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Our Standards:
Here at
Sequoyah Shepherds, we have focused our breeding program
first and foremost on orthopedic excellence. Without
excellent hips and joints, it does NOT matter how much time
and effort you put into mentally preparing your dog to perform to
his full potential if his body will not let him. We attempt to eliminate any possible genetic issues by
choosing the healthiest breeding stock. All of our dogs
are dual hip scored with both OFA (or SV) scores and Pennhip scores, to be in
our breeding program. They must also pass an OFA or SV evaluation of
their elbows as well.
Below is a
copy of our health guarantee in regards to our puppies.
We want you as an owner or potential buyer to be assured
that we stand behind our puppies 100%. However,
in all breeding programs, no matter how hard breeders try
and no matter how dedicated, occasionally a genetic defect
will crop up. This is simply a fact. No breeding
program of any kind is entirely free of undesirable genetic
issues because no dog is perfect. We will, however, strive
do everything possible to
prevent this from happening. Because we are very proud of our
puppies here at Sequoyah Shepherds,
should something unexpected come up, we are proud to stand
behind each and every one of them.
Health
Guarantee:
Full
Replacement--(We will not
always ask that a dog be returned to us from a safe and loving home
if by chance something does come up that warrants a full
replacement. However, if we are offering a replacement
puppy or a refund, we
will require that you spay or
neuter your dog.)
Hip
dysplasia: We offer a
full replacement/guarantee against hip dysplasia.
This does not include any environmentally related injuries
that are derived from or are the direct result of: work related or activity injury, abuse, neglect,
or environmentally related issues outside the control of
Sequoyah Shepherds. Hip dysplasia is only partially
genetic. Other environmental factors can play a
large role in the development of hips. One of the
most important factors is weight. It is essential
that you keep your dog at the appropriate weight in all
stages of life. Also, only feed food that is
appropriate in its calcium levels (between
0.7-1.2) until the puppy reaches 12-14 months of age, at
which time you calcium levels become less significant.
This helps prevent the puppy from receiving excessive
amounts of calcium and calories which can lead to joint
damage.
If the Buyer intends to have the dog’s hips evaluated, he
must do so within the guarantee period of 36 months. Sequoyah Shepherds will have six months to verify the diagnosis
with a second opinion and respond to the reimbursement request.
 
 See the significant amount of
degenerative joint disease involving both coxofemoral
joints? The degenerative joint disease is the result of
hip dysplasia causing instability of the joints. Hip
dysplasia is a hereditary and environmental
condition in dogs that can produce partial or complete
dislocation of the hip, instability of the coxofemoral
joint and degenerative joint disease.
What is happening?
-Loosely fitting hip
joints cause stretching of the joint capsule and
abnormal cartilage wear
-Inflammation and pain result from the altered joint
mechanics and cartilage destruction
-Arthritis and reformation of the hip bones progress
over time
Genetic Diseases: We offer a
full replacement/guarantee for up to 3 years against genetically caused diseases
and defects which would prevent the dog from performing the
duties and purposes for which he was purchased.
Some examples of what Sequoyah
Shepherds will give a
refund/replacement puppy for, in case of a genetically
determined disease,
but not limited to:
-
Hip or elbow dysplasia, as evaluated and defined by OFA
at or after two years of age, or as evaluated/defined by PennHip
(scores less than 0.42) at or after 12 months of age.
-
Any
genetic defect or genetically caused
reproduction problem that prevents a male or
female from reproducing on a Guaranteed Breeding
Dog. Such as:
-
Retained testicles
after 1 year of age.
-
Sterility.
-
Hormonal
Imbalances that prevent conception.
-
Eye abnormalities which affects vision such that the
dog is unable to fulfill it’s intended duties and functions.
-
Severe and debilitating allergies or chronic,
severe stomach dysfunctions which permanently prevent the dog from performing its intended duties.
The dog must have been tested positive for by a licensed veterinarian, and backed by the veterinarian’s
written statement.
In the case
that the aforementioned dog falls within the full
replacement guidelines of the Health Guarantee and becomes ill and no longer able to perform its
duties, Sequoyah Shepherds will confer with the Buyer and
Sequoyah Shepherds will choose one of the
following options:
A. The Buyer will have the dog spayed or neutered,
and the Buyer may keep the dog while
receiving a full money refund for the purchase price
of the dog, minus any
Achievement
Awards
and/or partial refunds the Buyer may have
received.
