Dutton Dog Co. Health Guarantee

Please review this Health Guarantee in its entirety before placing a deposit.

By placing a deposit, making payment toward a puppy, and/or accepting possession of a Dutton Dog Co. puppy, the Buyer acknowledges that they have been provided access to these terms and agrees that the puppy is placed subject to them.

Questions regarding these terms should be directed to Dutton Dog Co. before submitting a deposit or accepting possession of a puppy.

Dutton Dog Co. reserves the right to decline or discontinue a puppy placement if we determine that the Buyer or household is not an appropriate match.

Limited Health Guarantee

Dutton Dog Co. provides a limited health guarantee through twenty-four (24) months of age for a serious hereditary or congenital disease that is medically demonstrated to have resulted from inherited or congenital causes and that substantially impairs the dog’s ability to live a normal companion life.

This guarantee is limited to the conditions and circumstances expressly described below.

No breeder can guarantee that a puppy will remain free from all illness, disease, injury, developmental abnormalities, or other health conditions throughout its lifetime.

A puppy’s development is influenced by genetics as well as nutrition, weight, exercise, environment, veterinary care, injury, supplementation, and overall management after leaving Dutton Dog Co.

Genetic Conditions

Dutton Dog Co. utilizes breed-appropriate health and genetic testing when selecting breeding dogs.

When the sire and dam have been DNA tested for breed-relevant inherited disorders, those results are used to reduce the risk of producing genetically affected puppies.

A claim involving a DNA-testable genetic disease must be supported by appropriate diagnostic testing from a recognized veterinary genetic laboratory.

Carrier status alone does not constitute an affected dog when carrier status does not cause clinical disease.

Genetic testing cannot predict or prevent every medical condition that may develop during a dog’s lifetime.

Hip and Elbow Development

Dutton Dog Co. health-tests breeding dogs as appropriate for the breed. However, hip and elbow development is multifactorial and cannot be predicted or controlled solely through parental testing or selective breeding.

Orthopedic development may be influenced by:

  • Genetics

  • Growth rate

  • Nutrition and supplementation

  • Weight and body condition

  • Exercise and repetitive activity

  • Jumping or repetitive impact

  • Slipping, falling, accidents, or injuries

  • Flooring and living environment

  • Veterinary treatment

  • Timing of spaying or neutering

  • Other factors outside Dutton Dog Co.’s control

Once a puppy leaves Dutton Dog Co., we cannot control its diet, weight, exercise, environment, injuries, veterinary treatment, or overall management.

Hip or Elbow Claims

A hip or elbow claim may be considered only when:

  • The dog is under twenty-four (24) months of age when the condition is documented.

  • The condition is severe and clinically significant.

  • Appropriate radiographs and veterinary documentation support the diagnosis.

  • Complete relevant veterinary records and diagnostic images are provided upon request.

  • Dutton Dog Co. is permitted to obtain an independent professional review or second opinion.

  • There is no reasonable evidence that trauma, excessive weight, inappropriate exercise, nutritional imbalance, injury, or another acquired factor materially caused or worsened the condition.

An OFA, PennHIP, veterinary, or radiographic finding alone does not automatically establish an approved claim.

Arthritis, degenerative joint disease, osteochondritis dissecans, panosteitis, cruciate or other ligament injuries, joint laxity without qualifying disease, growth-plate injuries, angular limb deformities, tendon injuries, gait abnormalities, and other orthopedic conditions are not independently guaranteed unless they satisfy the express requirements of this limited guarantee.

Initial Veterinary Examination

The Buyer is strongly expected to have the puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian of the Buyer’s choosing within seventy-two (72) hours of taking possession.

This examination allows the Buyer to independently evaluate the puppy’s general health following placement.

All expenses associated with this examination, testing, and treatment are the responsibility of the Buyer.

Failure to obtain this examination may be considered when evaluating whether a condition reported later existed at the time of transfer.

Conditions Not Covered

Unless otherwise required by applicable law, this limited health guarantee does not cover:

  • Patellar conditions

  • Cancer

  • Allergies

  • Food or environmental sensitivities

  • Skin conditions

  • Autoimmune disorders

  • Entropion or ectropion

  • Inverted vulva

  • Retained or undescended testicles

  • Hernias

  • Abnormal dentition or bite changes

  • Cosmetic imperfections

  • Parasites, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia, or giardia

  • Bacterial, viral, fungal, or other infectious diseases

  • Illness contracted after leaving Dutton Dog Co.

