I hope this page will answer many of your questions. However, if you do not find an answer to what you are looking for, please do not hesitate to Email me!
1.) Why the AKC? We only breed AKC registered dogs because frankly, it's the only breed registry that matters! The exceptions to this are some international registries. You can view a list of international registries accepted by the AKC, by visiting their web site on my Links & News page. The American Kennel Club is the oldest and most prestigious breed registry in the US. The American Kennel Club promotes a specific standard for each breed it recognizes based on the standard set by each breed club. The official breed club for the Poodle is the Poodle Club of America. The AKC has strict guidelines to ensure the quality of these recognized breeds. There are many rules and regulations which breeders are required to follow. Every AKC registered dog has a pedigree that can be traced back. Some other pet registries have what is called voluntary compliance, they do not require DNA certification, or proof of the dog’s ancestry. So dogs of unknown pedigree are often registered without investigation. It is our opinion that while, there may be well intended breeders out there selling puppies with these registrations, sadly for them, the lack of accountability by these pet registries certainly opens the door for abuses. To be fair, abuses can happen no matter what registry. So choose wisely and be informed.
2.) What does your kennel name "Chamonix" mean? Chamonix or (sham-o-knee) is French for "one of nature's great beauties." That is exactly what you can expect to enjoy from Chamonix Toy poodles. However, not only are these Toy Poodles beautiful, they are intelligent and loving sweethearts as well!
3.) Do you participate in any clubs, organizations or activities with your Poodles? Yes. My poodles and I have tons of fun participating in many events such as: Krewe of Barkus, Mardi Paws, Woofstock, and AKC events such as obedience, agility and the conformation ring. I am a member of the Delta Pet Therapy Society and Versatility in Poodles Inc. I am also available as a foster home for the Creole Poodle Club Rescue and attend many of their sponsored events.
4.) Do you sell your puppies with a contract? Yes. Our high ethical standards require all puppies being placed into pet homes will be sold with a spay/neuter agreement. The "show prospect" puppies are sold with a co-ownership agreement. You will also be required to sign my puppy sale agreement. Please visit my Guarantee Page to view the agreements you will be required to sign.
5.) What kind of registration do you provide with a puppy? All pet quality puppies are sold with the AKC's limited registration form and a spay/neuter agreement. The limited registration form is a simple way of saying that although your pet is an AKC registered purebred dog; it cannot be bred. And if it is bred, the offspring cannot be registered with the AKC. This way we ensure that the puppy does not end up in the hands of a puppy mill owner who would take advantage of our dogs' excellent pedigrees at the expense of the dog. Likewise, this also ensures that the puppy will end up with a loving family that care about spoiling a pet rather than haphazardly breeding at the expense of the dog. It is important to note that spaying and neutering reduces the risk of various cancers as well.
6.) What does "Pet quality" vs. "Show quality" mean? This can be confusing because it suggests that your "Pet quality" puppy is of a lesser quality than a "show quality" puppy. This is simply NOT the case! Simply put, all it means is that in our best estimate a particular puppy may or may not have a better chance to become a Champion in an AKC Dog Show as another littermate. Allow me to explain. Our show quality puppies are kept, trained and groomed accordingly. Show puppies cannot compete in the AKC Dog Shows until they are 6 months old. Until then we let their hair grow and watch them carefully to see how they fit into the Poodle Breed Standard according to the AKC. We carefully measure their height, length, weight and leash train them. When they are of age, we take them to be examined by a professional handler to have an honest evaluation of the dog. It is only when this dog passes this evaluation that we officially call him/her "Show quality" or "Champion quality". Up until this time we call him/her a "Show prospect." Nothing is set in stone until the dog is at least 6 months old. Up until then there is always the possibility that a bite may go off or the dog may go over 10 inches in size.
