•  I don't live near your stores, will you ship a puppy to me?
Absolutely 100% NO. This is a horrible idea that is NOT in the puppy's best interest. Puppies should NEVER be shipped anywhere, ever. The simple reasons for that are stress and anxiety. When a puppy is frightened or unaware of it's surroundings, much like a human, stress & anxiety begin to build. Puppies are simply not good with handling the stress involved of being shipped cross-country. As in Humans, when stress levels are high, the Immune System will lower it's own resistance. Simply put, shipping a puppy will generally result in you receiving an already sick puppy when it arrives or a puppy that is prime to get sick within a few days. It's not worth the risk.

  •  What's a "teacup" puppy?
"Teacup" is not an officially recognized size for any breed. They have gained popularity in recent years and our culture has come to know them as very tiny puppies. A teacup Yorkie, for example, is specifically bred to max out around 2-3 lbs fully grown! Yorkies are supposed to be 6-12 lbs. We used to call these little guys runts and there was a good reason for it. A difference of 3-4 lbs may not seem like a lot, but when 4 lbs is the 50% of the pup's total body weight, it can have a massive impact on their development. Think of this analogy. An elephant is the largest land mammal on our planet and it's heart only beats approximately 7-9 times per minute. A hummingbird's heart beats approximately 180 times per minute! The smaller you are the faster your heart must beat in order to keep up the blood flow to all the vital organs. Often the puppy's heart is working over-time all the time which ultimately ends up in a shorter life span. The pup may only live to be 7 or 8 years old instead of the 14-15 years it should have. They are prone to other problems too, specifically in the early development stages. Slipping kneecaps, luxating patellas and hypoglycemia are all potential issues for a teacup owner. This is not 100% true with every teacup puppy of course, but a good breeder knows that it's not in anyone's best interest to breed for something that runs a high risk of potential complications.

  •  What does "shots up to date" and "first shots" mean?
When you're searching for a new puppy, you may run into the phrase "shots up to date" or "shots included". Pennsylvania's Dog Law requires that all puppies are given ONLY 1 shot before they are sold. The shot itself generally contains a multi- vaccine for Distemper, Adno-Virus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza. By itself, this sounds like a good deal, until you learn your new puppy still requires SIX (6) additional shots and at least TWO (2) wormings! Not only is this an additional out-of- pocket expense for you, but your puppy now runs a higher risk of contracting an illness ranging from a mild, easily-treatable cough to death.

ASK TO VIEW THE INOCULATION RECORDS and SEE FOR YOURSELF what has been given and what hasn't. If you don't understand what you're looking at then ask to have it explained to you. You have the right to know.

All of our puppies go home with ALL of these shots and both wormings included, at no additional charge to you! The risk of contracting an illness is greatly reduced because the inoculations have already been completed through 8 weeks of age. This leads to a happier, healthier puppy and a good buying experience for you. It is important to keep in mind that all puppies will require booster shots at age twelve (12) weeks and again at age sixteen (16) weeks. If a puppy hasn't found a home by those ages, we include those inoculations as well and there is still no additional cost!

  •  How do I know which breed is right for me?
The breed you choose should fit into your family's lifestyle. Families who consider themselves to be quiet or laid back should consider a breed with a similar personality. Families who are constantly on the go or those who have very active children might be better suited with a terrier breed to match their active lifestyle. It's important to remember that every dog will have a different personality. Remember, just like children, puppies will be the product of your environment so, a terrier will settle down if he or she is raised in a quiet environment. Don't eliminate a breed just because you have "heard" bad things about them because what you've heard is often a stereotypical generalization. The bad habits that you hear associated to certain breeds (hyperactivity, yappiness) are training issues that were never corrected properly. Don't allow someone else's bad training experiences to deter you from a certain breed.

  •  What about feeding and house training?
Don't worry! All new parents will take home written house training and feeding instructions. We'll spend time with you covering the need-to-know information before you take your new baby home. You'll get tips on how to prevent chewing, barking, how to properly socialize and house train quickly and effectively. Most importantly, we are always only a phone call away for any help regarding your new puppy.

  •  What's the difference between purebreds and mixes?
Purebreds are dog breeds that are already recognized and registerable by kennel clubs. A purebred Maltese is 100% Maltese with no other breed in it's DNA. These breeds have a "standard" which is the general rule for what the puppy will look like as an adult. There is very little variation in the physical appearance of purebred pups. Purebreds will always have registration papers. These papers indicate who the puppy's parents are, when the puppy was born and what kennel club association the litter was registered through.

Mixed breeds are just that. A mix of two or more breeds that make up the entire dog. Cockapoos, Yorkiepoos and Puggles are mixed breed pups. Mixed breeds do not come with papers nor are they registerable through any official kennel club. You may be surprised to find out that there are different types of mixed breeds and that the way your puppy was bred can have a great deal to do with what it looks like and it's overall health. First Generation mixes are generally regarded as being the healthiest. First generation mixes always have a purebred mother and a purebred father of a different breed. This ensures the largest amount of DNA is available and makes it impossible for breed-specific problems (Narcolepsy in Dachshunds, Cataracts in Poodles) to occur because the parents are not the same breed. Much like humans, puppies get their genes not only from mother and father, but ANY ancestor in the line. This explains why in a litter of 5 Schnoodles, they can all look completely different from one another. It's all in the DNA!

  •  What breeds are best if I have allergies?
If you have allergies to dogs, you'll need to narrow your search to breeds that DO NOT shed. You may have heard the term "Hypo-Allergenic" to describe breeds like Bichons and Poodles, but that can often be misleading. In a litter of five Bichons, it is very possible you can be allergic to three of them, but not the other two!

