AKC Bernese Mountain Dog pups will generally be sold with pet license only (Limited Registration, no breeding). 

- Limited Registration price: $2500; puppy reservation fee: $300

 

Select pups may occasionally be sold with AKC Full Registration. (Conditions and different pricing apply - please contact us for details)

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Please see the general terms of sale, and refer to the SAMPLE Puppy Purchase Agreement at the bottom of the page. For more information about expected litters or to apply our waitlist, please contact us at ponytrailberners@gmail.com

 

PUPPIES WILL ONLY BE HELD AFTER WE RECEIVE A RESERVATION FEE and completed PUPPY RESERVATION FORM (link sent to buyer via email after interview).  Promises of payment are not sufficient to reserve puppies of your chosen gender. If you are mailing a check, we cannot promise that your preferred puppy will still be available when check is cleared, but you will get a puppy of your chosen gender if check is received within 5 days of the agreement.  GOOD DOG* is the preferred payment method for the reservation fee, and we expect cash or electronic payment (no checks or money orders) for the full balance at time of pickup.  Puppies being shipped can be paid in full via Good Dog before the ship date.  A sample Puppy Purchase Agreement will be provided via email along with the link to the Puppy Reservation Form to approved buyers. To use Good Dog, go to https://pay.gooddog.com/bernese-mountain-dogs-of-pony-trail-farm. 

PLEASE EMAIL BEFORE SENDING A RESERVATION FEE TO BE SURE A SPOT FOR A PUPPY IS AVAILABLE.

*Note about Good Dog fees: Like other online platforms, there is a fee charged for use of a credit card. To avoid this fee, select the "Bank" option. Good Dog also provides buyer Protection & Support for a fee. This option is automatically selected. While we always recommend buyer protections at the time of placing the reservation fee ("deposit" on GoodDog), we understand that a buyer may wish to opt out. To opt out of Protection & Support, click on the information "i", click "learn more" and then click "change to friends & family payment" and follow the prompts to opt out.   

 

The RESERVATION FEE holds your spot for a puppy from the current or next litter and is NON-REFUNDABLE except in case of an injury or illness of your selected puppy before pickup.  If no replacements are available from the same litter, your reservation fee will be moved to the next available litter, or you may get a refund if there is a physical problem with the pup.   If you simply change your mind regarding a puppy purchase for any reason and notify us before the pup reaches 6 weeks of age, you may bump your reservation to the next available litter (within 1 calendar year) or forfeit the reservation fee.   

 

PUPS ARE ASSIGNED OR SELECTED BETWEEN 3-5 weeks of age, after they have begun to show personality traits. While we take into consideration your color preference, we reserve the right to select the best fit for your situation and purposes or advise your choice if there are more than one that may be a good fit. Pups will be assigned or selected in order of FULL REGISTRATION reservation fees received, followed by Limited Registration reservation fees. We will communicate via email when it is time to assign or select your pup. If buyer fails to respond within 24 hours, a pup will be ASSIGNED TO BUYER BY BREEDER, and we will move on to the next in line.  

 

PUPS BEGIN THE BONDING PERIOD AT 8 WEEKS OF AGE, and should be picked up as close to this date as possible. Pups picked up at 9 weeks of age or later will incur a fee of $50 per week to cover extra vaccines, deworming, food, and care. Pup must be paid in full by 9 weeks of age if pickup is delayed. Seller will NOT house train or obedience train due to the demands of a busy farm. 

 

 

PICKUP AND DELIVERY:

Ideally, the pup should be picked up in person. This allows you to meet us, see your pup's relatives, and get to know your pup while they are still in a familiar environment. We are located in ZIP 30565. If you are unable to pick up, we will release to your choice of pet transportation at 8 weeks of age, provided price of puppy is paid in full in advance.  Health certificate will be provided.  MOST AIRLINES CURRENTLY HAVE AN EMBARGO ON PET AIR CARGO, so we cannot ship via Pet Air Cargo until the embargo is lifted. For flights, we now recommend using a reputable pet courier or "flight nanny" that is able to pick up from our location. Pups On A Plane is our top choice, being local, insured, and USDA licensed.  We can also deliver by car for $200 minimum, with additional $2.00 per one-way mile after 100 miles and up to 300 miles. For ground transportation above 300 miles, please contact us for recommendations. 

 

Any pups held after purchase beyond 9 weeks of age must be paid in full and will be charged an additional $50 per week, to include extra vaccines, deworming, food & farm training.   We will not house train or crate train pups due to busy schedule of farm.

 

VETERINARY SCHEDULE & HEALTH

 

Shots & treatment needed:

2 weeks - deworm

4 weeks - deworm

6 weeks - Distemper, Parvovirus, Coronavirus, and Hepatitis; Fecal exam, Deworm

9 weeks - Distemper, Parvovirus, Coronavirus, and Hepatitis,  Fecal or Deworm; start Heartworm prevention and flea control

12 weeks - Distemper, Parvovirus,  Leptospirosis, and Hepatitis; Kennel Cough Vaccine, Rabies, Optional Influenza & Lyme vaccines, Deworm

15 weeks - Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, and Hepatitis, Optional Influenza & Lyme vaccines, Deworm

 

• Spays & Neuters on giant breed dogs should be delayed until 18 months of age for proper bone growth.  Females will generally come in heat at 10-12 months. Care should be taken to note vulva size, as early spay can also lead to recessed vulva and its associated problems

• Pups have been fed Purina Puppy Chow for large breeds. Feed young pups 3 times daily until 4 months, then twice daily.  DO NOT OVERFEED as excess can lead to orthopedic problems. 