With that said, a puppy that we feel may be less likely to succeed in an AKC Dog Show will be sold to a loving home as pet quality. And because nothing is set in stone until 6 months... there is room for error! It is only a breeder or handlers’ best guess. There is always the possibility that a puppy sold as pet quality could end up having show potential. However, because a buyer is required to sign a spay/neuter agreement, nothing is allowed to come of it. We have to take that chance. It is a necessary risk a breeder must take in order to preserve the breed. There is also the possibility that a puppy held to become your next Champion goes over the 10 inches. We are dealing with very small differences between these puppies. A pet quality puppy will be just as healthy, smart, beautiful and loving as their show quality littermate!
"But I just want a pet!" This is something that I hear all too often. It’s almost like it does not matter where some people buy a Poodle. Buying from a show breeder is like buying from someone who has a Ph.D. in Poodles instead of from someone who left high school before finishing the Poodle course. Most show breeder sell puppies and older dogs to premium pet homes. You may even find a wonderful retired champion available for a very reasonable price. In conclusion, I firmly believe that a pet quality poodle is one of the highest callings for a poodle. That dog will not only go out into the world to represent its breed, but it will be a loving family companion as well.
7.) Do I have to fill out a Puppy Application? Yes. There are no exceptions to this, and I reserve the right to place a puppy in the home of my choice. Poodles are not for everyone and I will never sell a puppy to a casual buyer. Why should I offer a glass of 1787 Chateau d’Yquem to someone who prefers Kool-Aid? You must be able to answer a few simple questions at the very least. The more you know about this breed the better your chances are of acquiring a puppy from a reputable breeder. So do your homework! Please review the AKC standard for this breed by visiting the Poodle Club of America website. When you feel you are ready, please fill out my Puppy Application to be considered as a home for one of my puppies or to be placed on my Waiting List.
8.) Do you guarantee your puppies? Yes. We are here to help you in any way possible throughout your poodle’s life! Even though there are no refunds, if for any reason you cannot keep your poodle at some point in its life, we will take your puppy/dog back into our loving home. We do not care what age your baby is. We will keep all contact information current with you through the years. We are dedicated to providing you and your new puppy with the best support and care we can provide. We also provide a puppy sale agreement with all puppies.
9.) What age can the puppies go to there new home? The puppy will be allowed to go home at 8 weeks. If shipping is required the puppy must be at least 10 weeks. The puppy is not ready to leave mom or the littermates before this. Many needs are fulfilled during these critical first weeks of life.
10.) Can we name the puppy anything we want? The names given to the puppies on my website are for identification purposes only. You can rename your puppy if you want to. If you already have a name picked out, we will begin teaching your puppy its new name.
11.) What do your puppies come with? Your new puppy will come to you pre-spoiled and well socialized. The puppy will also come to you groomed in the traditional puppy clip unless something else is requested in advance. The tail will be docked and dewclaws removed by a veterinarian. The puppy will have an up to date vet health record from the vet reflecting veterinarian treatment that includes: the first set of shots, de-worming treatments and information on when the next shots are due. All paper work will be given to you in an organized starter booklet which includes: AKC papers, your puppies laminated pedigree showing the lineage with Champions, all vet records, microchip information, helpful "how to" puppy information, and professional photos of your puppy and parents. You will also receive a food sample, a custom baby blanket and a tube of Nutrical supplement.
12.) You do not have puppies right now. Do you know someone who does? I am always willing to help a potential buyer find the correct puppy. If you do not see what you are looking for, contact me and I will be happy to point you in the right direction or to place you on my waiting list. I usually know other breeders who have puppies available. Just remember, patience pays! Many excellent breeders have no more than one litter a year, and usually keep one or more puppies for themselves to show. Choosing a Poodle from such a breeder is to buy from an artisan.
WARNING! Avoid pet shop Poodles. An instant Poodle is not your answer. This Poodle will come with an unknown health background, and has been bred by someone who doesn't care enough about his puppies to choose who buys them. Soft hearts should stay out of pet stores. If you love this breed, please do not perpetuate commercial breeding of Poodles. Every Poodle bought from a pet shop encourages that retailer to find another to sell. Another alternative is to rescue a Poodle in need! Unfortunately, there are many homeless Poodles that need a home. Purebreds are not immune to ending up in a shelter. With the help of many Poodle rescues throughout the country you can provide a little angel a second chance. Some suggestions are the Creole Poodle Club Rescue and Petfinder.
