A breeding contract is an agreement between the breeder, Flanders Kennels LLC and you, the purchaser/owner of a puppy whelped at Flanders Kennels. This contract protects both buyer and seller and lays out in plain language expectations from both parties to help ensure a happy, healthy life for your new puppy/dog. Failure to abide by rules set forth below in this contract may result in adverse action, including legal action, taken against either party in breach of contract. The specifics of this contract are listed below and will serve as a legally binding agreement between the seller, Flanders Kennels LLC, and the purchaser/owner of the puppy/dog listed in the contract. Flanders Kennels agrees to retain a copy of this contract for each buyer for a period of 20 years after transfer of ownership. The specifics of this contract can be viewed below:
PUPPY PURCHASE AGREEMENT & BILL OF SALE
This shall serve as a legally binding contract between the breeder, Flanders Kennels, LLC, and the buyer/owner, _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________, for the purchase of one whelp, _______________________________________________________________________________ from the sire, ________________________________________________________________________________________________, registered with ______________________________________________________________________________________________ and the dam, ________________________________________________________________________________________________, registered with ______________________________________________________________________________________________
DEPOSIT
A cash or Good Dog payment deposit of $400 ($500 via PayPal or Ca$hApp) will be paid in full prior to selection of a puppy for purchase. Puppies will be reserved in the order a cash deposit is received, provided the breeder has pre-approved the buyer/new owner for purchase. The cash deposit is non-refundable, however, if a situation arises where a buyer has paid the deposit and cannot take possession of the puppy from the current litter, that deposit may be applied to a future litter. This provision does not apply because the buyer changes their mind on the sex of puppy desired, aesthetic preferences, or decides their home will not be suitable for the puppy. It is the buyer’s responsibility to fully research the breed and decide if a Mastiff or Boerboel puppy would be a good fit for them PRIOR to putting down a deposit. In the event a buyer wishes to back out of the sale for any reason after placing a deposit and does not wish to apply the deposit towards the next litter, the deposit will be retained by the breeder as a nuisance fee and applied towards that pup’s general welfare until another suitable buyer can be found. In the event a future litter between the aforementioned sire and dam does not occur and the buyer agreed prior to hold over the deposit towards a future litter, the deposit will be fully refunded to the buyer.
REQUIREMENT FOR POSSESSION
The full purchase price (paid via cash, Good Dog online payment, cashier’s check, PayPal, or Ca$hApp) must be paid prior to taking possession of a puppy. There will be NO exceptions to this policy. The deposit will be applied to the full purchase price of, as of November 1st, 2023, $2800 ($3080 via PayPal or Ca$hApp) for a Mastiff puppy and $3500 ($3850 via PayPal or Ca$hApp) for a Boerboel puppy. Delivery of the pup (in the contiguous 48 U.S. states) will be an additional cost of $500-900 (based on mileage), to be paid by the buyer and includes the USDA required health certificate for transport. The buyer also has the option to use their own transport service, but Flanders Kennels assumes no liability in the event something detrimental happens to the pup during or as a result of using that transport service. For buyers who wish to fly in, I can arrange to meet you at either Kalamazoo (AZO) or South Bend airports (SBN) at no extra charge. If the health guarantee option is waived, the purchase price for a pup shall be $200 less. Note that if the health guarantee option is waived, the puppy will only be warranted for replacement or refund within 7 days of purchase. This should give the buyer ample time to have a veterinarian examine the puppy for any signs of physical defects. In the event a puppy sold is not of sound health, the puppy must be returned to the breeder and surrendered in order to receive a full refund. Under this provision, a signed document from the examining veterinarian explaining why the puppy is not of sound health must accompany the puppy being returned. This provision does not apply to cases of neglect, accident, or abuse on the new owner’s/buyer’s part.
IMPORTANT: When taking your puppy to any new environment, do not allow him/her to associate with other dogs of unknown health until after he/she has had their 3rd vaccination for parvo/distemper/influenza (5-in-1 vaccine) and under no circumstances, let the puppy roam the floor of your veterinary clinic. Parvovirus is a devastating immune disease that young puppies are exceptionally susceptible to and typically contract through their sweat glands (pads of their feet) or from licking contaminated areas. Carry your puppy into the veterinary clinic and hold him/her the entire time you’re on the premises (outside and inside), unless it’s to put them on the stainless steel exam table for inspection. Whelps will leave Flanders Kennels having received two rounds of 5-in-1 vaccine, but they do not have 99% protection against parvovirus until about two weeks after having received the third vaccination. Four total inoculations are recommended. Rabies vaccine shall not be administered to your puppy until it is at least 15 weeks of age, but waiting until 6 months of age is recommended, to minimize risk of adverse reaction. Two rounds of Lyme vaccine is recommended, but not required, for pets that will spend time in or along woodlines. AVMA recommends Leptospirosis vaccine for dogs that spend time near livestock or who drink from pools of water near where other animals urinate. Lepto vaccine is generally considered safe to administer as part of the fourth set of combo vaccines a puppy receives. Please DO NOT STACK vaccines. Regardless of what your vet says, do not have more than two separate vaccines administered in any three week period. It can cause irreparable damage to a puppy’s developing immune system. I also recommend pre-dosing your puppy with Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCl) about a half hour before having the Rabies or Lepto vaccine administered, as these two vaccines have the highest rates of adverse reaction and an antihistamine can help prevent an anaphylactic response.
