Frequently Asked Questions

With the passage of the new law in December 2024 directed at NYC pet
stores who ship their puppies in from the Midwest, puppies, cats, and
bunnies are now banned from being adopted at retail locations, so our
physical store that served the upstate NY area for 25 years is now
closed. From now on we are online only through the website. We are
still licensed and regulated by New York State, as well as our network
of over 40 breeders who all live within a two hour drive.

As anyone with actual experience will tell you, breeding is
challenging enough without having to deal with marketing and customer
relations, so my network of breeders outsource all of that to me. They
got tired of unreliable people not showing up for appointments and
having to answer all the same questions every time, and simply wanted
to focus on the breeding.

Since you’re no longer able to meet the puppy first, the deposit is
refundable, so if you show up on pickup day and the puppy is not what
you expected, you will get your money back. Please be sure you have
serious intent and plan on bringing the puppy home because if you back
out, I will have to drive the puppy back to the breeder, which I have
no problem doing if the puppy is sincerely not what you expected.

So if you see a puppy on our website you like, you can reserve one
with a $200 refundable deposit by emailing [email protected].
Once the puppy is 8 weeks old and vet checked, you will meet me at my
house on pickup day. If you have any other questions, email me and
I’ll get back to you asap.

Yes, your puppy comes with a six-month health guarantee on any congenital issues and two weeks on viruses and diseases. It’s very rare when one of our puppies has a health issue.  A benefit of buying from a regulated source is NYS consumer protection laws, which you may not get elsewhere. Our puppies have a serious health issue less than .25% of the time (about once a year), and a minor transitional issue that may require a trip to the vet and some meds less than 2-3% of the time. 

All the puppies come with a wellness check by a licensed veterinarian stating the puppy is free from any health issues at the time of purchase. The puppies are up-to-date on their shots and dewormers, but they are too young for their 2nd and 3rd distemper, and the rabies vaccination, which happens over the two months after you take the puppy home. We provide you with a vaccination record to give to your vet to finish the series at the proper age. 

Upon arrival on pickup day, every puppy gets a bath and a nail trim. You will receive a folder of information about your puppy including pedigree registration papers (when applicable), the vet check wellness certificate, and the vaccination record. You also get my personal “after hours” phone number if you have any issues or concerns during the transition. Some puppies become picky eaters on their first day or two in their new home and we know all the tricks to try.  We strive to please and have thousands of happy customers over the years!

All of our breeders are small scale, local, and live in New York State. We care about the entire process and have a network of breeders we work with regularly. We have the option of having puppies delivered to our door from out of state, but we choose not to do that because we can’t see for ourselves where the puppies come from, so instead, we pickup every puppy from our network of breeders who live within a two-hour car ride. They are either licensed and regulated by the USDA, or if they aren’t required to have a licence because they only have one or two moms, then we inspect their house ourselves to make sure they have a clean environment and know what they’re doing. It’s very rare when we have a problem with a puppy.

Adopting a puppy is a rewarding relationship that is sure to bring you and your family a lot of love and joy. Like all worthwhile endeavors, it does require some work. The first few months you’ll be training your puppy how to live in your house. They love to learn and are very inquisitive, so you’ll want to “puppy proof” your house to avoid them getting into things they shouldn’t, especially since they like to chew in those first few months. 

We recommend using a crate for potty training and for a safe place to sleep. You’ll also want toys for them to play with and chew on. You’ll need food and training treats, and a water bowl. A leash and harness are good for walking, which will help get some energy out and allow your puppy to smell and explore different surroundings. Puppy shampoo and grooming tools are also helpful. We have all of this in our store. 

Since the puppies are often only 8 weeks old, they will adapt to your environment. There may be an adjustment period, of course. We recommend introducing your new puppy to your current dog outside your home so the puppy is not imposing on your dog’s domain. Let your current dog enter first and have the puppy follow behind. You don’t want your current dog to feel threatened by the attention given to the new puppy. They will expect to be treated the same. If you need professional training in any regard, give us a call, and we can give you a recommendation.