Here’s the reality a lot of people don’t want to hear:
I do not owe you a puppy. Read that again.
I. Do. Not. Owe. You. A. Puppy.
I reject people all the time, and I am completely unapologetic about it.
You are not entitled to one of my dogs because you want one. I don’t care how long you’ve wanted one. I don’t care how much money you have. I don’t care how excited you are. I don’t care how qualified you think you are. And I don’t care if being told no hurts your feelings.
My dogs’ welfare comes before your feelings. Every single time.
These are extremely high-drive working dogs.
They are not pets you buy on impulse because they look impressive online. They require structure, consistency, training, boundaries, and an actual understanding of what you’re taking on. They are not dogs you buy, work for a few months and then shove to the back burner because you’re too busy, or you don’t want to make the commute to a club, or any other excuses not to fulfill your working dog.
I reject people who underestimate the breed. I reject people who think love is enough. I reject people who want the image of a working dog but not the reality. I reject people who get defensive when asked basic questions. I reject people who aren’t prepared to manage a working dog. I reject people who expect a puppy to come preprogrammed with adult working skills. I reject people who want a nasty aggressive “real dog”. I reject people who think money should override judgment. I reject people who think wanting a dog equals being qualified for one. And yes—I reject people based on household environment.
If your home is chaos, if your kids are screaming nonstop, have no boundaries, and adults are doing nothing to correct it, I’m not placing a high-drive working dog into that environment. Not because I dislike kids. Because I care about the dog.
A dog is not a toy. It is not something to be grabbed, chased, climbed on, screamed at, and expected to tolerate constant disorder because adults refuse to provide structure.
If you already have multiple dogs living in kennels or crates and expect a puppy to be thrown into your kennel or crate room and aren’t prepared to give that puppy the attention, training and dedicated work it requires, I’m not placing a dog with you.
And while we’re at it if you look at my dogs and think you’re going to recreate that overnight with an 8-week-old puppy, you are not the buyer for this breed.
No, the puppy does not come with basic obedience. No, the puppy is not house-trained. No, the puppy is not a finished dog. It is an 8-week-old puppy.
You are buying potential. You are buying genetics. You are buying years of work ahead of you.
If you want instant results, this is not for you. If you want a shortcut, this is not for you. If you are already asking what the puppy “comes with” in terms of training, you’ve already misunderstood what you’re getting into. I am not running a puppy store. I am not here to make people feel good. I am not here to hand out dogs to whoever wants one badly enough.
I am here to protect the dogs I bring into this world. So yes, I reject a lot of people. And no, I don’t feel bad about it.
Not even a little. I would rather hurt your feelings today than ruin a dog’s life tomorrow.
I would rather be called rude, gatekeeping, arrogant, or difficult than place a dog in the wrong home. Because once that dog leaves me, it lives with the consequences, not you, not me.
The dog.
Always the dog. So if I say no, the answer is no. No debate. No negotiation. No apology. No puppy.
-Mickey Stillwell
,
o
. I truly try to
place the right puppy in the right home….it has to be the right
fit for owner AND puppy!! I ask potential owners to fill out a questionnaire and then I will follow up with phone conversation(s) after puppies are born and puppies are closely monitored until 8 weeks....we do a physical/temperament evaluation and at that time it will be decided who gets what puppy and they will go to new homes approximately 10 weeks.....I feel the Mom will teach the pups respect and manners between 8-10 weeks which she does not do before 8 weekI am hoping that ANY person looking for a puppy will read this article; VERY important information!!
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What is a Title?
Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory, for about as long as anything in the world can remain. And though the dog her/himself doesn't know or care that her/his achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans where such things count.
A title says your dog was intelligent, adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that pleased you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. In addition, a title says that you loved your dog. That you loved to spend time with her/him because she/he was a good dog and that you believed in her/him enough to give her/him yet another chance when she/he failed and in the end your faith was justified.
A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the
finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend. Volumes of praise in one small set of initials after the name. An obedience, agility, flyball, herding, protection, etc. title is nothing less than true love and respect, given and received and recorded permanently.
