Buying Our Schips

            Buying a purebred puppy from a breeder can be a daunting experience. Many of us are as suspicious, reserved, unresponsive, non-committal and downright antagonistic as a father interviewing his daughter’s first date! Please accept our apologies in advance because we are among that many, I’m afraid. We really do want to place our dogs in good homes, but we have invested so much love and attention in our furry friends that we may unintentionally treat prospective buyers like burglars….

 
            The good news is that, once we get to know you a little, you probably will have to jerk the phone out of the wall to shut us up! Give us a little time to get used to the idea that you want to separate us from a puppy we have known since it’s first breath, and to get to know you a bit in the process. We will be pleased to provide you as much information about Schips in general, and our Schips in particular, as you can handle!   But please be prepared to answer a lot of questions from us as well. 
 
Every one of our Schip puppies is an extension of our family. We’d never sell any of them but for considerations of space and care, so we strike a balance: We will only sell a puppy if we are improving its lot in life.
 
            A lot goes into making that determination, but remember that a big part of the equation is on your side, since, in most cases, a puppy going to a new home will be the center of attention instead of sharing it with a lot of others. So a new home starts with that advantage.
 
            But our concerns for the puppy’s health, safety and quality of life also need to be answered to our satisfaction before we let you pry it out of our sweaty hands. So we’ll ask lots of questions, some of which may seem intrusive, but bear with us.
 
            We will want to know if you have a fenced-in yard. Schips are not particularly difficult to contain, but it will require a secure fence to be certain of their safety. Ordinary chain-link fencing, 42” high, normally will do the trick. On rare occasions, there will be a Schip who has a propensity for digging or climbing that may prove to be a challenge, but most are not escape prone. All of them, however, are curious and will test the limits of their area frequently.That area does not need to be huge: an area 30 by 40 feet will usually be sufficient, larger areas will give more exercise room.
 
            The yard area should be contiguous to the house so that it will provide a convenient area to both you and the dog for housebreaking purposes. Used with a crate for inside control the yard will greatly simplify the housebreaking task.
           
            Do not be seduced by electric fences for confinement. For Schipperkes they don’t work for three reasons: 1. A Schip will often not be deterred if the attraction is sufficient (squirrel, cat, bitch in season). 2. Once out, the Schip will often then be deterred from coming back and 3. The fence will have no deterrent effect on stray dogs, cats, coyotes, etc. Thus the electric or “radio” fence is false security
 
            We will ask about other pets (breeds, sex and ages.) and about children (number and ages) We do this to try to determine if Schips are an appropriate breed for your mix of kids and pets. If we don’t think so, we’ll tell you why and—if you wish—make some suggestions for an alternative.
 
            We will insist that you visit our kennel to meet us, to permit us to meet you, and most importantly, for you to meet our dogs so that you can assess their temperaments and characteristics. If, after a visit, and an opportunity to discuss our sales practices, prices and guarantees you are interested in one of our dogs, we will put you on a waiting list. Once you are on our waiting list, we will keep you informed of impending litters and matings. And, of course, we will expect you to notify us if your requirements change. When the puppies are born, and we get them through their first two weeks, we will notify you if we think we have a potential candidate that meets your requirements. At that time, if you want us to hold a puppy for you, we will require a deposit.
           
            Prices for purebred Schipperke puppies vary throughout the country and are a reflection of the relative rarity of the breed, the reputation of the breeder, the quality and soundness of the breeder’s stock and the extent and manner of the breeder’s socialization practices. Do not hesitate to ask detailed questions about any of these matters. No reputable breeder will avoid them.
           
We sell our puppies only after they have received a “first set” of immunizations, which, in our case consists of a parvovirus shot at 8 weeks of age and a distemper shot at 9 weeks of age, plus a wait of about a week to watch for complications. This means our pups will be a minimium of ten weeks old when we release them to a new home. This also is compliant with Virginia law which forbids sales of puppies younger than ten weeks
 
            Our puppies also will have received at least two worming treatments (usually at four and six weeks) and will be weaned and eating solid food before their departures. We test all of our breeding stock for the MPS-IIIB disease and will provide certification of the puppy’s status. A copy of our bill of sale, with our standard guarantee, is available on request.
 
            We conduct a detailed quality evaluation of each puppy at the age of eight weeks. Many authorities consider the puppy at this age to be a miniature version of the specimen he will be as an adult in terms of proportion, substance, and physical appearance. Our prices will reflect our best judgement as to whether the puppy is of “show” quality or not. Whether or not you wish to show your Schip is, of course, up to you, but our judgement as to his quality reflects our willingness to see the dog in the show ring wearing our Kennel Name.
 
We don’t ship puppies unless they are travelling in-cabin by aircraft. We’ll be happy to help you with lodging information if you have to travel a significant distance to get here. We are about an hour outside the Washington D.C. beltway; two hours from Harrisburg PA via I-81; two hours from Breezewood PA or two hours from Charlottesville, VA. We welcome your calls for information and directions
 

    Arriving at Midwatch

   When you get to our place in the northern Virginia village of Huntly, we will introduce you to some of our "retired" dogs as well as to the younger Schips who com-prise our  breeding stock.  This will give you a good idea of what you can look forward to with your new family member!

   Buying Your Schip from Midwatch

    The culmination of your trip to Midwatch is realized when you leave with your new family member for the trip home.  Don't forget to bring a crate to insure  the safety of your valuable cargo!

        Shopping for your Midwatch Pup

     It would be neat if you could just walk in and find your pup on a shelf ready to wrap.  Unfortunately, you'll need to plan well ahead, and often get on a waiting list to find your special new family member.  These Pet Smart shoppers are learning how to market themselves!!

Sarah Ashton & Grendel depart

   After selecting her puppy, Sarah Ashton heads for home with "Grendel."        The pre-departure routine includes info on feeding, grooming, playtime, and caring for a new puppy.