Big Sky Labrador Retrievers
DeCan Gun Dogs, LLC
173 Kopp Rd
Hot Springs, MT 59845
406-531-6939
Date of Birth: _______________________________ Sex: _____ Kennel Name: ________________
Sire: ______________________________________ Dam: _________________________________
AKC Registration Number: ____________________ Price: _________________________________
Required Vaccinations: Your puppy needs to be brought to your veterinarian for additional vaccinations as soon as possible. Included with your “new puppy bag” is a vaccination and worming booklet. Bring this to the vet with you for your first visit. Usually our puppies go to new homes having had one five way shot and having been wormed multiple times. Your puppy will need two additional shots and worming over the next 1-10 weeks.
I.D. Collars: Over the years I have tried every imaginable type of identification collar. I only buy one type now. Double ply nylon with the brass name tag riveted to the collar. These can be purchased at www.gundogsupply.com for $8. Here is how we lay out the brass i.d. plate:
David DeCan $$REWARD$$
1001 Cooney Ridge Road
Florence, MT 59833
406-531-6939
Order your I.D. collar right away. Do not put the dog’s name on the plate.
Facebook Group for Big Sky Retrievers. We have recently started a group on Facebook for you to post your stories and pictures. It is an open group and can be found at Big Sky Retrievers. Please us the group! We love seeing your pictures and hearing about your adventures. @BigSkyRetrievers
Our Guarantee: We guarantee our puppies to be free of disease or defect for 12 months from the date of their birth. We have worked very hard to see that the puppy you are receiving has been raised in a loving, caring environment. Our initial breeding stock has been tested and found clear of CNM (Centronuclear Myopathy) and EIC (Exercised Induced Collapse). These genetic disorders are quite prevalent in Labrador Retrievers. It is impossible for your puppy to be found with these diseases because our initial breeding stock was genetically tested and found clear of both CNM and EIC. They are not carriers, nor are they affected and neither is your puppy. Our initial breeding stock has been tested and found to have sound hips using the Penn-Hip method.
Should your dog develop a debilitating health issue before 12 months of age and you would like to take advantage of our guarantee, you will be required to submit to us a written evaluation from your veterinarian. We reserve the right to have our veterinarian examine the dog and render an opinion on the debilitating health issue. You will be required to deliver the dog to our veterinarian in Missoula, Montana at your cost. We will pay for the exam and opinion of our veterinarian. Upon confirmation of a debilitating health issue by our veterinarian, we will take the pup back and you will be offered a replacement puppy from our next litter of Labrador Retrievers at no cost. Should you decide to keep your dog with the debilitating disease we will refund ½ (one half) of the purchase price for your dog and you will keep the dog. Neglected dogs or puppies will not be guaranteed as determined by our veterinarian. If you change the feed from the required feed during the first year, the guaranteed is null and void. Currently we are using Purina Pro Plan Focus, Regular Puppy, chicken and rice, 28% protein and 18% fat. Do not use the large breed puppy as the protein and fat content are lower.
Refunds: We do not offer refunds for puppies once they leave our possession. Should a health issue arise, seek veterinarian assistance, contact us, and follow the above protocol. Deposits and wait list fees are always non-refundable.
Return a dog: If you cannot keep your puppy or dog for any reason, we will take the Big Sky Labrador Retriever back. We will not refund any purchase price. Should you run into a situation in your personal life we ask that you please, please do not take the puppy or dog to the Humane Society or animal shelter. Call us and we will make arrangements to bring the dog back. We can then help find the dog a quality home.