  • Injuries, accidents, trauma, or poisoning

  • Foreign-body ingestion

  • Heat-related illness

  • Conditions materially influenced by diet, weight, exercise, supplementation, environment, veterinary treatment, medication, management, or injury

  • Fertility or reproductive ability

  • Ability to sire or whelp a litter

  • Breeding quality

  • Ability to pass future breeding clearances

  • Size or adult weight

  • Coat, color, or pigmentation

  • Appearance or conformation outcome

  • Ear or tail set

  • Temperament

  • Trainability, drive, or energy level

  • Behavioral conditions

  • Suitability or success in showing, breeding, hunting, service work, therapy work, sport, or other performance activities

  • Routine or elective veterinary care

  • Vaccinations, deworming, preventatives, spaying/neutering, dental care, or routine examinations

  • Any condition not expressly covered by this written guarantee

Many conditions that may occur during puppy development are manageable, temporary, cosmetic, environmental, or otherwise do not substantially affect the dog’s ability to live a normal companion life.

All veterinary bills and related expenses remain the responsibility of the Buyer.

Buyer Responsibilities

Once the puppy leaves Dutton Dog Co., the Buyer assumes responsibility for the puppy’s nutrition, body condition, exercise, environment, veterinary treatment, training, supervision, and overall management.

The Buyer agrees to make reasonable efforts to:

  • Maintain the dog at a healthy weight.

  • Provide balanced, age-appropriate nutrition.

  • Avoid overfeeding and excessive supplementation.

  • Avoid forced or repetitive high-impact exercise during growth.

  • Minimize repetitive jumping from vehicles, furniture, porches, or other elevated surfaces.

  • Provide safe footing whenever reasonably possible.

  • Provide appropriate veterinary care.

  • Seek veterinary care following significant illness, injury, lameness, abnormal gait, or other medical concern.

Spaying, Neutering & Breeding

Unless otherwise agreed to in writing, Dutton Dog Co. puppies are sold as companion animals with AKC Limited Registration, where applicable, and are not sold for breeding purposes.

The Buyer agrees not to breed the dog or permit an accidental breeding.

Full Registration or breeding rights may occasionally be offered to approved homes at Dutton Dog Co.’s discretion and require separate written approval. Additional fees, health clearances, and other requirements may apply.

The Buyer has no automatic right to Full Registration.

Full Registration does not guarantee:

  • Fertility

  • Breeding success

  • Show quality

  • Future health clearances

  • Service or therapy suitability

  • Performance ability

  • Success for any specialized purpose

Alteration before physical maturity may affect eligibility for a health-guarantee claim when the timing of alteration could reasonably relate to the claimed condition.

Any specific spay/neuter requirement contained in separate sale or registration terms also applies.

Making a Health Guarantee Claim

The Buyer must promptly notify Dutton Dog Co. after receiving a diagnosis believed to qualify under this guarantee.

When medically reasonable, Dutton Dog Co. must be provided an opportunity to review the claim before elective surgery, euthanasia, or another irreversible procedure is performed.

Emergency veterinary treatment should never be delayed in order to contact Dutton Dog Co.

A claim must be supported by appropriate documentation, which may include:

  • Complete veterinary records

  • Written diagnosis from a licensed veterinarian

  • Veterinary specialist evaluation

  • Diagnostic imaging

  • OFA or PennHIP documentation

  • Laboratory testing

  • Genetic testing from a recognized veterinary laboratory

  • Proof of the dog’s identity or microchip number

Dutton Dog Co. reserves the right to request additional medical documentation and/or an independent professional review or second opinion before approving a claim.

Remedy for an Approved Claim

DUTTON DOG CO. DOES NOT OFFER A CASH OR MONETARY REFUND AS A REMEDY UNDER THIS VOLUNTARY HEALTH GUARANTEE.

For a legitimate and properly documented claim approved by Dutton Dog Co., the Buyer’s sole voluntary remedy is:

One replacement puppy of comparable value from a future available Dutton Dog Co. litter.

Availability, sex, color, parentage, litter, and timing are not guaranteed.

