Frequently Asked Questions

Bristle Ridge Kennel has been a family owned and operated business for almost nine years. Dugan Neal and two of his sons, Jeremiah and Isaac own and manage the facility. There are four other employees who also work here, providing round the clock attention to the dogs. We are licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Missouri. It is our extreme desire to provide happy, healthy puppies to good and loving homes.

Where is Bristle Ridge Kennel located?

Our home and kennel are located in west central Missouri on 50 acres of wooded land. Our address is 847 SE 601, Leeton, MO 64761

What does it mean to be USDA and MO licensed?

All kennels that are licensed by these two entities must be routinely inspected without warning and pass stringent guidelines. We must also pay a licensing fee with each entity. These guidelines help to ensure that puppies and adults are living in the utmost humane and safe environment.

Adult dogs and Puppies

How are the puppies raised?

The puppies are raised in pens which are designed with the best safety and cleanliness advantages in mind. They are almost continuously monitored by competent staff. We even have an employee who works overnight tending to mothers and puppies.

How old are the sires and dams of the puppies?

As a general rule we keep mothers and fathers no older than six years. If you are interested in pictures of the parents of your puppy feel free to ask and we ill do our best to get them to you in a timely manner.

How old are the puppies when they are sent to their new homes?

As a USDA licensed kennel we must not let a puppy leave us until it is eight weeks old.

How old are the puppies when the pictures are taken?

We take pictures of the puppies when they are six weeks old. At this time our main focus is on our puppies and we choose not to take and catalog pictures of the adults due to time restrictions and the focus on our pups.

Registration

What registry does Bristle Ridge Kennel use?

Bristle Ridge Kennel uses United All Breed Registry (UABR). You can read more about them on www.unitedregistry.com They give us very good service and a nice looking registration paper. Most of our mixed breed puppies also have a Designer Dog Division registration paper.

Is a pedigree included?

Yes. A four generation pedigree is included, free of charge, for most breeds.

Veterinarian

Are the puppies checked by a vet before they are sold?

We are very proud of the fact that our vet comes to our kennel on a weekly basis and thoroughly checks every puppy. Any puppies that need surgical repairs are taken back to his clinic for those procedures. Every pup is different, and although we try to include all information in our ads, if you would like to know what/if your puppy has had something done be sure to ask about your specific puppy.

Will you pay my vet bills?

The only vet bills we pay are those we incur in the care and treatment of our dogs here at our kennel. Any vet bills that are incurred in the treatment of your new puppy must be paid by you.

Purchasing

What are the steps for purchasing a puppy from Bristle Ridge Kennel?

First you need to make your choice of the puppy you want to buy. Please give us a call to ensure availability and ask us any questions that you have. We can discuss payment and shipping arrangements.

What method of payment do you accept?

Our favorite way to be paid is via Paypal but we have also accepted Western Union and money orders. You can pay us with Paypal through our website. When you click “View Details” to see the listing for a puppy you will see a “Payment Options” box on the right side of that page. You can pay a $200 deposit or pay in full. Deposits are non-refundable. Please be certain you are ready for a puppy when making this decision. You will need to check the box for the $250 shipping charges if that applies.

Does the puppy have to be paid in full before shipment?

Yes, we require full payment for the puppy be made before shipping.

Shipping

What methods of shipping do you use?

We prefer to send puppies by air. The trip is much shorter and generally easier on the puppy, unless weather extremes make ground travel safer. If you prefer ground shipment we will be happy to make arrangements for that.

Do you make arrangements for the shipping or do I have to?

We take care of making the reservations for the flight. We will either email you confirmation which we will ask you to print and take to the airport, or call you with the information. The emailed confirmation page will have an Air Waybill (AWB) number on it. You will need that number and a photo ID to collect your puppy at the airport. If you have further questions please call us.

Can I come to your kennel and pick up my puppy?

If you live close enough to us you are certainly welcome to come to our home to view and choose your new family member. We try to be very accommodating about appointment times. We do ask that you make an appointment with us before coming.

Is shipping safe?

We feel that shipping is quite safe.

Which airlines do you use for shipping puppies?

Our preference is American Airlines, but we can use other airlines when the need arises.

What kind of travel crate is used?

The travel crates we use are made of sturdy plastic. They are similar to crates that you get from your local super stores. There will be a plastic water/food cup attached inside.

Puppy food

What type of puppy food do you use?

We use Enhance Puppy Food which is made by ARKAT, located in Arkansas. You can view their website at www.arkat.com

Can I buy it in my area?

If you live in our area we will give you a list of stores that carry this brand. If you live far away from us you probably won’t be able to purchase it. They are working at expanding their sales territory.

What alternative kind of food do you recommend?

We choose not to recommend alternate brands. We recommend that you choose a premium brand of puppy food that is easy for you to obtain.

Microchips

What is a microchip and how does it work?

A microchip is a small electronic device (about the size of a large grain of rice) that contains a nine digit number. It is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dog. A microchip reader is used to identify the number on the chip. If you choose to have your puppy microchipped you must get the chip number registered. You can do this through the UABR registration paper. The number will be placed on the back of the paper in the top right hand corner. There is a cost involved in registering the chip number.

