Do you have puppies/when will you have puppies?

-Not at the moment. We have litters planned but cannot guarantee the availability of a specific color, coat, or sex. Each breeding we do is carefully selected based on our needs/vision for the next generation, conformation to the AKC standard and health testing. If we do not have what you are looking for we can refer you to other breeders.

Do you have a waitlist/how do I get on the waitlist?

-Yes, we maintain a waitlist of individuals who have completed our questionnaire. The questionnaire can be found here.

Answers to any of these questions do not automatically exclude you from a puppy, they just give us a better understanding of whether our program is the right fit for you.

Do you take deposits?

-We do not take deposits for puppies that don’t exist yet. It is our preference that no money is exchanged until you pick up. Once we have a signed contract, the puppy will be held until your agreed upon pick up date.

Do I get to pick my puppy?

-Not really, usually because people are looking for a boy or a girl, rough or a smooth, that limits the options. We try to match the personality with the person’s needs. We also breed for ourselves/our program first, and to place companion dogs second. If we have what you’re looking for, great! If not, we are happy to keep you on our wait list and/or make referrals.

Do your crop/dock all puppies or do we request preference?

-Docking happens around 3-5 days of age by a veterinarian with local anesthesia. There is no way to know who is a show dog at that age so it’s not a matter of “dock this one but not that one.” At this time, we dock 99% of litters.
-For cropping, it is our preference that it is reserved for show dogs and not done on companions. In the event one were to acquire a show prospect from us, the best age (in our opinion) to crop is between 5-7 months old.

Why are Griffs so expensive?

-We can’t speak for other breeders but for us it has a lot to do with small litter sizes, high neonate mortality rates, high reproductive service costs, cost of continuous health testing, and increasing costs to complete an AKC title. Can you find Griffons for less than we sell for? Absolutely. There are going to be people who charge more than us too. You have to make the best decision for you and your family.

Why does it matter that you show?

-Because when we complete a championship, that means a minimum of 3 different judges have awarded our dogs for their conformation to the standard. It means our dogs look, move, and behave the way this breed is intended to look, move, and behave.

What ROUTINE health testing do you do?

Patellae

Eyes

Basic Cardiac

Respiratory Function

DNA/Color Testing

Hips

While health testing does not guarantee anything… we view it as a necessary, valuable tool to help ensure better outcomes for our dogs. All of our testing can be viewed on OFA’s website by searching Fist Face. We are happy to discuss any of the results and how they factor into our decision making process.

What is an AKC Breeder of Merit?

-It is a program open to breeders that have longevity in the sport, titled (champion) dogs, verifiable health testing, membership to an AKC club and a commitment to registering 100% of their dogs. While there are a few perks for us, the main purpose of the program is help puppy buyers get connected with responsible, ethical breeders that can bring real evidence and receipts to the table.

All three of us, Rod and Linda Vance (Illinois) and Kambria Ledesma (Wisconsin) have met these requirements and can be found on AKC’s BOM look up.

Do you mentor judges/new exhibitors?

-Rod and Linda are both Sanctioned ABGA Mentors for Brussels Griffons and Kambria is co-chair of the ABGA Education Committee. We are happy to help anyone looking to learn more about our favorite breed. If we don’t know the answer, we will try to help you find it or connect you to someone that can.