If you'd like an application, please review our policies below FIRST. All policies will be reflected in our legal purchase contract. Please read and consider them each, thoroughly. If you'd like to work with us bearing these policies, then follow the instructions at the END on how to proceed in submitting an application.
Please note our policies are subject to change at any time and may vary, depending on which stud owner we partner with for a litter.
MMSS's POLICIES
1. Every potential owner will be required to fill out an application. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please note, not all applications received will be approved. We reserve the right to reject an application on any grounds should we not feel confident one of our pups will be well-matched with an applicant. All applications will be followed up with a phone interview.
2. As of Jan. 1, 2023, we will require a $100 deposit to be placed on our waiting list (amount credited towards initial deposit once puppies are born). We will only hold a new application for two weeks if this fee has not been paid, then we will delete it and you can apply again when you are ready. Instructions for fee payment will be given following a phone interview IF your application is approved.
2. As of Jan. 1, 2023, we will require a $100 deposit to be placed on our waiting list (amount credited towards initial deposit once puppies are born). We will only hold a new application for two weeks if this fee has not been paid, then we will delete it and you can apply again when you are ready. Instructions for fee payment will be given following a phone interview IF your application is approved.
3. Breeding rights are something that should be earned, not sold. Because of this, all puppies will be sold on a pet-contract only with AKC limited registration. This will only be amended at our discretion should we have an applicant with a show/competition history interested in purchasing a puppy and/or who pays towards show/conformation fees, in which case breeder remains co-owner until contract terms are fulfilled.
4. All puppies will be sold on a spay/neuter contract wherein the owner agrees to have puppy spayed/neutered at no sooner than 1 year old and no later than 2 years old. TIMEFRAME IS NON-NEGOTIABLE and is enforced in contract. This age contingency is based on what is best for the dog's overall health. Please refer to our HELPFUL LINKS page for more info on why we adhere to this policy.
Due to past litigation, we now require a $250 spay/neuter deposit in addition to puppy cost, due at contract signing. This deposit will be 100% refunded once proof of S/N is received, per contract terms. We are prepared to legal enforce the spay/neuter condition, if needed.
5. MMSS will retain AKC registration paperwork for every puppy until after proof of spay/neuter has been provided. If you have an interest in joining AKC competition events that require registration, please note this in your application.
6. All puppies will come with natural ears, tails docked, and with dew claws removed, unless otherwise stated. We do not crop ears, nor do we have any experience with the ear-cropping process. We believe it is an owner's choice whether or not to crop, and we have no opposition should an owner choose to do so at their own expense after receiving a puppy from us.
We do offer the option to leave tails natural, but this relies on the willingness of the stud-owner, so option will vary per litter. If you have a preference for a natural tail, you must indicate so on your application. Puppies with natural tails will need to be chosen by their prospective family no later than 3 days old and require an *additional deposit of $500 on top of the standard litter deposit (not in addition to puppy total cost), the entirety of which is non-refundable should the buyer cancel purchase of puppy for any reason.
6. All puppies will come with a health guarantee that states the puppy is clear of DCM, is healthy on the day of pick up, up-to-date on shots and deworming, microchipped, and has been evaluated by a registered veterinarian.
8. MMSS will take back any dog of our breeding of any age, for any reason. We do not allow dogs we've bred to be re-sold, re-gifted, or released to a shelter or rescue for any reason, nor do we allow the transfer of ownership without breeder consent.
6. All puppies will come with a health guarantee that states the puppy is clear of DCM, is healthy on the day of pick up, up-to-date on shots and deworming, microchipped, and has been evaluated by a registered veterinarian.
8. MMSS will take back any dog of our breeding of any age, for any reason. We do not allow dogs we've bred to be re-sold, re-gifted, or released to a shelter or rescue for any reason, nor do we allow the transfer of ownership without breeder consent.
9. A $500 deposit is required to reserve a puppy once one is available (i.e. after birth). If on our wait list, your $100 fee will be applied to this initial deposit with a remaining balance of $400 due at time of commitment to a litter. Deposit will go towards the total cost of puppy. Deposits are non-refundable since they are not paid until you have agreed to be placed on an available litter. Deposits are payable by cashier's check, money order, or personal checks. Final balance due in $ CASH $ at pick up.
