due to costs I incur to retrain your dog or to have your dog evaluated, treated or trained. Minimum rehoming fee of $250.00. There will be NO refund of any purchase price paid for your dog/puppy or any costs incurred until a complete evaluation is made and your dog/puppy is re-homed. As part of the Veterinarian check up, I will also require a Valley Fever test to be completed at your expense and results sent to me BEFORE you return the dog. As the new owner of the puppy, it is your responsibility to see that the needs of your dog including socialization, training and nutrition are met to a satisfactory level according to my standard of care. A Veterinarian report/statement may be required to return puppy/dog including VF test and I reserve the right to require this before returning the dog/puppy to me. Warranty may include a new puppy of similar size, breeding, color or sex. Refund or exchange is at my sole discretion. I will assist in returning the dog to me but shipping or travel expenses will apply and you will be required to pay these fees up front before any return process is started. All registration and paperwork will be signed back into my sole name before any return.
Will I be required to show my puppy/dog? Depending upon the puppy you choose, a co-own with a show requirement will be thoroughly discussed and outlined in your contract. Co owns can be with or without breeding rights for me the Seller. I try not to place puppies in pet homes that I want shown but will occasionally place a puppy with the expectation of breeding that dog/bitch in the future. This will be discussed and noted in sales contract. Can I register my puppy with any other registry other than AKC? NO, your puppy is not allowed to be registered with any other registry but AKC and applying for registration in any other registry will result in a fine of up to ten(10) times the sale price of the puppy.
If I put a deposit down, is that a guarantee that I will get the puppy I want? I breed MAS dogs to improve the breed. Each litter is carefully planned with the expectation of improvement. I do not need to keep every dog in the litter for breeding, usually only one or two out of the litter. My breeding program takes precedence over placing companion pets and this is noted in my deposit contract that if the puppy choose is not available due to my keeping said puppy, you will be entitled to a 100% refund or your deposit can carry over to the next litter and you will be placed first on that list depending on previous deposits for that litter. I place puppies in order of receipt of deposit whether it is a show/breed or companion home. If after you place a deposit with me reserving a puppy and you the Buyer decide that you no longer want to purchase a puppy from me, your deposit is non-refundable due to the inconvenience of holding a puppy for you that could have been placed in another home.
Please read the information regarding early spay/neuter and the risk associated with this practice
https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/an-update-on-the-health.html
https://www.akcchf.org/educational-resources/library/articles/an-update-on-the-health.html