If allergies are a concern for you, the best thing you can do is play with a single puppy. Try not to play with more than one because it will be much, much harder to tell which puppy was the one to cause your reaction. Spend 10-15 minutes petting the puppy and letting him/her lick your fingers, then go home. If you're going to have a reaction, you will know within 24 hours. If you don't have a reaction, or the symptoms are such that you can ignore them or take something for them, then you've found your pup. Otherwise, you'll need to choose a different puppy, and try again. It can be a time consuming process, but at least you'll know you'll be taking home a puppy that you can live with.

  •  Is so-and-so breed good with children?
All breeds are good with children, but the real question you should be asking here is: "Are my children good with this breed?" Common sense tells us that it's probably not the best idea to mix small toddlers and very large breed dogs such as Great Danes. Even if the dog never bites, the sheer size and force of a 'playful hug' could topple over and hurt your toddler. With small children and small toy breeds however, the scenario is reversed. Your child is now the one capable of hurting your puppy. Bear in mind there are always exceptions to these rules so, be sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully.

Another important part of the puppy/child relationship depends largely on what you believe your children can handle. If you consider your child to be a little 'rough' when they play, a 25 pound Cocker Spaniel is a much better choice than a 6 pound Yorkshire Terrier. The Cocker has a bigger bone structure and is less likely to experience broken bones should it be dropped or stepped on during 'playtime'. There should NEVER be any tail pulling, ear pulling, or 'cornering' as this will quickly sour the puppy's attitude towards your child. Cornering a puppy can bring about a defensive biting reaction, which will never lead to a productive relationship. If your child persists, the puppy now knows that growling, barking or biting is the remedy for the situation. Puppies don't know how to tell the difference between your child and someone else's, children are children, so a dog will stereotype all children as 'trouble' and use what they've learned works to avoid them.

All dogs, regardless of breed will wish to have certain times to themselves. They may be tired from a hard playtime or just not in the mood to play. Children must learn to respect the times the dog wishes to have to himself. If you accomplish this, the puppy & child will quickly become best friends.

  •  Are certain breeds easier to train then others?
No. The speed at which the puppy trains and learns is dependent solely upon you. Don't allow yourself to be influenced by stereotypes. Some owners will say, "this particular breed is yappy" or "so-and-so breed is wild". These undesirable behaviors are simple training issues that should have been corrected at an earlier age. Allowing any bad behavior to continue without reprimand tells the puppy that it's ok. If you don't scold your children for jumping on the couch, most likely they will still be jumping on the couch when they're 30. Your puppy, just like your children, will become a product of the environment they are raised in.

  •  Is there a difference between males and females?
Besides the obvious anatomical difference, Males and Females are virtually the same during the first 4 months. You might recall going through a phase called 'puberty' at some point during your adolescent years. Puppies usually begin to go through their 'puberty' stage around 4-5 months of age. It is during this period that males and females will start to develop their hormones. Those hormones are essentially genetic instructions that will tell your male puppy that he should lift his leg when he urinates and to 'mark' his territory. The same hormones begin to prepare your female puppy for possible future pregnancies. Be careful to avoid stereotypes, such as "males are more loving" or "females are more aggressive" because every dog will be different. It's important to remember that before 4 months of age, puppies don't understand what they are yet, so often you will have a female that will 'mount' her toys. At this young age the 'mounting' is an expression of dominance. In other words, at this age, the puppy is simply trying to tell you that he or she is in charge. It is not until puberty that the meaning of the action changes for males and females simply stop.

  •  Do you recommend having them fixed? If so, when?
Yes, unless you plan on breeding on your puppy in the future you should always have them spayed or neutered. The old standard for fixing a puppy was 6 months old, with some vets preferring to wait even longer. Nowadays, however, it is safe to have a puppy fixed at an earlier age. The preferred time is around 4 months of age. The reason for this is two-fold. Obviously, having them fixed will reduce their risk of Cancer, simply because you are removing the organs. More importantly though, as discussed in the question above, having them fixed at 4 months of age prevents them from going through 'Puberty'. Ultimately, this means that males will not develop those undesirable traits like marking and lifting. A male fixed at 4 months will still squat to pee when he's 3 years old! Essentially, you're stopping future bad habits before they even develop! Females can also have undesirable traits as well. They can experience false pregnancies where their body will go through the physical changes as if they were pregnant, but they aren't. They can 'nest' in your house, collecting toys or socks to make their nest, then protecting those toys and socks as if they were their babies. Having a female fixed before puberty prevents these bad behaviors as well! This is a win-win scenario for you and your puppy.

  •  Which kennel club are your dogs registered with?
All of our purebreds are registered through the American Canine Association. The ACA is America's largest veterinary health tracking canine registry. The ACA is much more interested in breeding for healthy pets then they are in perpetuating a champion line that conforms to the "show standard". Any breeder who registers through the ACA must have all of their breeder dogs vet checked and certified before they are allowed to mate. Failure to certify the parents means the puppies cannot be registered. The ACA encourages owners to have their puppies fixed and unlike some other more renowned clubs, still provides the owner with registration benefits such as Lifetime Lost & Found, 24/7 "Ask-A-Trainer" service, 24/7 "Ask-A-Vet" service and waived registration fees for tattoo or microchip identification. You are not required to register your puppy unless you plan on breeding, although you are encouraged to do so, if only to reap the benefits the ACA offers.