Our 2-Year Puppy Health Guarantee
Clear expectations. Written protection. No surprises at go-home.
At O’Hearon’s Amazing Puppies, we believe families should understand the health guarantee and puppy contract before bringing a puppy home.
Every OAP puppy is placed with a written Contract and Bill of Sale that includes a 2-Year Genetic & Congenital Health Guarantee. The contract also explains your puppy’s pre-go-home care, required veterinary follow-up, microchip information, pet-only or breeder-placement status, and the responsibilities of both OAP and the puppy’s new family.
What Happens Before Your Puppy Goes Home?
For puppies leaving OAP at approximately eight weeks or older, our standard pre-go-home protocol includes:
-
NeoPar at approximately 6 weeks
-
Veterinarian-administered 5-way puppy vaccination at approximately 8 weeks, unless the veterinarian recommends another schedule
-
Documented deworming and parasite-control treatments
-
Pre-go-home veterinary examination
-
Microchip implantation and scan unless another written arrangement has been made
-
Written health and vaccination records for the family
Your puppy will not have completed the entire puppy vaccine series at go-home. Your veterinarian will guide you through the remaining boosters and rabies vaccination.
What Does the 2-Year Health Guarantee Cover?
For two years from the puppy’s date of possession, OAP’s guarantee covers serious genetic, hereditary, or congenital conditions that materially affect normal function, significantly reduce expected quality of life, or require major corrective treatment.
Examples described in the contract may include serious hereditary or congenital disorders involving the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, or major orthopedic disease such as severe hereditary hip or elbow dysplasia.
The purpose of the guarantee is to provide meaningful protection for serious inherited or congenital health conditions—not to suggest that any breeder can guarantee a dog will never experience illness or injury.
What Isn't the Health Guarantee Designed to Cover?
Some conditions can occur for reasons unrelated to genetics or breeding.
The guarantee does not generally cover conditions caused or materially worsened by things such as:
-
injury or accidents
-
neglect or abuse
-
toxin exposure
-
obesity
-
inappropriate exercise
-
improper nutrition
-
failure to obtain reasonable veterinary care
-
parasites or routine infections
-
allergies
-
cosmetic characteristics
-
adult size
-
coat type or quality
-
coat color
-
eye color
-
temperament
-
fertility or breeding performance
Orthopedic problems primarily caused by trauma, excessive weight, developmental injury, or inappropriate exercise are also distinguished from hereditary orthopedic disease in the contract.
This is another reason we prefer realistic expectations instead of promises about living animals.
Your First Veterinary Visit Is Important
OAP requires the puppy to be examined by an independent licensed veterinarian within four working days of delivery.
Families should send OAP written proof that this examination was completed.
This visit gives you and your veterinarian an opportunity to document your puppy’s health shortly after arrival and establish ongoing veterinary care.
Schedule Your Veterinarian Before Go-Home
We recommend scheduling your puppy’s first appointment before pickup so you're not trying to find availability after your puppy is already home.
What Happens If a Serious Covered Condition Is Diagnosed?
If a veterinarian diagnoses a condition that may qualify under the health guarantee, the contract asks the family to notify OAP in writing within 10 days of receiving the diagnosis and provide the applicable veterinary records, diagnostic reports, imaging, and treatment recommendations.
OAP may request a second veterinary or specialist opinion when necessary to evaluate the claim. If OAP requires that second opinion, the contract states that OAP pays the examination fee.
Our goal is to review serious concerns carefully and base decisions on veterinary documentation—not assumptions.
What Is the Remedy for an Approved Claim?
Under the current contract, the primary remedy for an approved health-guarantee claim is a replacement OAP puppy of comparable original purchase price from the next reasonably available suitable litter, targeted within 12 months after approval.
The family is not required to surrender the affected dog unless both parties agree otherwise.
If OAP cannot provide a suitable replacement within the stated 12-month period, the contract provides for a cash remedy equal to 25% of the original purchase price.
The contract does not provide reimbursement for veterinary treatment expenses.
Again, the signed agreement contains the complete terms and controls if there is ever a claim.
Why We Put Everything in Writing
A contract isn't meant to make buying a puppy feel intimidating.
It's meant to make expectations clear.
Your OAP contract documents important information such as:
- puppy identification
- sire and dam
- date of birth
- microchip number
- purchase price and payments
- health guarantee
- required first veterinary visit
- pet-only or breeder-placement status
- microchip responsibilities
- return/rehome expectations
- applicable breeding-rights terms
We want both OAP and our families to know exactly what was agreed upon.
Companion Puppies and Breeding Rights
Unless OAP specifically approves a puppy as a breeder placement in writing and the required breeding-rights agreement is signed, the puppy is placed as a companion/pet-only puppy.
Simply purchasing an intact dog, paying a particular price, or owning a dog with desirable genetics does not automatically create breeding rights under the current OAP contract.
Selective breeder placements are evaluated separately and may have additional requirements and agreements.
Our Goal: Transparency Before You Commit
We want families to ask questions.
Read the guarantee.
Understand the contract.
Ask about health testing.
Ask what is and isn't covered.
Ask what records you'll receive.
A puppy is a long-term commitment, and we believe you should feel comfortable with both the puppy and the program behind them before placing a reservation.