Swift Family Farm Puppy Questionnaire

At Swift Family Farm we are dedicated to raising happy, healthy Maremma Sheepdogs with stable and confident temperments AND matching each owner with just the right puppy for their family and their livestock.

The following questions are asked to give us some insight into what your needs are so that we can match the right puppy with the right owner; keeping the character, ability and temperment of the puppy in mind, as well as the desires and needs of the new owner. The more information we have, the better we will understand your expectations.

Please feel free to add any additional comments. Completions of this questionnaire does not guarantee that a puppy will be available for you. Puppies' personalities and abilities are matched with each prospective owner's lifestyle and needs, along with what the new owner has told us that they are looking for in a puppy - with temperment, conformation and instinct testing being the final determining factor.

The puppy's welfare is foremost in considering placement. Please answer the following questions as completely as you can, thank you.

*Questions marked with an asterisk are required.*

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

If you have any children, please list their ages, or list "NONE": *

Who will be primarily responsible for the dog's care? *

What kind of area do you live in? *

	Rural	Suburban	City
Please select one	Rural	Suburban	City

Do you own or rent? *

	Own	Rent
Please select one	Own	Rent

What are your goals for this puppy? *

	Livestock Guardian	Guard Dog	Family Companion/Pet	Breeding Prospect	Show Potential	Other
Please choose all that apply	Livestock Guardian	Guard Dog	Family Companion/Pet	Breeding Prospect	Show Potential	Other	Other

Please explain your choice(s):

If your Maremma Sheepdog is NOT intended to be a livestock guardian dog, why do you want a guarding breed rather than a companion breed (like a Golden Retriever or Boxer)? Why a LGD instead of another guard dog breed (like a German Shepherd or a Doberman)? Why a Maremma Sheepdog versus another LGD breed (like a Great Pyrenees or a Kuvasz)?

If your Maremma Sheepdog puppy is to be a companion/pet are you willing and able to take your puppy to Puppy Obedience classes and provide ample continued socialization as the puppy matures?

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

Have you ever been around an adult Maremma Sheepdog in person? *

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

How did you learn about the Maremma Sheepdog breed? *

Have you ever owned a Livestock Guardian Dog before (of any breed)? *

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

	If yes, what breed(s)?
Akbash	If yes, what breed(s)?
Anatolian Shepherd	If yes, what breed(s)?
Caucasian Ovtcharka	If yes, what breed(s)?
Great Pyrenees	If yes, what breed(s)?
Komondor	If yes, what breed(s)?
Kuvasz	If yes, what breed(s)?
Maremma Sheepdog	If yes, what breed(s)?
Polish Tatra	If yes, what breed(s)?
Tibetan Mastiff	If yes, what breed(s)?
Other	If yes, what breed(s)?

What other breeds of dogs have you owned in the past?

If your Maremma will be working as a Livestock Guardian, what species of animal(s) will he/she be guarding?

	Select all that apply & number of:
Alpacas/Llamas	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:
Goats	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:
Sheep	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:
Cattle	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:
Poultry (Chickens, Ducks, Geese, turkeys, et.)	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:
Other	Select all that apply & number of:	Select all that apply & number of:

Please describe the animals you currently have: pets (species/breed, age, gender, altered/un-altered); farm animals (species and quantity); etc.

How many acres do you have? (Some livestock guardian dogs work best on LARGE territories and would not be suitable for 2 acres, for example. A responsible breeder who knows their dogs can determine which dog will work best for your property size. Bear in mind, however, that dogs will sometimes increase the size of the area they guard as they mature if they are not in a securely fenced area.)

What type of fencing do you have that will be used to contain your puppy? (field fence, electro net, barbed wire, panels, etc). *

What type of predators and predator load do you have? Have you lost any livestock to predation?

What sex of puppy do you prefer? *

	Male	Female	Either
Please select one	Male	Female	Either

Where will the puppy be housed immediately upon arrival? Is the area securely fenced so that the puppy cannot escape? What type of shelter will be provided for the puppy? *

Are you willing to stay in contact and keep me informed of your puppy's progress with regular updates and photos, as well as discuss any health and training issues? *

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

Do you have any questions or concerns about the contract?

Please have your veterinarian’s office put a note in your file authorizing Maria Swift to speak to them.

Your Veterinarians Name: *

Phone number: *

Address:

Please provide the name, phone number, and address of 2 personal references that have knows you for at least 10 years.

1. Personal Reference Name: *

Phone Number: *

Address:

2. Personal Reference Name: *

Phone Number: *

Address:

May we, or our representative, conduct a home visit before placing a Maremma puppy with you? *

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

If you decide you want a Maremma puppy from us, are you willing to sign a reservation contract and place a deposit to reserve a puppy? *

	Yes	No
Yes/No	Yes	No

Please include any additional information you would like to share with us: *

Thank You!

- Swift Family Farm-