Rivers Edge Information Sheet    (AKC Pet Contract at Bottom)

FOR YOUR SANITY (AND MINE)  Please do basic training with your puppy by 16 weeks of age.  this includes Crate

Training, Sit, Stay, walking on a leash and riding in a car.  Socialization after all vaccinations.  Very, Very Important.

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Your Trip Home

A few things to remember for your ride home.  Things will be new for the puppy so a warm blanket would be nice.  Also bring a roll of paper towels and a box with newspaper in it.  As your puppy is still a baby and has not had all four of its puppy shots you do not want them to be on the ground at any gas stations, road sides, etc so you have the box for them to potty in if necessary.  Some puppies get car sick, it happens very seldom but it does, so the paper towels come in handy for that.

Feeding your puppy.

Puppies are being fed Victor Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Formula    victordogfood.com for supplier near you.  Chewy will deliver as well.

We now require that you feed Victor Chicken and Brown Rice for 1 full year.  We feel this is in the best interest of the puppy, not to many changes at one time.

What you feed your new puppy can be the most confusing question of all. If you ask a vet or a pet food salesperson unfamiliar with Danes, you may be told your puppy has to be fed a puppy food to meet his growth requirements. You may even be told to add vitamin and calcium supplements. Wrong! A Dane puppy should never be fed a puppy food!  Experienced vets and long term breeders will tell you the best diet for a Dane puppy is a quality dog food in the moderate protein range of around 21% to 24%. Calcium no greater than 1.% and phosphorous of .9% Why is that? Danes and Irish Wolf hounds are an extremely fast-growing breeds. At one point in your puppy’s life he will gain up to five or more pounds a week. If you feed a puppy food, it forces too much growth too fast, and can lead to a number of growth and bone problems. The feeding of a moderate protein quality dog food will allow the puppy to grow at a slower rate. He will still meet his genetic potential on a moderate protein food.  Equally dangerous is giving your puppy a calcium supplement. Quality dog foods already have calcium in them. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is very important in proper bone development, and the addition of a supplement or treats can change that ratio. An improper ratio can lead to bone problems. Some breeders add vitamin C to the diet, although many now consider this to be “old school”. Generally, dogs under 6 months of age should be fed three times a day and dogs over 6 months should be fed twice a day for life. Feed your dog at an elevated level.  Raise the bowls as they grow.  A quiet time of one hour before and two hours after mealtime is recommended.  Water available all day until after evening meal.  Then take away till morning, helps with potty breaking. Puppies should be on the lean side, but not skinny. A puppy in proper weight will have hips and spine covered, and you will just be able to see the outline of the last rib. Puppies should never be allowed to become fat as it is too hard on growing bones. Once finding treats and human food they may not want to eat their food, this is normal, they are holding out for the good stuff.  Do not switch foods.  They will not starve themselves.  Most Irish Wolf Hounds are grazers.  It is not uncommon for them to skip meals.  Especially adults. THIS IS NOT A SIGN TO SWITCH FOOD! 

 

PUPPY CAUTIONS

For all their great size,  puppies are really quite fragile. Their large size and fast growth can result in clumsiness, which can in turn lead into injury. With a growing puppy, it is imperative to avoid hard bangs and falls. An injury to a growth plate during the growth stages can cause a serious, debilitating and expensive injury. As a precaution, puppies should not be allowed rough and tumble play

with older dogs and children. Puppies playing together should be supervised carefully, as two puppies running full tilt towards each other can meet with a lot of force and resulting injury. Puppies should also be supervised going up and down stairs. Slick surfaces in the house, such as hardwood floors, can pose a danger. It’s easy for the puppy to run around a corner, slip and fall. Prevent these problems by having non-skid rugs down on slick surfaces. Care should be used when children are playing with the puppy. Small kids should never be allowed to attempt to pick up or carry the puppy. They should understand that rough and tumble play is not allowed. Caution should also be used when the puppy jumps out of cars or trucks. Many vets and breeders feel the jarring impact of the front feet striking the

pavement can cause shoulder injury in young dogs. Puppies should not be jogged or road-worked until the growth plates are fully

closed, generally around 15 to 18 months of age.

