Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to spay or neuter my dog?
Current research suggests waiting until approximately 18 months to 2.5 years of age before spaying or neutering large-breed dogs. Allowing your puppy to reach full physical maturity supports healthy growth plate development, proper hormonal maturation, joint health, and overall long-term wellness.

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Important Notes

• Shelter Puppies: If you adopted from a shelter, they may have spayed the puppy as early as 8 to 12 weeks old to ensure population control before adoption.

• The "In Heat" Rule: Most vets recommend not spaying a dog while she is actively in heat, as the increased blood flow to the area makes the surgery riskier. It is typically safer to wait 2–3 months after the heat cycle ends.

• Consult Your Vet: Always talk to your vet by the time your puppy is 4–6 months old to create a personalized plan based on her specific health and breed.

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What is Gastropexy?

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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What is a Neuter Coat?

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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Vaccination Schedule

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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Crate Training

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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I also have an idea for turning these into a "Rocky Mountain Irish Setters Puppy Academy" series. Each week you could post a beautifully branded educational graphic on topics like:

• Vaccination Schedule

• Spay & Neuter Timing

• What Is a Neuter Coat?

• What Is a Gastropexy?

• Crate Training

• Potty Training

• Nutrition

• Grooming

• Exercise

• Socialization

Over time, that would establish your page as a trusted educational resource—not just a place that advertises puppies—and it's the kind of content that families often save and share.

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Dogs:

• Pedigrees

• AKC paperwork (breeding rights)

• OFA - Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

  • Hips/Elbows = snapshot (Looks at hip conformation and signs of arthritis)

  • Thyroid

  • CAER Eyes, PRA

• PENN Hips = forecast

  • What it means = Hip laxity (how loose the joint is), Most predictive test for future hip arthritis

• DNA - Embark

• Microchip

• Flee and Tick bath

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Health Testing & Responsible Breeding

The health and well-being of our dogs and puppies is a top priority. All of our breeding dogs are carefully selected and health tested to support long-term soundness, excellent temperament, and quality of life.

Our dogs are DNA tested for Irish Setter–specific PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), an inherited eye condition that can cause vision loss later in life. Through genetic testing and thoughtful pairing, we ensure that our puppies are not at risk of developing PRA.

 

We also screen for orthopedic health using OFA hip and elbow evaluations and, in some cases, PennHIP testing, which measures hip joint laxity and helps predict the risk of future hip arthritis. These evaluations allow us to make informed breeding decisions that prioritize structural soundness and mobility.

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When applicable, our dogs receive CAER eye examinations performed by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists to confirm overall eye health.

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By combining genetic testing, orthopedic screening, and professional evaluations, we are committed to responsible, transparent breeding practices that support healthy, well-rounded Irish Setters for families and the field.

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​​​​​​​​​​​How often to do you recommend feeding?

A $250 reservation deposit is required to reserve your place on our waitlist. This deposit is fully refundable at any time if your plans change. It simply allows us to thoughtfully plan puppy placements and prioritize families who are ready to welcome a puppy into their home.

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What is Crate Training?

A $250 reservation deposit is required to reserve your place on our waitlist. This deposit is fully refundable at any time if your plans change. It simply allows us to thoughtfully plan puppy placements and prioritize families who are ready to welcome a puppy into their home.

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Which bark collar do you recommend?

The remaining balance is due at the time your puppy is picked up or personally delivered to your family.

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What Apple Air Tag do you recommend?

A $250 reservation deposit is required to reserve your place on our waitlist. This deposit is fully refundable at any time if your plans change. It simply allows us to thoughtfully plan puppy placements and prioritize families who are ready to welcome a puppy into their home.

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How soon can I take my puppy to dog parks?

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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What is Parvo?

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated

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Do your dogs hunt?

• Puppies are not fully protected until 1–2 weeks after their final DHPP vaccine (around 16 weeks)

• Avoid dog parks, pet stores, and unknown dogs until fully vaccinated