Answers to some frequently asked questions
- Anyone who has interest in getting a corgi from us does need to complete an application and that can be found under the puppy application tab or I am happy to email one to you. Please see right above this for the link to the application.
- All of our Corgis are registered through the American Kennel Club (AKC) and health tested genetically along with OFA testing with all health tests recorded on the OFA Record. Each dog has a link directly to the OFA Record under their information on the "Our Male" or "Our Female" page.
- All of our puppies have dew claws removed along with tails docked. Once in a blue moon we might have a puppy with a tail however that is not the norm for us as we stick to the breed standards. All tails and dews are removed around day 3.
- All of our dogs have the recommended OFA testing by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America (Hips, Eyes, and we also do elbows). Each puppy that we retain or purchase for the breeding program has completed the OFA testing at 1 year of age for the prelims (gives us an idea how things are looking) and then are taken again for the OFA finals once they have turned 24 months of age. All OFA and genetic health tests are recorded on the dogs OFA records so it makes it easy for each family to see those results. We provide copies of the parent's health testing to each puppy parent along with photos and pedigrees of the parents. Each dog that is part of our program does have the health clearances posted with a direct link to the OFA record along with a copy of the pedigree on our website. You are also always welcome to look the dog up on the OFA website. You will need the AKC Registration Number or the dog's AKC Registered Name. (www.OFA.org)
- All of our dogs are genetically health tested for DM, Vwd1, EIC, PRA-RCD3, Coat length (fluffy gene) plus many other tests through Embark (www.Embarkvet.com)
- We always get asked if families can come and visit with our dogs. We do not allow visitors at the ranch, however we are happy to have you come to one of the local AKC Dog Shows where you can meet us and any of the dogs that we are currently showing at that show. Puppy buyers are often told to visit a breeders' home to see the environment, but allowing strangers into our home can potentially be dangerous for the puppies' health as well as ours. Video calls, pictures and constant communication can be other ways to connect with your breeder. Don't take it as a red flag if your breeder doesn't allow people to enter their homes. It's not because they're irresponsible... they just want to protect themselves and their dogs. And in most cases, this shows how much they truly do care about their dogs and puppies that they raise. We are happy to do a video chat with you since we do not do home visits.
- Each pairing of parents is purposefully paired together to better the breed and to meet or exceed the breed standard.
- All of our puppies are sold on spay/neuter contract. We also require (part of our puppy contract) that you wait till the puppy is at-least 15 months of age but prior to 18 months of age to spay/neuter. This is a non-negotiable and is part of the puppy contract that is required to be signed once your puppy has been selected.
- Our puppy contract states that they will not be used for breeding.
- Our current price on puppies is $4000.00 and that also includes Lifetime AKC Reunite Lost Pet Recovery (Microchip) and AKC Limited Registration.
- To be placed on our waitlist you must complete our puppy application and have it approved. Once it is approved then you must send in your $100.00 NON-REFUNDABLE Application Fee which does not go towards your final purchase price. Only once that application fee has been received and you receive an email confirming the receipt of it are you placed on the waitlist.
- Each puppy is matched by myself to each family based on the puppies personality and the family's lifestyle. You will not be coming to the ranch and selecting what puppy you want. We provide videos, pictures and helpful weekly emails with tips along the way so the families can enjoy the journey of watching the puppies grow.
- Once it is your turn to decide if you would like to accept the puppy that was selected for you as your new family member you will be required to place a NON-REFUNDABLE holding fee on your new family member which holds that puppy for you until your scheduled pick up day in person and this goes towards your final purchase price. You are always welcome to pass on a puppy if you do not feel it would be a good fit for your family. Again, the puppies are matched based on your lifestyle and the puppies personality by myself.
- All of our puppies are raised in our home, handled daily by us from the moment they are born. They are born in our master bedroom right next to our bed where they stay until they are about 3 weeks of age. Then they are moved into the formal room which is the heart of our home so they are exposed to all kinds of different sounds, smells, textures and played with so they are very well socialized. Our puppy paw-rents always tell us they have never had such a loving puppy before. I firmly believe this is because of how we raise them, love on them and socialize with them.
