Acquiring a Raintree dog

When we breed a litter or acquire a dog from someone else, we make a commitment to these dogs to care for them to our best ability for their lifetime. Since our responsibility is ongoing, we have a continuing interest in the success of the relationships our buyers develop with their dogs.

We encourage any potential ESS owner to read the information in the "Getting a Dog" section of the ESSFTA web site prior to making a firm decision that an ESS is for them. We also like potential owners to get to know our dogs firsthand if at all possible before they commit to acquiring a puppy from us. This gives us an opportunity to learn their preferences as regards personality, size, etc. and the buyer some idea of what our dogs are like to be around.

We do not breed frequently, so we do not consistently maintain a puppy waiting list. When we have a bitch confirmed in whelp, we begin taking names of people interested in a puppy. Once the litter arrives and we see how many puppies we have, we’ll contact people who have expressed interest to let them know if we have a puppy that suits their requirements (i.e. sex and/or color preferences); if so, we then request a deposit to hold a "reservation."

Our puppies stay with us until they reach the age of 10 weeks. We find that the puppies are much better prepared at that age to adjust to new living circumstances than at 7 or 8 weeks. They will acclimate to crate training and be physically more capable to begin housebreaking. Most behaviorists believe, as do we, that the puppies benefit from the socialization with their littermates through this period. Click here for an excellent article by Dr. Ed Bailey on the 49 day threshold.  Weather permitting, we are able to expose them to a variety of experiences (introduction to the pond, walks in the woods, etc.) during the 8 to 10 week phase which will build confidence for their futures.

We ask that buyers allow us to use the benefit of our experience with the litter to determine which puppy will best meet their needs. We much prefer to evaluate the various buyers’ situations against the personalities of the puppies so that each puppy and owner end up with the best possible match.

Puppies are wormed regularly beginning at two weeks of age. They will have had their first puppy shots before they go home with their new owners. Our puppies are examined by our veterinarian at approximately 9 weeks of age to check for any health concerns that might be identified at that point, and by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist to evaluate for any inherited or congenital eye defects. We inform buyers of any issues identified prior to taking a particular puppy home.

We sell our puppies on an AKC limited (non-breeding) registration. In cases where a dog is purchased as a breeding prospect, our sales contract provides for specific circumstances under which we will apply to AKC for full registration privileges. We recommend that dogs not intended for breeding be spayed or neutered at an appropriate age for their health and their owners’ peace of mind. Use of a limited registration provides us as breeders with some comfort that the dog will not be bred without appropriate health clearances and demonstration of merit. Dogs on limited registration are eligible to compete in all AKC licensed performance events. You will find further information on the limited registration option at the AKC web site at http://www.akc.org/registration/register_limitedreg.cfm.

On occasion we have young adult or adult dogs available that for some reason or another we determine will not fit our ongoing breeding or competition goals. We generally place these dogs on a trial basis to make sure the dog will be a good fit for the home. We guarantee these dogs just as we do our puppies, or, in some cases, we will already have obtained clearances for hips, eyes, etc. A "started dog" can be a terrific alternative for those who lack the time to train, or who seek a dog ready to join them in the field more quickly.

We acquire young trial prospects at various stages of training ourselves fairly frequently, so we can attest personally to how easily and how quickly these dogs generally integrate into our kennel and our affections (and we in theirs). In our experience, time shared in training bonds dog and owner very quickly, and of course the way to almost any English Springer’s heart runs directly through his or her stomach!

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