Answers to some of the questions that come up on a regular basis...
1. Can you ship a puppy to me in Regina, Montreal, Timbuktu, etc.?
ANSWER:
Yes, unaccompanied puppies can be shipped through Westjet and Air Canada Cargo. A new crate and all shipping expenses will be added to the purchase price of your puppy. This is the crate you can also use for the beginning stages of training.
Note, during the Christmas season the airlines embargo the shipment of ANY pets due to high passenger traffic.
It is advisable that you look closer to home for a Toller if you are not able to pay for the extra charges of having one shipped to you, or come and get the puppy by ground.
2. How much do your puppies cost?
ANSWER:
Local purchasers will pay $1500 Cdn for their puppies. Purchasers from a distance will pay $1500 plus shipping expenses. Older puppies and adults may cost more due to level of training, health clearances and titles achieved.
3. I noticed you live in Nakusp, BC. Where is that and why should I buy a puppy from the middle of nowhere?
Nakusp is a gorgeous village on the banks of the Arrow Lakes in the West Kootenays, 2 hours south of Revelstoke and 3 hours north of Kelowna.
Puppies can be picked up from Nakusp, Revelstoke, or Kelowna depending on where you are coming from. Delivery to Vancouver and Calgary is often available for a fee if you are not able to come and get your puppy here.
What sets us apart from other breeders is the level of information puppy families get while awaiting their pup. Trisha regularly blogs, documents, and photographs the puppies and parents so that no matter how far away you live, you can feel like you are right here with us watching them first hand. Many breeders do not have the time or know-how to do this and you might get some photos once in awhile before you get your puppy in person.
Trisha is a wealth of knowledge on the care and raising of puppies and happy to answer any questions you have before or after you have your Daintree Dog. We intend to keep in contact with you and love to hear updates on how our 'extended families' are doing!
4. Do I need to be a show home to have a hope of buying one of these puppies?
ANSWER:
No, Daintree loves selling to families. Trisha herself just wanted a Toller pet when she found Splash in 2005.
We care about our offspring earning titles in conformation, obedience, agility, hunting, etc. so preference is always given to show or performance homes. But at the end of the day, we want the dogs to have active, healthy forever homes where they will be exercised, trained and loved.
Co ownership is one way to achieve a win-win outcome. The puppy lives with you full time, and Daintree borrows him/her for occasional dog shows and breeding. Details available upon request.
If you are a show or performance home, we are more than happy to offer you the results of structure and other evaluations to determine if one of our puppies suits your needs. If you are not yet, but would like to be we offer different options for co-ownership, mentoring, and fostering.
5. How do I apply for a puppy?
ANSWER:
Simply click here. Selecting homes is an in-depth process and involves a short web-form, a phone call and then a long form application and sending some photos or video of yourselves to give me an idea who you are and where you live. The written application is 4 pages long and will need to be faxed/mailed or emailed back.
We appreciate the fact that as a purchaser, you may have the inclination to apply for pups from as many breeders as possible to increase your chances of getting one. This is a challenge for a breeder, because we begin to make an investment in you from the moment we review your application and either meet you or have that first phone call. If you are also developing relationships with other breeders, we need to know. Also, regionally many of us Duck Toller breeders know one another, are friends and share information so we will almost always know when people have sent applications to multiple breeders.
6. Can you tell me more about the breed? What are they like? Will they get along with my Chihuahua, Great Dane, cat, lizard, etc.?
ANSWER:
For more information on the breed's exercise requirements, standards, average adult height and weight, breed-related health problems, etc. please visit our About Tollers page or do research online on sites you trust for information. Any new puppy will be able to adjust to the conditions and other creatures in the new environment providing you introduce them properly and the existing animals are tolerant of others. Temperament is an important factor in deciding on a new pet, and this should be a deciding factor on which puppy you actually buy. The age, sex and temperament of your existing pet is even more important. A 9 year old toy poodle or Siberian Husky will probably not like a 9 week old Toller very much, unless the first dog is still very active, healthy and well socialized.
There is also some truth to the popular Top Ten Reasons Not to Get a Toller.
7. I like a certain puppy because it has a white face, or a tail tip. If I am paying good money for a dog, shouldn't I be allowed to chose and get what I want?
ANSWER:
Yes and no, not entirely. As this is a rare and in-demand breed, there are always more suitable homes than there are puppies available. A puppy's appearance is the least of the attributes considered when selecting the correct dog for each home.
A good breeder does not take this decision lightly, as it is paramount to place the correct temperament, skills, and energy level with each approved family. If your only criteria is a white blaze, it tells me that you are not looking thoroughly enough at the overall picture and might not be a great candidate for one of these puppies. Just because somebody has a preference for white or lack thereof, does not mean that dog is the correct pet for him.
During the application process, you have the opportunity to have your say about what you are looking for or which dog appeals most to you. However, those adoptive families with a wider range of acceptability for "any" female, "any" male, or even "any" puppy will be easier to accommodate. Once you are approved and it is time to pay your deposit to hold a puppy, you need to be sure that you can accept a dog other than your first choice.
Sex is another hot button. No one but Mother Nature can determine how many of each sex there will be in a litter, or what the males and the females will be like or look like. Think long and hard about why you really prefer one sex over the other, and try to consider having a puppy of either sex as a very real outcome.