This is an AKC Limited Registration puppy. For more information on limited registration, go to www.AKC.org and search “limited registration”. As we have explained, this means that, should you breed your pup, the AKC will not register any litters as AKC Labrador Retrievers. The limitation also precludes participating in the show ring, but does not limit hunt tests, field trials or other field-type competition. The pedigree of both sire and dam include National Retriever Champion Labrador Retrievers, making these pups highly desirable for hunting, field trials, and hunt tests. Additionally, the pups have been handled frequently and therefore should make excellent family dogs. It is our goal to raise great family and field dogs and offer them at an affordable price. Complete and send in the papers for limited registration with the AKC, or do it online. Should you decide to participate in AKC field competition and your dog earns a Field Champion (FC), Amateur Field Champion (AFC), or Master Hunter (MH) from the AKC, upon your request to us and AKC approval, we will upgrade your registration to Full AKC registration, thus allowing you to breed and register with the AKC any progeny from your dog. It is our desire to encourage you to compete with your dog in field competition. The breeding lines of your puppy should make these dogs strong competitors.
Environs: Your puppy has been raised from birth in a controlled environment. If you receive a winter puppy, the puppy will have been kept in a heated building at approximately 60-65 degrees. At birth, puppies with mothers are kept in a 70 degree environment. DO NOT put your puppy outside in the winter and leave them in a kennel with a dog house. New puppies need to be acclimated to outdoor weather. Work slowly and be vigilant when moving your puppy to an outside setting and only do this in the spring, summer, and fall. This same philosophy of environment applies to the summer. Excessive heat can be as life threatening as excessive cold. Summer puppies need to be acclimated to warmer temperatures and provided with a shaded environment and fresh water at all times. These are Retrievers and they love being outdoors in all weather, but young puppies need reasonable care as they are transitioned. Call us with questions.
Micro-Chip: Your puppy has been micro chipped. We use the AKC ReUnite program. We will give you information on this when you pick up your puppy. We pass on the $16 charge to new owners.
Training: We do retriever training here at Big Sky Labradors as well as obedience training. David has been training bird dogs since he was a kid. At this time we do not train dogs that are not from our breeding, but this could change as David prepares to retire. We do not offer field trial training and hunt test training. This takes gifted men and women to accomplish and is extremely rigorous and expensive. Call us to discuss your goals and we can help point you to professionals who can assist you. We encourage you to obedience train your Big Sky Lab to be a good citizen. There are many good books on the subject. Tom Dokken’s book, Retriever Training, is especially helpful.
Food: Since weaning, we have only fed Purina Pro Plan Focus Regular Puppy, Chicken and Rice, 28% Protein and 18% Fat. Bag is 34.5 pounds. Petsmart or Petco carries. Or order at www.chewy.com. Chewy delivers to your door with best prices. Regular Puppy (NOT LARGE BREED PUPPY). Wet the food thoroughly with warm, NOT hot, water only. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CHANGE YOUR PUPPY's FOOD. Labs have sensitive tummies. Save yourself any trouble by keeping to the suggested food. Our guarantee is null and void if you change the puppy’s food from the suggested before a year.
Talk to David about feeding adult Labs.
Current portion: ½ to ¾ cup mixed with warm water to soften food 3 times per day. Watch the pup’s weight and adjust if hungry. If pup is not finishing up food at one sitting, cut back portions. We never free feed. Labs tend to never fill up, and a fat Lab is not a heathy Lab. Continue to increase the food your pup eats as he grows. The back side of the dog food bags have guidelines. Every dog is different. If you can see your dog’s ribs, he is too thin. Your dog should have a waistline. You should be able to see it and feel it. If your dog has no waistline and you cannot feel his ribs he is overweight and you need to cut back his food. Labs are hungry all the time. This is not a gauge to their food needs. Bodily condition is a gauge.
Health: There are several basic indicators of a dog’s health and well-being – eating, drinking, urinating and pooping. Look for abnormalities. Is the poop solid? Is the dog listless? Check temperature – normal temp should be between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees. We keep a dedicated electronic thermometer labeled “K9” for dog use.
Enclosures: Your Big Sky pup should not be allowed to run free without supervision. Your puppy and dog does not understand what a car or truck is, and that it can take his life. Keep your pup leashed when around vehicles and provide a quality kennel/enclosure outside for them to stay in when you are not home with them. Kennels need tops. Though your enclosure might be 6 foot tall it is still possible for the dog to climb out. Put a lid on kennels. Check fences thoroughly and be vigilant. Your pet can be lost in an instant if care is not taken.