10. We do NOT ship. All puppies will be picked up at our home in person by the intended owner, as there is a contract to sign and a notary present to legalize the signatures. If the new owner should choose to fly home with their puppy as a carry-on passenger after picking it up from us, that is left to the discretion of the owner.
11. At this time we are placing west of the Mississippi on a limited basis only and only to those with *proven current or previous SS ownership. We do not place at all outside the US.
12. All MMSS puppies will come with an AKC registered name picked by the breeder according to the litter's theme that cannot be changed for the life of the puppy, regardless of ownership transfer. Owners are free to "call" their pup by whatever name they choose, but the registered name filed with the AKC cannot be altered. (Refer to Nova's information in the OUR DOGS section for how this applies.)
13. This is NOT an adoption! Every puppy from MMSS is a contracted live-animal sale. There is a notarized, legal purchase contract that every buyer must sign in person before ownership will be transferred. All points of our policies are also in the contract. We strongly suggest potential buyers request a copy of this contract BEFORE requesting an application to make sure you are willing to agree to its terms. If you contact us with an interest in "adopting" one of our puppies, we will refer you back to this policy point.
14. Neither inquiry emails nor phone calls count when it comes to being added to our wait lists. It does not matter if we have spoken repeatedly on the phone or have corresponded in a dozen or more emails--no one will be added to our waiting list until an application is on file and an application fee has been received. And that application will not be backdated to any point of earlier contact. A potential buyer's position on our waiting list depends on their personal diligence in getting their application returned in a timely manner and adhering to our application process.
15. MMSS will not place any puppies into homes with another dog that is under the age of 1-year-old or with a dog of the opposite sex without proof of spay/neuter of current pets already in the home or on premises. Nor do we place puppies into homes that plan to introduce another puppy within 1 year.
16. All puppies are sold with no expressed guarantee of potential ability for any competitive event or activity. We would LOVE for all of our pups to earn titles in the areas that interest their families but cannot offer any promises as to their potential or ability to succeed in those venues. Success is 10% dog and 90% owner effort.
17. MMSS reserves the right to 1st & 2nd choice of every litter. We do NOT give 1st choice of litter to anyone, so don't ask. Puppy picks do not occur until between 7-8 weeks of age and will happen with input and possible limitations from the breeder. We reserve the right to order the remaining choices per litter as we see fit.
18. Homes willing to let us have a puppy shown in conformation (through a handler only!!), willing to be a guardian home, or homes with proven prior SS ownership (either through breeder verification or DNA proof) will have priority placement in any litter. This can present in several ways but usually means these owners either get placed with a puppy sooner or receive priority pick of a given litter.
19. We do not give out specific information regarding positions on our waiting list. Our reason for this is, waiting lists are fluid in nature. For example, we may have a list of 20 people and have a litter of 10 puppies. In that case, it would be common for people 11-20 to assume they did not make the cut and potentially look elsewhere for a puppy. However, that litter could be a litter of all black girls and persons 1-10 all want boys or a pepper salt puppy, leading me to begin our puppy placing at #11. There are a slew of other factors that could affect the timing of puppy placement regardless of where you are number-wise on a list (i.e. prior SS ownership, show puppy, etc.). For that reason, we try not to give false hope or false discouragement to those waiting by relegating them to a number.
20. We will not place puppies as potential service or emotional support animals. This has been increasingly requested given our connection with therapy work, but therapy work does not translate to service work, and SS puppyhood is not conducive to those needing emotional support. Standard schnauzers are NOT recommended for service animals, and this is by breeders with decades in the breed as well as service dog trainers with vast experience. A majority of SS returned to breeders are done so due to the difficulty of dealing with an SS through puppyhood. If you are thinking this breed is suitable for either job, please re-read the "so you want a standard schnauzer" section of the OUR BREED page.
How application fee works:
How application fee works:
PLEASE NOTE: Once again, our policies are reflected in our contract. To date, we have had to resort to legal measures against 2 owners for breach of contract for violating our spay/neuter terms, and both times were settled in our favor. We are NOT KIDDING when we say to be prepared to work under our terms.
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**MMSS reserves the right to amend these policies at any time.
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If you have specific questions that do NOT refer to price, location, availability, or placement time frame, and are not yet ready to fill out an application, please refer to the CONTACT US tab.
If you are interested in submitting an application, please click the link below. Fill out all questions before submitting.
**MMSS reserves the right to amend these policies at any time.