Puppies
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We typically have litters two or three times a year. We are focused on producing outstanding working and performance Cardigans, and will give special preference (and a discount) to service dog homes. For specific litter plans or availability, please contact us.
General Information:
Before you even THINK about a puppy, please consider rescue.
Also, while we may have some puppies available, we are always happy to provide referrals to other good breeders. We are certainly not the only place you should be looking, and we want you to find a breeder who fits you to a T. Let us know what area of the country you are in, what colors you are interested in, and what your priorities are for the future of your dog (companion? agility? obedience? herding?) and we’ll try to give you as many names of reputable breeders as we can.
On puppy prices: Across the realm of Cardi-dom, puppy prices range from $800-$2500, depending on area of the country, show/pet potential, and a variety of other factors. Every breeder tries to make a good decision based on how much it cost to produce the litter, how much their peers are asking, and how much is considered normal for their area. Cardigans are markedly lower than most other well-bred purebreds; you should expect to see prices close to double that range in most other breeds.
We’ve made a personal decision to not charge different prices for show/pet puppies, because the effort that went into each was equal and because the support we offer to each is the same. Our puppy price is currently $1100, which includes $100 toward puppy K.
We want you to see this not as a price you’re paying for a dog, but as a deposit against the fact that you’ll own ME for the next dozen years. Think of it as a very complete extended support contract! At any time, no matter how or when or for what purpose, as long as the dog is alive, I am available to answer questions, offer advice, and be a safety net for you and for your puppy. Every puppy born here has a home here forever. We will board your dog at no cost for his or her life, and we also provide free hospice care for aged or ill dogs.
Here’s our Puppy Application. If you’re interested in a show puppy, thank you. It is truly humbling to have one of my dogs considered as a possible producer of show puppies. I am typically very reluctant to take a lot of show-puppy reservations if I plan on keeping a puppy myself (which I do with this litter). I have found that I usually love the looks of one or two puppies in a litter and some of the rest may be “finishable” but are not exciting. I don’t want to sell for show anything that I’m not personally just bonkers about. I currently have two show reservations for this litter (myself and one other); if you are interested in a show puppy please do let me know but I won’t be able to tell you whether there’s a puppy for you until the group is at least 8 weeks old.
If you’re interested in a pet puppy, HOORAY! I do love me some pet people. Remember that the more flexible you can be on color and gender the more likely it is that I’ll have a puppy for you. I DO NOT parcel out puppies until after the temperament testing is done, which is typically at 49 days, and (unless the puppy is out of the running for show because of a coat or color fault) often the final determination must be made after we grade the litter for show/pet at 56 days.
We VERY occasionally offer puppies on co-ownerships.
Many Cardigan litters will have a few puppies that have longer coats than are desirable for the show ring. These puppies are not rare and they should not command a higher (or lower) price, but they are stunningly beautiful and some owners prefer them. If I can be honest, I’m one of them!. They can do all the same work as every other Cardigan but their coats are longer and softer, more like a Border Collie’s or Australian Shepherd’s. If you would like a long-coated (often called “fluffy”) companion puppy, or like the look of more white on a dog (often known as a “mismark,” though they are usually the most striking puppies in the litter) let me know, because I would not be surprised if we had one or more in each litter. It’s not always obvious which puppies are coated until they are close to eight weeks old, but we can often make a good guess if a couple of them are looking like puffballs!
Because of new evidence of the health problems associated with spaying or neutering, I no longer require that pet male dogs be neutered and may even recommend against it if you plan on taking part in performance sports. I think there’s ample data supporting spay, but I recommend that you wait until after the first heat cycle to do so. However, you are still bound by a non-breeding contract and if there is any question that you cannot control the behavior of your dog in the presence of other intact dogs you should opt to neuter or spay before sexual maturity. Please note that most vets are not aware of this evidence and will tell you that the safest time to sterilize a dog is in puppyhood. Take the time to read the studies yourself and become comfortable with your decision; the best advocate for the health of your dog is YOU.
Cardigan information for those new to the breed.
No puppies leave here without strings attached – both to them and to me. I require a signed contract, and I warrant against crippling or fatal genetic diseases for a minimum of three years. I strongly advise a raw diet and I will offer vaccine advice as well.
If you get the impression that we care very much about the quality of our puppies and their homes, you’re right. However, we hope you’ll find that putting effort into finding the right puppy and entering a relationship with a good breeder is incredibly rewarding.
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