Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
First of all, we like to clarify that all of our breeding males and females are here with us on the acreage and we own them all. We also only raise Maltese puppies as they are our first love. We do not broker or sell to pet stores, only one-on-one with private individuals like yourselves. We have worked very hard as Maltese breeders to produce a beautiful and healthy maltese dog, most times resulting in a much higher quality and healthier dog than you might find with other situations. And we are very thankful for the fact that we very very seldom have health related issues with any of our dogs. All of our Maltese puppies have champs in their pedigrees, but are not champion sired. You are always welcome to visit our home and check out our facilities and dogs to ease any misgivings you naturally would have. Also, personal references are welcome and encouraged.

ABOUT MALTESE IN GENERAL
The AKC (American Kennel Club) states that the Maltese is considered "to be among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet lively and playful as well as vigorous." They love everyone and everything, including children and other pets. We refer to them as "little lovers." They do not have that "doggie smell," are hypoallergenic, don't shed, and absolutely are the most loving and affectionate little dog you could ever imagine. A well-bred maltese is very intelligent. They are quite easy to house break, especially if you do it correctly and follow the potty training sheet that we include when shipping. Our particular puppies are usually between 5-7 lbs. Sometimes we get a 4 lb and sometimes 7-8, but not as often.

SHIPPING, HEALTH GUARANTEE, REGISTRATION
Shipping is $170-$200, seldom more. In addition, the airlines all require the puppy to be health checked, which is $45 and will include a rabies shot if appropriate. Also, the new hard sided carrier that the puppy is shipped in is $25, and you keep it. We wait to ship until the pup is 11-12 weeks old. We offer a one-year health guarantee on life-threatening genetic defects in the puppy, such as heart murmur, liver shunt, etc. We want to be honoring to the Lord in dealing with all of our clients if a problem should occur. All of our parents are registered with AKC and ACA, and we make every effort to build integrity into the breed. We have just welcomed two champion bred males into our lines to continue with the gorgeous "look" we have already established.

IS SHIPPING REALLY SAFE?
Yes, only flights specifically set up to accommodate live animals will even accept a booking. It is very highly regulated. The aircraft must be heated, air conditioned , and pressurized with airflow. There are also weather and temperature restrictions. The animals are the last ones on the plane and the first off. We ship at approximately 12 weeks of age as a safety precaution, with the pups being insured, although I have never, in all these years, had to file a claim.

SHOTS AND WORMING
Puppies get their shots at 9, 12, and 16 weeks, as well as 5 worming , so will come with their first shots according to their age.. A shot/worming schedule is included with dates administered, to give to your vet.

PRICES
Our male puppies usually start at $850 and female puppies start at $1250.The differences in prices reflect the puppy's size (AKC standard mature weight for Maltese is 4-7 lbs), coloring, and conformation. The larger pups are the least expensive. Any Maltese puppy that we sell with full AKC registration is a minimum of $l600, with the tinier ones being more. All puppies purchased as pets would have limited registration, which means that the dog can be registered, but if it were bred, you would not be able to register the pups. As stated above, all registration papers are held until proof of neuter/spay is received unless other arrangements have been made between us.

MALE VS FEMALE
Males, many times, get a bad rap, mostly because people don't understand that if neutered at around 5 months, they are almost guaranteed not to mark their territory. Marking is a hormonal response which neutering solves. In fact, many vets, groomers and trainers think their temperament to be even sweeter. So don’t let the male/female issue be the only determining factor in selection. Our references would speak to both male and female being equally wonderful. We personally feel that it is the temperament of the dog that is most important, not whether they are male or female (same as people). Also, both come in the tiny or larger sizes. You honestly would not be able to tell the difference.

I’M NEW AT THIS, CAN YOU HELP?
Certainly. We want you and the puppy to be happy and compatible. We have put together several pages on the care of your new arrival which includes house-breaking, procuring the best foods, feeding schedule, shot-worming info, precautions with do's and don'ts, tearing info and catalog suggestions for ordering miscellaneous doggie products. These are sent with the puppy. AND we encourage our new Maltese puppy owners to stay in contact with questions.

AVAILABLE PUPPIES (or Adults)
If you e-mail us, we have a general information reply we will send. After viewing the “Available Pups” link on our site, you can request more pictures of a particular puppy. New pups will be posted there when they reach approximately 6 wks of age. If we have ADULTS FOR SALE, they will be described in this info letter also, with their pictures being posted on the "Available Puppies" page.

When we have pups available, we can take deposits (Visa or MC) for puppies that are not quite ready for travel. We cannot guarantee a puppy's availability unless you lock it in with a deposit. The remaining payment needs to be with a Cashiers Check or Money Order sent the week before shipping, to guarantee that it gets here in plenty of time. Or a direct Wire Transfer from your bank, which is faster.

WRAP UP!
We would be glad to visit with you about a specific puppy , but you may want to start by e-mailing us first.

We want to find loving, safe homes for our Maltese puppies, so we may have a few questions on your situation and past experiences (fenced yard, previous ownership, age of children, etc).

We have a brochure to mail if you want to send your address.

Thanks again for showing interest in our puppies and for trusting us to fit the perfect puppy to your home situation.

GOD BLESS AMERICA - please pray for our troops and leaders, the preserving of our foundational freedoms, and our nation's continued protection. We love and cherish this nation!

"How Blessed Is The Nation Whose God Is The Lord" Psalm 33:12

Have a blessed year,
Ken and Pam Miller - Sonshine Acres