Joining the Jotunheim Pack

Getting a Jotunheim Puppy - 

If you are interested in getting a Swissy puppy from me, you will have to be patient as I only have litters occasionally.  If I don't have puppies available  I will gladly recommend  other HOBBY BREEDERS whose practices, placement procedure and priorities are comparable to mine.  

 
 My placement process:
  • You will be expected to complete an extensive application which will tell me about your experience, your lifestyle and what you expect from a puppy. It is crucial that you answer all questions honestly and provide additional information you feel is relevant to helping me match you with the most suitable puppy.​
  • All applicants are carefully screened and matched with the puppy that I feel is best suited for them. 
  • I will never place a puppy with someone I have not met in person.
  • I do not take deposits or promise ANYONE specific puppies  until they are old enough to evaluate  and temperament test (7-8 weeks).  I will not take the risk of promising puppies before I am sure the puppy is a suitable match for an applicant.
  • If I do not feel you are suited for Swissy ownership, I will tell you.  I will not string you along. This is a very difficult thing for me to do and even more difficult for a hopeful owner to hear and not take personally. Please understand, such honesty is necessary as it could save a prospective owner the heartbreak of having to give up on a dog they love and even more importantly could save a dog from ending up in a shelter, rescue or worse. Too many dogs end up in Rescue because  their breeders place them indiscriminately.
  • I will not ship a puppy to you. If you live too far away to drive, then the puppy can be taken with you on the plane in an airline approved Sherpa bag.
  • I expect all my puppy owners to keep in touch with me for the lifetime of their dog , notify me of any health or temperament problems and changes in contact information.
  • If, FOR ANY REASON, you cannot keep your dog, you are REQUIRED to return the dog to me so it can be  re- homed in a responsible manner.

What to expect 

  • Jotunheim puppies are raised in my home (not in a kennel!) where they spend the first months of their lives being loved and well socialized. Pups are handled by a lot of different people, exposed to a variety of surfaces and noises, introduced to the portable kennel and taken for rides in the car.
  • Puppies are raised on a raw diet and are naturally weaned by their mother.  I do not force wean my puppies.
  • Puppies are temperament tested at seven weeks old and then structurally evaluated at 8 weeks old by at least one other experienced breeder.
  • Both show prospects and companions are placed in homes where they will be treated first and foremost as beloved family members. Show prospects are placed in homes where their people  want to show or are willing to allow me to show their dog when mutually convenient. I love winning as much as the next person but more than anything, I want my puppies to have happy lives in which they are allowed to be dogs doing what they love most - being with their families .
  • I do not accept deposits on litters that have not been whelped and if I do not have puppies available, I will not put you on an indefinite "waiting list". Rather I will gladly refer you to other breeders who are planning litters and whose practices are similar to mine.
  • Jotunheim puppies are microchipped, wormed and current on vaccinations. I follow the Dr Dodds vaccine protocol .
  • Show prospects and companions are sold for the same price ($3000)** and all are placed with a contract and health guarantee. Companion puppies are placed on LIMITED AKC registration with spay/neuter contract. 
    Show prospects are all sold on co ownership with me, with breeding restrictions to protect the pedigrees involved from irresponsible breeding practices.
  • I give cash incentives for passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test  and for covering your puppy with a comprehensive pet health insurance plan.
  • Jotunheim puppies go home with a collar, five pounds of  top quality, grain free organic dry food  or raw diet,  samples of supplements I recommend, remaining vaccination doses, a toy and a binder/CD containing useful information on all aspects of Swissy ownership. 
  • As  a breeder, I take my responsibility to my puppies and their owners very seriously. I will  be available to support each of my puppy owners for the lifetime of their dog. I expect my puppy owners to contact me if they have any questions and especially if there are health problems so I can take this into account for future breedings. Swissies have brought so much joy to my life and my primary reason for choosing to breed them is the hope that I can bring some of that joy into the lives of others.
  • ** 100% of the purchase price paid for your Jotunheim Swissy will be donated to ongoing projects for wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict resolution. Names of beneficiary NGOs provided upon request.