FAQ's
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Have the parents been tested?
Both parents were genetically tested through Embark. Murphy is clear of everything. Okami is a carrier of Ichythosis (a skin condition that creates dog dandruff). We intentionally bred Okami to Murphy because she's a carrier, so none of the puppies will be affected. They have not undergone OFA testing to check for hip dysplasia because research shows hip dysplasia is not an inherited trait. Instead, we work to prevent joint injury in our puppies as their bones ossify. More info here.
How Do We Pick Our Puppy?
We determine pick of the litter by deposit. The first person to place the $200 deposit will have first pick of the litter and so on. Around 4 weeks of age, when their little personalities come out, we invite families to make a special visit to select their puppy! It's amazing how this always works out exactly how it should, and the right family finds just the right pup.
When Can We Take Our Puppy Home?
Puppies go home at 8 weeks of age and their first round of immunizations. We have not observed any benefit in keeping them past 8 weeks. Mama is done by then, they're past the critical age of learning from their littermates, and they're entering a socialization period where they're ready to bond with their new family. We send an item with Okami's scent for every puppy and are happy to stay in contact!
Are The Puppies Potty Trained Before They Go Home?
Sometimes people ask me if the puppies are potty trained by the time they go home. The short answer is no. The long answer is their bodies are still developing, and training is ongoing. However, they start forming habits early on, and 90% of the time, they will go on the newspaper. As far as other training, we expose them to as many new sounds, textures, and people as possible so they're adaptable and secure dogs.
