How do I go about adopting a puppy?
If you are interested in a SwissRidge Bernedoodle, please fill out the adoption form located here. The information you supply will help me decide what puppy would suit your needs. If your adoption form is approved, I will contact you and request a $300 deposit to reserve a puppy. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE unless I am unable to offer you a pup within one year of the date of your deposit. If you decline a pup when it becomes available, you may lose your deposit unless you roll your deposit toward a future litter. You will lose your deposit if you cancel at the last minute and I have already booked and paid for flights. Please go to the paypal page located here if you would like to place a deposit.
Why are deposits non-refundable?
I view a deposit as a sign of a client’s commitment to me that they want a puppy from my kennel and are willing to wait as long as it takes for a SwissRidge puppy. I base the number of breedings each year on the deposits we have, so that supply never exceeds demand. I want to be certain that all my puppies have good homes.
Making deposits non-refundable also encourages people to think long and hard about whether getting a puppy is the right choice for them before taking the step and getting on the waiting list.
I run a very structured breeding program—and it works. I have never not placed a puppy in a good home.
However, I do recognize that a client’s preferences or life circumstances may change after making a deposit, so you may choose to switch litters or transfer your deposit to another breed.
Further, you may defer adopting a puppy until your life circumstances are just right—even if that takes years. As an example, if you reserve a puppy in 2014, but decide to wait three years to adopt, your deposit will still apply in 2017. However, if my prices have risen in the meantime, your deposit will be deducted from the higher price. The price quote you are given at the time of deposit applies for only one year.
Do you have a contract?
You can find a copy of my contract here.
Do you require dogs to be spayed/neutered?
Yes, every SwissRidge dog needs to be spayed/neutered between 8-12 months of age. If you would like a dog for breeding, I make exceptions in certain situations.
I require proof of spay/neuter to be mailed or e-mailed to me by time the dog reaches 12 months of age. If this proof is not sent the guarantee is void. All dogs are sold with a non-breeding agreements, unless arrangements are made beforehand. If anyone who has signed a non-breeding agreement and subsequently breeds the dog, there are serious implications.
What is your health guarantee?
SwissRidge guarantees all dogs for two years against hip dysplasia or any hereditary disease. If your dog develops a hereditary disease that makes it unsuitable as a pet or in need of extended veterinary care, please contact me immediately. I am extremely concerned about the health and welfare of each and every pup, and need to be informed so that I can make decisions about future breeding.
You may choose to provide a note from a board certified veterinarian. I will either replace the dog, or refund half the purchase price of the pup to cover any extended veterinary care. This is your decision.
Please note that puppies may pick up common parasites, such as Giardia, coccidia, roundworm etc. I do everything in my power to prevent and eliminate these parasites by putting dogs and pups on a strict de-worming program. However, mother dogs tend to be more vulnerable to parasites when they have puppies, and may pass them along to the pups. Depending on the life cycle of the particular parasite, it is possible that a few pups will go home with one. You must have your puppy checked by a vet within 72 hours of taking it home. Please make sure the vet checks for parasites.
What are your prices?
Please contact me for information about pricing for the specific type of Bernedoodle you’re interested in purchasing. Please do not put down a deposit without speaking to us first as deposits are non-refundable.
Why are your prices higher than those of some other breeders?
The price of my dogs reflects my credentials, knowledge, skills, investment and excellent track record as a breeder. I am fully confident in the quality of my dogs and my ability to provide excellent service to my clients. While I constantly strive to improve, clients are so satisfied with their SwissRidge experience that they are increasingly coming back for a second dog, or even a third.
I believe I have the best breeding program around, and I’ve invested a great deal of time, effort and expense to make it so. I source dogs from all over North America and Europe, and have visited hundreds of kennels in person. I research pedigrees five generations back—more where possible—before deciding whether to buy breeding dogs that typically cost from $5,000-$20,000.
Few breeders go to such lengths to find their stock, but this approach has allowed me to gather some of the finest dogs from varied, quality lines.
I raise my breeding dogs to maturity and then invest more in testing for genetic diseases. In the meantime, I constantly assess the temperament of my dogs to make sure I'm only breeding those that meet SwissRidge standards.
If any breeding dog I purchase does not pass health or temperament testing or fails to develop into the dog I expected it to be, I don’t use it in my program. Further, if a dog that I deem to be excellent doesn't produce the quality of pups I expect, it is retired.
