Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the puppies raised? How do you socialize them?
Our puppies are whelped and raised at home where they are held and loved every day. We regularly expose them to new sounds, objects and experiences. As they grow they have access to a fenced puppy yard with interactive toys and space to run and romp in the grass. We have visitors who engage and play with the puppies and spend enormous amounts of time with our puppies. We get to know the personality traits of every individual puppy. If you are interested in a particular puppy contact us and we can tell you more about his or her characteristics and personality.
How much does it cost to reserve a puppy?
A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a puppy and is applied to the final purchase price. Our puppies are sold as companion dogs with AKC limited registration. AKC full registration is considered on a limited basis.
Do you have the parents on site? Can I see them?
The dams (moms) live with us and you are welcome to visit us and meet them. The sires (dads) may live anywhere. Most of the owners are open to visitors and we can assist you in arranging a visit.
Do you require spaying/neutering and what is AKC limited registration?
With AKC limited registration we require your puppy to be spayed/neutered between 6-12 months of age. Our puppies are sold as companion dogs with AKC limited registration. This means they can participate in performance events but can't be shown in conformation or bred. Full registration puppies do not require spaying/neutering.
Do you require X-rays of hips and elbows at a certain age?
Yes, we require that puppy owners complete the OFA hip and elbow certifications at 24 months. It’s an important part of building a health database on the breed and contributes to a more complete understanding of our breeding practices and how hip and elbow dysplasia manifests in the long term health of the dogs. We only breed healthy adult dogs who fall into the normal category for these tests and also do research on the pedigree for each dog. For more comprehensive information please consult: http://www.offa.org
Do Bernese have particular health problems?
The most recent survey by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America indicates the average life span of a dog to be 7-8 years. Cancer, bloat, hypothyroidism, and dysplasia are the more common health issues found in the breed. For comprehensive information on health issues please consult: http://www.bmdca.org/breed_education/pdf/04_bernese_health_issues.pdf
Can I exercise with my dogs?
Berners are large, powerful dogs who love to play and exercise outside, particularly in the winter. I hike long distances with my dogs on a regular basis and it is a ritual they very much look forward to. However, in hot summer months I limit their hard physical exertion to early morning/evening hours or high altitude where the temperature is cool. When the weather is hot you will most likely find them sprawled belly down on a cool tile floor.
What kind of food do you feed your dogs? And how often do you feed them?
We feed our dogs twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. We feed them a combination of high quality kibble (no corn/grain, human grade processing facility) and a homemade mixture of meat, eggs, vegetables and chicken stock. We also supplement with fish oil, green smoothies, and lots of raw bones from the local butcher. They are particlulary fond of spinach, parsley and carrot smoothies!
How often do you have litters?
Steinhaus is not a puppy mill. We value living with our dogs and letting our dogs also live. Please contact us and we will be happy to let you know when our next litter is planned.
Will you take the dog back or help find another home for it if for some reason in the future I can no longer care for it?
We will take any puppy/dog back at any time for any reason.
Our puppies are whelped and raised at home where they are held and loved every day. We regularly expose them to new sounds, objects and experiences. As they grow they have access to a fenced puppy yard with interactive toys and space to run and romp in the grass. We have visitors who engage and play with the puppies and spend enormous amounts of time with our puppies. We get to know the personality traits of every individual puppy. If you are interested in a particular puppy contact us and we can tell you more about his or her characteristics and personality.
How much does it cost to reserve a puppy?
A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a puppy and is applied to the final purchase price. Our puppies are sold as companion dogs with AKC limited registration. AKC full registration is considered on a limited basis.
Do you have the parents on site? Can I see them?
The dams (moms) live with us and you are welcome to visit us and meet them. The sires (dads) may live anywhere. Most of the owners are open to visitors and we can assist you in arranging a visit.
Do you require spaying/neutering and what is AKC limited registration?
With AKC limited registration we require your puppy to be spayed/neutered between 6-12 months of age. Our puppies are sold as companion dogs with AKC limited registration. This means they can participate in performance events but can't be shown in conformation or bred. Full registration puppies do not require spaying/neutering.
Do you require X-rays of hips and elbows at a certain age?
Yes, we require that puppy owners complete the OFA hip and elbow certifications at 24 months. It’s an important part of building a health database on the breed and contributes to a more complete understanding of our breeding practices and how hip and elbow dysplasia manifests in the long term health of the dogs. We only breed healthy adult dogs who fall into the normal category for these tests and also do research on the pedigree for each dog. For more comprehensive information please consult: http://www.offa.org
Do Bernese have particular health problems?
The most recent survey by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America indicates the average life span of a dog to be 7-8 years. Cancer, bloat, hypothyroidism, and dysplasia are the more common health issues found in the breed. For comprehensive information on health issues please consult: http://www.bmdca.org/breed_education/pdf/04_bernese_health_issues.pdf
Can I exercise with my dogs?
Berners are large, powerful dogs who love to play and exercise outside, particularly in the winter. I hike long distances with my dogs on a regular basis and it is a ritual they very much look forward to. However, in hot summer months I limit their hard physical exertion to early morning/evening hours or high altitude where the temperature is cool. When the weather is hot you will most likely find them sprawled belly down on a cool tile floor.
What kind of food do you feed your dogs? And how often do you feed them?
We feed our dogs twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. We feed them a combination of high quality kibble (no corn/grain, human grade processing facility) and a homemade mixture of meat, eggs, vegetables and chicken stock. We also supplement with fish oil, green smoothies, and lots of raw bones from the local butcher. They are particlulary fond of spinach, parsley and carrot smoothies!
How often do you have litters?
Steinhaus is not a puppy mill. We value living with our dogs and letting our dogs also live. Please contact us and we will be happy to let you know when our next litter is planned.
Will you take the dog back or help find another home for it if for some reason in the future I can no longer care for it?
We will take any puppy/dog back at any time for any reason.