If you would like to purchase a pup, please call Kit Critchlow at 480-250-9005.  I will need to know more about you, the type of hunting you do, and the gun dog characteristics that are most important to you.    If you are not sure about buying a pup from us, but have questions, please feel free to call us or send an email to: kit_critchlow@hotmail.com      Download Purchase Application Here.

PUPPY PACKAGE

Price:  $950.  All pups will have their first shots which include:  Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and wormed as necessary.  The tails are docked and the dewclaws removed. 

You will also receive:  Verein Deutsch Drahthaar (VDD) registration Certificate, A three generation pedigree which will include Hip Displasia and hunting test information, Parents test scores, coat and confirmation information.

RESERVATIONS

You can reserve a pup in advance by paying a $300 refundable deposit  which is included in the total price of the dog.  I will choose the placement of the puppies based on requests of the new owners.  Since I will be the most knowledgeable about personalities and physical characteristics at the time of placement it is the best way to find the new pups the proper home.  Please send a personal check with a note describing how much and what type of hunting you do along with a list of which gun dog characteristics will be most important to you.

The refundable deposit will  be returned if we are unable to provide the buyer with a pup from agreed upon breeding.  We may also decline sales at our discretion.  We must be convinced that the pup will be going to responsible owners who will endeavor to hunt their dogs as much as possible and raise them as a member of their family.

Desert Dancer Hunting, 18647 E Pine Valley Drive, Queen Creek, AZ 85242

We will only sell puppies to hard hunting homes.   

GUARANTEE

All pups are unconditionally guaranteed for 12 months from the date of purchase.   The 12 month limitation is designed to drive very specific behavior on your part.  During these 12 months you should  work with your pup enough to realize his potential.  You should be well aware of his temperament, his pointing and retrieving abilities and most flaws. Your pup should be well socialized, and then introduced to birds, guns and water.  If you contact us during the first 12 months with a specific problem that may improve over time, the guarantee can be extended for another six months if mutually agreed.  We will require full medical history to honor the guarantee.

All dogs are conditionally guaranteed until the age of 24 months for radiographic evidence of  hip displasia.  The only acceptable radiographic evidence is a VDD HD evaluation that excludes the dog from breeding in the VDD breeding program.  

If a pup or dog is returned under our guarantee, we will replace the dog from the next available litter.  We will require that the pup be returned to us for evaluation and possible placement into another home. You will be responsible for any shipping charges unless otherwise agreed.  If another litter is not available in a reasonable time period then a full refund may be negotiated.

WHEN TO PICK UP YOUR PUP

You can expect to take delivery of your new pup when he is between 7 and 8 weeks of age.   We use the VDD method of registration where it is customary to follow the alphabet and to include the kennel name in the registered name of each pup, i.e. "Archer vom Desert Dancer", "Bud vom Desert Dancer", "Cora vom Desert Dancer", and so on.  You may name your pup if you supply us with a name before the paperwork has been submitted to the Registry.   If you do not get to name your pup, you can still use any "call" name that you choose.

SHIPPING YOUR PUP VIA AIR CARGO

If you do not pick up your pup personally, your pup may be shipped via following airlines in order of preference: Horizon/Alaska, Delta, Northwest, Continental, from the Phoenix Air Terminal (PHX) located in Phoenix, AZ.  You will be responsible for all  freight charges.  

Airline kennels are an additional cost.  We have small inexpensive crates to ship your puppy.  Crates are $20 and may be returned to us for a full refund if desired.  Your pup will soon out grow this crate; however, these crates make excellent carriers for training birds or pigeons.

Note: if the puppy is flying with Continental Airlines the crate will be in the $40-50 range due to addition requirements by continental.

If you do not have a crate or if you need an additional crate, at your request,  we will purchase one and ship your pup in the full size crate.  This will likely be more expensive however.

Please note that there is a temperature restriction on many of the airlines from the months of May through September.  It is very likely that we will have to limited delivery times/dates during these months.  Flights will typically be restricted to early morning departures.  You can however fly in and pick up a puppy as carry on luggage.

If you have any questions about the conditions of sale, please do not hesitate to contact me.

What I expect of a puppy owner:

This is very important for prospective puppy buyers to understand.  If my expectations are understood up front then there is less chance of me being disappointed in the future.  I expect all of my pups to go to hunting homes.  These dogs are bred primarily for hunting and this should be a significant part of their purpose in their new home.  Now, we can only hunt a few months a year, so I also expect a nice home for the pup for the rest of the year as well.  If everything works out like I hope, the pup will be an excellent hunting as well as home companion.  If you want to do some trialing or other competitive dog games, that is an additional bonus that you will both enjoy.

Many hunters in the US are not familiar with the JGHV testing system and how valuable it has been to the DD breed.    If you are not familiar with the testing system, I ask that you do some research and find out about it before purchasing a pup.  I am always willing to pass along this information in a telephone conversation, in person or I can certainly let you know where to find it on the internet.  Check out the Drahthaar Information Page.

I expect and greatly hope that all new puppy owners run the VJP and HZP tests.  This is a commitment on the part of the new owner.  If you are not familiar with the testing system, please don't be scared off by it.  It is based on hunting, judged by hunters and intended to improve the hunting ability of these dogs as a breed.  It is the system that has produced these fine dogs.  As Drahthaar owners, we have a responsibility to keep that improvement going.

As a breeder, hunter, judge and dog trainer I see many advantages to running puppies in the puppy tests.

1. I get official feedback from an unbiased party on what quality of dogs I'm producing and how good the parents produce.

2. The VDD and future puppy buyers get feedback on the parents as future puppy producers.

3. You get a set of goals to train for which makes you very happy when it comes time for hunting season.

A dog that has passed the HZP (Fall Puppy Test) is a very nice dog to take hunting.  It retrieves well, is obedient and produces game efficiently for the gun.

For those handlers that find they really enjoy the training and testing system I encourage you to also run the VGP (Utility Test).  I can't emphasize how much enjoyment I get out of hunting over a dog that has been trained to the VGP level.  It is truly a pleasure to hunt behind a dog with such a broad background of hunting and obedience training.