Alberta Roots

1) What health tests do the parents have?

You can view all health clearances at: http://www.offa.org/search.html Just type in the registered name or number of the dog and the clearances will show. If you are not sure what the tests mean, the links on the left hand side explain the testing.

2)What are the health problems a Swissy can have?

Swissy's are overall a fairly healthy breed compared to most large breeds however they are not without health issues. Swissy's can have epilepsy, hip, elbow and/or shoulder dysplasia, eye problems, bloat, incontinence, etc. It is very important you talk to your breeder and know exactly what you are getting into. No pedigree is free of the above however reputable breeders know what is in their pedigree and breed to improve the breed and do not breed affected dogs.

3) Are Swissy's hard to train?

Swissy's are generally very easy to train... with the exception of housetraining. It is not uncommon to have a 1 year old Swissy still not fully reliable in the house. This is something to consider very thoroughly when considering this breed as you will need LOTS of patience. Swissy's DO NOT respond well to harsh training. As a Swissy owner it is imperative to practice positive training techniques.

4) What is it like living with a Swissy?

The best thing to do is schedule an appointment with a person who is owned by a Swissy to see what they are like. Swissy's require weekly brushing, a daily walk or hike, a 'job' to do such as carting, agility, packing, etc. They also require to be part of the family. Swissy's ARE NOT suited to living in the back yard by themselves. They were bred as 'the poor man's horse' and need a job to do. In Switzerland, after the farmer had finished working with his dog all day, the Swissy would follow him into the house and keep a watchful eye over the house all night. Swissy's need attention, they will follow you around everywhere and are happiest when they are with their people. If you do not like a dog under foot, the Swissy is not for you.

5) How much does a Swissy cost?

Our adoption fee is $2000. We offer $200 back after the dog is two should you decide to get OFA certifications for hips, elbows and shoulders as well as a CERF certification for eyes. We do not require this unless the dog is for show or breeding however we would like as many of our puppies to be certified as possible so we do offer financial assistance for this. We also pay $50 for every recognized title you put on the dog. These include but are not limited to: CGC, CD, CH, DD, etc. There is no maximum on this. The reason we do this is that the Swissy is a working breed and we want to encourage people to keep active with their Swissy.

6)Why does a Swissy cost so much?

Let me tell you... this is not a money making venture. We only breed when we are ready to keep a puppy for ourselves. Since we enjoy showing and working with our dogs, we breed to what we hope will be the best male to suit our girl. Since we have to do our breeding in the US due to the small population of Swissy's in Canada, it is quite expensive. Swissy's are also very hard to breed. Our first litter only resulted in 2 puppies after a $1200 c-section, $1000 in progesterone tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, etc., $4000 in travel expenses for both myself and Hannah. Health tests were about $500 and puppy vet bills, registrations and shots for the two puppies was $700. Puppy supplies were also about $600 for puppy go-home packages, toys, beds, cleaning supplies, etc. This does not include the stud fee (on average $1700 USD) or the time off from work I did not get paid for. This also does not include food, customs fees, showing expenses, training, etc. Some breeders can make money breeding by having a male and a female (no travel expenses), not doing health tests or not exhibiting their dogs to gain other opinions on the quality of the dog. To us, it is not worth the risk. Some people spend thousands golfing or traveling, we just spend it on the dogs. It is a hobby, not a paycheque and that is okay with us.

7) Do Swissy's shed?

YES!!!

8) Are Swissy's good with Children?

As a general rule, Swissy's are great with children. In fact, most Swissy's instinctively know to be cautious around small kids and older people. They are however a dog. They can get excited easily and unintentionally knock a child over. With the average Swissy somewhere between 100 - 130lbs, this can be traumatic if not injury causing to a small child. Some breeders will not adopt their puppies to homes with children under a certain age. We do not have any restrictions on age as we feel with the proper management; a Swissy can be a wonderful companion to your child(ren). It is imperative that from day 1, the Swissy knows its place at the bottom of your household pack as well that your child(ren) are assertive and will be able to continually remind the Swissy that they are pack leader. I have seen a child of 4 years being more of a pack leader than a 12 year old and that is where we do not feel it correct to put an age on Swissy’s and kids. It is your responsibility as a parent to determine the time in which your last/youngest or shy child is ready to be knocked over, scratched, etc. by a dog and be able to handle it. Should you arrange a time to meet with us and we feel your children are not assertive enough for a Swissy; we will have to put you on a waiting list for a future litter. As with any large breed, sometimes it is better to wait until the kids are older.

9) How long do Swissy's live?

The average is 9 - 10 although some are fortunate enough to be blessed by their Swissy at 14!

10) How large is a normal litter?

The average is 8 - 10 puppies however this is a difficult breed sometimes and often even if everything was perfect, few or no puppies will be produced. This is part of the reason we do not take deposits or select which homes are 'approved' prior to the puppies arriving and showing their personalities.

11) What is the difference between males and females?

In some breeds there are great personality differences between the sexes. With the Swissy, this is not the case. Each puppy has its unique personality which is quite obvious as they start to move around. Just in case we miss something, we also have an idependant evaluator (Trudy Taphorn) determine each puppy's persoanlity and structure traits so that we are able to better place the pups in matching homes. That being said, the only real difference in the sexes is size. A male will generally be 110 - 135lbs while a female will be 90 - 115lbs.

12) What is your contract like?

Download our pet puppy contract HERE.

13) Why should I get my Puppy from you?

You shouldn't if you are looking at us as a breeder because we are 'close' or the only breeder you can find. Swissy's are quite rare in Canada but that does not mean you should be buying based on location. It is VERY important you agree with a breeders ethics and morals. This is a person you should be able to develop a friendship with and know you can call day or night if you have a concern. You should feel you can trust your breeder and know that they are doing everything humanly possible to provide you with a healthy puppy that will bring you years of joy. Every breeder has a different philosophy on breeding and puppy raising and you need to find one you agree with. We do not claim to be the 'best or only' choice as everyone is different and we are doing what we consider to be best for the breed.

14) How do I get a puppy from you?

Contact, contact, contact... you CAN NOT bother us. Regardless if you decide we are the right breeder for you or not, we are here for the Swissy and because of that, promise to provide education to anyone wanting to learn. We are currently recieving many inquiries however we promise to answer each and every one. We will not adopt a puppy to someone who does not take the time to stay in contact as we want to know you as well as know you will keep in contact after you have a puppy. Those who are approved for one of our puppies are people who have kept in contact in-between litters. Many people have been to see us and have sent e-mails and called regularly for over a year. Because we breed very infrequently, we are fortunate to be able to take the time to get to know people interested in the breed. Since we do not adopt on 'first come, first serve' we allow ourselves the choice to place our babies in the right home (to the best of our ability) based on what both you and the puppy are looking for.