Environment

Great Danes overheat and chill easily. Do not leave your puppy outside for more than ½ hour at a time during the hot summer months or he may get heatstroke. Do not leave him outside in the winter for more than a few minutes at a time – since they have no undercoat, they freeze easily.

Provide your dog with a soft place to lay: blankets, dog beds and crib mattresses work well.

Dogs are pack animals - it is in their nature, hardwired into their DNA, to live in families. As such, dogs should be treated as a part of the family rather than banished to a lonely backyard. When puppies are left alone for extended periods of time, they may develop separation anxiety as these breeds are especially sensitive when it comes to bonding. Separation anxiety can lead to destructive behavior, which can be pretty drastic when you're dealing with a giant breed. If you're not able to commit to providing a social home life for a Great Dane or Irish Wolf Hound and proper care and attention, please don't purchase one.

Growth

Since your  puppy will grow quickly, some precautions must be taken to ensure proper bone development:

    * Do not allow your puppy to run for long periods of time as this can cause hairline fractures in their developing bones. Wait to run or play long games of fetch until your dog is at least 18 months old.

    * Do not allow your puppy to play on slippery surfaces. This is a possible environmental cause of hip dysplasia. If you have only tile or wood floors, it would be a good idea to pick up a few throw rugs and play with your puppy on the carpet.  Vaccinations and Parasite Prevention

Vaccinations are very important! That being said, they are also very controversial. Some studies have linked frequent vaccination to diseases such as cancer. Some vets recommend vaccinating every three years, some every year, some recommend other protocols. The bottom line: do your research, talk to your vet, and make an informed decision regarding what is best for your pet. You can read more about this by visiting the AVMA site.

There are many deadly diseases such as Parvo that can spread rapidly. These diseases can be easily prevented by simply vaccinating your dog. Vaccinations typically cost around $15.00 each, while treating your dog once he has a preventable disease will cost hundreds, even thousands, and many dogs will still die. Other diseases such as distemper are almost always deadly, but can be prevented with a vaccine. The following vaccination schedule is a general guide, but you should always talk to your vet about this kind of stuff as new studies are constantly providing fresh info:

    * Puppies between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 months typically receive a "core" vaccination every 3-4 weeks with the final one given at 4 months. The reason for this is that puppies will loose the disease immunity they receive from their mother some time between 6 & 16 weeks of age. Since there's not an easy way to tell when the shots take over the natural immunity, giving them often can help protect your puppy, but there still may be a gap where he is left unprotected between the time his immunity from mom stops working and the next shot is given. You should not take your puppy to public places such as parks, shops, dog parks, or even to your friends houses if they have dogs until he is at least 16 weeks and has had his 4 month booster. After age 4 months, the shot is typically given every three years, although some vets recommend an additional shot at 6 months or 1 year, and others still recommend vaccinating every year. This shot protects against Parvo, Distemper, and parainfluenza, and several other contagious diseases and can be obtained through your vet or at vaccination clinics, and usually runs anywhere from $10-$25. Many people request that the vaccinations be given separately rather than in a combo vaccine due to the risk of vaccine reactions. Consult your vet for more information on this.

    * General vaccination guidelines include a rabies shot at 3-6 months, again after 1 year. If your dog has not had this shot and bites someone, he may automatically be killed or quarantined by rabies/animal control. This shot can be obtained at your vet, at vaccination clinics, or at the rabies/animal control pound.

    * If you plan to do a lot of hiking or camping with your dog, you should also consider a lyme disease vaccination as this disease is transmitted by ticks. As with any vaccine, there are risks, so always talk this over with your vet.

Obedience Training, Socialization

REMEMBER WHAT IS CUTE AT 15LBS IS NOT CUTE AT 150LBS!

Teach Manners Early.

