Buying a Puppy:

We ask $1600 CAD for our puppies, which includes their first shots, deworming, CKC registration, a vet check, and a microchip.  We've held our price at 1500 for three years, but as we move into 2011 we have to increase to 1600, particularly given the new Harmonized Sales Tax. Different breeders charge different amounts for Scottie puppies, and depending on how they’ve set up their business, some charge taxes while others do not.  Breeding Scotties is not really a money-making enterprise.  Many of them require C-sections (small pelvises and big-headed puppies!), which range in cost from $800 to $1700, depending on the circumstances.  Stud fees range from $600 to $1200.  And for all that, Scotties usually have very small litters (1-5 pups), and yet live long past their breeding years.  Compare this, for instance, to a Lab, which can breed for 6-7 of its 9 years, and have as many as 10 pups in a litter (and a roomy pelvis with which to deliver them!).  And of course there are the puppy expenses such as deworming, first shots, microchipping, and registration, all of which can cost as much as 85.00 per puppy.  So it comes as little surprise that Scotties can be hard to find.  The big irony is that in Scotland, home of the Scottie, the breed is very rare.  This is why we started our kennel: we love Scottish terriers and want to see them flourish despite the expenses associated with their breeding.  We think they’re worth the extra cost and trouble.  We also try to provide the best possible life for our dogs – they have the best food money can buy, lots of room to run and play, and they live in the house with us.  In order to give them this lifestyle, however, we incur greater costs and don’t get the monetary benefits of running a larger operation.  Having said that, we will often try to work with our buyers’ budgets, particularly if we have been blessed with an uncomplicated delivery and large litter.  Please feel free to get in touch with us and let us know your situation.

The good news on the cost front is that you’ll get a lot of life and love from a Scottie – their life spans average 11 or 12 years, and I’ve heard of many who’ve lived beyond that, to 14 or 15 years old.  You can pay $1400 for an Irish Wolfhound, for example, and only get 7 years of companionship, so a Scottie looks a right bargain from this perspective.  From a purely economical standpoint, you’ll also save money on food for a Scottie versus a larger dog!

I’m shocked by how much pet stores charge for terriers: consider that for $1200+ you don’t get to see the parents of the puppy, or know the conditions of its breeding, birth, and first few weeks of life.  Most people know about the dangers of pet store puppy sales, but I’ll reiterate here that one should never support this trade!  Many pet store dogs come from puppy mills – even those with CKC papers.  A word on CKC papers: they do NOT mean you’re getting a healthy dog!  Your best route is always to investigate the kennel yourself.

For Canadian buyers, I would caution against getting dogs from the States via only email and/or phone connections.  While they can be found much more cheaply (even for as little as 400.00 US), you probably won’t get the chance to meet the puppy’s parents or see their kennel.  On top of this, you’ll likely have to pay for shipping and even customs when the puppy comes across the border, which can easily add as much as 450.00 to your price tag.  It’s better to be able to meet the breeders, see the dam and sire, and get a feel for the kennel’s conditions. This is not to say, however, that there aren't great Scottie breeders in the States!  I have been fortunate enough to deal with a couple of kennels in the States that have provided me with fantastic dogs

A 100$ non-refundable deposit will hold your place on a waiting list for our puppies.