Our Spring/Summer 2026 Waitlist Full! Check out our litter page plans for future litters!
Our Puppy Process + info
​We take breeding puppies very seriously- from the very first breath to the first time your puppy is placed in your hands, we put the utmost care and consideration into each step.
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All of our breeding stock live in our home and are not kennel dogs. (We occasionally place a potential breeding dog into a co-own home.) Our program is small, but substantial. We have dogs in professional service dog organizations, search and rescue, hunting, many different sports, and also as pets. All of our dogs are titled in multiple different dog sports and are valued members of our family. If we retire/rehome any of our dogs, we only place them in homes where they will be able to continue their sport careers and live very fulfilling lives.
The process
1. Each breeding is carefully selected to match a long list of criteria, anything from size, structure, temperament, and age. We pay close attention to the pedigree history including longevity, OFA test scores for multiple generations, causes of death in ancestors, pedigree and genetic COI, and more.
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2. Our mother dogs get exceptional care. They are fed high quality foods throughout their pregnancies and during whelping, including many different supplements and foods that boost their health. We generally do ultrasounds and/or x-rays with each breeding. Puppies are whelped inside our home and are handled on a daily basis.
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3. Puppies are born in our home and are watched 24/7 either in person or through monitors. We track weights and track each individual puppy from birth, knowing which puppy is which from day one. We get to know their individual temperaments intimately. Puppies go through ENS, ESI, and are also raised with the Puppy Culture program. We start our puppies on potty training, crate training, and do many types of enrichment and socialization. Puppies are exposed to rabbits, other dogs, adults, and children of many ages.
4. New homes are welcome to visit the puppies on our Puppy Visitation days. We post many pictures and update families every few days on the puppies progress until go home day. On day 49, puppies undergo professional temperament testing off-site and are then paired up with their new families based on the results and each family's individual criteria.
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4. Puppies go home at 8 weeks old and are AKC Limited Registration. (Full registration is available later to those who qualify.) They have been vet checked and first vaccinations are given. All puppies come pre-registered with AKC, and also come with prepaid AKC Reunite Microchip with lifetime service. We do have a contract that guarantees against genetic defects, It also ensures we will take a dog back at any time, for any reason. We often form close friendships with many of our puppy families, and are available to you for the lifetime of your puppy.
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Common questions
What does a Geronimo puppy cost?
Please inquire for puppy price. ($500 deposit upfront, the rest due on or before pickup day.)
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Do you require a deposit? How much are your puppies?
Yes, we do require a $500 deposit to hold a spot. Please send a message for price. Due IN FULL before pick-up.
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Do you sell your puppies on full registration?
The main answer is no. We have not yet sold a puppy with full registration, but have sold several with the potential for breeding rights after certain criteria are met.
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What in included in the purchase price?
Puppies come with prepaid AKC registration, AKC Reunite microchip with lifetime service, first shots and check up done by vet, 30 days of free pet insurance, Volhard Puppy Aptitude test score sheet, and a puppy packet with fun toys, food, and puppy memorabilia.
How old are the puppies when they go home?
Generally, we let them go at 7-8 weeks.
Do I get to pick out my puppy and when?
We pair puppies up based on temperament, but you get to select which sex you want. Temperament testing is done on day 49, puppy pairing is shortly after.
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Do you do any special programs with your puppies?
Yes, we follow the Puppy Culture program, which is designed to prepare your puppy for its new home and create a well-rounded companion. We also do Early Neurological Stimulation with all our litters. Lastly, we use the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test to pair our pups up with their new homes.
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The results of all these special programs varies from litter to litter, and we do not make any concrete guarantees, such as promising a certain puppy will become a service dog, therapy dog, competition dog, breeding dog, etc. There are variables and risks with the purchase of any living creature, and we know there are many breeders out there right now willing to tell you their puppy will be everything you ever wished for just to get the sale—we’re not those people.
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We can guarantee that we do the best we can with our puppies. We can guarantee that we know our dogs intimately, and we know what all their strengths and flaws are on a temperament level. We can guarantee that we will not leave you stranded after you get your new puppy, we are available to offer advice, support, or even take back a dog at any time in its life.
Are the puppies raised indoors?
Yes. We raise our puppies in the middle of our lives. They are with us and near us almost all the time. We feel the exposure to normal, everyday things creates a more well rounded puppy.
Are the puppies good with kids?
We raise our puppies alongside our kids.
Does my puppy have shots?
Yes. We deworm the puppies and they have their first round of vaccinations done by a licensed veterinarian before they leave our care. We have also allowed individual families to opt-out of vaccination, per request.
What kind of food does my puppy eat?
We ONLY feed and recommend the follow foods: IAMS, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, Science Diet, and Purina. There is a serious deadly heart condition that is striking dogs of all breeds, called Dilated Cardiomyopathy, DCM. This has a direct link to grain free foods. There are many scientific studies to back up this claim, and the other reputable breeders we know would also recommend to follow these guidelines.
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Do you have a contract? Or a health guarantee?
Yes. You will be required to read and sign our contract before your puppy leaves our care. Our contract mainly just protects you and us against certain things-- it is not too controlling or demanding, no worries.
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Our health guarantee is in the parent dogs we choose. We only breed to dogs passing all four OFA's, a full genetic panel, and at least one to two generations back in the pedigree of passing scores. There is strong evidence for heath problems running in families, so we are very selective on which "family/pedigree" of dogs we choose to breed with.
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Do you sell to buyers in other states? Do you ship your puppies?
Yes we have many buyers in other states and are happy to sell outside of Michigan. However we do not currently ship puppies in cargo. We are happy to meet you at Grand Rapids Ford International Airport so you can fly with your puppy as a carry on if you are out of state. If you would like to set up a pet taxi service or a flight nanny, you are welcome to do so at your expense.
Do you offer ongoing support to your puppy buyers?
Yes, we are available to all our puppy families for the life of the dog. We can give training advice, support, and we take back any of our puppies/dogs if they need to be returned for any reason.
