We had our first litter in six years in the fall of 2001. Because we are concerned with producing sound and healthy dogs, we have basically started over again in the breeding program established during our beginnings in the '70's. In the last few years, we have imported nine dogs to bring new blood into the breeding program. Because of health problems that have arisen with common dogs in 3 out of the 4 last litters produced in the 1990's, all dogs from those breedings were neutered and the decision was made to try a different direction. That is a heavy hit for a small breeding program, but one we were willing to take. I have been in Belgians too long to give up on this wonderful breed - but I will not use a combination of dogs that knowingly and consistently produce health or temperament problems - even if they are the big winners or if others have used these dogs.

Do you sell only show dogs?

We sell show, performance, and pet puppies. Show pups are sold primarily on co-ownership, but we do occasionally sell a show prospect outright. Non-breeding stock is sold only on a limited registration basis. All puppies are expected to be x-rayed (hips and elbows) and have their eyes checked by their owners. All owners will receive incremental refunds upon completing health clearances to help defray the costs of ownership. This also assures that we can keep accurate health records on ALL the puppies in a litter so we know what direction our breeding program is going. Performance homes will only receive dogs that are as structurally sound as our show dogs because they need as good - if not better - structure to maintain a lengthy performance career.

What is the difference between a show quality puppy and a pet puppy?

Most of the time it is merely cosmetic. It could be too much white on the chest, it could be masking that is not to our liking, it could be a gray puppy (a serious AKC fault), perhaps a female that may be too bulky or masculine in appearance or a male that is too slight or feminine in appearance. Slow descending testicles are not desired in our breeding program, so a male with this characteristic will be placed as a pet or performance dog on a non-breeding contract. It can also be a cryptorchid or monorchid male, if there is one in a litter. The Tervuren also has a bite disqualification in its standard, so the bite or side occlusion may not be what we want to see in an 8-week old puppy.

What about temperament?

Temperament is one of the biggest criteria in our breeding program. We do temperament testing at 39 days after the eyes open to discover the tendency of a puppy's personality and to be sure it will fit into your family situation. Structural evaluation is done at 8 weeks of age following the Pat Hastings Puppy evaluation method. Puppies are placed in new homes between 8 and 9 weeks of age.

How do I know which puppy is mine?

Puppies are selected for their owners based on the show standard, structural evaluation, and temperament testing of the litter. None of this will be evident until all evaluations are completed. The only time we may be able to tell which ones are pets from the beginning, would be if a color distinction was visible. Even when we keep a puppy for ourselves, we don't know till the very end.

What do I have to do to reserve a puppy?

To reserve a puppy, you must first be approved. We admit, it is almost like adopting a baby. We want to be sure you are the right home as much as you want to be sure you are getting the right puppy. One of the first things we ask is that you fill out a buyer's survey form. Next, we will want to talk with you so we can both be comfortable about each other. If we all get through the preliminary steps, then we ask that you send a deposit to reserve a puppy. This reservation guarantees you that you will be getting a puppy of the sex and quality (show/performance/pet) that you are looking for. It also guarantees us of your interest. The deposit is refundable only if we do not have a puppy of the sex and quality that you were looking for. In this event, you have the option of selecting another puppy within this litter or waiting for the next litter to be born. We can not guarantee anyone a puppy without a deposit.

How do I get my puppy?

We prefer that owners drive and get their puppies if they are within a day's driving time. We do ship puppies, and have quite successfully done so over the years. However, we prefer to ship on a direct non-stop flight for the convenience and safety of the puppy, so this may mean both buyer and seller may have to drive a distance to an airport. We generally ship from the Indianapolis airport.

How do you keep track of the health of your dogs?

In order for us to offer you quality dogs, we need the cooperation of our puppy buyers to help us continue in our efforts to do the best we can as breeders and to assure that what we produce is healthy. Checking one or two show puppies in a litter is not up to our strict standards. A litter has more than just show puppies, and unless a breeder checks all the puppies - he has not done his job well.

What should I ask of a breeder?

Do not feel embarrassed to ask a breeder to provide you with copies of health clearances. All OFA and CERF certifications can be verified on the OFA and CERF web pages. Currently there is no test for epilepsy, so no one should be claiming that their dogs have certifications or clearances against epilepsy. The only way to know if a dog has had any idiopathic epileptic seizures is to observe the dogs 24 hours a day - a physical impossibility. We can only tell you that to the best of our knowledge we have never witnessed the dogs we are breeding having any seizures. I wish we had better answers for this health problem, but at this time we don't. The ABTC, in conjunction with the AKC and the University of California, Davis, are working on isolating the gene. Hopefully in a few years a test will be available.

We strongly recommend that you research the Tervuren breed as thoroughly as possible. Belgians are not for everyone. They are a high-energy, high-maintenance breed. Be comfortable with the person you are dealing with when purchasing a dog, you are also buying a relationship with a breeder.

A good breeder is with you for the life of your dog!