Potty Training: Start immediately upon getting home. Anticipate your pup’s needs. When up in morning take out. After eating take out. After drinking take out. Establish a place in your yard where you take pup every time. Use a Flexi Leash to give pup some ability to wander. Watch you pup’s body language. You will begin to know when he is getting ready to go. Keep paper towels and 409 spray cleaner handy. Use the inside cardboard tube of a paper towel roll as a discipline tool. When mistakes happen, a stern “no” and a light swat on the backside immediately followed by carrying pup outside to his place. He will get it. If pup starts going to door, he wants out. Be attentive. Use a kennel box at night. Pup does not like to mess in his sleeping place. Resolve foam aerosol carpet cleaner works too. Do not be harsh with pup. It takes time to learn. A light swat with paper towel tube is plenty with a “no”.
Warning: We protect our puppies from any outside exposure through the first set of vaccines, but would strongly suggest you also protect them through the second set and even third set of vaccinations. Puppies are notoriously susceptible to Parvo, Distemper, Coccidia and other potentially deadly diseases that are very common in other puppies and in public areas. Dog parks, pet stores, public areas, grass strips, farm environs with birds or chickens, etc. can be deadly to your new puppy. Keep them at home with you through their third set of vaccinations. Any exposure to these diseases is not covered under our guarantee as this is generally preventable through owner vigilance. Protect your puppy through their 3rd vaccination by keeping him/her to yourself and your family.
Big Sky Retrievers Family: When you purchase one of our puppies you become part of our larger family. We want to hear from you. We want to receive pictures, testimonies, and brags about your pup. We use our web site at www.BigSkyRetrievers.com as well as our Facebook page at Big Sky Retrievers. If you are having a struggle, call us. We can usually help. Thank you for choosing a Big Sky Retriever. We trust you will have many years of companionship and treasured moments in the field. David and Noelle DeCan
Buyer Name (Printed): ____________________ Buyer Signature: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Email: ______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________ Date of Pickup: _________________________
Breeder: __________________________________
David and Noelle DeCan
Revised 8/15/19 dd
DeCan Gun Dogs, LLC
173 Kopp Rd
Hot Springs, MT 59845
406-531-6939
Date of Birth: _______________________________ Sex: _____ Kennel Name: ________________
Sire: ______________________________________ Dam: _________________________________
AKC Registration Number: ____________________ Price: _________________________________
Required Vaccinations: Your puppy needs to be brought to your veterinarian for additional vaccinations as soon as possible. Included with your “new puppy bag” is a vaccination and worming booklet. Bring this to the vet with you for your first visit. Usually our puppies go to new homes having had one five way shot and having been wormed multiple times. Your puppy will need two additional shots and worming over the next 1-10 weeks.
I.D. Collars: Over the years I have tried every imaginable type of identification collar. I only buy one type now. Double ply nylon with the brass name tag riveted to the collar. These can be purchased at www.gundogsupply.com for $8. Here is how we lay out the brass i.d. plate:
David DeCan $$REWARD$$
1001 Cooney Ridge Road
Florence, MT 59833
406-531-6939
Order your I.D. collar right away. Do not put the dog’s name on the plate.
Facebook Group for Big Sky Retrievers. We have recently started a group on Facebook for you to post your stories and pictures. It is an open group and can be found at Big Sky Retrievers. Please us the group! We love seeing your pictures and hearing about your adventures. @BigSkyRetrievers
Our Guarantee: We guarantee our puppies to be free of disease or defect for 12 months from the date of their birth. We have worked very hard to see that the puppy you are receiving has been raised in a loving, caring environment. Our initial breeding stock has been tested and found clear of CNM (Centronuclear Myopathy) and EIC (Exercised Induced Collapse). These genetic disorders are quite prevalent in Labrador Retrievers. It is impossible for your puppy to be found with these diseases because our initial breeding stock was genetically tested and found clear of both CNM and EIC. They are not carriers, nor are they affected and neither is your puppy. Our initial breeding stock has been tested and found to have sound hips using the Penn-Hip method.
