Puppies bred in the USA
There are very few Slovenský Čuvač breeders in the USA. Since 2010, only 13 litters were born in America and only two litters in Canada. Usually there is only one litter born a year. So you must often wait to get a puppy, sometimes years.
We hope that this situation will improve now that our club Cuvac USA has formed. Cuvac USA is working to encourage responsible people to start breeding. It is still difficult for people to make that commitment. We will help interested people learn how to breed a healthy litter, how to be a responsible breeder and help them find responsible owners.
Click here for a list of our member breeders in America.
♦ Responsible member breeders are those that subscribe to Cuvac USA's Code of Ethics and Breeding Guidelines.
♦ Responsible owners are people who read and study about this breed before they buy and follow the guidance of experienced Slovenský Čuvač breeders and owners.
What is a Responsible Breeder?
A responsible breeder knows the breed, its temperament and its needs. They know the breed standard and accept it as a blueprint for breeding Čuvač dogs. They acknowledge responsibility for every puppy they produce and do not beed for profit alone. They care about every puppy and its placement in loving, lifetime homes. They will ask prospective buyers many questions to insure they find the best possible homes for their puppies.
Responsible breeders stay involved after the puppy is sold and provide plenty of information to the buyers, regarding care and feeding, health and vaccination records and training information. They will be available to answer buyer's questions and offer assistance as the puppy grows and develops. They recognize personality traits in their pups and try to match puppies into the right homes. If they are members of Cuvac USA, they promise to uphold the Code of Ethics and follow the established Breeding Guidelines. They will register their litters and provide a pedigree and registration paperwork to new owners.
Measure the time and count the cost.
Slovenský Čuvač dogs are a rare breed and puppies are not cheap. Most owners/breeders have invested a lot of money in their breeding animals, spending money on health tests, proper vet care and on keeping their dogs in excellent shape for breeding. Breeding a litter requires getting the female in the best possible condition, selecting the right mate, caring for the pregnant Čuvač for 62 plus days and then caring for the mother and rearing the pups until they go to new homes.
Slovenský Čuvač breeders should not sell you a puppy on time payments. If someone can't afford to pay in a lump sum then they probably can not afford the daily costs of owning a large dog. Dogs aren't something that you can easily return if you can't make the payments. It is especially difficult to re-home a Čuvač who has bonded with its family to protect them even with its life.
When can you bring your puppy home?
The answer is at nine weeks of age. Responsible breeders understand that a puppy learns so much from its mother and siblings and that the pup needs to stay with them for nine weeks. During that time the puppy's personality has developed a bit. Knowing the personality helps place the pup in a home that is right for the pup. The pups have also been weaned and are thriving on puppy food. They've gone through health screenings for sight, hearing, heart murmurs and hernias. Males are checked that both testicles have descended and pups have been given initial vaccinations and time has lapsed to see if there are any reactions. They have been dewormed and are ready to go to their new homes.
Arranging to get your puppy
Since we have few breeders here in America, you may need to travel some distance to pick your puppy up in person or work with your breeder to arrange air or ground transport. While picking your pup from a breeder who is within driving distance is sensible, if the trip will take several days, you may find that traveling with a small puppy is not easy. It really is stressful for the pup to be confined in a car for days. They are frightened. They don't have their mother or siblings around. They may get car sick. The pup does not know you and may try to run away. Stopping at rest stops where other dogs have been exposes a young pup to diseases that they have little to no immunity to fight.
Spending some hours on a plane in a sheltering crate is really less stressful than several days in a car and when you and your pup first meet, a strong bond starts to form right away as you are the first person they see in their new environment. Many wonderful pups have been purchased sight unseen and arrive by airplane safely every day.
If you buy a puppy from a breeder who you cannot visit, be prepared to spend a lot of time talking on the phone with them. The breeder should let you see videos of the pup and the mother dog. The breeder should be accessible and easy to understand. Request written information from the breeder and a copy of the contract that you will be expected to sign. Also ask for referrals to prior puppy buyers or from the Cuvac USA club officers. Your breeder should also provide you with a puppy tip sheet to help you understand your responsibilities in caring for the pup.
If you are interested in a Slovenský Čuvač puppy, fill out the form and Cuvac USA will let our breeder members know. You may also contact the breeders on your own.