The proper use of a crate or a puppy playpen which I prefer is invaluable. Crate training will help make housebreaking go faster and prevent destruction from chewing. Many breeders consider the use of a crate mandatory for Great Dane and Irish Wolf Hound owners.

Your puppy will be very large and powerful, and will be very strong willed! Large dogs without manners tend to be exiled from the house and family which causes them to be lonely, and since they’re lonely, the make more trouble, which makes you more angry…It’s a vicious cycle! By properly socializing your puppy and enrolling in an obedience class, you can prevent bad habits from forming while your puppy is young. Many obedience schools offer a course on puppy training that can be started at 4 months - 6 months. The classes help with potty training, chew training, sit, stay, come, heel, etc. We feel harsh training tools like prong and shock collars should never be used, and shouldn't be needed anyways. Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement.  Please do not send your puppy off to a training school.  They need to learn from you, not a stranger.  The Bond Needs to be between the puppy and his family as well as the respect.

Socialization basically means exposing your puppy to new people, objects and situations on a regular basis so he won't be scared of new things later on. As my vet recommended not taking our puppy anywhere until he had completed his shots at 4 months, this was difficult. We asked friends and family to drop by several times a week so the puppy would get used to visitors and strangers. Take the puppy out in the driveway so he could get used to people, dogs and cars passing by, kids on bikes and rollerblades, and barking dogs. Ask relatives and neighborhood kids to come by and play with the puppy so he would be OK playing nicely with strange little humans. Go for a car ride at least once a week, just to get used to being in a moving vehicle. Although it's important to expose your puppy to other dogs/puppies as well, use caution until your pup has had all of his shots, and make sure you're only exposing him to other healthy, friendly, well socialized dogs so he doesn't pick up any bad habits or behavior from snappy or frightful dogs. For this reason, I would not recommend taking your puppy to a dog park.

Potty Training

Puppies need to potty frequently - a good rule of thumb is the age in months of your puppy is the number of hours he had wait to potty. A 2 month old puppy can hold it for 2 hours, puppies need to potty every 4 hours at 4 months old, and at 6 months, they can usually hold it for about 6 hours. They should be able to hold it for about 8 hours by the time they’re 8-9 months old. Puppies will need to potty approx. 5-30 minutes after eating or drinking, and always after a nap. If you want to potty train your puppy quickly, you will need to watch him CONSTANTLY while he's awake. Murphy's law, the second you walk away to answer the phone, your puppy will piddle on the floor. Take him everywhere with you - the only way to make them understand not to go in the house is to catch them doing it, say no (never hit your puppy), and carry them immediately out to the area where they are supposed to go.

Keeping this in mind, the best way I've found to train puppies is by combining kennel training with doggie door training. Dogs have a natural denning instinct, so they will naturally make a kennel their bed, or den. Dogs will not potty in their bed, (unless there are extreme circumstances, such as being locked in there for too long) so by keeping your dog in a kennel when you are not home and then taking them directly outside when you let them out, they will learn where to go. If you are able to install a doggie door, the kennel can be bumped up against the doggie door when you are not home so your pup only has access to the outside and his bed. (To a fenced in yard of course) This is by far the fastest way to potty train. When you are home, your dog will always have access to the yard when he has to go, so there will be no accidents. If you can't install a doggie door, make sure you let your puppy out frequently, initially every 20-30 minutes, until he starts grasping the idea.

If you do catch your puppy in the act of piddling in the house, say NO and take your puppy outside. When he piddles outside, praise him excessively and give him treats. He will then associate piddling outside with getting yummy food and love and will do it more often. DO NOT HIT YOUR PUPPY. This will only make him fear and dislike you, and will make him more prone to biting in the future. Positive reinforcement works the best with dogs. If your puppy leaves you a puddle or a pile and you find it after the fact, don’t bother punishing the dog. He won’t remember why he’s bad, only that you’re mad and he has no idea why. The most effective training is watching your pup constantly when he is in the house so you can catch him before he goes and take him outside.

