FAQ

Do you accept visitors to your home? We accept visits by appointment from serious, prospective buyers only. Please do your breed research ahead of time, rather than hoping a visit will tell you if these pups are the right breed for you. Also, for the health of our puppies, we ask that you not visit another dog / breeding facility the same day, primarily just prior to your visit.

Can I bring my other dog when we come to visit? Sorry, but no. While you may wonder how your present pet will react to the new pup, it does not work well for us to invite any new dog into our home because it causes too much excitement for our own dogs, and because we don't want to introduce any diseases into our home which your dog may potentially carry. However, as you consider the question, remember that dogs are pack animals, and will get used to another dog in their house after the introductory period is over.

What else should I have ready to bring my new puppy home? We very much encourage crate-training, as is outlined in the Super Puppy book that comes with your puppy. So a crate just big enough for your puppy to lie down and stand up in comfortably is perfect. Plus a leash & collar, food & water bowls, and a chew toy to round it all out.

What genetic screening have your dogs had? Both Mercedes and River have had their hips and elbows tested and received an OFA rating of "Good" or "Excellent". They and/ or their parents have also been cleared of the following genetic disorders: EIC, CNM, PRA, DM, CY, HUU, and HNPK. Here is what they stand for:

EIC	CNM	PRA	DM	CY	HUU	HNPK
Exercise induced collapse	Centronuclear Myopathy, also known as: type II muscle fiber deficiency, autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy and hereditary myopathy	Progressive Retinal Atrophy, refers to a group of degenerative eye disorders that cause blindness in both eyes	Degenerative Myelopathy, a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs.	Canine Cystinuria, an autosomal recessive disorder that affects a dog's ability to filter cystine out of urine	Hyperuricosuria, which means elevated levels of uric acid in the urine. This trait predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys	Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis, a genetic mutation causes the nose to dry out leading to chronic irritation and inflammation of the nose's skin

More on genetic screening: The Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends testing Labradors for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, eye disorders, EIC, and D-locus. CNM and prcd-PRA tests are optional.

Cleared by parentage: If both the sire and dam have 2 normal copies of a gene associated with an inherited disorder, their offspring can be cleared by parentage without DNA testing. OFA will issue certificates if both the sire and dam are clear of the genetic disorder and the parentage of the offspring has been verified by DNA profiles.

Please NOTE - Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, seizures disorders, some eye problems, and some cardiac conditions can also be a result of factors that are not inherited. These disorders cannot be prevented. However, the risk of offspring developing the inherited form of some of these conditions can reduced if the sire and dam are tested. For more information on this topic, you can see the following website: 6 Most Common Genetic Disorders in Dogs

Do you buy your puppies back, or refund our purchase price, if, at any time, we find ourselves unable to keep the dog we got from Pinewood Labradors? For various reasons, no, we will not buy back or offer a refund for any puppy or dog. However, we very happily will take them back for re-homing. We are the best resource available for finding the perfect home for the dog you purchased from us.

How much do the puppies cost? Please contact us for the current litter price as each litter is slightly different. A $350 non-refundable Deposit will be required when you are added to the pick order list. The balance will be due in cash when you pick your puppy up. The price includes all of the following:

• have dew-claws removed by our veterinarian on day 3 or 4.
• are AKC-registered - with registration paperwork for you to send in
• come with a "New Puppy Kit," which includes a two week supply of their food to get you started, a detail of all their health care information, a copy of Super Puppy - How to Raise the Best Dog You'll Ever Own! and a favorite toy!
• have been regularly wormed every two weeks.
• come with first shots by our Vet. Done during week 6.
• come with 1 year written health guarantee. This basically says we are declaring your puppy to be healthy, and asking that you verify that with your vet within 72 hours. The health guarantee also covers any hereditary defects found in the first 24 months of age IF they are surgically irreparable, and would result in the dog having to be euthanized. "Cover" means to reimburse you for the price you paid to us, for your dog.

What forms of payment do you accept? Cash, Money Order or Postal Money Order only please.

What about shipping? Shipping your puppy would be along the lines of an additional $350.00. (Depends on what we can get for flights!) Please ask about this option when you send in your deposit.