What is the procedure for me to get a puppy?

This is the protocol we follow in placing our beagle puppies. Please, remember WHY we are breeding. Not to fulfill 'obligations' for pet puppies, but to produce excellent show prospects for ourselves. We reserve the right to pick of the litter and preference will be given to placing show quality puppies in show homes. After that, our mandate is to ensure a safe and loving home for every one of our puppies for the rest of their lives. We cannot ever guarantee a puppy to anyone out of any litter - we must evaluate the litter for quality first and when we have decided which puppies are available as pets, we will place them in the most suitable home for their personality. This means you may wait for one or even two litters before we have something for you. That may translate into a year or more. If you really want a healthy, quality beagle, you must first of all be patient!

Hopefully you have already read IS A BEAGLE RIGHT FOR YOU? and you are prepared for life with a beagle.

Please, read this entire page. You'll find the answers to all your questions here.

When you are ready to commit to adding a beagle to your life, you can complete our questionnaire.

We will review your application and get back to you, either through email or by telephone.

Understand that purchasing a puppy from us is not like walking into a mall and picking a new pair of shoes. In all likelihood, there won’t be a choice involved. If you have a preference for male or female, then you may have to wait a litter or two to get what you want. If you prefer a specific color (tri or red and white) then again, you may find that you have to wait. Remember that we breed for the purpose of providing ourselves, friends and fellow breeders with show puppies. We take our time evaluating the puppies and often don’t make our decision until the week before the puppies go home. For this reason, we can’t promise you a certain puppy because we don’t know who is going to be available. Our best advice…be flexible.

Why do you want to know so much about me?

No, I'm not nosy! I need to know all about the family that one of my puppies might be spending their life with. I will place a puppy ONLY in a home I feel will provide a happy, safe and stable lifetime of care. It's my responsibility.

How much do you sell your puppies for?

We charge $750 US.  Payable in cash or money order (less deposit) before you take your puppy home. Show prospects that we have 'grown up' to the point we can fairly reliably predict their quality (3-6 months) are $1000.

It may sound like a lot of money, but when you actually work that out - over a lifespan of 15+ years that is only less than $5 per month for the best friend you'll ever have. Remember that buying from a reputable breeder who has carefully selected their breeding stock vastly improves the odds that your beagle will lead a long, healthy and active life. If our price is more than your budget allows, consider adopting a rescue beagle rather than encouraging non-reputable breeders by buying one listed in the newspaper. But please remember that there are expenses that will remain the same - or be even more, depending on the health of the dog you end up with. Wherever you get your dog from, you must be prepared to deal with the ongoing expenses of food, license and preventive veterinary care, and be able to bear the expense of emergency vet bills as well.

But, why do your beagles cost LESS than puppies sold in pet stores?  Are store-bought puppies better somehow?

No, pet-store puppies are certainly not 'better'! I'm afraid I'm going to get on my soap-box here! These are the facts: Pet store puppies are created as a commodity to be sold. The original mill gets maybe $100 per puppy. No wonder they don't spend money on the dogs' health and comfort! It's a narrow profit margin, and that's what it's all about for them. Then there's a middle man who takes a cut. Finally the pet store jacks up the price to what the public will pay - generally well over $1000.

The pet store will tell you that they do not get their puppies from puppy mills, only from good breeders. Do you really think anyone who would send a puppy to a store to be bought by anyone who walks in with the money is a 'good breeder'? Does that sound like someone who cares what happens to the puppy? No, a good breeder is one who cares and who wants to know exactly where the puppies they bred are. Only a puppy mill would sell to a pet store.

Every pet shop that sells puppies will assure you, solemnly, that their puppies are different. Their puppies don't come from puppy mills, but from fine local breeders. Pillars of the community, in fact.

The reality is that responsible breeders will never place one of their puppies in a pet shop or anywhere else for resale or consignment. Never, ever, ever. Any breeder who has placed their puppy in a pet shop to be sold has immediately disqualified himself as a responsible breeder.

