Alkemi Swedish Vallhunds Puppy Application
Thank you for your interest in a puppy.  As a breeder, I have a responsibility to the breed and to the individual puppies to place them in the best possible home for their breed and personality.  As potential owners, you have the responsibility to think through all the implications of getting a Swedish Vallhund puppy: Swedish Vallhunds can live for 14, 15, 16 years or more, can you provide a loving home and medical care for that long? Swedish Vallhunds can be barky, they are active, they want to be involved in everything, can you provide appropriate outlets for their energy and make them a part of your family?  They need regular mental and physical exercise, can you provide that?  Owning a dog costs money, from high-quality food to veterinary care to training classes to the unthinkable emergency, can you afford these?

This questionnaire helps me determine which, if any, of my puppies might be suited to your household, and your goals for a new puppy.  By carefully answering each question, you will have to examine your present life situation, and how it would be affected by taking on the responsibility of raising and socializing a puppy.  In addition, your answers will help me determine the puppy personality that might fit best with your specific environment, needs, and abilities. The questions in this application have two purposes. The first is to give you a strong sense of my priorities as a breeder in terms of what I look for in potential homes, and the second is to provide me with insight into whether or not I can make a compatible match between you and a current or future puppy. Making the best possible match between human(s) and dog is one of the most important aspects of my breeding program.

I do my best to screen potential owners to ensure a good match between the puppy and the buyer. My husband and I love every puppy we bring into the world. We put an enormous physical, emotional, and mental investment into raising our puppies, we get to know each puppy's individual temperament and preferences which, in conjunction with getting to know prospective owners, will help us try to match the most suitable puppy to the most suitable home.  However, no puppy goes to its new owner as a trained, well-mannered finished product. It is up to the puppy buyer to complete the job we have started. The new owner is responsible for the further development of the puppy's personality, through socialization, training, appropriate life experiences and stimulation, and love. In an effort to ensure that our puppies are going to receive the love and care they deserve and will require throughout their lives, we ask potential buyers to complete this questionnaire honestly in order to be considered for a puppy.  

Please be aware that I require potential placements to commit to positive reinforcement, aversive-free training and welfare practices. The specific conditions around training are outlined in my sales contract, but we ask that buyers agree that the puppies will be reared without harsh correctives like choke chains, prong collars, electric collars, or similar. Not only are Vallhunds a biddable, willing breed unlikely to benefit from correction-based training, but all litters will have been raised using practices that encourage the puppies to be enthusiastic learners in a reward-based system. If you have any questions or would like to know more about my rearing and training philosophies, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Additionally, please know that I will not place two puppies from the same litter in the same household at the same time, nor will I place puppies in houses with dogs currently under eighteen months of age. I also, except in very specific circumstances, do not place puppies in homes with children under the age of 7.

Please note that I do not keep a waiting list as such, I keep a list of interested people, but I want to match the right puppy to the right home.  I do not operate on a “first come first served” basis (although those higher on the list do get first consideration), I do not take deposits, and there is no guarantee that I will have the right puppy for you (we often do not make the final determinations about which puppy goes where or even if we have a suitable puppy for a given home until after their evaluations are done around 8 weeks).

We have made every effort to ensure that our puppies are free from inherited defects, by screening for inherited problems known in our breed, but dogs are living creatures with many different variables, so we cannot guarantee that a puppy will never develop a health problem.  What we CAN guarantee is that we will be there for the owner and the dog for the life of the dog, and our contract specifically outlines what the options are should a problem arise.  Other than in exceptional circumstances, all puppies are sold on Limited Registration and a non-breeding contract.  All puppies will have been microchipped, CERF/OFA eye tested and/or DNA tested for inherited eye issues, examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated and dewormed appropriately, and started in clicker training.  Puppies MUST be returned to us if at any point in their entire lives the owner is unable to keep them.

Puppies at Alkemi are raised using the protocols created in Puppy Culture. Potential homes are encouraged to familiarize themselves with Puppy Culture and its philosophies.  

Please answer each question honestly and in full.  I know it's a long form, but it really will help me to determine a good match.  Please email me with any questions to amandalowery@gmail.com This puppy questionnaire is only the FIRST step in our interview process, it DOES NOT imply that you will automatically be entitled to one of our dogs. We reserve the right to decline a sale to any applicant.