• Under no circumstances will we pay veterinary expenses after the pup leaves our farm.  If your pup is found to be ill within the warranty period for a covered condition, pup should be returned for refund (within 3 days) or exchange.  If you choose to keep puppy with problem, you assume all financial responsibility and negate health guarantee for that condition.

• HEALTH & ORTHOPEDIC WARRANTIES ARE AS FOLLOWS (conditions apply) 

  • 3 day money-back health guarantee, in which purchase price including deposit (not transport) will be refunded if pre-existing infectious or congenital conditions is diagnosed and pup is returned within 3 business days from delivery.  Buyer may also choose to exchange for another pup, if available.

  • First Available Replacement Puppy will be provided for genetic or congenital defect that inhibits normal function diagnosed within 1 year, and hip dysplasia diagnosed by 2 years of age (through OFA or PennHip evaluation) with return of pet or death due to genetic condition (with veterinary statement).

  • We do NOT guarantee show conformation, performance or ability. 

  • Puppies will not have dewclaws removed, as there is no proven medical reason to do so, and there are risks associated with the removal of normal dewclaws. While AKC breed standards permit removal, the presence of dewclaws is not an AKC disqualification. 

• Assuming purchase at 8 weeks of age, an OFA or equivalent exam should be done at 2 years of age if warranty conditions are desired. OFA guarantee expires at that time. Preliminary readings are acceptable. EARLY SPAY OR NEUTER BEFORE 18 MONTHS OF AGE WILL VOID WARRANTY OF ORTHOPEDIC PROBLEMS.   EXCESSIVE CRATING (more than three hours during daytime hours) WILL ALSO VOID THE ORTHOPEDIC WARRANTY DUE TO ADVERSE EFFECT ON LONG BONE DEVELOPMENT.

• Medical reasons for return must have veterinarian's statement. Parasite control and nutritional needs require ongoing care, and warranty does not cover preventable diseases after 3 days. Pups will be dewormed frequently before leaving, and fecals done, but they do originate from a farm with many species of domestic and wild animals. A parasite-free pup is desired but not guaranteed due to exposure of farm environment.  Pups are not fully protected from infectious disease until vaccine series is complete, so care should be taken not to expose pups in public places (dog parks, public walkways, beaches, groomers, vet offices, etc), and vaccines should be done in a timely manner.

• A NOTE ABOUT "RUNTS"! Many people are afraid to choose the smaller puppies of the litter, thinking that the young puppy size reflects mature weight. That is generally not true - unless there is some sort of birth defect causing poor growth which would be found on veterinary physical exam. It is important to understand "gestational age". The females are in heat for about 3 weeks, and are fertile during the middle part of the cycle. They continue to ovulate all during the fertile part of the cycle, about ten days. If bred more than once during the fertile time, puppies are conceived at different times and there may be as much as 10 days difference in actual age of the pups at time delivery. Sperm can also live in the reproductive tract for up to five days, so can fertilize eggs even if no further breedings occur. The most important thing to note is that the puppies are all growing at the same RATE, i.e. Puppy #10 should weigh the same thing at week 3 that Puppy #2 weighed at 2 weeks of age, and the growth curve continually goes up at a steady rate. We have never yet seen our smallest birthweight puppies fail to achieve expected adult size.

• If sold with breeding/show rights, buyer agrees to responsible breeding practices, including waiting until 2 years of age with hip evaluation; exceptional nutrition, staying current on disease prevention and veterinary care, and doing health screens to maintain a healthy genetic base. No guarantee is given that the pup will mature with the characteristic or qualities needed for this endeavor. Buyer of show prospect is aware that we do not remove dewclaws. If buyer of breeding prospect does not intend to show or has no history of satisfactory breeding practices, pups will be sold with LIMITED REGISTRATION. Breeder will revoke Limited status after buyer has completed required health/orthopedic testing when dog is 2 years of age and has submitted results and paid the remaining balance of Full Registration price.

• If you need to place the animal for any reason after the warranty period, we will take it back with no refund or replacement, and place in a new home if certain conditions have been met (health, nutrition, behavior). If you place the dog yourself, please inform us of the transaction.

• Our warranty includes exchange for equivalent value puppy when available, or reimbursement of purchase price within 3 days of pickup only with return of dog or vet statement of death during the warranty period, and only for covered conditions. Return transportation costs are paid by buyer.

• This warranty does not cover any veterinary expenses after puppy leaves our premises. A veterinary exam is recommended within the first 3 days after purchase to confirm health.

• Transportation costs will be paid by the Buyer. Costs will be agreed upon between Buyer and Seller prior to delivery, if seller delivers. Any return transportation arrangements for refund in warranty period, or return after warranty period must be made by buyer.