Full payment may be made prior to taking possession of the puppy, but it does not guarantee the puppy can be possessed immediately. Time of possession is at the breeder’s discretion, but will be no earlier than when the puppy has reached 63 days of age and no later than 77 days of age. Puppies held beyond 77 days of age will incur a DAILY maintenance fee of $10, which must be paid by the buyer/new owner prior to taking possession of a puppy, or else the sale will be nullified and the deposit will not be returned. The breeder will schedule a time with the buyer/new owner for their puppy to be picked up and will adhere to those arrangements. In the event the breeder is unable to keep the appointment made with the buyer/new owner, they shall receive a $50 discount for the inconvenience and the breeder will reschedule a time agreeable to both parties. In the event the buyer/new owner is unable to keep the appointment, he/she will notify the breeder at least 24 hours in advance. The breeder will make one additional attempt to reschedule taking possession of the puppy. If the buyer/new owner cannot keep that appointment, the breeder, at his discretion, may decide to sell the puppy to a new buyer and the deposit will not be refunded. It is important to choose a time agreeable for both parties to take possession of the puppy and keep the appointment.
RETURNS/REHOMING POLICY
Any dog sold at Flanders Kennels always has a temporary home guaranteed at Flanders Kennels. If for any reason unanticipated life circumstances dictate you are unable to keep the dog you purchased from Flanders Kennels, it can be returned to the breeder at the owner’s expense and without refund. A dog purchased at Flanders Kennels shall not be surrendered to any shelter or rescue organization for any reason. If it discovered that a whelp from Flanders Kennels has been surrendered to a shelter/rescue organization without the express written consent of Flanders Kennels, in advance, a fine of $3500 will be imposed on the buyer/owner of said dog. A dog purchased from Flanders Kennels may be rehomed to an approved party without being returned to Flanders Kennels first, if the original buyer/owner notifies Flanders Kennels via phone or e-mail prior to transfer of ownership, and the new owner has been vetted and approved for ownership by Flanders Kennels. In the event the buyer/owner dies, next of kin will notify Flanders Kennels of the situation and arrangements will be made to ensure welfare of the dog. Note: Boerboels often do not adjust well to new owners, due to the intense bonds they form with their original owner as a puppy. Please do everything within your power not to rehome your Boerboel should a problem arise.
REQUIREMENTS AFTER POSSESSION
All puppies sold will have have been inspected by a licensed veterinarian in the State of Michigan prior to change of possession from the breeder to the buyer (proof of care will be provided to all buyers prior to taking possession of their puppy). This ensures you are buying a puppy of sound health that has received a 5-in-1 vaccination from a licensed veterinarian/technician and has been checked for parasites and has received a dewormer. The breeder will administer the first vaccination and the lot code will be included with your puppy information booklet. Dew claw removal and tail docking (Boerboels only) must be done on or before the puppy’s third day of life, if requested. The breeder retains the option not to have either procedure done if the majority of the waitlist wants their puppies left completely intact or if a veterinarian cannot perform the procedure(s) in time. Only in the event of a medical emergency will the buyer be permitted to have dew claws removed, tail docked, or ears cropped, after taking possession of the puppy, or the breeder reserves the right to repossess the dog under the guidelines of animal abuse. It is the buyer/new owner’s responsibility to continue veterinary care throughout the puppy’s life as it progresses into adulthood. It is strongly recommended that you have your puppy inspected by a veterinarian during the first week of ownership, but it is required that you schedule your first veterinary appointment and follow-up vaccination(s) no later than the puppy’s 13th week of life. Failure to do so nullifies any and all health guarantees, stated or implied. Your veterinarian will inform you of when future vaccinations and preventatives are needed and you must maintain those appointments.
