No Puppy for You.. <3 well.. I'll explain..

Maybe it’s Maybelline… nope, pretty sure it’s menopause. 

What a week: boiler issues (still not fixed), trying to plan Thanksgiving, juggling puppies, and realizing Christmas is basically… tomorrow. My patience, which is usually pretty generous, has been feeling a little thin. I feel like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld — except with puppies.

“Vet says: we always spay at 6 months.”
Me: “No puppy for you!” 

All joking aside, this is the time things get interesting with our litters. As puppies approach 16 weeks and go in for that final round of puppy shots, many veterinarians will naturally start talking about “the next step” — spay/neuter.

Here’s where I have to lovingly but firmly draw a line for our Fairfax Pines families:

We do not condone spaying or neutering prior to 18 months of age. This isn’t about being difficult or “anti-vet.” I love our veterinarians and respect their role completely. I’m not an extremist. But I am a breeder who lives with, studies, and watches these dogs day in and day out, year after year. So much research over the past several years has shown increased orthopedic and health risks with early spay/neuter, especially in large breeds. Your puppy has a lot of growing, filling out, and developing to do before their body is truly ready for such a big hormonal change.

I’m simply asking our families to:

 Do your homework – read, ask questions, look at both sides.

 Think about long-term health, not just short-term convenience.

 Give your puppy the chance to grow up before altering them.

For our Fairfax Pines contract and health warranty, this is important:

Our health warranty is voided if your puppy is spayed or neutered prior to 18 months. Not because we want to be harsh, but because we want to stack the deck in your dog’s favor for a long, healthy life. So if your vet casually says, “We always spay at 6 months,” it’s okay to smile and say:

“My breeder requires I wait until at least 18 months, and I’d like to follow that.”

Blame it on me. I’ll happily be the “No Puppy For You” lady if it means healthier adults in the long run.