Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in our La Vita Bella puppies. If you are interested, please complete the survey questions below.

I regularly post movies and pictures of our Berners to my Instagram. Follow us on Instagram: LaVitaBellaVT

Here is La Vita Bella VT’s AKC site: http://marketplace.akc.org/breeder/lavitabellavt/bernese-mountain-dog/120846

La Vita Bella puppies offer a unique situation as the Dam and Sire are our family dogs.

Yes we keep all our Berners their entire life because they are our family members. La Vita Bella Vermont’s puppies are free to run on our land. Our vet commented at the medical exam that the pup’s muscle and bone structures were more developed than what she usually sees. She attributed this to the puppies free-play and running daily on our land.

  • Puppies receive their medical health check and first booster combo shot DAPP for Distemper, Hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus (from Dr Cindy Pratt, a licensed veterinarian with a canine specialty http://www.lvvsonline.com You receive this medical record and exam results with your pup. You need to follow up and continue the booster series with your vet. Here is my website page that details this medical info and nutrition: http://www.lavitabellavt.com/amazing-new-homes/
  • Both the dam and sire received OFA AKC Normal Eye Certifications; OFA AKC Certifications. As a new owner you receive a puppy book containing copies of these parent OFA AKC & PennHip certificates My website displays Dam & Sire OFA Certificates.
  • I register the litter and each pup with the AKC.
  • I register all pups with the Berner-Garde Medical Database.
  • Sire and Dam hold Breed DNA tests and they are included in your puppy book
  • Each pup has an AKC ReUnite Microchip that I register and activate for the new owners. My name is the backup to ensure none of my pups end up in a shelter.

This is contained in your contract & puppy book. I am a small breeder whose goal is to breed Bernese who are healthy and live long lives, reducing the risks with DNA testing, OFA certifications, family health lineage and healthy lifestyle. Did you know you can look up any Health OFA Tested/Certified

Berner’s name & pedigree on the Berner-Garde or OFA Database websites? (Simply type in the Dam or Sires’ AKC Registered name)

Here is Swiss Sire Jackson’s Berner-Garde Certification & lineage:

http://bernergarde.org/DB/Dog_Detail?DogID=154740

Here is Swiss Sire’s Jackson’s OFA Certification page: https://www.ofa.org/advanced-search?f=sr&appnum=2180078

Here is Dam: Liberty’s La Vita Bella Jasper’s OFA Certification page: https://ofa.org/advanced-search/?appnum=2450391

Here is Dam: Liberty’s La Vita Bella Jasper’s Berner-Garde certification page:

https://bernergarde.org/DB/Dog_Detail?DogID=212310

Puppy contracts begin after the litter is born. La Vita Bella puppies are sold as a family pet . The current price is $5000 minus the $500 deposit for a “Limited AKC Registration”. To secure a puppy pick a formal commitment is needed – a signed contracted puppy agreement along with a $500 non-refundable deposit. This deposit will be applied to the total puppy price. The order of puppy pick is in order of contact/deposit received.

At 5-8 weeks families visit and make their puppy selection. Each visit is scheduled in order of puppy pick. For families traveling a distance in lieu of visiting I post Instagram movies of specific pups to assist in your decision upon request. At 8 weeks, the puppies join their new families.

The earliest litter photos & information is posted to Instagram: LaVitaBellaVT. After the litter is born, I know how many puppies are available. Then I post to Instagram and my website lavitabellavt.com and accept contracts. No, I do not keep a waitlist. In the past my waitlist became unmanageable. Given all the unknowns, I wait until the litter is born and I know how many puppies before I accept deposits. If you are still interested when the time comes, please email me.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A LA VITA BELLA PUPPY YOU MUST COMPLETE THE SURVEY.

If your application is accepted as an appropriate placement for a Bernese Mountain Dog it is important that you maintain communication through Instagram or e-mail between litters otherwise I will not know that you are still interested in adopting a puppy from La Vita Bella Berners.

Any additional information you would like to share is welcome.