1) Do I have any puppies available now?  Not at the moment, but I'm hoping to have a litter this fall.

2) Where can I find a reputable breeder?  The best place to find a REPUTABLE breeder is through the PCA breeders referral list or through some of the other links on my links page.

3) How do I know if a breeder is reputable or not?  This is an IMPORTANT question.  First - don't buy  a puppy from a pet store.  These puppies come from what are commonly called puppy mills and are raised for profit.  You don't know what you are getting, you may turn out with a wonderful, sound, beautiful and healthy puppy.  But the odds are stacked against you - its a lot like trying to win the lottery.  Also beware what we call BYB (Backyard Breeders).  These are breeders who you find advertising in your local paper.  They just happen to have two nice pets and thought it would be a good idea to let them have puppies.  Again, you don't know what you are going to end up with here.  You have no idea of the history behind these dogs.  You may end up having to mortgage the house to pay for undisclosed health and/or temperament problems.   So how do I know if the breeder is reputable?  He/she should belong to a breed or kennel club.  Have a proven record of showing and/or finishing dogs.   A reputable breeder should offer written contracts. Should require more from you than "money on the table".   Should be willing to let you visit to see their dogs.  (Beware people who want to meet you in a parking lot to sell you a dog ).  Should be willing to provide references, including their vet.  And don't be surprised if they require you to provide references also.  A reputable breeder will also require some type of spay/neuter for all pet puppies placed and/or see that they are neutered before they leave for their new home.

4) Why is it so HARD to get a papillon puppy?  And why are they so expensive? Papillons don't have large litters and reputable breeders don't breed to supply a pet market.  We breed to try to improve the breed.  We are constantly working to  breed a dog that will come close to our breed standard (what a perfect papillon should look like).  We are also constantly working with our lines to try to make sure our dogs are physically and temperamentally sound.  This requires much research on our part and studying of dogs physical and genetic characteristics.  We don't just throw two dogs together to see what we might get.  Each breeding is carefully planned with a goal in mind.   As such, we are very picky about which pups we let go to pet homes.  And that is also why they aren't an inexpensive breed.  We have put much time and money into developing our lines.    But in return, you can be assured that you are getting a puppy from a breeder who will be there for you and will help you with the care and raising of your puppy.  

5) What are the advantages of buying from a reputable breeder?  First, a reputable breeder will give you a health guarantee on your puppy and will honor it.  A reputable breeder will disclose any non-threatening health problems that might affect your puppy.  A reputable breeder will be honest in explaining the difference between a pet puppy and a show puppy.  A reputable breeder will always be there to answer questions and if for any reason, the placement doesn't work out...a reputable breeder will be there to help you by either taking the puppy back or helping you find a suitable new home for your dog.  And it doesn't matter how long or how old the dog is.  We will always be there for you and for the dogs we have placed as pets.    

6) Okay, what are some of the pros and cons of a papillon puppy? The pros - Papillons are INTELLIGENT.  They rank in the top ten of all breeds in intelligence and excel at agility and in obedience.  They are small - so are suitable for close living conditions.  They are clean, don't have much doggy odor.  They don't require tons of exercise.  And all things considered, they are long lived and healthy dogs with a very people oriented personality

The cons - 

They can be hard to housetrain.  They are small toys and as such it takes longer for them to become reliable in this area.  But with consistency on the owner's part,  they should be pretty reliable by a year of age.   

There are some health problems in the breed - patellas and PRA being the two most common.   Patellas are the dog's back "knees" and like humans, severe patella problems can be crippling.  Patella problems can be genetic or can be caused by an injury.  PRA is progressive retinal atrophy which is genetic and late occurring in papillons.  Breeders work carefully to try to minimize the risk of this developing in their lines by careful breeding.   Papillons, like most toy breeds, are also prone to dental problems.  So an owner needs to be committed to taking care of the dog's dental needs which includes a yearly dental with the vet.

They are not good with small children.  They just aren't sturdy enough.  I don't like to place papillons in families with toddlers.  Young school age children, with proper supervision, can be wonderful papillon owners.  But toddlers are just too young to appreciate how fragile papillons can be.

7) What about papillons with other dogs and/or cats?  Papillons usually get along fine with cats and with other dogs.  They do tend to be a bit bossy so you will need to monitor their interactions.  Papillons, with careful supervision, can do well with large dogs.  But you should never leave a papillon unsupervised with a large breed dog.  I also have a saluki, an aussie, and a mutt.  The papillons do fine with these dogs, but each of the dogs were chosen specifically for their ability to get along with other dogs and to be non-aggressive.   But I NEVER EVER leave the papillons out unsupervised with these large dogs.