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What is your name, address, phone number and email address?
Why are you interested in a Swedish Vallhund?
What are your plans? (choose all that apply)
Have you ever met a Vallhund in person?
Why are you interested in an Alkemi puppy specifically?
Please describe your ideal puppy in terms of temperament
Male or Female?
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Tail Type?
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Color?
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What does a typical day look like at your house? How will a puppy fit into your schedule?
Have you raised a puppy before? If so, what were some of the challenges you faced with the puppy, and how did you work through them?
If your Vallhund will be alone for longer than six hours, how will you ensure the dog receives adequate amounts of attention and exercise?
Where would your Vallhund sleep? (check all that apply)
What kinds of access to outdoor spaces are available to you? (Please note that I do not require a fenced yard, but I DO require that there is a workable plan in place for getting the dog outside) (check all that apply)
What kind of home do you live in?
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If you live in an apartment or condo, how will you ensure your dog receives the proper amount of exercise and enrichment? An apartment or condo is not a deal breaker for placements (although keep in mind that Vallhunds can be quite barky), but potential families in those dwellings must ensure that the dog receives a good amount of physical and mental exercise.
If you rent, do you have permission and proof of permission from a landlord? In the event that you must move dwellings, what would happen in an instance where dog-friendly housing could not be secured?
Who else resides with you? This can be partners, roommates, children, other pets, or additional family members. Are the other people in your household receptive to bringing home a Vallhund puppy? Are the other animals likely to be accepting of a new dog?
What kind of space would the puppy have in the home? Puppies need a dedicated space where they can be safely confined and taught to settle. For ideas, please see Dogstar Daily’s information on puppy playpens: http://www.dogstardaily.com/videos/puppy-playpen-housetraining 
How will a Vallhund factor into your future plans? These might include having children, relocating, retiring, or travel.
Who will be the primary caretaker for the dog? What responsibilities are part of being the primary caretaker?
What kind of dog (or kinds of dogs) have you owned or lived with in the past? How long was the dog(s) part of your life? What was your relationship to the dog (primary caretaker, family’s dog, etc.)? Please know that first time dog owning is not a deal breaker either!
Have you ever had to rehome or give up a pet? What were the circumstances? In what circumstances would you consider rehoming a dog?
I take responsibility for my puppies for their entire lives. In the event that your Vallhund needed to be rehomed, would you agree to letting me have the right of first refusal? Would you also agree not to sell, give away, adopt out, or otherwise rehome the dog without my permission and guidance?
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What is your experience with training dogs, and what is your current training philosophy? Will you commit to learning about positive reinforcement and force-free training methods?
Vallhunds are a herding breed, and I breed for a strong work ethic. As a result, my puppies tend to do best in homes that make them a big part of the family’s activities and adventures. What kinds of activities would you involve your Vallhund in?  
What kinds of training facilities do you have access to?
The initial cost of raising a puppy is steep, and routine care for the life of the dog averages $300+/year for examinations, shots, and similar. Are you able to afford veterinary care for your Vallhund? In the event of an emergency procedure or a costly medical intervention (chemotherapy, major surgery), how will you finance the cost?
I require that my puppies not be spayed or neutered before the age of 2 for health and behavioral reasons. Do you anticipate this being a problem?
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Diversity within the Vallhund breed is a crucial issue, and as a result, potential homes may be encouraged to consider keeping their puppies unaltered (not sterilized) for possible future breeding. Would you be willing to consider co-owning a breeding potential puppy with me? If you are interested in a male puppy, would you be willing to have the dog’s semen collected and frozen for future breeding? (This is normally done at my expense, and I would own the semen for future use)
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Are you willing to keep in contact with me for the lifetime of the dog, and to alert me to any issues regarding health, temperament, or anything that might impact the dog’s life? Please know that this communication is part of a lifelong support from me and any questions, concerns, or assistance you might have or need.  
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Upon confirmation of placement, you will be required to sign a sales contract that outlines our responsibilities to one another and to the dog, including specifics about housing, training, nutrition, health testing, and breeding. As well, you will be required to pick up the puppy. We do not ship puppies, so those who have to travel by plane will need to arrange for the puppy to ride in cabin. Are you willing to abide by such a contract? Does any of this concern you?
What expectations do you have of me as your breeder
Any other questions or concerns? Please feel free to ask me any questions you like about me, my dog philosophies, my breeding program, and my dogs!
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