STRUCTURE AND CONFORMATION
Full registration dogs come with SouthernStar Kennels warranties, assuring that their general structure, conformation, and cosmetic points align with the breed standard well enough to be considered show and breeding quality. For males, this includes testicles dropping.
If your dog reaches 24 months and has been showcased at least 5 times under 3 different judges from AKC, CKC (Canadian, not Con), UKC, FCI, and/or IABCA, and has not received at least 1 Winners/Reserve Winners, V2, or FCI rating, or has ever been DQ from any AKC, CKC, UKC, FCI, or IABCA show for conformation reasons, you need to contact us regarding your dog health guarantees.
Failure to place or being DQ for reasons unrelated to faults, such as judge’s preference, behavior, presentation, temperament, lack of control, lack of grooming, or handler errors will not meet the criteria for a warranty for dogs.
Limited registration dogs do not guarantee conformity to the breed standard necessary to be classified as a show or breeding prospect, but are warranted against structural or cosmetic faults that impact their working or performance abilities, as well as their quality of life.
TEMPERAMENT
We do not provide any temperament warranties or guarantees. Only a small percentage of a dog’s temperament and personality is inherited or learned at a young age. The bulk of a dog’s temperament is shaped by their life experiences after 12 weeks of age, placing the responsibility on you to influence your dog’s final temperament.
GENERAL HEALTH
To activate your warranties and guarantees, proof must be submitted showing that your dog was seen by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours after acquisition. There are no exceptions to this rule. If during this visit, or in the first 5 days following acquisition, your veterinarian determines that your dog was unfit for sale due to symptoms or signs of infectious or contagious disease, you must contact us. We will cover the cost of a second opinion from a veterinarian of our choice. If the second veterinarian confirms the diagnosis, we will cover all vet bills, provided treatment is performed by a veterinarian of our choosing. If it is in the dog’s best interest, we will pay for euthanasia and offer a replacement dog under our SouthernStar Kennels warranties.
Please note that internal and external parasites, coccidian, and giardia are not covered by any warranty.
OFA testing is optional but strongly recommended. If initial testing is not conducted within the timelines stated in the contract, we will not replace your dog for failing results.
HIP/ELBOW/PATELLA
We guarantee BILATERAL hips, elbows, and patellas, provided that the x-ray and examination are conducted between 24 and 26 months of age. This provides a two-month window for necessary testing. Should your dog receive a borderline, mild, moderate, or severe rating in either side, you need to send us copies of the x-rays along with the dysplasia report. We will finance a second evaluation 6 months after the initial examination. If the second evaluation still reveals BILATERAL dysplasia, we will replace your dog as part of our dog health guarantees.
Unilateral dysplasia, often resulting from environmental factors, is not warranted against.
EYES
We warrant eye health, contingent upon evaluation being conducted between 12 and 18 months of age. If the examination does not pass, and your dog receives a CAER Ineligible Code, Breeder Option Codes do not qualify for replacement, but we ask for your notification.
CARDIAC
Your dog is warranted against cardiac issues, provided you obtain cardiac certification between 12 and 18 months of age. Since cardiac issues are not common in our breed, we do not specify whether it is basic or advanced.
GENETIC
We do not offer warranties against DNA-based issues, as your dog was fully tested for any genetic conditions prior to sale.
OTHER INHERITED OR CONGENITAL
Your dog is warranted against all inherited and congenital defects for life. If a veterinarian suspects that your dog has an unlisted condition that is potentially inherited or congenital, you must contact us. We will cover the cost for a second opinion from a specialist. If the specialist concurs that the issue is indeed inherited or congenital, we will proceed with replacing your dog.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DOG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED?
If a warranted health problem is identified and you have not voided the warranties, contact us immediately. Your vet must send all medical records related to the issue; we will not accept records sent by you, only from your veterinarian. All records must detail the clinic name, veterinarian’s name, phone number, veterinarian’s license number, your name, your dog’s registered name, and microchip number.
We will review the submitted records and determine if a replacement is warranted. If the problem indeed requires replacement, you will have options.
If the health issue significantly impacts your dog’s quality of life (QOL), we will require that you euthanize the dog at our expense.
If the problem does not affect your dog’s QOL, you may opt to return the dog at our expense, along with all registration papers signed over to us.
Alternatively, if the problem does not compromise your dog’s QOL and you prefer, you may spay or neuter your dog at our expense with a veterinarian of our choosing. You must return all registration papers and keep your dog.
Regardless of which option you select, you will be placed at the top of our waiting list for a replacement dog.
WHAT WILL VOID OR NULLIFY MY WARRANTIES?
Certain actions will void your warranties and guarantees.
- Failing to have your dog seen by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours after acquisition.
- Changing your dog’s registered name.
- Registering your dog with any non-legitimate or pet registry.
- Rehoming your dog without prior notification to us.
- Allowing your dog to become overweight or underweight, or subjecting your dog to abuse or neglect.
- Permitting the veterinarian to conduct any unnecessary tests or procedures.
- Allowing the veterinarian to restart puppy vaccines, or implement a different vaccine protocol than specified in the contract.
- Taking your dog to public places and exposing them to unfamiliar dogs with unknown vaccination and health history before the 7-day window following the 16-week puppy vaccine.
- Not maintaining suitable and appropriate parasite control.
- Neglecting general care for your dog, including nail, dental, and skin/coat maintenance.
- Performing cosmetic procedures such as ear cropping, tail docking, or dew claw removal without medical necessity.
- Feeding unapproved commercial dog food.
- A traditional neuter (full hysterectomy or castration) prior to 24 months of age.
- Breeding your full registration dog before meeting the necessary requirements.
- Breeding your limited registration dog without contacting us to lift the limitations.
If any of the above actions occur, your warranties provided by SouthernStar Kennels will be null and void, and you will not receive a replacement dog for any issues.