Our visitation policy

We have been advised by our vets that the general public should not be allowed inside our home and that puppies should not be picked up by new owners until they are 8 weeks of age at which time, they have had their first puppy vaccination and some immunity has built up against infectious diseases and illnesses. There is a real danger that diseases can migrate into our home and puppies that are not yet vaccinated will be susceptible to these viruses and bacteria.

At first, I did not understand the no visiting policy that many breeders had, they did not allow people into their homes or to their kennels, I thought maybe they were hiding something. However, after having my own breeding program, I knew exactly why they had this policy in place. I truly appreciate a breeder that is careful with visitors around their kennel and their puppies. You will find that many breeders, ones that truly care, will have a visitation policy. All reputable breeders make it a priority to protect their dogs and puppies.

In the best interest of our puppies and adult Boxers, we are very careful about preventing the transmission of diseases to them. We take every precaution that we can to make sure that our puppies are not exposed to any kinds of disease that you may carry on your shoes or even on your hands. These diseases can be picked up and carried on your shoes for days, anywhere a dog has been, parks, pet stores, rest stops, parking lots, anywhere. Therefore, as a precaution no one is allowed to touch or handle or visit while unvaccinated puppies are on the premises.

We loved people coming and meeting the puppies and the parents however it is very risky and exposes them to infectious diseases and putts the already bought puppies at risk; we do not allow visitors in our home, no exceptions. Our home is where current litters and future litters will be housed, and we do not want anything carried into the puppies or premises. If you are interested in one of our puppies, we will provide photos and videos on our website and email you photos and information on puppies. When you reserve a puppy with us, we send out photos and information by email each week so families can watch their puppies grow! At 8 weeks of age, you may take them home with you. You are more than welcome to pick up your puppy, but I will meet you outside the house with the puppy. You can also see the mom and dad but at a distance you are not allowed to go and pet on them. Because they also live in the house with the puppies, and I don't want them to carry anything into the puppies. If you are picking up your puppy, please stop somewhere and use the restroom before coming because you will not be able to use my house bathroom and please bring hand sanitizer and I will provide shoe booties for you to put on when you step out of the car.

Also, we do not allow any other dogs or animals around our dogs/puppies. PLEASE leave your other animals at home, as they will not be allowed out of your vehicle, another precaution for our dogs and puppies.

Think of how you would feel if I called you to tell you that your puppy is sick or has died from the results of me allowing visitors in my home and they have unknowingly carried in an infectious disease to your puppy. That would be very devastating. Puppies are like newborn babies, until all shots are complete; they are susceptible to many different diseases and illnesses.

 Below is information on one devastating puppy virus; one that can be carried in easily if one isn’t very careful.

Parvo- (parvovirus), Canine Parvovirus, commonly referred to as parvo, is a very serious viral disease in dogs. The most common form of Parvo is intestinal and most seen today. It causes extreme damage to the lining of the digestive tract. Parvo likes to grow in rapidly dividing cells and the intestinal lining has the biggest concentration of rapidly dividing cells in a puppy’s body. The virus attacks and destroys certain portions of the intestinal tract. Even with this form of Parvo, heart muscle damage may also occur.
Symptoms: Loss of appetite, Vomiting, Lethargy, High Fever, Diarrhea, often bloody, Foul smelling, liquid yellow stool.
Parvovirus causes severe life-threatening illness, through dehydration, acid-base imbalance, infection and shock. If you suspect your pet may be infected, it is an emergency, and you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Parvo is carried by dogs. Adult dogs may be infected carriers and not show signs. Dogs with the typical symptoms and diarrhea shed the virus perhaps for as long as 7 days after the symptoms have ended. Generally, it takes 3 to 10 days from the time of exposure for symptoms to appear and for your dog or pup to test positive. The onset of clinical signs is usually sudden, within 12 hours, or even less. The Parvovirus is particularly long-lived in the environment, lasting anywhere from 1 to 12 months. Due to the large amounts of virus particles shed in the feces of an infected dog and the ability of the virus to survive, complete eradication of the virus is often impossible.
Parvo may be brought home to your pup on shoes, hands, and even your vehicle tires. Even if your dog or pup does not leave your yard, they may get this disease if precautions aren’t taken.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT PARVO CAN STAY IN THE STOOL OF ‘PARVO SURVIVORS’ FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS, WITH THE PUPPY/DOG SHOWING NO SIGNS OF PARVO.

****Taking precautions should never stop here; you need and should do the same when your puppy is home and until all vaccines are completed.

In order to protect your (reserved) puppy and our own dogs, we must enforce this visitor's policy.

Thank you for understanding our protective policy.

Sincerely,

Cassie Shoemaker, Owner