What type of microchips do you use?

We use AVID microchips.

Is the microchip a tracking device?

No, the microchip cannot be used to track your dog, only to identify it.

Why should I have my pet microchipped?

If your pet gets lost and turns up at a shelter facility they can scan it for a microchip, call AVID to identify the owner and contact you to retrieve your dog.

Guarantee

What is your guarantee?

Guarantee and Conditions

This puppy is guaranteed to be in good health at the time of sale. He/she will be current on vaccinations and parasite medications at the time of delivery/pick-up. A document will be provided to the new owner at the time of transfer, listing all vaccinations and treatments for the control of parasites the puppy has received to date. It will be the responsibility of the new owner to provide this information to their veterinarian.
This puppy is guaranteed against any debilitating congenital defects extending to one year from its date of birth. This includes the following conditions: epilepsy, deafness, blindness, liver shunt, or heart murmur. The one year health guarantee does not include minor illnesses, hernias, hypoglycemia, or coccidiosis. It also does not include any illness due to the ingestion of foreign objects, food, chemicals, or physical injury.
The purchaser is required to take their puppy to a licensed veterinarian for a checkup within three business days of the deliver/pick-up date. If the veterinarian should find a debilitating congenital defect and it is reported to the seller within 48 hours, the puppy may be exchanged with a healthy puppy of the same quality or a full refund in the amount of the original purchase price of the puppy (excluding delivery cost). All shipping is at the expense of the purchaser.
If the puppy is not taken to a licensed veterinarian within three business days, then the health guarantee on the puppy is void. The purchaser must be able to show proof of the veterinarian exam.
If the puppy should die from a suspected congenital defect within 12 months of its date of birth, an autopsy must be performed at the purchaser’s expense by a veterinary teaching hospital or state licensed DVM. If the autopsy shows a congenital defect as the reason for death, the seller will provide another puppy of equal value to the purchaser or a full refund in the amount of the original purchase price of the puppy (excluding delivery cost).
The seller is not responsible for any veterinarian bills incurred. The seller assumes no responsibility for the puppy after the delivery/pick-up date for any medical expense, human allergies, training difficulties or behavior problems. Once the puppy is delivered/picked-up the buyer assumes all responsibility for the puppy.
No warranties or guarantees, expressed or implied, are made under this contract except as stated.

This guarantee must be signed and returned to seller or guarantee is null and void.

What should I do to be ready for the arrival of my new puppy?

If you are picking up your puppy from the airport…From what I've heard through the people who have picked up puppies, the puppy will be thirsty when it gets to you. I think it's a good idea to take a bottle of water with you and pour some into the attached cup so that he/she can get a drink. Food can wait until you get home. I also suggest that you buy a bottle of Pedialite (the same stuff you give children) and give it to your new puppy in place of water for this first few days. This will help correct any imbalances that may happen during those stressful days.

A small bag of food will be taped to the top of the crate. Please use that for the first couple of days and then start mixing in whatever food you will be switching to. I suggest that you do some research and choose a high quality "premium" food that is easy for you to obtain. Since the puppy will be changing diets it might have some diarrhea. If you wish, you can be prepared for this with some Pepto Bismol. The puppy won't like the medicine and will try to a spit it out or sling his head around so be prepared to get it on yourself and the surrounding area. You might want to do it outside. If your new puppy is small I suggest that you buy a tube of a nutritional supplement such as Nutri Cal, Nutri Gel, etc. It is a high energy, high calorie supplement that will help the puppy during the adjustment period. Just place a small amount on your finger and let the puppy lick it off. You can also use this for a treat or reward because the puppies love it.

At our kennel the young puppies are offered hard food with a light amount of canned puppy food "squished" onto it. If your puppy is only eight weeks old it would be good for you to have a can of puppy food on hand. First, just offer him the dry food, but if you feel like he isn't eating enough you can tempt him with the "squished" food. It is very important that your puppy eats regularly, perhaps as many as four times a day. If he seems to not have an appetite and desire to eat within the first few hours you should become concerned and seek advice. A small puppy can fall apart quickly if it quits eating.

Most puppies will be ready to play when it gets to you. Have fun with him but remember that he is only a baby. He might not have the experience to understand when he is tired. If he keeps playing too long it can exhaust him and he can become ill. Make sure that the puppy is put away for a nap and resting times. This is especially true if there are children in your home who want to play with their new puppy.

We would like for you to set up an appointment with your vet to have the puppy checked out within three working days from the time of arrival. Our vet has examined your puppy thoroughly but we like to know that you will start his life with you with a check up by your vet. Most likely your puppy will need at least one more booster shot at 12 weeks for Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza and Parvo after you receive it. Rabies vaccinations are usually done at around six months.

If you have any questions feel free to email or call.

Puppies Available

Bichon Frise (5)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (5)

Coton de Tulear (1)

Havanese (13)

Italian Greyhound (1)

Miniature Poodle (2)

Miniature Schnauzer (3)

Pekingese (1)

Pomeranian (3)

Schnoodle (2)

Shih Tzu (2)

Silky Terrier (3)

Toy Fox Terrier (2)

Toy Poodle (4)

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