Chewing

Got Toys? You'll need plenty of them. Check out That Pet Place for discount dog supplies.

Puppies explore and learn by chewing on things and digging in things. Give your pup chew toys in his kennel. By providing your pup with plenty of toys to chew on and by taking him to the park to dig in the sand, he will be less likely to dig in your yard and chew up your stuff. Keep all shoes, candles, and other tempting objects out of the reach of your pup or he WILL eat them. If you catch your pup chewing on something he shouldn’t, take it away, say NO, and replace the item with a proper chew toy. When he starts chewing on his toys, make sure to tell him he's good, and maybe even throw in a treat. Again, positive reinforcement works best with dogs. In time, your dog will learn what’s OK to chew. Do not give your dog stuffed animals or stuffed quilts as the stuffing can choke your dog. Also, your pup can’t tell the difference between a stuffed toy and a stuffed couch cushion… that’s just asking for trouble! Puppies usually start teething around 4-5 months, so be prepared for an excessive amount of chewing at this age. Rotating through a supply of teething toys will give your pup something to chew on to soothe his teething pains, and a "new" toy will keep his interest longer.  

Speaking from experience, though it can be so cute to watch a  puppy destroy a newspaper or a stuffed toy, you will regret allowing him to do this later. Bad habits are hard to break, and when that 175 pound dog decides to destroy all your household paper products or your couch cushions while you are asleep, it is not so amusing that next morning.  Be firm. Allow him to play with TOYS ONLY!

Spay/Neuter

 Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

A lot of opinions on this I am still old school.  I feel that a 10 month old has better recovery than a 2 year old.   

Neutering males can help to prevent marking.  Best time is around 10 months.  Right before they start noticing girls.  Males will jump over 6 ft fences and travel up to 5 miles to breed a female.  5 miles of roads and cars and people yelling at them. 

Females will go into heat at around 6-9 months. This is a messy thing, and if she gets pregnant, plan on spending hours upon hours a week to raise a healthy litter of puppies. If you do not intend to breed and show your dog, the least expensive way to go is to HAVE YOUR DOG SPAYED! Some studies show that spaying before a female's first heat cycle reduces her chances of getting breast cancer by up to 80% and nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra. 

Breeding is NOT as easy as it looks. Lack of experience can risk the life of your dam, and having puppies just so your children or your pet may witness the miracle of birth can sometimes go badly. Be prepared for anything that could happen; ask yourself: "How can I handle things if they go wrong? Is it worth it?" Most breeders do not simply follow textbook instructions when whelping a litter because whelping correctly requires experience. There is no money to be found in breeding the right way; it is a hobby and usually costs money rather than makes money.

Many unexpected costs can break your bank, it is absolutely necessary to have funds set aside in case there is trouble with your dam during her pregnancy or whelping. Twenty-five percent (25%) of dog births end up middle-of-the-night C-sections, which adds up to a $1,000 vet bill just for the whelping. Fading puppies can also cost several thousand dollars to save, and it is very possible for puppies to contract viruses such as mild Cocciadia, Giardia, and the more serious threat of Parvo. It is possible your dam will not produce milk, or make too much and end up with Mastitis. Your dam could also hemorrhage and DIE!

REMEMBER YOUR PET WAS SOLD ON A PET ONLY CONTRACT.

Risks Associated with Spaying and Neutering

There are some risks associated with spaying and neutering that you should be aware of. Surgery of any kind can pose a risk, especially when dealing with giant breeds. Make sure the vet or clinic you choose has experience dealing with anesthetizing giant breeds. Special care should be taken when lifting and carrying a giant breed to prevent spinal cord injury which can result in wobblers. Giant breeds must also be kept warm after surgery, and should not be placed on a kennel floor without warm bedding.

