Puppy Questions & Answers

Hard Run Acres raises several breeds, including Boston Terriers, Boxers, Pugs, Shiba Inus, Golden Retrievers and Buggs. Availability changes throughout the year depending on our girls and Mother Nature.

Tell us about your family, lifestyle, children, other pets and what you’re hoping for in a dog. We’re happy to talk honestly about the different personalities and characteristics of the breeds we raise.

Absolutely. Color may catch your eye, but personality is what you’ll live with every day. Because we’re with these puppies from birth, we get to know which ones are outgoing, laid-back, independent, cuddly, curious or a little more adventurous.

Yes! In fact, that’s an important part of how we do things at Hard Run Acres. We believe spending time with a puppy can tell you things that a photograph simply can’t.

We normally begin allowing puppy visits once a litter reaches approximately four weeks old. Visits are scheduled so we can give each family the time they need.

Nope! Our waiting list is completely FREE. There is no charge and joining the list does not obligate you to purchase a puppy.

Each new litter starts the process again. Once the puppies are approximately four weeks old and we’re ready to begin visits and reservations, we start contacting families on the waiting list.

We normally text two or three families at a time and wait about 30–45 minutes before contacting the next group. Because our list is free, people sometimes join and later change their plans without removing themselves. Working through the list in small groups gives everyone a fair opportunity without creating a free-for-all.

When someone responds and is actively choosing a puppy, we pause our way down the waiting list. Sometimes that pause can be as long as 24 hours while that family makes arrangements or comes to visit. Once their decision is made, we continue down the list.

Don’t lose hope! A reservation doesn’t always mean that puppy will ultimately be the family’s choice. Once people visit and interact with the litter, sometimes another puppy steals their heart.

Your deposit places a temporary bookmark on that puppy. It makes sure the puppy is available for you to visit with when you come to the farm.

Not necessarily. Pictures are wonderful, but meeting a puppy is different. Sometimes a family arrives thinking they know exactly which puppy they want and another puppy chooses them instead.

If another puppy is available and you decide that puppy is a better match for your family, talk with us. Our goal is to help make the best match possible.

Deposits are typically $500. If a refund is requested for reasons unrelated to Hard Run Acres, a $50 processing and relisting fee will be deducted from the refunded amount.

We take cash, of course! We also accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Please note that a processing fee applies to credit and debit card payments.

Our Grow With Me Program gives families the opportunity to visit their reserved puppy while he or she is still growing here at Hard Run Acres. It allows bonding to begin before go-home day.

Puppy visits generally begin around four weeks of age and continue until your puppy is old enough to go home.

Yes. We’re a working farm and our days revolve around caring for our animals, so visits are scheduled by appointment.

Those few weeks give your puppy an opportunity to learn your voice, smell and touch before leaving everything familiar behind. They also give you an opportunity to watch your puppy grow and ask questions before go-home day.

Yes. Puppies receive the appropriate veterinary examination and paperwork required before leaving Hard Run Acres.

Yes. We send your puppy’s medical information home with you so your veterinarian knows what has already been given and when.

Yes. We send food home with our puppies so you don’t have to make an abrupt food change during an already exciting transition.

Yes, your puppies bloodlines are important to us, so registration papers are always sent and the pedigree most of the time. And all that information will be provided and explained to you.

Registration documents your puppy with the applicable registry and connects the puppy to its recorded parentage. Registration requirements can vary depending on the registry and breed.

Registration identifies the individual dog with a club/registry. A pedigree shows the dog’s recorded family tree across multiple generations.

The exact meaning depends on the registry. When applicable, we’ll explain which type of registration comes with your puppy and what it means before you make your final decision.

Remember that everything just changed for your puppy. New people, new smells, a new house and no littermates can be overwhelming. Give your puppy time to settle in and keep those first few days as calm and predictable as possible.

We don’t recommend making an abrupt food change at the same time your puppy is adjusting to a new home. If you plan to change foods, a gradual transition is generally much easier on a puppy’s digestive system a few weeks later once the pup has adjusted.

Your puppy has spent every night surrounded by littermates and familiar sounds. Suddenly sleeping alone in a strange place is a big adjustment. Patience, consistency and a predictable bedtime routine can make the transition easier.