BREEDING RIGHTS & SPAY/NEUTER CLAUSE
Most puppies sold by Flanders Kennels come with full breeding rights (unless a whelp has an obvious condition/trait that would make it unfit for breeding when it reaches adult age OR if pups are sold at a discounted price due to a potential health risk that could be inherited from the sire or dam) and no additional fee will be required should you choose to breed your puppy when it reaches sexual maturity and is of proper age to be tested for sound breeding health. All puppies purchased will receive documentation for registration with the AKC (American Kennel Club), UKC (United Kennel Club), NABBA (North American Boerboel Breeders Association), or WBBA (World Boerboel Breeders Association). The breeder includes basic registration ($10-40 value) with AKC, UKC, NABBA, or WBBA as part of the buyer’s purchase price (breeder will notify buyer which club the pup qualifies for registry with). The buyer must include the tag “Flanders” as the first portion of the whelp’s registered name. For example, if you wish your pup’s registered name to be “Orion the Hunter”, on your registration certificate, it will be displayed as Flanders Orion the Hunter. Note: If your chosen registration name exceeds 21 characters (not including the tag “Flanders”), it may be abbreviated by AKC. A puppy reaching sexual maturity shall not be bred unless the buyer/owner has had the dog OFA-certified fair or better (no indication of dysplasia)[or PennHip score < 0.65] for hips and is normal for heart and elbows, which can be done any time after its second birthday (a preliminary OFA-certification good or excellent is acceptable if you wish to breed a male after 18 mos of age or a female after 21 mos of age if the dog passes an OFA heart evaluation via echocardiogram). The dog should also be checked for brucellosis and have blood work done prior to breeding. These tests will all be done at the buyer’s expense (see Rebate offer below) and the breeder is in no way liable if any puppy sold turns out to be unsuitable/not ideal for breeding. Purchase of a healthy puppy from Flanders Kennels in no way guarantees that puppy will make an ideal breeding dog as an adult. This is a risk you accept if you purchase a puppy with intent to breed in the future. If it is discovered that a whelp sold from Flanders Kennels has bred (or had its semen used/been inseminated) without being fully health tested prior, legal action may be taken against the buyer/owner of said dog, and the breeding dog could be repossessed by Flanders Kennels or a fine of $3500 will be imposed on the buyer/owner of the breeding dog. In addition, proof will be submitted to Flanders Kennels that said dog has received a passing grade from OFA or a licensed veterinarian for its hips, elbows, and heart before it will be allowed to breed again, or the buyer/owner of the dog irresponsibly bred will face a fine of $3500 for each litter produced by that sire or dam until health testing is complete.
Should you decide to have your dog neutered (castration for males, full spay for females), you must NOT do so prior to the dog reaching 18 months of age (with the rare exception of a cryptorchid male). Mastiffs and Boerboels are giant breeds and their growth plates do not begin to close until after 15 months of age (typically closed fully by 30 mos of age, at the latest). Early neutering can be extremely detrimental to the joint and ligament health of your dog and can also cause dramatically increased risk of certain types of cancer. Regardless of your veterinarian’s opinion, you should not get your dog altered until it is done growing. It is my recommendation that you keep your dog intact unless there is a medical need, such as a severely enlarged prostate (males) or pyometra (females), for example, which is more detrimental to your dog’s health than the risks stemming from full spay/castration. A much healthier alternative to traditional neuter methods is an ovary-sparing spay (OSS) or oviorectomy (lap spay) for females or vasectomy (V) for males. For more information on these procedures, you may inquire at Flanders Kennels or visit the website, parsemus.org. OSS/V can be carried out as early as 6 mos of age (does not apply to oviorectomies) and will not impact the growth/development of your puppy, but will render them unable to reproduce. If a puppy purchased from Flanders Kennels is neutered prior to 18 mos of age (except in cases of a rare medical condition putting the whelp at high risk for death) ALL health guarantees will be voided. No exceptions!
REBATE OFFER & COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
Flanders Kennels has a strong commitment to promoting responsible breeding and ownership, and reducing the pet population in shelters and with rescue organizations. All puppies sold at full price (meaning no discount was given at the time of purchase) are eligible for two rebates, which will be paid electronically after the following has occurred: $150 Rebate upon completion of a 6+ session puppy obedience class with a certified dog trainer (AKC Star Puppy, for example). To be eligible for this rebate, the puppy must start the class no earlier than 4 months of age and no later than 8 months of age. The buyer will supply the breeder with a certificate that the course has been completed and will be rebated $150 via PayPal or Ca$hApp (or a check/money order can be mailed) within 7 days of receipt of certification of completion. A $350 Rebate will be issued upon completion of OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) health testing provided all of the following rules are followed: The dog must be at least 2 years of age and not older than 30 months of age when health testing is completed. The owner of the dog must agree to release all test results publicly on the OFA website, regardless of outcome. At a minimum, hips, elbows, and heart (echocardiogram preferred, but auscultation with veterinary certification of no murmur present is acceptable) must be tested and results submitted to OFA. It is recommended, but not required, that eyes and patellas also be evaluated and results submitted to OFA. Once results are published on the OFA website or a copy of the OFA certificates are sent to Flanders Kennels, $350 will be rebated via PayPal or Ca$hApp (or a check/money order can be mailed) within 7 days of receipt of electronic certificates.
