Having found the Naibara Kennel website, whether you are in your research phase of buying a Miniature Schnauzer or are ready to be added to our waiting list, you have seen that we are preservation breeders focused on the betterment of the breed.  That translates to healthy, well-socialized puppies who make excellent companions whether they go onto become pets or spend time in the show ring.

At this point you may also want to know about our buying process.  What are the steps from finding us to having a happy puppy in your home?  How do we go about matching puppies with buyers?  What additional benefits do you receive with your puppy?

Let’s go through it.

BUYER STEPS

To start, let’s take a look at the buyer steps. 

• Puppy Questionnaire – It all starts with the completion of the Puppy Questionnaire.  This questionnaire gives us insight into what you are looking for in a puppy and lets us get to know you better.  It also lets you know what some of the expectations we will have of you. 

• Waiting List – Once the questionnaire is completed and if we feel you are a good match for a Naibara Kennel puppy based on what you have shared with us, then you move onto our waiting list.  Those who are on our waiting list will receive email updates regarding upcoming breedings.  There are no guarantees at this point that being on the waiting list automatically means you will be eligible for a puppy from the next litter.  Miniature Schnauzer litters are small and there may be people ahead of you on the list.  If you’re at the top of the list, identifying a match that occurs with puppy assessment, which happens at roughly eight weeks of age, takes priority over that order. 

• Assessment – Once the assessment is done, and we see matches to the criteria potential puppy buyers have indicated on their questionnaire, for instance high energy or low, brave or thoughtful, male or female, we check in with those individuals to see if they are indeed ready for a puppy. 

• Video Conference – If the potential puppy buyer expresses a continued interest, we set up a video conference.  This allows us to get to know each other even better.  We will have some questions for you based on the answers in your questionnaire.  We will also ask you questions about different scenarios you may encounter in your life with your puppy so that we can get to know your experience and even guide you based on our experience if required.  And let’s not forget the fun part.  We get to show you the puppies on camera!

• References – At this point we make calls to the references that were provided.  If we are happy with the feedback, then the future puppy buyers are invited to the next step: meeting the puppies. 

• Meet the Puppies – A puppy meeting fulfills two objectives.  It gives puppy buyers a chance to not only see the puppies but to also see the home environment that we raise them in.  In addition, it gives the puppies socialization with folks from outside of our home.  Through these meetings they will get to meet men, women, and children.  People with glasses, beards, and hats will be new to them.  They will also meet those who are tall or short, as well as those who speak loudly, move quickly, or laugh a lot, as well as those with a more somber energy.  These meetings at this stage are very important for their development. 

• Final Matches – After this meeting we then take the time to make the final matches and finally let the potential puppy buyer decide if they would like to proceed with the suggested addition to their family.  If they agree, it is at this time that we require a $500 non-refundable deposit to hold the puppy.

• Take Home Day – Take home day is no earlier than ten weeks of age.  This is important so that we impart the most critical of the socialization protocols.  We want the puppy and new owner to have the best possible experience in their new lives together.  Take home day may even later than ten weeks if veterinarian appointments and final assessments take longer than hoped for.

MATCHING PUPPIES WITH BUYERS

I mentioned assessments earlier.  Assessments occur around the time the puppies reach eight weeks of age.  They are assessed for both temperament and structure.  It helps us know which puppies will go on to homes where they will show and become future breeding prospects, which puppies will go to homes where they will regularly engage in activities with their new families, and which puppies will enjoy a life of leisure as cherished couch potatoes.  All can be expected from the Miniature Schnauzer breed.  It’s important that each puppy is matched with the right lifestyle according to its unique makeup.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

In addition to receiving a well-bred, well-socialized puppy, there are additional benefits that come with the puppy.  It will have received it first set of shots and in the case of older puppies, it’s second set as well.  It will have been seen by a veterinarian for an overall health check and be dewormed at that time.  It will also have had its eyes tested.  This eye test—officially called a Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) exam—is a screening performed by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist to detect inherited eye diseases.  Your puppy will be microchipped and registered with the Canadian Kennel Club.  (Registering purebred dogs with the CKC is required by law as laid out in the Animal Pedigree Act.)  Finally, puppies will be eligible for an introductory health insurance plan from Trupanion, which will protect the puppies at no cost, for the first 30 days that they are in their new home.

As you can see a lot goes into the buying process of a Naibara Kennel puppy.  We feel these steps will help to ensure a great match between the puppy and its future family.  It’s important to ensure the puppy will have a home for life.