Exercise is a very important part of your dog's life. Though you do need to be careful no to over-do it with growing puppies, talking your dog on long walks will give him and outlet for any pent-up energy and will make him an overall happier dog. Walking in a "pack" with you and your family is also an important bonding experience for your dog. Being stuck in the house day in, day out can cause major boredom and cabin fever in anyone, including a dog. If you find you're having problems with your dog chewing, barking, jumping or other unwanted behavior, try walking your dog for 30 minutes each morning. The added bonus: it's good for us, too!

Common Illnesses

The following are signs of common illnesses you should be aware of:

    * When the skin on the back of the neck is pulled up, it should snap back into place quickly. If it doesn’t, your dog may be dehydrated. Dehydration can be a sign of serious illness, so if your dog doesn’t become hydrated quickly, take him to your vet.  

    * Great Danes and all deep-chested dogs are susceptible to bloat. Bloat is a condition in which the belly fills up with gas causing the stomach to turn upside down, killing the dog if he is not treated immediately. The main signs of bloat are a bloated looking belly, restlessness, and possible vomiting. If your dog is rushed to the vet, he may be treated and saved. The main causes of bloat appear to be exercising heavily right before or after eating, gulping water after eating, eating food rapidly, and stress.

    * Ear infections and ear mites are fairly common. Check your dog’s ears often, and if any brown waxy gunk is present in the ear, he has one of the two. See your vet for medication.  

 EAR CROPPING INFORMATION

A frequent question new Dane owners have is whether to crop their puppy or leave the ears natural. While that is a entirely personal issue with many pros and cons, the new Dane owner contemplating cropping should be aware of a few things before they have their new puppy cropped. First, the age a puppy is cropped is of utmost importance. Most long-term breeders feel the best age for cropping is between nine and twelve weeks of age. Anything done after that time frame is much more difficult on the puppy. And while you may find a vet who will crop a six month old puppy, it’s highly recommend you don’t do it. It is very hard on the dog and the ears most likely will not stand properly. Next, the vet you choose to do the cropping is very important. Cropping is an art. Just because a vet says he does cropping doesn’t mean he does a good job at it! When you go to choose a vet for cropping, be sure you do your research. Ask long-term Dane breeders who they use. Ask to see pictures of Danes the vet has cropped so you have an idea what the ears will look like. You also need to be aware that cropping alone will not result in standing ears. Proper and diligent ear taping is required for the ears to stand properly. The taping causes the cartilage to form “memory”. Incorrect, sloppy or inconsistent taping will result in ears that don’t stand, flop over the side of the head, or lean over the top of the head. If you cannot put the effort into proper after-care, do not crop the puppy.  Some crops take a year to stand correctly. It should be noted that uncropped Danes can sometimes have “flying” ears that don’t position themselves correctly on the side of the head. Instead, they may flop over the eyes. Some Dane owners consider this cute and don’t mind. However, if this is bothersome to the owner, ears will need to be glued or taped to achieve the proper set.  

VET CARE

Choosing a vet qualified to care for your Dane puppy is very important. Danes are a unique breed, and you want to choose a vet who is familiar with them. Your best bet is to talk to other Dane owners and long-term breeders to find a referral. While any vet can handle routine procedures like vaccines and stitching up a cut, many do not recognize common Dane problems. HOD, a bone disease that can affect Danes, is not commonly seen in many other breeds and is often misdiagnosed. Danes can have tonsillitis, another problem

not common in other breeds. Growing problems, coat problems due to thyroid imbalances, emergency treatment for bloat, and other Dane maladies need to be treated by a vet familiar with the breed. The new Dane owner would be advised to do research on common Dane problems so they can be recognized if they occur. All Dane owners should be aware of what bloat is, its signs, and emergency treatment. Any Dane puppy with re-occuring lameness, or lameness lasting for more than two days should be radiographically evaluated by a competent vet. A minor problem can become quite serious if not dealt with quickly.