We recommend establishing your puppy with your own veterinarian promptly after going home. Your puppy’s records will help your veterinarian determine the appropriate schedule for future vaccinations and preventive care.

Yes. Your applicable health guarantee and its terms will be provided with your puppy’s paperwork. Please read the guarantee carefully so you understand both our responsibilities and yours.

Contact us promptly. Keep copies of your veterinarian’s examination, diagnosis, testing and medical records. The specific requirements and timeframes are explained in your puppy contract and health guarantee.

Of course. Our relationship doesn’t have to end when you pull out of the driveway. If you have a question about your puppy, we’d rather you reach out and ask.

Just like the nursery in a hospital, we are also very careful about when our puppies come in contact with visitors and the outside world. Young puppies are still developing their immune systems and have not completed their vaccinations, so protecting them from unnecessary exposure is extremely important. For that reason, we limit handling and visitors during those first few weeks and take precautions when visits begin. Once our puppies are old enough for visitors, we absolutely want you to spend time with them! However, we simply can’t jeopardize the health and safety of our Nursery and all the other puppies in our care by opening it up for general tours. When you visit, you’ll be able to meet and spend time with the puppies you’re considering while we continue to keep our youngest and most vulnerable babies safely protected.

Absolutely! We encourage our new families to meet the parents of the puppy they have reserved whenever possible. We are very proud of our Sires & Dams and love for you to see firsthand their personalities, temperaments and characteristics. There are occasions when we bring in a new bloodline for our own breeding program. Once we’ve had time to evaluate the litter and choose the puppy we feel is the best fit for our program, we may offer the remaining puppies for adoption. In those situations, the parents do not live here at Hard Run Acres and aren’t available to meet. However, we generally have information about the parents, including their background and pedigree, that we’re happy to share with you.

Every breed of dog was originally developed with a purpose in mind. While many of those roles have changed over the years, the traits bred into them haven’t disappeared—and neither have the different needs of families. As a working farm, our dogs aren’t just pets; many of them still have roles here and contribute to the everyday rhythm of farm life. We also know there is no single breed that’s right for everyone. A family who absolutely loves the sweet, comical personality of a Pug may not enjoy the independent nature of a Shiba Inu. Someone who loves everything about a Golden Retriever may find that a Boston Terrier simply isn’t their cup of tea—and that’s okay! Different breeds fit different people, homes and lifestyles. For us, raising more than one breed isn’t about having more puppies; it’s about knowing and loving these breeds and helping families find the one that truly fits them.

Working with Mother Nature is something I was taught from the time I was a little girl, and it’s still a big part of how I raise and breed my animals today. I believe our mommas know their own bodies better than anyone. When one of our girls comes into season, if she wants to breed, that’s fine. If she doesn’t, that’s fine too. We don’t believe in forcing Mother Nature or breeding according to a production schedule. Some of our girls may only have one litter with us, while others may naturally have several over the years. We pay attention to each individual dog and let her tell us what she’s comfortable with. Her health, condition and willingness always come before producing a litter. That’s the way I was taught, and after all these years, it’s still the way I trust. Most of our girls retire from our breeding program somewhere around 4–6 years of age, depending on the individual dog. There’s no magic number of litters we’re trying to get from them—when it’s time for her to be finished being a momma, we’re perfectly okay with that.

Puppy prices can vary for several reasons, including breed, color, markings, registry and sometimes the particular bloodline. Some colors or traits are less common, some breeds have considerably different costs associated with raising a litter, and registration requirements and expenses can also vary from one registry to another. Price should never be confused with the quality of the puppy or how much we value one over another. The least expensive puppy in a litter receives the same care, attention, veterinary care, food and love as the most expensive one. Every puppy is raised right alongside its littermates and receives the same start here at Hard Run Acres. We also don’t believe the price tag should be what determines which puppy is right for your family. Sometimes the puppy that first catches your eye isn’t the one that ultimately steals your heart! That’s one reason we encourage families to come meet their puppy and, when possible, spend some time with the litter. Color may be what gets your attention, but personality and that connection you make with a puppy are what you’ll be taking home with you.