A reasonable waiting period may be necessary for an appropriate replacement puppy to become available.

The Buyer is not required to euthanize or surrender the affected dog solely to receive an approved replacement puppy, unless a separate written arrangement is voluntarily made.

The Buyer remains responsible for the care and expenses of the affected dog.

If the Buyer declines or fails to accept an offered replacement puppy, the remedy does not convert into cash, credit, veterinary reimbursement, damages, or another monetary payment.

The Buyer is responsible for transportation associated with receiving a replacement puppy.

If the Buyer voluntarily chooses a puppy priced above the comparable replacement value, the Buyer is responsible for the price difference.

Nothing in this guarantee eliminates a monetary or other remedy that applicable law expressly makes non-waivable.

Veterinary Expenses & Financial Responsibility

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Dutton Dog Co. is not responsible for:

  • Veterinary bills

  • Diagnostic testing

  • Medications

  • Surgery

  • Rehabilitation

  • Emergency care

  • Transportation or shipping

  • Boarding

  • Training

  • Food or supplies

  • Travel expenses

  • Lost wages or income

  • Emotional distress

  • Loss of use

  • Incidental or consequential expenses

  • Third-party expenses

This voluntary health guarantee is not pet insurance and does not provide veterinary reimbursement coverage.

Original Buyer & Transfer

This voluntary health guarantee applies only to the original Buyer and is not transferable.

Unless otherwise approved by Dutton Dog Co. in writing, guarantee eligibility may end if the dog:

  • Is sold or transferred to another owner

  • Is bred or used at stud

  • Sires or whelps a litter

  • Is used contrary to the written placement terms

  • Is otherwise transferred without Dutton Dog Co.’s written approval

These provisions apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Lifetime Return-to-Breeder Requirement

If at any time during the dog’s lifetime the Buyer is unable or unwilling to keep the dog, Dutton Dog Co. must be contacted before the dog is independently rehomed.

The Buyer agrees not to:

  • Abandon the dog

  • Surrender the dog to a shelter without first contacting Dutton Dog Co.

  • Release the dog to a rescue organization without first contacting Dutton Dog Co.

  • Sell or give the dog away without first contacting Dutton Dog Co.

  • Rehome the dog through social media or an online listing without first contacting Dutton Dog Co.

Dutton Dog Co. may accept the dog back or assist in arranging an appropriate placement.

Returning a dog does not automatically entitle the Buyer to a refund, reimbursement, credit, replacement puppy, or other payment.

Any financial arrangement associated with a voluntary return must be expressly agreed to in writing by Dutton Dog Co.

Puppy Development & Intended Purpose

Dutton Dog Co. carefully plans breedings with the goal of producing healthy, well-tempered dogs.

However, no breeder can guarantee exactly how a puppy will mature in appearance, structure, temperament, size, working ability, fertility, or suitability for a particular activity.

Puppies develop through a combination of genetics, nutrition, training, socialization, veterinary care, environment, exercise, injury, and individual development.

A puppy selected as promising for showing, breeding, hunting, sport, service work, therapy work, or another specialized purpose may later develop characteristics that prevent the dog from fulfilling that purpose.

Such an outcome does not, by itself, constitute a health-guarantee claim.

Our Commitment

Dutton Dog Co. carefully plans our breedings, performs health testing appropriate to our breeding program, provides veterinary and preventative care to our puppies before placement, and remains available as a resource to our puppy families.

Standing behind the dogs we produce means providing responsible support and honoring the specific promises made in this Health Guarantee. It does not mean assuming financial responsibility for every illness, injury, developmental variation, or veterinary expense that may occur during a dog’s lifetime.

If circumstances change and a Buyer can no longer keep a Dutton Dog Co. dog, we ask that they contact us.

Our responsibility to the dogs we produce does not end when they leave our care.

Buyer Acknowledgment

By placing a deposit, making payment toward a puppy, and/or accepting possession of a Dutton Dog Co. puppy, the Buyer acknowledges that they have been provided access to this Health Guarantee and agrees to the terms applicable to their puppy’s placement.

No verbal statement expands this voluntary guarantee.

If any provision is determined to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions should continue to apply to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Nothing contained in this Health Guarantee is intended to waive or restrict a consumer right or remedy that applicable law does not permit the parties to waive.