Frequently asked questions
Quick answers
How adopting a puppy works
Watch the process with Professor Bern
Reservation process
Puppy selection
The process
We accept deposits only for confirmed litters. A deposit reserves a puppy from that litter. If puppies are already born when we receive your deposit, one puppy from that litter will likely join your family.
If the deposit arrives before the puppies are born, there may not be enough puppies for every family. In that case we choose which families adopt a puppy.
The best way to know when our reservation list opens is our Instagram account.
There is a $50 fee per video call interview. If both parties agree to move forward, it counts toward your $500 deposit. Otherwise the $50 is non-refundable, because the service was provided.
Our puppies are $5,000. A $500 deposit reserves a puppy: $450 after the interview, plus the $50 interview fee.
- Deposits are refundable until the puppy turns 14 days old. At 12 AM EST on the 14th day, the deposit becomes non-refundable, and our policy after that point is firm. For a litter born January 1st, that is January 14th.
- A deposit made when the puppy is already 14 days or older is non-refundable.
- If we decide not to place a puppy with you, we refund the $450.
- Deposits cover puppy supplies such as food, enrichment, medical provisions and veterinary services.
If a family sends a deposit and then requires it back, they will not be able to place a new deposit with us for two years, unless we decide otherwise.
We match on two pillars: temperament and family lifestyle. We look at each puppy’s personality, drive and focus, and at your family’s lifestyle and Bernese experience, if any.
Looks are not part of matching. We do not let families choose a puppy by phenotype (markings / how a puppy looks). Markings do not mean the fit is right for a home. Our goal is for both families and puppies to succeed together.
Waiting and updates
Not at this time. Please follow us on Instagram and check our website for news about when our reservation list opens.
No. We receive many inquiries, and a lot can change between a family reaching out and puppies arriving in our home, so we cannot notify individual families. If you are interested in a future litter, please contact us once that litter is confirmed and the timing is right for you.
Our Puppies page carries dates and news. When a litter is confirmed and reservations open, you will also find a link to book an interview there. It does not appear while reservations are closed.
Instagram is more than social media for us. It is where families watch our dogs and see us work with puppies as they grow. If a puppy adoption becomes possible, we invite you to create an account, even just to watch.
Our puppies
No. Puppies come with limited registration and are placed as pet only.
All puppies come with a non-breeding contract. We strongly recommend keeping hormone-producing organs as long as possible, and waiting until your Berner is 2.5 to 3 years old before any spay or neuter. We suggest a vasectomy for males and an ovary-sparing spay for females.
Part of our mission, here and on this website, is to educate and guide people toward best practices for Berners. To learn the science behind these procedures, visit the Parsemus Foundation’s pet health resources, and read our blog entry, The Spay / Neuter Conundrum.
Yes. Both parties sign a contract at the exchange. It covers spay and neuter requirements, the health guarantee, buyer and seller protection and confirmation of the exchange.
No. Puppies must be picked up at our home, or families can arrange a nanny flight. Puppies are not allowed to fly in cargo alone.
Health and our guarantee
Our breeding dogs are AKC and UKC registered and tested when they come of age. They are OFA tested and certified for hips, elbows, heart echo and eyes. We also run genetic tests for Bernese-specific diseases: degenerative myelopathy (DM), exon 1 and 2, von Willebrand’s disease, and histiocytic sarcoma. We are one of very few Bernese breeders who also test for histiocytic sarcoma markers.
We do not post clearances on our website because of scammers. You can find our dogs’ records on the Berner-Garde website.
We strive to provide genetically sound puppies with breed-specific temperament.
- Multi-championship lineages as proof of excellent conformation
- Multi-generational health testing and clearances for a strong genetic start
- Results anyone can check on Berner-Garde
- A home made diet for our moms and puppies that supports immune, digestive and brain development
- Puppy Culture, a program based on behavioral markers that helps raise well socialized puppies with a sturdier nervous system
- Vaccination nomographs, so we know exactly when to vaccinate and prevent over-vaccination
- Puppies go home up to date on vaccines, dewormed, microchipped, examined by our veterinarian and, when possible, pre-registered with the AKC or UKC
Our goal is to give every puppy the best possible foundation, but we cannot guarantee what life will bring. Every breed has health concerns, and we encourage you to learn about the Bernese-specific ones. Genetics and lifestyle choices can trigger conditions such as dysplasias, cancers and other health issues.
Visits, support and location
We do not accept visitors, for health and safety reasons. If you have a deposit in place, we are happy to video call and show you the puppies. To see how we raise puppies, visit our Instagram and our Puppy Culture (training) page.
Yes. We stay in touch with every family who welcomes one of our Berners. We check in at different puppy and adult stages, and families are welcome to reach out with any question or concern.
We are committed to our puppies for life, and that includes their owners. We help with questions and concerns as time allows. If you are ever unable to care for your puppy or dog, please tell us immediately.
Upstate New York, not the city.
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