How much does a puppy cost?

The cost of a puppy is $2200.

We invest a lot in our breeding dogs and in our puppies. Health testing, optimal nutrition, thorough veterinary care, early puppy development, intensive care and training are all part of what we do to ensure your pup is healthy and ready to start their lives with you. The price of our pups reflects the quality of our breeding program and our ongoing commitment to support the pup throughout its lifetime.

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How does the waitlist work?

You may request to be placed on the waitlist after our initial discussion with you. There is no fee for joining the waitlist. Placement on the waitlist will provide you with early notifications of our planned breedings and of the birth of a litter, etc.  Once the litter is ready for you to reserve a pup, a reservation fee of $500 will be required to hold the puppy for you.

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What kind of health testing do you do on your breeding dogs?

We conduct all the health testing recommended by the AKC for the Bernese Mountain Dog as a breed. This includes OFA hip radiographs, OFA elbow radiographs, OFA eye exam, OFA echocardiology exam and genetic testing for Degenerative Myelopathy A and B and Von Willebrand’s disease. All our breeding dogs are DNA tested by the AKC and qualify for their CHIC numbers. CHIC (Canine Health Information Center)  

numbers are issued to dogs who have completed all of the recommended health tests for the breed.

 

Where are the puppies raised and how are they cared for?

The puppies are raised and sleep in our home, with plenty of time to explore the great outdoors in our fenced-in-yard. We take age-appropriate puppies on excursions outside of the house to acclimate them to new surroundings and car rides. We provide extensive socialization and enrichment for our puppies and follow best practices for early puppy development (e.g., Puppy Culture). They will receive their initial vaccinations and will be de-wormed according to the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) recommendations.

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Why do you offer financial incentives to those owners who train and compete in AKC activities and events?

Bernese Mountain Dogs thrive on building a strong bond with their people. We believe that a wonderful way to build a solid bond with your pup is to train them for a “job,” an activity or sport. All our puppies are eligible for AKC registration. The AKC offers countless opportunities to gain titles in a vast array of activities (e.g., therapy dog, canine good citizen) and sports (barn hunt, agility, rally, fetch). We wish to honor your accomplishments and the time that you devote to training your pup in these activities through our Performance Recognition Program.  Through this program, you can receive up to $400 in awards for earning AKC performance and companion titles.

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Why don’t you ship puppies?

We do not ship puppies because a puppy is at a very delicate stage in its development and the stress it will endure being shipped in the cargo section of a plane may undo our careful emotional development of the pup and may lead to lasting emotional and potentially physical problems.