If you are interested in purchasing one of our puppies, we require you to fill out the questionnaire below to help us to get to know you better, for it is very important to us that each puppy goes to a wonderful family. After we have read over your questionnaire, and approve you and your family for one of our beloved pups, we will contact you. If, we don’t contact you, we wish you the very best but at this time feel that it just wouldn’t be a great fit for one of our beloved pups. Thank you for taking the time to do so and we wish you a blessed day!
Below are some of the questions that we feel are important when helping one to choose the right puppy for themselves and family. For we strongly believe, and hope that you will agree, that the puppy’s welfare should always come first. We have also included information that we hope will help while reading through these questions or for anyone who is looking for their new bundle of joy.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS BREED, OR WITH DOGS IN GENERAL? If this is your first time owning a Miniature Schnauzer, or a dog in general, then may we congratulate you on the upcoming purchase of your new best friend and wish you many years of happy bliss! Although, welcoming any dog into one’s life can be a very rewarding opportunity, each breed is unique in its own way. For this reason, may we kindly suggest that before purchasing a puppy, research is done on this breed. There is a lot of useful information concerning a Miniature Schnauzer, either on line (examples – American Kennel Club, The American Miniature Schnauzer Club, or the Wikipedia websites and other) or at various pet stores (examples – Petco or Petsmart). If you still have questions though, please feel free to contact us, for we thoroughly enjoy speaking about how truly wonderful this small, caring, spunky breed is.
WHERE WILL THE PUPPY BE KEPT DURING THE DAY/NIGHT? A good idea, especially while potty training, and then for some Miniature Schnauzers they tend to prefer this idea for the remainder of their life, is to use a pet crate that is able to be kept indoors. This type of enclosure, not only is able to be put where ever you feel is more appropriate in your home, but also allows the puppy to have some place that is all his or hers where they can go and sleep or just spend quiet time that they may need. We have found that placing a soft towel or blanket along with one or two of their favorite toys helps them get more used to being in the crate and gives them a sense that this is their own special place. Just as we need our own quiet place to retreat to, from time to time, to escape the chaos of our daily life so does our four legged family member(s).
HOW MANY HOURS ON AVERAGE WILL THE PUPPY BE LEFT ALONE?As with any puppy, especially while they are getting familiar to their new home, they always enjoy having someone home with them to spend time with so that they don’t get lonely or possibly begin to suffer from separation anxiety. Unfortunately, in these days and times, that is not always possible. If this is the case for you and your family, once again, researching this area may come in quite handy. A few ideas to possibly help with this though is purchasing a baby gate or two, if needed, and instead of keeping them inside their crate all day (which is also hard on their bladders and can lead to other possible problems) placing them for example in your kitchen where they will have a place to run around and play; purchasing a puppy play pen; or if able to, coming home throughout the day at short intervals. For just as a baby or small child misses his or her parents, so is true, about your new puppy – for you are mom and/or dad.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ANIMALS?Although, Miniature Schnauzers, are a breed who enjoy having a play mate such as another Miniature Schnauzer to play with (they do get along with other breeds of dogs but are a breed who “flock together” and normally, unless raised from a puppy, they do not get along very well with cats. Reason being is because of their history and what they were originally bred for which is being used as a “ratter.” Excerpts concerning this may be found on my history page. So please keep this in mind before purchasing your new puppy.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? IF SO, WHAT ARE THEIR AGES?The true joy and smiles that are shown on one’s children by a new puppy being in the home is truly magical. With this in mind though, one needs to remember, that the puppy is a baby, and not a toy, and can be accidentally injured. Before bringing a new puppy into your home please lovingly go over the proper and correct way to hold and care for him or her. For not only will this help strengthen the bond between one’s child(ren) and their new best friend but will also help to ensure a loving, happy, lifetime relationship.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A MALE OR FEMALE?If not sure which you prefer, various tools that may be used to gather information to help you decide are – local vets, online information, books, friends or family that have dogs at this time, or please feel free to call me. In the long run though, the final decision, is up to you and/or family. For males and females are both very loving but are different in their own way.
HAVE YOU EVER HOUSE TRAINED A DOG BEFORE?There are several ways to do so, but it all depends on the strategy that you are going to use. Are you going to use a pet crate to help with training, puppy pee pads or newspapers, or by simply teaching your new puppy to go in and outside (if you are going to be able to be at home throughout most of the day)? Along with various tools that one may use to gain information on how to properly house train a puppy there are also different aids that may be purchased. Examples – bells that one can buy from places such as Petco or Petsmart that you can hang from the main door the puppy will be using to go outside, sprays that you are able to use to help eliminate the urine odor while training your puppy, and placing your puppy on a schedule for his or her food and water instead of leaving it down on the floor for the puppy to have access to whenever they want. For keep in mind, that since the Miniature Schnauzer is one of the small breeds, their bladders are small too; therefore, causing them to not be able to hold their bladders for a long time. Whichever method you decide to use we wish you the very best with the training and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call.
WHEN THE PUPPY IS OUTSIDE, IN WHAT ENVIRONMENT WILL HE BE ALLOWED TO BE IN AND FOR HOW MANY HOURS WILL HE BE OUTSIDE? Miniature Schnauzers, love to go outside and play, but they don’t do well with extreme weather conditions nor are they suitable for living outdoors. So while your enjoying time with them outside please keep this in mind and know that your best friend, although he or she may “think” its not time to come indoors for a rest, that in the long run they will be much more appreciative for the love and concern you showed by bringing them indoors rather then allowing them to have “too much of a good thing.”