FAQ
Is Heritage Puppies licenced and inspected?
Of course!
The USDA inspects all our kennels. They check the health of our dogs, the condition of our kennel, review our medical records, and keep track of who we buy dogs from and who we sell to. They also make recommendations, and point out things that we can improve on – similar to restaurant inspections. In some cases the inspector may find something that the USDA feels needs to be corrected and followed up on – these issues are listed on our inspection records which are available to the public. Few breeders have perfect USDA inspections – it is easy to overlook something minor, or put it off a little too long until a surprise inspection occurs. In our case, we had a lot of work to do when we bought Heritage Puppies to get it back in great condition, and our early USDA inspection reports reflect this. After much hard work, we feel we can be proud of our kennel, and that our records support this as well.
Where do Heritage Puppies come from - where are they born?
All of our puppies are born here at Heritage, or at one of our partner kennels in the local area. Unlike our competitors, we know every single breeder we buy our puppies from – we see their kennels, how they treat their dogs, and work with them to always improve their operations.
Our partner kennels must all be licensed and inspected in order to do business with us, and be of a medium size; not too small, not too big. Kennels that are too small, with only a couple breeding parents (backyard breeders) do not have the experience needed to raise their puppies in the best manner. On the other hand, kennels that are too big usually have to keep their dogs in smaller areas where they get less attention, and have a hard time keeping up with cleaning and care. We try to work with kennels in the middle – those that have enough dogs (and resulting experience) to know what they are doing, and cash flow (usually from a second income) to give their dogs the best surroundings and care.
When it comes to the care of the puppies and their parents, we expect all of our breeders to meet all state and USDA requirements for space, heating, air conditioning, feeding, medical care, etc. We expect all that and more, as it is not acceptable to barely meet the requirements. Puppies and parents alike get human attention daily, and our mothers always have a safe, clean environment to whelp her young. A veterinarian is on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year should medical attention be needed by any dog, and is on the premises at least once a week to do health checks. We take the health of our puppies seriously, and we believe it shows.
What if we do not have the breed I want?
Most of the common breeds are available through Heritage Puppies. If we do not have what you are looking for please contact us and we will see if we will have that breed coming up. Depending on the popularity of the breed, we should be able to get your puppy in two to eight months.
What should I consider before buying a Heritage Puppy?
The first thing that you should do before buying a puppy is determine whether or not you should have one at all. All too often, people buy puppies on impulse, without doing any breed research, or considering the change and demands that will be placed on their day–to–day lives. In these cases it is often the pet that suffers by being raised in a home that neglects it, or sends it to a shelter where it will be euthanized. The people that buy these puppies have every good intention, and are good people at heart, but made a bad choice.
In an ideal world, every person looking to get a puppy will have done their research, and be completely ready for this new family member. But we all know that an ideal world doesn’t exist. No one has the resources to check the backgrounds of all its customers, and even if it could, it would likely be deemed an invasion of privacy. There is only one realistic solution to impulse buying:
Personal responsibility.
Accepting personal responsibility for our actions by researching your breed and lifestyle before buying a puppy is the only way to ensure that both you and your puppy will be happy for many years to come. Below are some things you should consider at length before buying a puppy. Remember, there is no need to rush into buying a pet – there will always be one available when you are ready. 1. Do I have realistic expectations? Puppies are individuals with individual personalities. Because of this we we reserve the right to hold any puppy past the stated ready date for as long as we feel is necessary to make sure the puppy is ready to transitions to his or her new home. It is up to each family to raise their puppy in a manner that suits one’s lifestyle. You have to be prepared to house train, obedience train and socialize. 2. Do I have the finances to handle medical care, food, grooming and other things that a dog needs throughout life? 3. Do I have time for a puppy and later a dog? We are their whole world, they need us for everything. 4. Is my living situation appropriate for a puppy/dog?
If you feel we have not answered a question you have or would like to know more please feel free to contact us and we would be happy to answer any and all questions to the best of our ability.