how to PURCHASE a puppy
Choose a Litter
The first step in selecting the perfect puppy for your needs is to understand the unique traits of the parent dogs so that you choose a puppy from the right breeding pair. We have included a lot of good information about our dogs on this site, but we always welcome calls or emails. We love to talk about our dogs and look forward to helping you make the right decision.
How Much Are Our Puppies?
AKC German Shepherd puppies out of any of our females x Lustig are $2,500 each. The price includes three dewormings, first set of puppy shots, a thorough exam by our vet, a Florida health certificate, and a one-year health guarantee. We do not charge extra for breeding rights and our price for male and female puppies is the same.
Take a look at our beautiful Females as well as Lustig, our incredible stud dog, on our Males page, and you’ll see what makes each of them so special - they have all been chosen for the unique traits that we most hope and expect they will pass down to their offspring.
Get On Our Waiting List
If you would like to be added to our waiting list, just let us know which litter you are interested in. We will contact you as soon as the puppies are born and let you know how many males and how many females we have available. At that point, you can decide if you would like to place a deposit to reserve a puppy in your name.
“Pat and I want to thank you for all that you have done to make this a very simple process. We also want to say how great it is to have seen how well you care for your animals. Very professional and proper. We truly believe we made a very wise choice in selecting one of your puppies.”
Place A Deposit
Once the puppies are born, we will begin accepting deposits on a first-come, first-served basis. A nonrefundable deposit is required if you would like to reserve a puppy in your name. Deposits are $300 per puppy and will be credited toward your final purchase price. We take cash (in person), checks (up to 10 days before pickup), or Paypal, which many people find to be the most secure and convenient way to transact business with us. If you would like to use Paypal, please send your payment to kfranse@yahoo.com.
Note that, when “paying for an item or service” on Paypal, please add an additional amount to cover the fee Paypal charges: 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction:
For a $300 deposit, this would be an additional $9.00.
For a $2,200 transaction, this would be an additional $64.10.
For a $2,500 transaction, this would be an additional $72.80.
*Note: You will get a receipt from Paypal for your transaction.
After you have paid your deposit, you can reserve the male or female puppy of your choice. It's important to note that, when puppies are newborns, we cannot yet assess their personalities, so the only criterion you can use to select your puppy at the newborn stage is sex and the attributes of the parents that we expect will be passed down to their offspring. German Shepherd puppies will have some indication of coloration as newborns, but their color and markings will change significantly with time. To see an example of these changes, visit our "Watch Me Grow" page.
Have You Chosen the Right Puppy?
As the puppies mature, we will be able to assess their temperament and unique personality traits. While you are waiting for your puppy to be ready to come home with you, we will send you regular updates so you can see how your puppy is growing and changing. If you are looking for a particular trait in your puppy, be sure to tell us ... we will watch as the puppy develops and let you know if the one you have selected will be a good match. And when the puppies are four weeks of age, you can come meet your puppy to be sure you are happy with your choice (by appointment only please).
Complete Your Purchase
Trusted Guardian puppies are $2,500 each. If you have already paid a $300 deposit, that deposit will be credited toward your final purchase. If we are shipping your puppy to you, shipping costs will be separate from the purchase price (see below for more information on shipping). Payments - including shipping - must be made in full before puppies can be released or shipped to you. We accept cash (in person), checks (which must have time to clear before pickup or shipping), or Paypal. If you would like to use Paypal, please send your payment to kfranse@yahoo.com.
Shipping Your Puppy
We strongly encourage you to pick up your puppy in person whenever possible. Trusted Guardian is located in Pomona Park, Florida (zip code 32181). If you cannot come in person, we will ship puppies, weather permitting, anywhere within the continental U.S. If you live outside the continental U.S., contact us to discuss possible shipping arrangements. Shipping costs will depend on the airline selected, but generally run around $350 per puppy. We will give you an exact shipping quote after we have confirmed prices with the airline. We can also recommend a ground shipping company that we have used with success in the past if you prefer not to ship via air.
Your shipping price will include a health certificate from a local Florida veterinarian, an airline-approved shipping crate (when shipping via air only), airline shipping costs and transportation to the airport. We do not mark up our shipping costs - we charge actual costs only and will provide you with an itemization of those costs if you like.
Note that there are some shipping regulations that are beyond our control - weather being first and foremost among those. If it is too hot or too cold at any point along the route, airlines may refuse to accept live cargo until temperature conditions have changed.
Prefer To Buy In Person?
If you prefer to pick out your puppy in person, simply contact us to schedule a visit. Please note that we do not allow any visitation until puppies are at least one month of age since their immune systems are not fully formed as newborns. And, we do not send puppies home with their new families until they are at least eight weeks of age since they need the time between weaning and eight weeks for proper socialization.
After The Purchase
Trusted Guardian deworms puppies at two, four, and seven-and-a-half weeks of age. We will also take them to our own veterinarian for an examination, first set of shots, and to start them on heartworm prevention before we release them to their new homes.
When you purchase a puppy from us, we will provide you with a shot record to share with your own veterinarian. We suggest that you take your puppy to your vet within 48 hours to ensure that all is going well with the transition to your home and to determine when the puppy's next set of shots will need to be administered. We also encourage you to work with your vet to keep your puppy on a reputable and safe heartworm preventive as well as a flea/tick deterrent made for puppies.
While temperament is very important in how your puppy will develop, training is also key. If you are not an experienced dog handler, we also encourage you to connect with a local dog trainer who can help you along the way.
Health Guarantee
At Trusted Guardian, we take the health and soundness of our puppies very seriously. That's why we offer a one-year health guarantee. We will not accept responsibility for any medical bills or treatments, but we will offer you a full refund or a replacement puppy in the event that a serious and life-threatening congenital condition arises within the first year of life.
We Are Here For You
Feel free to contact us at any time during your dog's life to give us updates or ask questions. And please ... never send a Trusted Guardian puppy/dog to the pound. If for any reason - ever - you cannot keep your dog and cannot find a suitable home, we will welcome its return to us - no questions asked.
If you would like to use Paypal, please send your payment to kfranse@yahoo.com.