 

Please enjoy the new addition to your family.  A Great Dane is the best family friend that you can have.  Please love them as much as I do, Deb  riversedgedanes.wix.com/riversedgedanes

 

AKC Pet Only Contract

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AKC Pet only contract… PLEASE READ CAREFULLY This agreement is between: Debbie Hollandsworth of Rivers Edge Danes & Irish Wolf Hounds riversedgedanes@yahoo.com (Hereinafter referred to as “Seller” or “Breeder”) And Name(s):______________________________________Phone#____________________________ Address:________________________________________________________Email:_____________________________ (Hereinafter referred to as “Buyer” or “Purchaser”) During the life of the Puppy, Buyer and Seller agree to notify each other within 30 days, of any changes in address or phone number. DESCRIPTION OF PUPPY Great Dane ___ Irish Wolfhound___ Identification Name of puppy__________________ The puppy sold pursuant to the terms of this agreement is as follows: Breed: Color: ____________ Sex:_________Whelp Date: _____________AKC Registration #: ____________________ Dam:________________________________Sire:_______________________________ Additional contact names in the event that contact cannot be made at primary address: Name: _________________________ Phone Number:________________________ It is agreed between Seller and Buyer as follows: 1. Seller’s Representations (a) As of this agreement, Puppy is in good health and free of communicable diseases, with any exceptions noted :________ __________________________________________ (b) The Buyer Must have new puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian Within 3 working days of taking possession of the puppy. Should the Puppy be diagnosed with a genetically derived medical disorder that is crippling or fatal in nature and which is attested to by two unassociated veterinarians, with findings reported to Sellers Veterinarian and he concurs with the findings, a full refund, minus the deposit made by the Buyer will be given at the time of the return of the puppy and all the puppy paperwork. Seller is not responsible for any vet bills or transportation costs to return puppy. Returning puppy is at Buyers cost. No monies will be given if puppy is not returned within 4 days (7 days from pick up of puppy by Buyer) of initial examination and confirmation of Sellers veterinarian. All further vaccinations and worming required is now the responsibility of the Buyer. Required vaccinations and worming required must be given, and records kept to keep this contract in good standing. If the puppy should die within 1(one) year of birth.. Buyer MUST have an autopsy performed by a licensed veterinarian at Buyers expense to determine cause of death. If cause of death is determined to be due to a genetic issue and after Seller’s veterinarian has examined the autopsy results and concurs, a replacement puppy (of equal quality) will be given as soon as one is available. No monies will be returned. Breeder is at no point responsible for veterinary fees, costs or diagnoses after Buyer has taken possession of puppy. Seller will not be responsible for any shipping cost of replacement puppy. A replacement puppy will only take place if the above puppy has been properly vetted by Buyer, Vet records provided, proof provided the puppy was fed the food required ***UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THE REPLACEMENT OF A PUPPY TAKE PLACE IF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE NOT MET.*** 2. Buyers Representations (a) Buyer is completely satisfied with and waives any and all claims regarding the Puppy’s conformation and outward appearance, and agrees that Puppy meets the breed standards at this age. (b) Buyer agrees to feed Victor Chicken and Brown Rice for 1(one) full year for the correct growth of puppy. Changing food will make the Health guarantee void before the 1(one) year. Proof of food purchase will be required if puppy should have any growth issues. If Victor is on recall for any reason Buyer must notify Seller and Seller will inform Buyer of an acceptable Food to switch puppy to. (c) Buyer agrees upon purchase that Puppy will not be registered with any other registries besides the American Kennel Club without written permission from Breeder. If a Rivers Edge Great Dane is found registered to a different registry (UKC, CKC, etc.) without breeders written permission, the Buyer will immediately return the said Puppy to the Breeder and pay fines as listed in Section 9 of this contract. 3. Consideration Puppy identified in this contract is being sold for the sum of $_________ under Section 4, and was paid in full before the puppy was removed from the litter. 