Should your dog develop a debilitating health issue before 12 months of age and you would like to take advantage of our guarantee, you will be required to submit to us a written evaluation from your veterinarian. We reserve the right to have our veterinarian examine the dog and render an opinion on the debilitating health issue. You will be required to deliver the dog to our veterinarian in Missoula, Montana at your cost. We will pay for the exam and opinion of our veterinarian. Upon confirmation of a debilitating health issue by our veterinarian, we will take the pup back and you will be offered a replacement puppy from our next litter of Labrador Retrievers at no cost. Should you decide to keep your dog with the debilitating disease we will refund ½ (one half) of the purchase price for your dog and you will keep the dog. Neglected dogs or puppies will not be guaranteed as determined by our veterinarian. If you change the feed from the required feed during the first year, the guaranteed is null and void. Currently we are using Purina Pro Plan Focus, Regular Puppy, chicken and rice, 28% protein and 18% fat. Do not use the large breed puppy as the protein and fat content are lower.
Refunds: We do not offer refunds for puppies once they leave our possession. Should a health issue arise, seek veterinarian assistance, contact us, and follow the above protocol. Deposits and wait list fees are always non-refundable.
Return a dog: If you cannot keep your puppy or dog for any reason, we will take the Big Sky Labrador Retriever back. We will not refund any purchase price. Should you run into a situation in your personal life we ask that you please, please do not take the puppy or dog to the Humane Society or animal shelter. Call us and we will make arrangements to bring the dog back. We can then help find the dog a quality home.
This is an AKC Limited Registration puppy. For more information on limited registration, go to www.AKC.org and search “limited registration”. As we have explained, this means that, should you breed your pup, the AKC will not register any litters as AKC Labrador Retrievers. The limitation also precludes participating in the show ring, but does not limit hunt tests, field trials or other field-type competition. The pedigree of both sire and dam include National Retriever Champion Labrador Retrievers, making these pups highly desirable for hunting, field trials, and hunt tests. Additionally, the pups have been handled frequently and therefore should make excellent family dogs. It is our goal to raise great family and field dogs and offer them at an affordable price. Complete and send in the papers for limited registration with the AKC, or do it online. Should you decide to participate in AKC field competition and your dog earns a Field Champion (FC), Amateur Field Champion (AFC), or Master Hunter (MH) from the AKC, upon your request to us and AKC approval, we will upgrade your registration to Full AKC registration, thus allowing you to breed and register with the AKC any progeny from your dog. It is our desire to encourage you to compete with your dog in field competition. The breeding lines of your puppy should make these dogs strong competitors.
Environs: Your puppy has been raised from birth in a controlled environment. If you receive a winter puppy, the puppy will have been kept in a heated building at approximately 60-65 degrees. At birth, puppies with mothers are kept in a 70 degree environment. DO NOT put your puppy outside in the winter and leave them in a kennel with a dog house. New puppies need to be acclimated to outdoor weather. Work slowly and be vigilant when moving your puppy to an outside setting and only do this in the spring, summer, and fall. This same philosophy of environment applies to the summer. Excessive heat can be as life threatening as excessive cold. Summer puppies need to be acclimated to warmer temperatures and provided with a shaded environment and fresh water at all times. These are Retrievers and they love being outdoors in all weather, but young puppies need reasonable care as they are transitioned. Call us with questions.
Micro-Chip: Your puppy has been micro chipped. We use the AKC ReUnite program. We will give you information on this when you pick up your puppy. We pass on the $16 charge to new owners.
Training: We do retriever training here at Big Sky Labradors as well as obedience training. David has been training bird dogs since he was a kid. At this time we do not train dogs that are not from our breeding, but this could change as David prepares to retire. We do not offer field trial training and hunt test training. This takes gifted men and women to accomplish and is extremely rigorous and expensive. Call us to discuss your goals and we can help point you to professionals who can assist you. We encourage you to obedience train your Big Sky Lab to be a good citizen. There are many good books on the subject. Tom Dokken’s book, Retriever Training, is especially helpful.