I work very hard to breed the best dogs to produce healthy, happy pups, and then I individually match them to your unique circumstances. It’s a comprehensive, exhaustive approach, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Creating the Bernedoodle and building a solid program over the past decade has been very rewarding, but also complicated, labor-intensive and costly. It has taken a lot of trial and error to try and breed the perfect Bernedoodle, and I’m still learning. I can’t imagine anyone having more knowledge of this hybrid than I do. I know what to look for in breeding dogs, how to match the right dogs and what my matches will produce.
On top of all that, I operate a large, busy kennel. My dogs live in immaculate conditions, get plenty of exercise and individualized attention, and are fed very high quality food. As a veterinary technologist, I know how to provide the best care for my dogs. That dedication has meant I’ve passed each annual kennel inspection with flying colors.
The key to providing this level care is great staff, and plenty of them. I’ve been fortunate to find some wonderful dog-lovers who care nearly as much about my dogs as I do. They work very hard to keep adults and pups happy and healthy, and provide the socialization and playtime puppies require to develop into well-rounded pets. Staff are on duty from 7 a.m. to midnight tending to every need of the SwissRidge pack. I even employ a full-time groomer to make sure my dogs always look their best!
Beyond this, I also make sure we offer high quality customer service to all SwissRidge clients. That means answering any and all questions related to health or behavior of my dogs once they’ve gone home. With my partner being an expert dog trainer, I find we can address nearly every issue that comes our way.
In short, I believe my prices are appropriate. When buying a Bernedoodle puppy from SwissRidge, you are choosing to go with the breeder with the deepest knowledge of this hybrid—a breeder with premium breeding dogs, and one who stands behind her dogs and her clients for life.
Investing upfront in this important member of your family will likely avoid costs down the road. A well-bred, carefully raised puppy will be a healthy member of your family. There are few surprises with a SwissRidge pup.
If you decide to go with another breeder, please do your homework and ask to see all
the parents’ health certificates. Ask about the temperament of the parents. Speak to
as many references as possible and ask to see pictures of what their dogs look like as adults to see if it is the look you want. My book contains more information on how to find a reputable breeder.
What currency do you accept?
We accept both Canadian and US currency.
Do you ship, and is it safe?
Many of my clients live too far away to make the drive feasible. Some fly into Toronto, pick up the puppy and take the puppy home on the plane. The benefit to this is that the pup can be with you, in an airline-approved carrier under your seat. If you have time and some travel points to use, it’s a great option.
For others, it makes more sense—and is usually more cost effective—to have us ship the puppy. Many people are understandably nervous about this. It’s hard to believe you can send a tiny pup off in a plane and have it emerge unscathed many hours, and thousands of miles, later. But it happens all the time. Currently, about half of my puppies take to the skies to join their new families. I offer a flat rate for shipping that includes airfare, a crate, transportation to the airport, the booking fee, and an international health certificate.
I have shipped hundreds of puppies by air since 1998, and have developed an effective strategy. No puppy has ever been injured or lost, and only a few have encountered flight diversions or delays. It’s amazing, when you consider how often luggage goes astray. Over the years, however, I have limited the airlines I use to those that accommodate pets the best, and seem to care about the animals’ welfare.
It is very simple to take a pup across the border. Customs will stamp paperwork and send you on your way.
I encourage you to consult with owners on Facebook if you have concerns about having your pup shipped.
There may be a small custom or cargo fee on your end but we pay for the flight on our end.
Do puppies shipped from Canada need to be quarantined?
While no formal quarantine is required within North America or Europe, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) does stipulate that pups must remain in your home for 30 days after their Rabies vaccine, or be muzzled if they are outside your home.
All SwissRidge owners in the U.S. sign a form agreeing to abide by these terms. State representatives may visit your home to ensure that you are, indeed, keeping the pup away from the public. The CDC has authority to fine people up to $100,000 if they are found to be not compliance.
While there is no risk that pups leave my kennel with Rabies, a pup’s immune system is vulnerable to many diseases until it is fully vaccinated. I always recommend that owners—American or otherwise—take great precautions to protect their pup from exposure to animals that may carry disease, and areas those animals frequent.
The house-quarantine may be an inconvenience, but it will pass more quickly than you think, and you’ll be busy with potty training and basic manners anyway.
How do I contact you?
SwissRidge contact information is posted on the CONTACT page.
