Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get in touch with you?
You can contact me via email or through my Red Cedar Facebook page, but I also welcome people to reach out on my personal Facebook page and message me there. I encourage people to reach out whether I am currently breeding a litter or not, with the understanding that I may not be as responsive when I am not. During those times, I am most likely to be responsive on my personal page. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the breed or my program, as well as generally getting to know each other. It's not a requirement, but following your page and seeing your activity and day to day helps me to get a feel for whether a puppy of mine would fit you. I often become friends with potential puppy buyers before I have a litter planned, and I tend to be most comfortable selling to people who I have gotten to know to some extent. If you have reached out to me and I have not gotten back to you, please feel free to reach out again - I am most often busy/distracted and am not trying to ignore you! If we are talking personally, I will ask you to fill out an application for me to have on file, or you may fill out an application on your own. If the application seems good, I will keep you on my "interest list," where I will keep you in the loop about future litters.
What is the process to get a puppy from you?
When I am finalizing breeding plans for a particular litter (generally when my girl comes into season), I will start reaching out to my interest list to see who is interested in a puppy at that time. If I know someone is interested and I do not have an application on file for you, I will ask you to complete one. This initial contact is to check in and see if you are still interested in a puppy and if the timeframe of the upcoming litter will work for you. This gives me a list that I will work from when pregnancy is confirmed. At that time, I will have a loose idea of how many puppies I may have available, and will let people on this list know the due date of the litter and whether or not I think I will have a puppy for them. Once the litter is born, puppies are confirmed healthy, and I know how many of each sex I have, I will have a specific number of people I can loosely commit a puppy to. At this point, I'll be talking more in depth with you about what specific needs and goals you have for a puppy, as well as logistics and timelines. I do pick puppies for people, but work with you closely to make sure you're getting what you want out of a puppy. Puppy assignments are based on structure and temperament, with show or breeding homes generally have first "priority" in my process. I generally will start assigning puppies around 6-8 weeks old, and will keep you informed during this process.
How much are your puppies?
My current puppy price is $2,500. This is an average price for the breed at this point in time, and reflects the countless hours and dollars I have put into my program. This includes health testing, exhibiting in conformation and other sports, costs of veterinary care, day to day care (like food and supplements), continued training and education, stud fees and breeding expenses (traveling to the stud or performing AI), pregnancy care and vet visits, whelping expenses, and of course the many hours a day I spend raising and caring for the puppies when they are here.
What is your contract like?
My contract is very relaxed - once you purchase a puppy from me, I trust you to make the best decisions for them and your lifestyle. Primarily, the contract provides a health guarantee, and requires you to reach out to me if you need to rehome your dog for any reason. The health guarantee does require that you not spay/neuter your puppy before six months old and that you keep up with vaccinations and other vet care as recommended by your veterinarian. I do encourage people to keep their puppies intact until after 18 months old, and later than that if it suits your lifestyle and you are able to safely manage the dog. I also want puppy people to keep in touch with me, but that can be as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Some people, I will text yearly on their puppy's birthday, they might provide me with a few photos and tell me they're doing well, and that's it for the year. But many of my puppy people become good friends, and we stay in touch regularly. I am always here for any questions or concerns you have during the life of your puppy and will do my best to get you the help or advice you need. I have a Facebook group for the Red Cedar "family" where you can keep in touch with me and with other Red Cedar owners. Many of my puppy owners and I get together for dog shows or events from time to time, sharing grooming space or AirBNBs. I truly do see my puppy owners as family, and enjoy supporting them in all of their endeavors.
Do you sell puppies on full registration?
I do sell show/breeding prospects on full registration. For the most part, I do co-own any puppies going out on full registration, and request to be involved in breeding plans going forward. Breeding dogs must have complete health testing after two years old, and preferably have been "proven" in some way through conformation or performance sports. I am happy to personally show any of my puppies, but I also love helping new people get involved in the show world and learn how to present their own dog. Many of my bred by dogs are their owner's first AKC Champion or show/sport dog at all. I am happy to mentor owners on showing and breeding, and guide them through the process, including learning about pedigrees, health testing and whelping (whether I support you through whelping at home or the girl visits me to have their litter).
Will you sell to apartment homes?
Absolutely - I do not require a fenced yard or owned home. If you live in an apartment, I will want to talk more in depth about how you are going to manage your dog to prevent creating an issue with neighbors, but it definitely can work with the right plan and training. I have placed several puppies into apartment settings, even some as only dogs, with success.
What age do puppies go to their new homes?
The puppies are ready to go home after eight weeks old, but I understand that people may have other plans that don't quite line up with when the puppies are born. So I will generally keep puppies up to 12 weeks old if needed, but with this breed, I do believe the sooner they go home after eight weeks the better. I do extensive socializing and work with the puppies, but they really benefit from increased one on one attention (they do get one on one attention with me, but I can't match the amount of time you will be able to with just one puppy) and starting to learn the things that are most important to their person, in the environment they will be living in. But again, if you have a vacation or other plans scheduled that don't allow you to bring them home at eight weeks exactly, they can stay with me for no extra charge until 12 weeks or so.
How can I pick up my puppy?
Ideally, you are able to come to my house and pick your puppy up directly. This gives you a chance to meet me and the mother dog, and ask any questions you may have. We'll also register the puppy together while you're there. I do understand that not everyone is able to make it to me, so I am also happy to "deliver" the puppy to you at your expense. I will not ship puppies in cargo, but I can personally "flight nanny" the puppy to meet you, or drive a reasonable distance. Icelandic Sheepdog puppies are easily able to fit into a carry on bag on a plane. If plane travel is in your puppy's future, I will help them get used to a plane approved carrier before they make the trip.
