Puppies Q&A
Many times I am asked the same questions over and over again, so here are the most common questions and my answers...

- Do you have any puppies?

I am a breeder not to produce the most puppies, but to produce a better BMD.  I am not in the business of making money off of my dogs.  I have a full time job and Berners are a hobby of mine.  My dogs are members of my family and as such, they live in the house rather than in kennels.   I produce maybe one or two litters a year, so most of the time I do not have puppies.  But, if you are looking for a breeder that cares about what they are producing and will be a lifetime resource for your family, it might be worth waiting for.

- I wanted to buy two puppies at once so that my puppy won't be alone.  Why won't you sell me two?

On the outset, this seems like a wonderful idea, but it can be a disaster.  Having had 8 years experience in animal control, and rescue by default, raising two puppies at once is a bad idea.  As if housebreaking a puppy is not hard enough with one puppy, teenage time can be a nightmare with both puppies playing off of each other's naughty behaviours.  Not to mention the fact that the puppies bond to one another and could care less that you wanted them to "Come" rather than take off into the sunset, or worse...into the road into the path of an 18 wheeler.

  - What is teenage time?

Teenage time usually begins between 6-9 months and continues until between 18-24 months  This time can be longer or shorter depending on the dog.  Every dog is an individual.  It is the time when the dog acts like, well...a teenager.  Remember when you were a teenager?  You parents said something and you ignored them, or worse did the opposite?  Before dogs mature, they go through a very similar time and it can be very trying.  It always amazed me when people would be looking for an older dog (6+ months) that was housebroken.  Housebreaking is generally easier than dealing with a teenager.

- How much can I expect to pay for a Bernese Mountain Dog?

The short answer that you are asking for is usually between 1800-2500 from a reputable breeder.  If you think that sounds like a lot of money, a Bernese Mountain Dog may not be right for your family, because veterinary costs and dog food for these guys doesn't get any cheaper.  And if you think that reputable breeders are making a killing selling 4 -6 puppies for 1500 a piece, think again.  The stud fee can cost between one and two puppies. The c-section with the emergency (usu. Sunday or middle of the night) vet surcharge, can cost between 2-4 puppies.  And the puppy person from the last litter that needed surgery on their puppy because he had hip displaysia, that's a puppy or two, depending on the agreement.  Oops...already in the dog house on this litter and I haven't even gotten into health clearances, showing expenses or simply the time and energy of raising a litter to 8 weeks....exhausting!

- But I saw a Berner online for 900 and that included shipping!  Why should I buy from a "reputable breeder"?

Buying from a reputable breeder is important because a reputable breeder cares about their dogs, their dogs living conditions, the breed as a whole (past, present, and future) and cares about the puppies they produce.  When you buy a dog from a "breeder" that sells puppies without obtaining health clearances and who doesn't belong to the local breed club, what will your recourse be when something goes wrong with the puppy.  Also consider that because the breeder did not get clearances, they have no idea what they are combining and therefore, you are more likely to end up having health issues.  If you reread the previous question, a breeder that charges $1400 or less for their puppies, is less likely to do all those things that can be and should be necessary for the health of their dogs and their pups.  And once they get their money and you get your pup, they often disappear.

- You keep mentioning clearances...what are they and what should I be looking for?

There are some basic clearances that I have done on my dogs which to me are the most necessary.  These include OFA films, both hips and elbows, CERF, and Von Willebrands. There are other tests that other breeders sometimes include, such as thyroid panels, but these are the three basics.  Breeders that have these tests completed will be able to provide documentation about the results and you need to be asking for it.  If the breeder "can't find" the paper work, you may also ask for the sire and dam's registered names so that you can verify the information on either Berner-Garde.org or Offa.org.  If the breeder fails to provide this information, run like the wind.

More info about finding a puppy...

When you are looking for a new puppy, please ask for clearances.  In addition to hip and elbow x-rays, CERF exams (eye tests) and Von Willebrands are other clearances good breeders complete on their breeding stock.  Quality breeders should regularly submit information to Berner-Garde, and will always be happy to provide you with their breeding dogs health clearances BEFORE taking any money.  If someone who breeds Berners tells you that they will give you clearances after you commit to buying a puppy, find another breeder. At the very least, you can search for the records online with the breeding dog's registered name.  Other ways to know if you have found a good breeder are to make sure the breeder is a member of their regional club and/or BMDCA.  

I have many times heard people complain about getting dogs from "breeders" only to bad mouth them because their puppy didn't "turn out" or had health problems.  Even though I do the best I can to produce heathy puppies, by breeding sound dogs, it is possible to have puppies end up with poor orthopedics, as well as issues such as cancer.  Genetics is extremely complex, and dogs are living creatures, and despite breeders' best efforts, problems can still arise.  The best thing you can do as a puppy buyer is match yourself up with the best breeder you can find and put yourself on a waiting list if necessary.  Many puppy buyers want their puppy right away and I do understand that, but it is often those same people that are upset when there are problems...problems that in many cases may have been avoided if they had just been patient and done their homework to find the right breeder.  As strongly as I feel about educating my puppy buyers about Berners and my dogs, I feel equally strongly that people need to be enthusiastic about educating themselves and asking questions.

-Where can I find a reputable breeder with puppies?

As I mentioned, I don't always have puppies, but you can call the BMDCNV puppy chair on the puppy "hotline" to find out the most up to date information about puppies available from reputable breeders in the area.  The current BMDCNV puppy chair is Laurel Crowley and her phone number is 860-526-2043.

Please contact us to find out where you can meet our dogs, as we attend many shows and events.