Puppy Visits

A bit of a long read, but important for our puppy buyers to know...

At TreeCity Cream Dachshunds, we take the health and safety of our dogs very seriously and raise all our puppies inside our family home where they are well loved, socialized and attended to. Although most of my buyers are from out-of-state, I am often asked by local Boise buyers if they can come to my home to see the puppies. I generally do not allow buyers into our home and periodically find myself having to explain why, so it was time to put something more informational together. (Please note that most of this is copied from other breeders and sources because it is written simply and clearly, and therefore is not my original writing.)

Breeders don't let buyers into their homes for a variety of reasons:

Risk of disease: Puppies have underdeveloped immune systems and can easily contract life-threatening illnesses from diseases that visitors might accidentally bring in on their shoes or clothing, like Parvo. Parvo is a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease that can quickly kill unvaccinated puppies.
Safety concerns: Breeders are concerned about theft, especially with valuable puppies, and some have experienced or heard horror stories of puppy theft or robbery. They may also have other personal safety concerns about inviting strangers into their homes where their children also might reside.
Stress: New visitors can be a source of stress for the mother dog, who is naturally protective of her litter. This can interfere with her maternal care and lead to rejection of puppies, aggression, and inability to produce milk crucial for puppy health.
Disruption: Frequent visitors can disrupt the puppies' environment, which is especially true in the first few weeks of a puppy's life. Puppies of stressed mothers can grow up to be more fearful and anxious adults. Also, disruption to the pregnant mother dog and her space can delay or even stop the birthing process.

I understand hesitancy trusting a breeder without seeing the puppies or their living environment. Reputable breeders, like we are, will gladly use other alternatives to help you feel comfortable. Some things we can do are FaceTime video visits, provide plenty of update photos and videos which show the puppies in their environment, answer all buyers' questions and maintain good communication, and provide contact information of previous buyers.

Our goal is for our puppy buyers to become part of our “puppy family” in all ways that don’t jeopardize the safety of our dogs, puppies or family members. A responsible breeder will be transparent and have nothing to hide, even if they don’t allow home visits. Our local legitimate buyers are, however, welcomed at our home after the puppies are 8 weeks old and vaccinated, and it is at this time we physically introduce them to their puppy. We appreciate you entrusting us to protect, nurture and care for your puppy!