B. The Buyer will have the dog spayed or neutered,
and the Buyer may keep the dog while
receiving a replacement dog of equal or greater value
as a replacement as soon as one
comes available. If refunds or
Achievement Awards
have been paid out, the replacement
puppy will be
the equal to the purchase price of the
dog minus the value of the Awards
and/or partial refunds already paid.
C. The Buyer will return the dog and receive a full
money refund for the purchase price of the
dog minus any
Achievement Awards and/or refunds the
Buyer may have already received.
Partial Refunds--
A partial
refund of 50% of the purchase price or the cost of the
repair, whichever
is the lesser amount, is offered for dogs that have a genetic defect or disease which
is determined to be genetically caused and who are still capable of performing the duties
and functions for which they were purchased, but have a serious issue. We offer this partial refund to help you with the medical
costs and difficulties these issues may cause. These conditions must be confirmed by tests or
positive identification by a licensed veterinarian.
A partial
refund for genetically related diseases
and defects which do NOT prevent the
dog from performing its intended
duties and functions but which
are considered serious.
For
example, but not limited to:
- A retained testicle in a dog which has
a restricted registration, OR full
registration but who is NOT Guaranteed
to be a Breeding dog. Retained testicles can cause
your neutering costs to go up.
-
A navel hernia that has not closed up by
the age of eight months. These are easily repaired when the
dog is spayed or neutered.
-
Allergies which are not totally debilitating, but are such that it is a
daily chore and/or extra significant expense to maintain the health of the dog.
This condition must be confirmed by an allergen test with a licensed veterinarian.
-
Ears that are
not standing completely by 12 months of age.
(If the ears aren't standing at 5 months of age, the
buyer must notify Sequoyah Shepherds at this time.)
Please
confer with us concerning any
issues or concerns you may have about your puppy. If
your veterinarian finds any problems with your dog, we
want to know about it immediately. This helps us
improve our lines and hopefully prevent any future
problems.
You
may
also be
eligible for a refund for
your medical expenses and difficulties.
**Warning: If the puppy is not registered in our kennel name
“Sequoyah’s”, we have the right to declare the health
guarantee as invalid.
**Furthermore, proof of spaying or
neutering will be required before any refunds will be
given out.
Services:
Baby-Sitting: We often, (if at all possible), babysit
puppies for our buyers, who buy a puppy but need to go out of town, on vacation or are in the
process of moving, etc.
Microchipping:
As an added service, we
microchip the puppies before they leave (at about 7 weeks of age).
The purpose of a microchip is that if the dog ever gets loose and
ends up in either a shelter or a veterinarian's office, the dog
can be scanned and the microchip number can be traced back to you. This is
a permanent identification and the microchip number is registered
with AVID Identification Systems (American Veterinary Identification
Devices) which maintains the owner's information. We believe this
service is invaluable in keeping our beloved animals safe.
Your puppy
will already be implanted with a microchip
before you take it home.
Vaccinations: If you are
a local buyer, we offer free routine vaccinations, for the
first year of your puppy's life.
(This includes Canine Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus Type 2), Parainfluenza,
and Parvovirus.)
Medication
refills by mail:
We
are able to mail you refills of your heartworm preventative
(Sentinel, Heartgard, and Interceptor), flea and tick
medication (Advantage, Frontline, and Revolution), as well as many
other products.
**If
you wish to purchase prescription items and you are using another
veterinarian, you will have to obtain a prescription from your
current veterinarian.
Returning the puppy:
If for any reason you are unable to keep a dog you purchased from
Sequoyah Shepherds, please contact us immediately. SEQUOYAH
SHEPHERDS RESERVES FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL OF ANY PUPPY OR DOG purchased
from us. We will be glad to help you in any way we can as we
understand that sometimes things happen and hard choices must be made
through no fault of your own or your dog's. If something should
happen and you need to find a new home for your dog, AND we are unable
to take him/her, we will be glad to work with you. We will be glad to
place the dog free of charge on our website. Also, often times in
emergency situations we can provide boarding until a new home can be
found. If additional expenses and services are incurred, such as
retraining the dog, then we will have to discuss those
issues/values as they occur.
Even when our puppies
go to a new home far away, they will forever remain part of the family of
Sequoyah Shepherds.
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