We have gathered several of our Frequently Asked Questions for your review. If you still have questions after reading, please feel free to contact uas at 417-466-4518. HEALTH Q: What is the health and guarantee on a puppy? A: All puppies will see a licensed veterinarian for an initial health check at 6 to 8 weeks and possibly a follow up visit before shipment to receive a health paper for shipment. All known defects will be disclosed on the health paper and we will notify you if anything is found and give you the option to decline or accept the puppy. All puppies receive first round of puppy shots before leaving our farm for parvo, distemper and other puppy diseases. They will need more after you receive them, plus a rabies at 12 weeks. All puppies will have been dewormed at least two or more times before shipment and will receive prophylactic medicine for giradia and coccidiosis. We guarantee livability for one week and congenital defects for one year. This is in our purchase contract. If your puppy does become ill, contact us immediately so our vet can discuss the problem with your vet. We replace approximately less than 1% of puppies we sell, and have a star record of doing what is right. We know this is a family member and want you to be satisfied. Health of our puppies is our primary concern at Middleton Family Farm, therefore, we do not allow puppies to visit our kennel. This is not to conceal anything, but to protect the health of our puppies. Visiting puppies is an issue since most puppies at pounds and rescue shelters are commingled from many different sources and have not received proper health care before being placed at one of these facilities. We are licensed and inspected regularly by the USDA, State of Missouri and our private veterinarian. We feed Nutro brand puppy food. It is available nationwide at Petco and PetsMart. If you choose to change food, be sure that it is meat based and not corn. Puppies need meat protein (chicken, lamb) for proper health and growth and should receive puppy food the first year. We also recommend keeping the puppy on bottled water in the beginning. Our puppies drink well water at the farm and may not drink treated water readily at first. Using bottled water will help adapt them into regular tap water. We are members of the Better Business Bureau. PAYMENT Q: What is the best way to pay for my puppy? A: We prefer payment by credit card, money order or PayPal. This guarantees you will receive the puppy or the charge can be removed by your credit card company. You will have to sign a bill of lading at the airport to receive your puppy. This is our proof you received the puppy. We will accept a personal check for a deposit if there is time for it to be cleared before shipment of your puppy. Due to bad past experiences, we do not use Escrow services. Q: Why should I buy from Middleton Family Farm? A: This is our family business and primary source of income. Our reputation is on the line, so we take great strides in supplying our customers with quality animals. We are licensed by the USDA and the State of Missouri and have regular inspections of our kennel facilities and dogs. We perform diagnostic health checks on our breeding animals to lessen chances of genetic defects. We attend seminars and short courses to stay up-to-date on the latest innovations to continue to provide our customers with the best puppy possible. We have over 35 years of experience raising purebred and champion hogs, cattle and sheep. With this type of genetic experience, we understand what it takes to do make our animals the best quality. We are also easily accessible to answer your questions after the sale and advice to bond with your new family member. Bottom line, if you are the type of person who takes your car to the dealership to be worked on by a factory trained mechanic using approved parts and guarantee satisfaction, instead of bringing it to a shady tree mechanic, then we are the place to purchase your next family member. PUPPY SHIPMENT BY AIR Q: Is shipping my puppy in a plane really safe? A: Absolutely! Puppies leave our farm in the morning and will arrive at your closest airport later that day. Usually within 12 hours of leaving our home. Puppies fly in a pressurized section of the plane (that is heated and air conditioned). The puppies do not travel in the cargo area of the plane. We have shipped over 100 puppies and never had one die or get lost. However, we have had puppies be rerouted, arrive late and miss connecting flights. Unfortunately, after we place a puppy on the airplane, we have no control over weather, delays and scheduling changes. Be it a puppy or a human, we have all encountered these types of issues when traveling by plane. Like all air travelers, Middleton Family Farm has no control over these types of issues. Stress for the puppy is less of a problem when flying because of the duration of the flights. However, the puppy has never experienced any of the new surroundings, smells or sounds involved in traveling and will be tired and possibly a little shell shocked upon their arrival. With a nap and a little time, the puppy will be ready to play in no time! We will need to talk with you to schedule flights and answer any questions you may have. HOUSE BREAKING Q: Will my puppy be house-broken? A: We do not house-break our puppies since every new home is different. Some new owners crate train, others train their pups to go outside, and some use puppy pads. If we were to train, it would take a longer process for you to retain your puppy than to train the puppy to your liking. Most people report success after about 2 to 4 days or over a weekend. We are happy to offer suggestions specifically for your home. There have been visits to this site.