FAQ
What do you mean when you say Manchesters are not for everyone?
Dogs are a long-term commitment, and each household has a different lifestyle. Potential dog owners should first assess whether they are ready to make a commitment to any dog before moving on to breed selection.
While Manchesters are small, clean dogs who shed minimally, they are also dogs that require a great deal of training and socialization. The keys to a properly trained and socialized Manchester Terrier are TIME, COMMITMENT, and CONSISTENCY.
Read more: What do you mean when you say Manchesters are not for everyone?
What is your Breeding Philosophy?
Breeding and raising quality dogs with any consistency is not an easy thing to do. It takes planning, patience, commitment, objectivity, and a certain amount of luck. There are no perfect dogs -- every dog carries positive and negative traits.
Do you guarantee the health of the puppies you sell?
Yes. We offer a written, contractual health guarantee for the pups we sell. Our guarantee is detailed in our written sales agreement. Further, in accordance with Florida State Law, we are required to have each dog we sell examined by a licensed Veterinarian and to provide a health certificate to the buyer. We take this obligation seriously, and our vet performs a thorough exam including knees, hips, elbows, and heart along with the required testing for internal parasites and vaccinations. If you live in Florida, ALL breeders in the state are required to provide health certificates and any breeder sending a dog into the state must provide a certificate, as well, even if the dog arrives via car.
What s a responsible breeder?
Responsible breeding encompasses a range of behaviors rather than one narrow path. In general, responsible breeders strive to produce healthy, well socialized dogs that meet the standard for their breed. They provide lifetime support to those who purchase puppies, and they care aboutthe well-being of every dog they produce. There are a number of different ways to accomplish those goals. Health testing alone does not make a breeder responsible nor does success in the show ring. Most of the responsible breeders that we know have a genuine passion for their dogs and the breed.
What health testing do you do, and what are the results?
We DNA test for Von Willebrand's disease as well as performing routine x-rays on hips for displasia and Leggs-Calves-Perthes, manual exams for luxated patellas, and routine exams for overall health. We have also begun detailed cardiac screenings of our breeding dogs. We will be happy to make written results of tests available upon request.
Please be aware that the only genetic test available for Manchester Terriers at this time is a DNA test for vWD. All other tests (x-rays for hips, CERF for eyes, BAER for hearing, blood assays for Thyroid function, etc.) are 'clinical' or observational. They demonstrate whether a dog exhibits symptoms of a disorder ("affected") or not. These tests are important, but the results for a puppy's parents are of limited value on their own. For negative recessive traits, a dog can be free of clinical symptoms yet still carry for the disease. Particularly if you are looking for a young puppy, it's important to ask about the health not only of the puppy's parents but also his grandparents and siblings from the parents' prior litters.