WHY?  Because, as commercial establishments, pet shops are required to sell a puppy to anyone who can pay. Legally, they are not allowed to "screen" buyers for suitability. Responsible breeders wouldn't be able to sleep at night wondering which of their puppies might have gone to an unsuitable home and was not being properly cared for.

REMEMBER: Those cute little puppies you see in the pet store were all born in the horrible conditions of a puppy mill. Crowded, dirty, often dark. They are generally kept in cages similar to a rabbit hutch with a wire floor so feces and urine simply fall through to the lower level of unfortunate inmates. Some pet stores even continue with this method, though the wire is certainly very hard on the puppies' feet and it is counterproductive to housetraining later.

The puppies were taken from their mother and siblings FAR too early (my friend bought one before she knew better - she got the puppy at six weeks, and it had already taken a long trip across the country by train).

Pet store puppies' ancestry is questionable - while they may well be registered with the AKC (and you'll likely pay extra for this!) those parents are themselves the product of generations of careless breeding, after starting with the cheapest purebreds they could find.

There seem to be two types of store-bought beagle - the spindly, long bodied and long narrow snouted ones - and the short, crooked-legged dwarf-type. All tend to have socialization problems - aggression, shyness, difficulty in housebreaking - all because of their poor breeding and the poor conditions they were raised in.

Then there are the health problems! Many were very ill right after leaving the store and coming to their new home - huge expenses for their new owners there. Yes, the pet store would have taken the puppy back... but! If the puppy is ill, they just put it down and get another from their endless supply. They don't have the time or commitment to look after a sick puppy. In the long term, Epilepsy is the most common health problem we've encountered and is often one of the main reasons the dogs end in up rescue in the first place. That and the fact that they are hyperactive, still not housebroken, and noisy.

I could go on and on - but the bottom line is why would you support the puppy mills - and encourage them to continue to raise dogs under these conditions - and why would you pay so much for a potentially unhealthy, difficult dog?

Why do your beagles cost more than dogs sold in newspaper ads? I only want a pet.

We understand that you 'only want a pet'. We've 'been there, done that'! Our first beagle was purchased from a backyard breeder at a price we felt comfortable with. Due to an inherited condition the 'breeder' had never heard of he cost us over $2000 in vet bills within the first year of his life! Buying from a backyard breeder can be a false economy. So, to answer your question - WHY?

1. PEDIGREE Our puppies' ancestors are not only AKC and/or CKC registered but most are Champions in one or both countries. Thus, they all have been judged by experienced dog judges to excel as outstanding representatives of the breed. This competitive judging process is time-consuming and expensive. But, because we are breeding to the Standard, our puppies will grow up to LOOK and BEHAVE like beagles! The puppies you find advertised in the paper come from questionable backgrounds at best. Where did the bitch and stud's owners purchase them? Probably from a pet store (and therefore, from a puppy-mill), because all reputable breeders require spay/neuter and none will sell to an intermediary. The puppies you find in the paper may well be 'pure-bred' or even 'registered', but that is no guarantee that they will have a pretty, pleading expression or have the wonderful beagle temperament.

2. HEALTH Our puppies have their health carefully monitored, have had preventative de-worming, and are current on all of their vaccinations. Only healthy dogs are used in our breeding program. We screen their parents as much as is possible with current veterinary practice for Hip Dysplasia, Thyroid problems, Epilepsy, and eye disorders.

To learn more about eye, elbow and hip testing and certification, visit:

CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation

OFA - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals

3. EXPERTISE It takes a big effort and investment to acquire and breed dogs that are sound, healthy, good-natured, and excellent physical representatives of the breed.  Breedings are planned to match the best stud to our precious girls. Sometimes this involves shipping dogs across the country with the inherent expense of transportation and stud fee.

4. SUPPORT A puppy packet is provided for each of our puppies including health history, four generation pedigree, care and feeding information, family photo album and training information. We are a phone call or email away if you ever have any questions or problems with your beagle.

