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Mountain Pass

Roanoke Area, Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia


At Mountain Pass, I raise Shih Tzu and Dalmatians on 9 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Roanoke, Virginia.

A small breeding program centered on health and temperament to create the ideal companion always striving to improve the breed through every generation.  DNA testing and OFA health certification ensure the healthiest pups possible along with vaccinations and veterinarian check. Guardianship available for locals. I will also consider barter of time or services for a dog. I donate to special needs as well, do you know of an organization that needs dogs as therapy and service animals?


What You Can Expect


Registration & Identification


• Shih Tzu registration: I complete AKC registration on your behalf, ensuring that all my puppies are properly registered so that I qualify for breeder of merit.

• AKC benefits include: training information, a free month of pet insurance, a free veterinary visit, a digital magazine subscription, and other available AKC resources. The idea of AKC is to prove purebred lineage and the benefits of show line lineage is that the dogs are in theory closer to the ideal function and type of the breed as determined by the official breed club. Members of these clubs are supposed to adhere to OFA testing guidelines thus ensuring a healthier dog.

• Dalmatian paperwork: Owners receive the paperwork needed if they would like to enroll through the Continental Kennel Club for a free one-month pet insurance trial and available training information. It's true that continental kennel club isn't prestigious like AKC but it is necessary to have a registry number to get OFA health testing.

• Microchip registration: All puppies are preregistered with AKC Reunite microchip identification.

 

Early Potty Training, Socialization & Grooming Foundations


Early potty training: Puppies begin in a small, appropriately sized area because they naturally try to keep their sleeping space clean. Since they do not yet understand that larger parts of the home are part of the same living space, it is best to expand their freedom gradually and with supervision. Shih Tzus begin with a grate-protected potty pad. Dalmatians start similarly and may later transition to pine pellets or bedding flakes, with the option of going outside through a doggy door as they grow. Some people ask if they are already potty trained or crate trained. I do make sure they are comfortable and confident being in a crate. In no way am I going to promise they are potty trained without supervision because that is about your management until age 2 to be on the very safe side. Their failure is really our failure to manage the problem before it becomes a problem. Provide a calm safe space with some privacy, ideally protected from rain for optimal compliance. Counter surfing or potty training space management is required for up to two years allowing for teenage developmental regressions, think middle school rebellion and hormonal confusion altering their previously angelic behavior.


Early exposure includes:

  • gentle introduction to baths and nail trimming,
  • car rides and field trips, and
  • different smells, surfaces, and activities that help build balance and confidence.
  • exposure to different breeds of dogs and cats.



Health Testing & Veterinary Care


Health testing: Parents are DNA tested to help reduce the risk of puppies being affected by harmful inherited diseases or conditions. They also complete extensive OFA testing, with results recorded in the public database, including evaluations of knees, eyes, and other breed-relevant health areas.


Records and review: CHIC numbers and health records are available on the health and pedigree page, and they are also linked on my Good Dog page.

Dalmatian hearing testing: Dalmatian puppies receive an OFA hearing test (B.A.E.R.). The parents also have OFA health tests.


Puppy veterinary care: Puppies receive a veterinary exam, DHPP vaccinations (parvo and distemper), and regular deworming while in my care.


Go-Home Items


Each puppy goes home with:

• vaccine and veterinary records,

• copies of the parents’ OFA test certificates,

• a sample of Purina Pro Plan Puppy Lamb & Oatmeal kibble,

• a toy or chew, and

• breed information and registration information

    

    

Payment Options


Payment and short-term financing plans are available through Good Dog using:

• credit card,

• digital check, and

• Klarna Credit


If we connected on Doggit or outside Good Dog: payment may also be accepted by check, cash, PayPal, Zelle, Cash App, etc.


Pickup & Delivery Options


Pickup: Pickup is available at Roanoke Airport (ROA) or I-81 Exit 156.


Home visits: You may come to my home for pickup if at least one of the following applies:

• we have completed a video chat so we can meet face to face first,

• you have placed a payment or deposit,

• you are a returning client, or

• you were referred by a close contact, former client, or friend


Transport options: Transport may be available for an additional fee, ground is $2 per mile one way from 24175, flight is $600 to cover pet fees, certificates, daily fees, plus the cost of a roundtrip flight with same day turnaround.

