Puppy Information & Sales Policy

Raising Our Puppies

Our puppies are raised in our home and are handled and loved daily. We incorporate aspects of Puppy Culture into our program to help give our puppies the best possible start before they go to their new homes.

Puppies have their tails docked at just a few days old with no exceptions. Before leaving, puppies will receive their first set of vaccinations, be routinely dewormed, and receive a veterinary health examination. Puppies will not leave for their new homes before 8 weeks of age.

Each puppy will go home with a puppy packet, registration papers, and a certified pedigree.

Reservation & Puppy Selection

We do not accept waiting list fees. A $250 non-refundable deposit will reserve your place on a specific litter once you have decided you would like a puppy. The remaining balance of $950 is due at pickup. We accept PayPal, cashier's checks, or cash. Personal checks are not accepted.

A deposit reserves your place in line for a puppy from a specific litter and, when possible, your preferred sex. We do not assign puppies or allow puppy picks at birth. Puppies change considerably as they grow, and we believe it is important to evaluate their structure and temperament before selections are made. A deposit reserves your place in line for a puppy from a specific litter. Buyers may express a preference for sex, color, markings, or other traits, but no specific puppy is guaranteed until selections are made. 

Puppy selections will take place when the litter is old enough for us to properly evaluate each puppy. Our goal is to place each puppy in the home that best fits its temperament and the buyer's goals.

Before accepting a deposit, we require a phone conversation with every prospective buyer. This allows us to answer questions, discuss your expectations, and make sure a Cryptic puppy is a good fit for your home.

Our Placement Philosophy

Our goal is to produce sound, healthy Rat Terriers that excel as companions, performance dogs, hunters, and show dogs. Every puppy is an individual, and no two puppies are exactly alike.

While reservation order is respected, we do not believe in assigning puppies based solely on first choice. As the breeder, we spend every day with these puppies and are in the best position to evaluate their structure, temperament, drive, and overall suitability.

We work closely with each buyer to match them with the puppy that best fits their home, lifestyle, and goals. Whether you are looking for a family companion, hunting partner, performance prospect, or show prospect, our priority is making the best match for both the puppy and the buyer.

Registration

Unless previously discussed, puppies will be sold on AKC Limited Registration or AKC and UKC Limited Registration.

If you are interested in a show or breeding prospect, this must be discussed before placing a deposit. We reserve the right to refuse the sale of breeding rights or a breeding prospect to anyone for any reason.

We also reserve the right to refuse the sale of any puppy at any time if we believe the placement is not in the best interest of the puppy.

Lifetime Breeder Support

We care about every puppy we produce for its entire life. Whether you have a question, want to share an update, or need help with your dog, you are always welcome to contact us.

If you are ever unable to keep your Cryptic dog, please contact us first. We will gladly take back any dog we have produced or assist you in finding an appropriate new home if returning the dog is not possible.

Health & Liability

The buyer understands and agrees that Cryptic has made every effort to produce healthy, sound puppies from parents with no known inherited genetic defects. Breeding dogs are DNA tested for Primary Lens Luxation (PLL) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-prcd), along with any additional testing deemed appropriate.

No breeder can guarantee that any living animal will be completely free of genetic defects. For that reason, no guarantee is made against genetic defects.

Cryptic is not responsible for injury, illness, loss, or death resulting from accidents, hunting accidents, improper care, neglect, abuse, or other circumstances outside of our control.

We do accept responsibility for issues that are directly caused by us or by circumstances that were within our control.