Food: Since weaning, we have only fed Purina Pro Plan Focus Regular Puppy, Chicken and Rice, 28% Protein and 18% Fat. Bag is 34.5 pounds. Petsmart or Petco carries. Or order at www.chewy.com. Chewy delivers to your door with best prices. Regular Puppy (NOT LARGE BREED PUPPY). Wet the food thoroughly with warm, NOT hot, water only. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CHANGE YOUR PUPPY's FOOD. Labs have sensitive tummies. Save yourself any trouble by keeping to the suggested food. Our guarantee is null and void if you change the puppy’s food from the suggested before a year.
Talk to David about feeding adult Labs.
Current portion: ½ to ¾ cup mixed with warm water to soften food 3 times per day. Watch the pup’s weight and adjust if hungry. If pup is not finishing up food at one sitting, cut back portions. We never free feed. Labs tend to never fill up, and a fat Lab is not a heathy Lab. Continue to increase the food your pup eats as he grows. The back side of the dog food bags have guidelines. Every dog is different. If you can see your dog’s ribs, he is too thin. Your dog should have a waistline. You should be able to see it and feel it. If your dog has no waistline and you cannot feel his ribs he is overweight and you need to cut back his food. Labs are hungry all the time. This is not a gauge to their food needs. Bodily condition is a gauge.
Health: There are several basic indicators of a dog’s health and well-being – eating, drinking, urinating and pooping. Look for abnormalities. Is the poop solid? Is the dog listless? Check temperature – normal temp should be between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees. We keep a dedicated electronic thermometer labeled “K9” for dog use.
Enclosures: Your Big Sky pup should not be allowed to run free without supervision. Your puppy and dog does not understand what a car or truck is, and that it can take his life. Keep your pup leashed when around vehicles and provide a quality kennel/enclosure outside for them to stay in when you are not home with them. Kennels need tops. Though your enclosure might be 6 foot tall it is still possible for the dog to climb out. Put a lid on kennels. Check fences thoroughly and be vigilant. Your pet can be lost in an instant if care is not taken.
Potty Training: Start immediately upon getting home. Anticipate your pup’s needs. When up in morning take out. After eating take out. After drinking take out. Establish a place in your yard where you take pup every time. Use a Flexi Leash to give pup some ability to wander. Watch you pup’s body language. You will begin to know when he is getting ready to go. Keep paper towels and 409 spray cleaner handy. Use the inside cardboard tube of a paper towel roll as a discipline tool. When mistakes happen, a stern “no” and a light swat on the backside immediately followed by carrying pup outside to his place. He will get it. If pup starts going to door, he wants out. Be attentive. Use a kennel box at night. Pup does not like to mess in his sleeping place. Resolve foam aerosol carpet cleaner works too. Do not be harsh with pup. It takes time to learn. A light swat with paper towel tube is plenty with a “no”.
Warning: We protect our puppies from any outside exposure through the first set of vaccines, but would strongly suggest you also protect them through the second set and even third set of vaccinations. Puppies are notoriously susceptible to Parvo, Distemper, Coccidia and other potentially deadly diseases that are very common in other puppies and in public areas. Dog parks, pet stores, public areas, grass strips, farm environs with birds or chickens, etc. can be deadly to your new puppy. Keep them at home with you through their third set of vaccinations. Any exposure to these diseases is not covered under our guarantee as this is generally preventable through owner vigilance. Protect your puppy through their 3rd vaccination by keeping him/her to yourself and your family.
Big Sky Retrievers Family: When you purchase one of our puppies you become part of our larger family. We want to hear from you. We want to receive pictures, testimonies, and brags about your pup. We use our web site at www.BigSkyRetrievers.com as well as our Facebook page at Big Sky Retrievers. If you are having a struggle, call us. We can usually help. Thank you for choosing a Big Sky Retriever. We trust you will have many years of companionship and treasured moments in the field. David and Noelle DeCan
Buyer Name (Printed): ____________________ Buyer Signature: ______________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Email: ______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________________________ Date of Pickup: _________________________
Breeder: __________________________________
David and Noelle DeCan
Revised 8/15/19 dd