    

Guarantees & Returns


Refunds and returns: A full refund in the form of a new puppy or dog when one becomes available with return of the dog deemed unfit including all transferred paperwork within the first two years for life-altering congenital conditions.


Lifetime return policy: If you are ever unable to care for one of my dogs, I will take the dog back at any time if you need me to, please never surrender to a shelter. Microchipping is required so I can help recover or rescue the dog if needed in the future and you or your family are unavailable.


Waitlist Deposit and Pricing


A $500 deposit reserves your place on the waitlist until 6 weeks old when you can pick your favorite. This allows people to reserve their spot but wait until the pups are moving around well to assess personality. You may choose to be on the list for girl/boy/either. Of course, if you are first on the list, you can make your selection any time before 6 weeks if you like.  After 6 weeks of age and all in line ahead of you have made their choice, then you just reserve your favorite from the start. This deposit is applied to the final price.

• Shih Tzu: $2,800 avg.

• Dalmatian: $1,800 avg.

Estimated balance after deposit: $2,300 for a Shih Tzu or $1,300 for a Dalmatian. Final pricing may vary based on pairing, health testing, age, or guardian status. Thank you for your support, your purchase helps to fund the dogs donated to special needs recipients from PTSD to severe autism and more.

  

Guardian Homes


Do you live within 2 hours of Roanoke Virginia? Are you interested in being a guardian home? A guardian home fosters a dog, living with, loving and training them while allowing them to contribute to the program and after year 5 is complete the dog officially becomes yours. Of the puppies produced some will be prospects for performance and showing, some will be chosen to add to the program, some will go on to help people in need for service and therapy dogs, and some are sold to help fund expenses. Dogs chosen for the program have different qualities that I am trying to incorporate into the generations to follow. Some are blessed with beauty or movement, some personality or training ability, and some for health qualities or genetics. Sometimes diversity and going wide with the gene pool is the correct path even if they aren't worthy of the show ring, this is solid advice from reproductive and genetic specialists in the field. Not all in the program will be used in the same capacity, sometimes we are waiting to see what develops with age.


Purpose: The goal of every guardian agreement is for the dog to live with you, receive plenty of attention, and still remain part of my breeding program.


Who is a good fit: Guardian homes are best suited to people who live within a few hours of me so I can maintain easy access. You must allow home visits, routine checks, access to the dog whenever I need them until the commitment is completed. Priority will be given to homes willing to either show, do dog sports, therapy dog, or put some titles on the dogs. Does anyone want to teach a dalmatian to track downed deer? Does anyone want to trade services like brushing hair and baths, or puppy socialization? Those situations will be given more consideration but It's okay if you simply want to be a foster and just allow breeding and whelping visits.


How the arrangement works: Each guardianship agreement is a foster to ownership arrangement that may support different goals in addition to being part of my breeding program, including:

  • showing a dog yourself, maintaining a show coat, striving for a championship on a shih tzu.
  • Training for trick dog, obedience, rally, barn hunt, scent work, agility or therapy title for shih tzu and barn hunt or agility for dalmatians as they can only participate in non-AKC sponsored events until they are fixed.
  • welcoming one of my dogs into your home, returning the dog to me for testing, vet care, reproductive care, and possibly training, titling, or showing.


Time commitment: The commitment is satisfied after year five is complete and the dog will be spayed or neutered and officially signed over to you. In addition to the time you spend training, in class, or in shows I typically ask for about 300 days of borrowing the dog out of the dog’s roughly 5,000-day lifetime.



Spay / Neuter and Full Registration Rights


Spay/neuter: I do not require routine spay or neuter for every young dog, as it is not always considered the best standard of care for healthy, developing animals.

Full registration rights: Full registration is reserved for people who are truly committed to bettering the breed with OFA health testing, staying involved, and continuing their education and training. Limited registration may be upgraded later if you decide to take on that responsibility.