4. ETHICS We are serious about Beagles. We care what happens to our puppies after they leave our home and join yours. We mean it when we say we want to stay in touch and to help you with any problems you may have. We mean it when we say we will take the puppy back if, at any time, you can no longer keep it. We breed only one or perhaps two litters per year. We are not in this to make money (the idea is funnier than you may think! Reputable breeders are SO in the red!)- our aim is to improve the breed as a whole while we enjoy our own dogs in our home and on our laps.

'Pet' and 'Show' Quality Explained.

Potential pet buyers should know that our purpose is to breed show dogs that exemplify the breed standard and make improvements within the breed in temperament, health and structure. Pet puppies which end up being produced are a delightful by-product of our goals. Consequently, we appreciate your understanding when show puppies are kept by us or by other show breeders. A 'pet quality' puppy could be considered that for one of several reasons in the breed standard - slightly short ears, too soft (incorrect) coat texture, a tendency to carry the tail too 'gaily' - the list goes on and on. These puppies are still beautiful; probably only a breeder or judge would recognize these faults, and many of these puppies could achieve their Championship.

'Show quality' means that this puppy, in my opinion, has the conformation potential to become a champion. Certainly most puppies I produce that are of this standard I will choose to keep myself - that is why I bred the litter in the first place! If I am lucky, a litter may produce more than one beautiful puppy, and I may consider placing it in a show home. My main interest here is the satisfaction it gives me as a breeder to have produced a champion quality Beagle; whether it lives with me or in another show home the dog still carries my kennel name. I place show puppies only with people I've developed a relationship with so I know they are committed to showing and bettering the breed. Contracts for show puppies may include agreements about puppies back and stud rights.

I've heard that females make better pets, is this true?

Actually, males tend to be more loyal, more cuddly, and more playful. Females can sometimes be a little more aloof. Buyers preferring females will have to wait longer since there are generally fewer females born and females are in demand by show breeders and pet buyers alike.

While we're talking about SEX, please don't be shocked if we occasionally refer to the females as BITCHES. In doggie circles, we do generally refer to our animals specifically by sex, for example "the dog has a typey outline, but I just love the headpiece on that bitch". We've gotten used to using the word and might forget that it's not generally considered polite!

How old are the puppies when you allow them to go to their new homes? I want a 'baby' puppy, so it will bond with me better.

It is a very bad idea to take a puppy away from his mom and siblings before the age of 8 weeks. From five to eight weeks of age, puppies learn how to behave with other dogs. Their rough and tumble play and the corrections they receive from mom and other adult dogs are essential in developing their ability to socialize properly. We will NOT let a puppy leave our home before the age of nine weeks.  Besides the extra socialization with their siblings and our adult dogs, these puppies future owners benefit in that the puppies are usually much more capable of sleeping through the night without a potty break when they go 'home'. When they find themselves the center of attention in their new home, these older puppies will bond with the person who gives them the most attention and who is clearly the 'alpha' of the household. They will be prepared to take full advantage of 'Puppy Socialization' classes, which we strongly recommend.

We evaluate the puppies' structure at the age of 6.5 weeks, and continue to watch them carefully as they develop. . Once we have decided which puppies are available as pets, we'll help you make your choice, complete the contract and other paperwork, and you can take your puppy home. Puppies we decide to keep for a while to further evaluate for show may come available later, either strictly as pets or on a pet/show contract (see above).

For some families, adopting an older dog can have definite advantages over the "joy" of raising a puppy. We occasionally have young, retired show dogs available to good pet homes. They have finished their Championships and gone as far in their show career as they can go, and we don't need them in our breeding program. These dogs are crate trained, well socialized, housebroken and microchipped. They've received excellent care and training throughout their young lives and they can make a wonderful addition to a family. These dogs are much more likely to be able to fit in to a family with young children. I do not usually place baby puppies in families with children under the age of 5.

What is the quality of the puppies?