4. Stipulation - Pet Purchase (a) Buyer understands that puppy has been sold with limited American Kennel Club (AKC) registration. Limited registration precludes Buyer from showing Puppy in conformation shows and from Breeding or registering any litters produced or sired by Puppy. Said limited registration entitles Buyer to register Puppy with AKC and compete in all sanctioned events (Obedience, Agility, Fly Ball, etc.) other then conformation shows. (b) Buyer agrees to take all measures necessary to insure that Puppy is not bred and does not have the opportunity to sire or deliver any litters. Should an “accidental” breeding occur, Buyer is to notify Seller immediately and discuss options. Seller retains the right to reposes the puppy at Buyers expense and Buyer will pay fines as listed in section 9 of this contract should it be found that Buyer bred puppy on purpose. (c ) Buyer agrees that Puppy will be spayed or neutered and proof of same will be provided to Seller by the age of 14 months. No exceptions. Proof can be text of Veterinarian bill of the procedure. Spaying or neutering before the age of 10 months will negate the Health guarantee. It is the current recommendation by the Great Dane Club of America to NOT spay/neuter puppies prior to 10 months old. (d) Buyer agrees to update Seller on health and welfare of Puppy. Agrees to update with pictures at time of spay/neuter. 5. Health (a) Seller agrees that Puppy is in good health and has received appropriate medical care. Seller will provide Buyer with information detailing treatment the puppy has received under Seller’s care, and future care Seller feels essential to Puppy’s well-being. (b) Seller guarantees that Puppy is free of life-threatening diseases or disabilities at the time of pick up of pup. (c) Growth of your puppy. Puppies will grow until 3 years of age. It is Buyers responsibility to be informed of the growth changes and what can occur and what to do to help. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) also known as Growing Pains is common condition in giant breeds that occurs in young Hounds/Danes and can be painful. A common name for it is Skeletal Scurvy and is considered to be caused by a deficiency in vitamin C. Dogs like most animals make their own vitamin C. Since Vitamin C is a stress Vitamin and required in a much larger quantity during periods of stress, it is possible that fast growing youngsters of the large and giant breeds just cannot make enough of their needs during growth spurts or other stressful situations. Vitamin C should be provided to your puppy during these times at a dose consistent with their weight and age. Seller is not responsible for the inconsistent growth spurts of the puppy and any damage that could occur during that time. It is Buyers responsibility to provide the puppy with the proper environment, the right nutrients and food to properly grow puppy to their full potential. (d) Buyer agrees that Seller shall not be held responsible for the development of any non-genetically derived disqualifying faults, diseases, or disorders. (e) Should Puppy be diagnosed with a genetically derived/ life threatening medical disorder before the age of 12 months, that is crippling or fatal in nature and which is attested to by two un-associated veterinarians in writing, and provided to Sellers Veterinarian and he concurs, Seller will, upon provision of veterinary reports, vaccination records, food receipts and AKC papers by Buyer, Seller will provide Buyer with a replacement puppy of equal quality as soon as one becomes available. The original puppy will be returned to the breeder. No exceptions, at the Buyers expense. This guarantee is extended only to the original Buyer(s) listed on this contract. At no time will Seller be responsible for Vet fees, Costs, or diagnoses at any point after Buyer takes possession of Puppy. Specifically covered disorders: Juvenile Cataracts, Renal Dysplasia, Microopthalmia, Retinal Dysplasia or other congenital blindness, Megaesophagus,Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Mitral Valve Defect, Epilepsy Autoimmune Hypothyroidism, if diagnosed prior to 12 months of age. 6. Temperament Breeder has made every effort to produce a litter that will excel in temperament. However, once the puppy leaves Breeder’s possession, its temperament and behavior are determined by the care and training given by the Buyer and the environment that the puppy is raised in. (a) Buyer understands that Breeder strongly urges Buyer to put Puppy through a puppy/basic obedience course. This is to ensure that puppy will have proper socialization and under voice control to provide Puppy with the best opportunities. After all 4 puppy vaccinations have been given.. Seller does NOT recommend a Boarding Training Facility.. Buyer should be the one to learn how to properly train their puppy. (b) Seller shall in no way be held responsible for acts of Puppy at any point after Buyer takes possession. (c ) Buyer agrees that the temperament and disposition of Puppy are acceptable at the time of purchase. Buyer has been made aware that eventual behavior, acts, and temperament of the Puppy are solely the responsibility of the Buyer. 