13.) What forms of payment do you accept? We accept cash, certified check or money orders. Payment must be made in full before puppy will leave here. There is a $300 non-refundable deposit to hold the puppy for you. Click Here to find out more about purchasing a Chamonix Toy Poodle.
14.) What do you feed your dogs? We feed all of our babies the Science Diet® Nature’s Best® Lamb & Brown Rice dinner puppy formula.
15.) How much are your puppies? Pet quality puppies start at $1,500 and show puppies start at $2,500 and up. Our puppies’ prices are based on what we put into our breeding program. We do not actually pocket any extra money from our puppies at this time. We put all sale prices back into each show dog, the next breeding and vet bills on our dogs. Some breedings cost us more then we could get for the puppies, and sometimes we pay out huge stud fees and get no puppies at all. We feed expensive top quality food to ensure their health. Health testing is also important to ensure good health and it’s not cheap. We spare no expense when it comes to producing top quality puppies. Our puppies are a lifetime investment that we are very proud of. So if your priority is cheap and not quality, you won't find that here!
16.) Do you perform health screening? Yes. All of the dogs you see on this site are Optigen A by Parentage, and a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist updates CERF eye exams yearly. We test for Patellar Luxation and findings are registered with OFA. Test results can now be viewed online in the CHIC database. Each sire and dam is also a part of the AKC DNA Profile Database. They receive frequent examinations to insure top physical condition, are permanently micro chipped and are on Sentinel heartworm preventive. It is important that you know the Health Concerns that affect the breed you are interested in, and even more important, that you purchase your puppy from a breeder that makes health screening a top priority.
17.) Do you provide shipping? Yes. The puppy must be at least 10 weeks before we will ship. Please Click Here to learn more about this service.
18.) What colors do you breed for? Do you breed parti-colored poodles? I breed whites and occasionally creams. No, I do not breed parti-colored poodles. The AKC standard for the breed accepts a variety of solid colors. The parti-colors are not an even solid color to the skin and are considered a major fault in the standard. All parti-colored poodles are disqualified from competing in the conformation ring. We breed mainly for show, so we do not waste our time with "exotic" colors when there are too many other things we must concentrate on.
19.) Do you breed "tea-cup" Poodles? NO. There is no such thing as a “pocket” or “tea-cup” poodle! Sorry, but be warned! These are marketing terms used to describe a very small toy. Most of these puppies are RUNTS! The AKC does not recognize these marketing terms and these puppies will be registered as toys regardless. It’s important to note that the same genes that control size also control the size of vital organs. That includes the heart! These runts suffer for the poor breeding later on. Shorter life spans and other major health problems are inevitable when you go to small. Good breeders stick with what works! Adults 3-5 pounds are healthy and preferred in the show ring, so that is what we breed for. However, if you are interested in a smaller toy poodle, and you would like the smaller puppy (around 2-3 pounds), from one of my litters, let me know and I will reserve a small one for you. Also, understand that a puppy from me will be considered a "tea-cup" by most (around 3-5 pounds full grown). Just smile and know that you have a healthy TOY poodle.
20.) Do you breed mixes also know as "designer" dogs? NO. We will never mix our beloved Poodle breed with another breed! With so much effort and care taken to produce the perfect Poodle, why would we want to chance getting who knows what for puppies! Click Here to learn more about this scam.
21.) Do you sell other breeds besides Poodles? No. There is so much work involved in preserving one breed, let alone several! I only focus on the Poodle and intend to do so for the rest of my life. This breed holds a special place in my heart that no other breed could fill. It is very import for a buyer to understand that the ideal breeder will only work with one breed. A “jack-of-all-breeds” is hardly a reputable breeder and will not have the puppy or buyers’ best interests at heart.