We are committed to breeding beagles with excellent temperament and conformation. We work very hard to make sure the puppies are well socialized. We make every effort to keep up with the latest research about how to breed and raise healthy, well-tempered dogs that meet the breed standard. Our puppies are first-rate quality in terms of temperament and socialization. We can discuss with potential buyers the strengths and weaknesses of any of our puppies in terms of conformation. We also try to match people with the kind of puppy that will fit best into their family and lifestyle, so we discuss personality also.

Do you have any guarantees or warranties covering the puppies? What are the terms?

Our first concern is for the well-being of our puppies throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, if - for any reason and at any time - you choose not to keep your beagle, return the dog to us. It always has a home here.

The health of the puppies we produce is of vital concern to us - both for sentimental reasons and because we need to monitor the health of all dogs we produce over their lifetimes to be sure we've not missed anything in our breeding research. We'd appreciate being notified of any and all health issues you encounter in your dog's lifetime.

Of course, we guarantee our puppies to be healthy at time of purchase. We encourage people to take their new puppy to their vet as soon as possible.

We have done everything possible to ensure the puppies we breed do not carry life-threatening genetic defects. We have nevertheless decided on the following policy, should the unthinkable occur:

Show puppies- If the dog's owner (upon advice of a reputable vet) determines that the dog's quality of life is seriously affected because of a genetic defect within the first two years of the dog's life, we provide the following options:

If the dog is euthanized or returned to us, we will provide a replacement puppy (as soon as one is available) at no charge, or refund the purchase price.

If the owner chooses to keep the dog we will refund a portion of the purchase price.

Have the puppies had their shots?

The puppies have at least one vaccination and have been wormed at least three times before they go to their new homes. They have also had their dewclaws removed. We're constantly revising our vaccination schedule to keep up with the latest research. We provide a health record and a recommended schedule for future vaccinations, worming, neutering/spaying. The initial series of shots is very important, and you must be very diligent about completing the puppy's schedule in a timely manner.  We also microchip all puppies.

Have the puppies already been AKC registered?

Yes, all litters at Riverview Acres are AKC registered. Your individual puppy will be registered in due course. You should receive the certificate before the puppy is 6 months old for show quality beagles, or within two months of my receipt of a copy of the spay/neuter certificate for pet stock. Pet puppies are sold on an AKC limited registration.

You can call your puppy any name you choose (though I'll tell you up front there are already far too many 'Snoopy's' and 'Bailey's' out there!!!) The registered name will usually conform to a chosen theme - I may ask for your input if I have run out of ideas. All registered names will begin with "Riverview" or  "Riverview's".

Do you have 15" or 13" Beagles?

All of our adult Beagles are 15" but that doesn't mean their offspring will be 15". 13" parents can produce 15" offspring and vice-versa. While knowing what's in the background of the puppy can help predict, there's no way to know for sure what size a beagle will be until it's grown.

Let's put it this way: at birth, ALL beagles are under 13", and they stay that way unless they grow taller than 13" (which may occur by age 6 months, 12 months, or not at all!)

Other information:

We have an extensive contract on which we sell our dogs. We also have an intensive screening application. Sometimes we require references and pictures. We require that buyers have a securely fenced yard.  Invisible fencing is NOT acceptable.  Also, since Beagles are slaves to their nose and will take off after the first exciting scent, it's important that people realize they can NEVER let the Beagle off-leash.  We also sell our companion puppies on a spay-neuter agreement with limited (non-breeding) AKC registrations.

We require that if for any reason you need to find a new home for the dog, you must contact us and we will take the beagle back or provide you with help in making a successful new placement. We are very concerned about the dogs we breed and do follow-up calls, so expect to hear from us! We encourage our puppy buyers to call us whenever they have a question or problem and if we can't help, we'll consult our resources and networks to find an answer. We intend to be available to support our puppy buyers for as long as the dog lives.

I hope this has answered all your questions; if not please CONTACT ME.

When you are ready to commit to adding a beagle to your life, you can complete our QUESTIONNAIRE.

We will review your application and get back to you, either through email or by telephone.