BEST PRACTICES
It is important before taking possession of your new puppy to fully research the breed and inspect the parents for any traits they might possess, which are likely to be expressed in their offspring, that you may find undesirable. Mastiffs, though generally docile, are still extremely large dogs and can be difficult for some owners to handle. In addition, their size makes them prone to knocking things over easily, namely small children, which could lead to injury. They also tend to be drooly, gassy, snorey, eat a lot, have some health issues, and may be excluded by some insurance carriers outside of the state of Michigan or Pennsylvania (where it is illegal to breed discriminate). Boerboels are extremely powerful dogs, often with dominant personalities. It takes an experienced handler to properly train and care for this breed. If you have never owned a large, power breed dog before, please do not assume you can handle a Boerboel. It is not a breed for beginners, though many traits they possess might be appealing to a first-time owner. Like Mastiffs, they are also drooly, gassy, snorey, and have occasional health issues. If these are concerns, please consider purchasing a different breed of dog.
You should feed your puppy only Giant Breed Puppy formula kibble, Large Breed Adult kibble, or an All Life Stages kibble, preferably grain-free, but definitely feed without fillers like corn, wheat, and soy products, which your dog can’t really digest. Feeding a raw diet is certainly a healthy option as well, or a combination of raw and grain-free kibble. Your puppy’s peak nutrition requirements will typically be between the ages of 5-18 months, where they may need as much as 6-8 cups of quality kibble a day. An adult Mastiff or Boerboel typically only needs about 4-6 cups of quality kibble a day, unless the dog is used as a working dog and then they will require more food as compensation for the energy they burn. It is important not to feed a diet too rich in protein (over 26%), calcium or phosphorus, as these can lead to bone growth and development problems (do not administer feeds exceeding 1.2% Calcium and 1.0% Phosphorus [1.0%/0.85% Ca/P is recommended] or the Health Guarantee will be voided). It is highly recommended that you have a large, fenced-in yard for your Mastiff or Boerboel puppy. Because some Mastiffs have an escape drive, I would recommend setting up an electric perimeter around your yard or fence, as this tends to deter even the most clever or powerful dog from wanting to escape. A six foot tall fence, partially buried underground is ideal, however, I’ve found a five foot tall fence with an electric perimeter around the base of the fence to work just as well. Mastiffs tend to be a very sedentary breed, requiring minimal exercise. Boerboels will require at least an hour daily of rigorous exercise, to be happy. Some Mastiffs are reserved and do fine in a house with no other animals, but most prefer companionship, so if you don’t have playmates for your new puppy, make sure he/she has plenty of stimulation available from you and/or your family/friends and lots of toys to play with and chew on. Boerboels tend to do well with other dogs of the opposite sex, but also function well as the only dog in a household. Anticipate that your puppy will be destructive and keep anything you don’t want destroyed high and out of reach from your new puppy. I have found Boerboels to be a very easy breed to potty-train, and Mastiffs moderately easy, but expect some accidents to happen as your puppy grows and learns the rules of the house. The more you prepare yourself for all the bad things that might happen, the less stress you’ll incur as a puppy owner. I’ve found that by the time you own your fourth or fifth puppy, you’ll be a professional and know exactly what to expect!
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (Assumes agreement to all terms/conditions listed above)
Name of buyer/new owner: ___________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone/E-mail: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
Purchase option selected: w/ Health Guarantee __________ Health Guarantee Waived __________
Deposit paid: $400.00 ($500 via PayPal) on this date: ________________________________________
Total Amount to be paid prior to taking possession of puppy: $ _____________________________.00
First availability date to take possession of puppy: _____________________________________________
Registration # ___________________________________ Microchip # ________________________________
Sex: ________________ DOB: ____________________ Color: _______________________________________
Further description of puppy: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
RECEIPT/BILL OF SALE
Total price paid in full: $ _____________________.00 on this date: _______________________________
Buyer/Owner: X_______________________________________________________________________________
Breeder/Seller: X______________________________________________________________________________