- Each family receives weekly updates on the litter that they will be matched with. Within those weekly updates you receive a YouTube video link weekly so you can watch the puppies grow, weekly tips on raising a corgi puppy, what is happening with the puppies each week, pictures, shopping guide and many more things.
- All of our puppies go to our vet for a 7-8 week well puppy exam and are deemed healthy by our vet before they leave us. They also receive the 1st vaccination in the puppy series along with being microchipped at this appointment.
- All puppies will be dewormed on a regular schedule. We start worming them at 2 weeks and then every 2 weeks after that until they go home.
- All puppies have nails done weekly since birth.
- All puppies will be up to date on all age appropriate vaccines when they leave us. We give the first shot at 7-8 weeks and then they need a vaccine every 3 weeks up until 16 weeks of age.
- We send all of our puppies home with a container of the food they're eating.
- All puppies are microchipped prior to leaving us through the AKC Reunite Program.
- All puppies are exposed daily to various desensitizing sounds while they are in our care to help them to become a better well rounded corgi.
- All puppies head home with a "goody" bag of belongings that include some type of blanket, stuffed animal, toys and chews.
- All of our puppies go home with up to date vet records. Including vaccine history, deworming schedule and health record that shows everything from the moment they were born to the time they left us.
- We also include a 80+ page "Puppy Handbook" that helps assist you in raising one of our corgis. This is a collection of material that I have put together to help you along your journey in raising a well-mannered and rounded corgi.
- We are also available for the life of the puppy to help with any questions you might have. Plus we love to get updates from you on our puppies.
- We do not offer any health guarantees on anything contagious a puppy can contract as soon as they leave our care. This includes but is not limited to parvo virus, coccidia, giardia, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm, any illness that can be brought on or caused by stress, viruses or bacteria.
- We get asked a lot if we show our dogs... Yes, we do show in the AKC Conformation ring. We are excited to be doing so. Now with that said we prefer the "show dog" look so anytime we go out and purchase a puppy we only go to AKC show breeders. So, all of our dogs do come from show lines and AKC show breeders. When we breed we do so carefully and only breed for the AKC breed standard, do all the required genetic health testing, OFA testing and even additional testing that the Pembroke Club of America recommends prior to breeding. This is a great way as well to meet us and our corgis.
- We are members of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of Southern California (PWCCSC) www.PWCCSC.com
- We are a part of the AKC Bred with H.E.A.R.T. program. AKC Bred with H.E.A.R. T. stands for Health, Education, Accountability, Responsibility, and Tradition. Preparing breeders to produce healthy, excellent examples of their breeds is the program's goal.
- We have recently been inspected via the AKC Kennel Inspector and passed with flying colors in all areas that they inspect.
- We DO NOT ship puppies. We offer a nanny service where I will fly with your puppy to you if you are not local (within a few hours of us). I will not allow a puppy to travel by car for hours as that is far too stressful for a puppy at that age along with exposing the puppy to various things when they have not completed the puppy vaccination series. When the puppies leave, they will have only received one vaccination and need to continue with vaccinations every 3-4 weeks up until 16 weeks of age. Most families use this service instead of them flying to pick up the puppy since we do this often and have a great system set up to ensure that the puppy remains safe and well cared for. You are welcome to fly to us and I will meet you at the airport however I will not allow another nanny service. Cost is determined by the current round-trip airfare from San Diego Airport to your location plus the pet airfare charged by Southwest Airlines that is currently $125.00 per pet, and a $350.00 day fee to cover my travel expenses and any hotel expenses if necessary.
- We will ALWAYS for the life of the puppy or dog take him or her back. It states in our puppy contract that you sign that you agree to return the puppy or dog to us first prior to re-homing or placing it with someone else including a family member. No monies will be exchanged but we will ALWAYS provide a safe place for our Circle Heart Corgis puppies or dogs to land as life can take unexpected turns.
"Happiness is a warm puppy.” – Charles Shultz