You can contact me via email or through my Red Cedar Facebook page, but I also welcome people to reach out on my personal Facebook page and message me there. I encourage people to reach out whether I am currently breeding a litter or not, with the understanding that I may not be as responsive when I am not. During those times, I am most likely to be responsive on my personal page. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about the breed or my program, as well as generally getting to know each other. It's not a requirement, but following your page and seeing your activity and day to day helps me to get a feel for whether a puppy of mine would fit you. I often become friends with potential puppy buyers before I have a litter planned, and I tend to be most comfortable selling to people who I have gotten to know to some extent. If you have reached out to me and I have not gotten back to you, please feel free to reach out again - I am most often busy/distracted and am not trying to ignore you! If we are talking personally, I will ask you to fill out an application for me to have on file, or you may fill out an application on your own. If the application seems good, I will keep you on my "interest list," where I will keep you in the loop about future litters.
What is the process to get a puppy from you?
When I am finalizing breeding plans for a particular litter (generally when my girl comes into season), I will start reaching out to my interest list to see who is interested in a puppy at that time. If I know someone is interested and I do not have an application on file for you, I will ask you to complete one. This initial contact is to check in and see if you are still interested in a puppy and if the timeframe of the upcoming litter will work for you. This gives me a list that I will work from when pregnancy is confirmed. At that time, I will have a loose idea of how many puppies I may have available, and will let people on this list know the due date of the litter and whether or not I think I will have a puppy for them. Once the litter is born, puppies are confirmed healthy, and I know how many of each sex I have, I will have a specific number of people I can loosely commit a puppy to. At this point, I'll be talking more in depth with you about what specific needs and goals you have for a puppy, as well as logistics and timelines. I do pick puppies for people, but work with you closely to make sure you're getting what you want out of a puppy. Puppy assignments are based on structure and temperament, with show or breeding homes generally have first "priority" in my process. I generally will start assigning puppies around 6-8 weeks old, and will keep you informed during this process.
How much are your puppies?
My current puppy price is $2,500. This is an average price for the breed at this point in time, and reflects the countless hours and dollars I have put into my program. This includes health testing, exhibiting in conformation and other sports, costs of veterinary care, day to day care (like food and supplements), continued training and education, stud fees and breeding expenses (traveling to the stud or performing AI), pregnancy care and vet visits, whelping expenses, and of course the many hours a day I spend raising and caring for the puppies when they are here.
What is your contract like?
My contract is very relaxed - once you purchase a puppy from me, I trust you to make the best decisions for them and your lifestyle. Primarily, the contract provides a health guarantee, and requires you to reach out to me if you need to rehome your dog for any reason. The health guarantee does require that you not spay/neuter your puppy before six months old and that you keep up with vaccinations and other vet care as recommended by your veterinarian. I do encourage people to keep their puppies intact until after 18 months old, and later than that if it suits your lifestyle and you are able to safely manage the dog. I also want puppy people to keep in touch with me, but that can be as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Some people, I will text yearly on their puppy's birthday, they might provide me with a few photos and tell me they're doing well, and that's it for the year. But many of my puppy people become good friends, and we stay in touch regularly. I am always here for any questions or concerns you have during the life of your puppy and will do my best to get you the help or advice you need. I have a Facebook group for the Red Cedar "family" where you can keep in touch with me and with other Red Cedar owners. Many of my puppy owners and I get together for dog shows or events from time to time, sharing grooming space or AirBNBs. I truly do see my puppy owners as family, and enjoy supporting them in all of their endeavors.
Do you sell puppies on full registration?
I do sell show/breeding prospects on full registration. For the most part, I do co-own any puppies going out on full registration, and request to be involved in breeding plans going forward. Breeding dogs must have complete health testing after two years old, and preferably have been "proven" in some way through conformation or performance sports. I am happy to personally show any of my puppies, but I also love helping new people get involved in the show world and learn how to present their own dog. Many of my bred by dogs are their owner's first AKC Champion or show/sport dog at all. I am happy to mentor owners on showing and breeding, and guide them through the process, including learning about pedigrees, health testing and whelping (whether I support you through whelping at home or the girl visits me to have their litter).
Will you sell to apartment homes?
Absolutely - I do not require a fenced yard or owned home. If you live in an apartment, I will want to talk more in depth about how you are going to manage your dog to prevent creating an issue with neighbors, but it definitely can work with the right plan and training. I have placed several puppies into apartment settings, even some as only dogs, with success.
What age do puppies go to their new homes?
The puppies are ready to go home after eight weeks old, but I understand that people may have other plans that don't quite line up with when the puppies are born. So I will generally keep puppies up to 12 weeks old if needed, but with this breed, I do believe the sooner they go home after eight weeks the better. I do extensive socializing and work with the puppies, but they really benefit from increased one on one attention (they do get one on one attention with me, but I can't match the amount of time you will be able to with just one puppy) and starting to learn the things that are most important to their person, in the environment they will be living in. But again, if you have a vacation or other plans scheduled that don't allow you to bring them home at eight weeks exactly, they can stay with me for no extra charge until 12 weeks or so.
How can I pick up my puppy?
Ideally, you are able to come to my house and pick your puppy up directly. This gives you a chance to meet me and the mother dog, and ask any questions you may have. We'll also register the puppy together while you're there. I do understand that not everyone is able to make it to me, so I am also happy to "deliver" the puppy to you at your expense. I will not ship puppies in cargo, but I can personally "flight nanny" the puppy to meet you, or drive a reasonable distance. Icelandic Sheepdog puppies are easily able to fit into a carry on bag on a plane. If plane travel is in your puppy's future, I will help them get used to a plane approved carrier before they make the trip.