7. Maintenance (a) Buyer agrees to maintain Puppy in a healthy, clean and safe environment. (b) Buyer understands that over feeding or feeding Puppy too much protein, snacks, human food etc, can cause Puppy to develop HOD, Panosteitis, etc. and are not covered in any way under this contract. (c) Buyer agrees to NOT start Agility (jumpers), road work, treadmill, or other strenuous physical training of Puppy until it has reached a minimum of 18 months of age, and to maintain a light schedule until 24 months. Buyer acknowledges that failure to meet this requirement will invalidate Section 5 of this contract and is an invitation to related problems such as arthritis and joint problems. (d) Buyer agrees that Puppy is not to be left in a backyard or kennel on either a permanent or semi-permanent basis, or tied/chained out at any time, and is to sleep and spend the majority of its day in the home with the family members. Puppy is sold with the understanding that it was to go to a carefully selected parties and the Buyer acknowledge that Puppy shall become a member of the family. (e) Buyer further acknowledges responsibility for any and all appropriate medical care that is necessary for maintaining the health and welfare of Puppy throughout the life of the dog. 8. Miscellaneous (a) If it is reported and confirmed that Puppy is being abused or neglected by Purchaser, rights and ownership of Puppy will automatically terminate and revert back to Seller who may immediately assume possession. Buyer agrees Seller will REPOSSESS PUPPY UPON EVIDENCE OF NEGLECT AND/OR ABUSE and that Buyer will be responsible for Seller’s fees and costs involved in repossession. Should Buyer refuse return of Puppy to Seller, the Seller may resort to Law Enforcement Officer(s) to take possession of the Puppy. (b) If at any time, circumstances are such that Buyer can no longer keep Puppy/Dog, Seller MUST be notified and Puppy/ Dog will be returned to Seller, with all of it’s vet records and paperwork at Buyers expense. No monies will be returned to Buyer. Seller may agree to adoption to a new Family of mutual consent, New Family must agree and sign this contract before adoption can occur. (c ) Buyer will not sell, give away or otherwise transfer Puppy without the Sellers knowledge. Under NO circumstances shall Puppy be taken to an animal shelter, humane society, or released to a Rescue group. (d) Buyer will not sell, give away or otherwise transfer Puppy without spay/neutering first. If Buyer should do so and new owner breeds said Puppy, original buyer listed here will pay fines as stated in section 9. As original owner you are responsible for making sure this animal does not end up in a Breeding home. 9. Liquidated Damages (a) The Parties agree that it is difficult to accurately calculate actual damages for breach of this contract, Buyer shall pay Seller One Thousand Dollars ($1000) in damages in addition to the return of Puppy plus any legal fees and costs associated in the enforcement of this agreement. If any “Get” are produced, either by stud or delivery, by Puppy, without Seller’s permission and/or knowledge, Buyer agrees to pay Seller damages in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1000) per live puppy produced and further that any and all puppies from the said breeding will be released only with a spay/ neuter contract with limited registration. Buyer will also supply Breeder with a list of all names, addresses, and phone numbers of purchasers of the said “Get”. The parties agree that this amount of liquidated damages is reasonable and not punitive in any respect. Both parties recognize Gasconade County, Missouri as the place where this agreement was entered into, and acknowledges the courts in Gasconade County, Missouri as the court of jurisdiction should any disputes arise from this agreement. Furthermore, this contract is to be interpreted by the laws of the State of Missouri,.By signing below, Buyer(s) declare(s) that he/she has read, understands, and agrees to the above contract: Buyer’s (1) Signature(Buyer)_______________________________________________________Date____________________ Signature(Buyer)_______________________________________________________Date____________________ Debbie Hollandsworth (Breeder/Seller)_____________________________________Date_____________________

 

 

 

 

 

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