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I am a fairly lazy individual and I only write reviews for two reasons: 1) when something or someone is exceptionally good 2) when something is exceptionally bad.
Buyer beware! Stay away!
My boyfriend and I did a ton of research before we decided to go here to get a bernese puppy. We read the risks about bad breeders etc, and what to look out for. We did our research and asked tons of questions. At first sight, the breeder, leigh blevins, appeared to be a caring, knowledgeable individual who bred for the love of the breed. Wrong.
We missed the first warning sign, that the parents of our puppy were only 2 years old.
We missed the second warning sign, that there was a litter coming immediately after ours. These two things point to the fact that leigh blevins is only in it for the money and doesnt care about the well being of her animals.
At the time we got the puppy, we didnt know that in some states, it is a crime for the bernese puppy to leave his parents before 10 weeks of age, and that a bernese leaving earlier than this can hinder his development immensely. We were due to pick up our puppy at 8 weeks of age, however, towards week 6, leigh asked if we could submit our payment upfront as she was in need of the money, and in exchange, she would let us take the puppy a week early. We did not know this was detrimental to his health. : (of course we agreed, joyful to receive the puppy.
When we got our puppy, we noticed that he smelled very heavily like dog. I mean, not your average dog. He smelled bad. Like he hadnt gotten a bath since he was born. His breath was extremely foul too. When we stated that the puppy needed a bath badly, she admitted that she was "bad about those things," basically admitting that he had not been bathed.in addition, the breeder gave us a syringe of medicine which she at the time stated was a preventive medicine to treat coccydia. We asked if the puppy was sick and she insisted the medication was preventive.
We immediately took our puppy to a veterinarian for a check up. Fortunately he poo'd at the vets and there was blood in the dogs stool. They took a fecal sample. The vet informed me that typically this means the dog has parasites. Concerned, I messaged the breeder to let her know. Once I told her that I would not receive the results of the fecal sample today, she became angry and demanded that I demand that the doctor give me the results immediately as they could simply look under a microscope and tell me the dogs diagnosis (the vet actually sends it to a lab, as lab results are more valid than an in-house assessment).in addition, when I asked the breeder about who her veterinarian was, she admitted that the vet has never seen our puppy but "knows the litter." basically she never took him to get checked up. The breeder became defensive and stated that our vet was ripping us off and that we should have gone to her vet instead. She harassed me the next two days to find out what the diagnosis was. I later found out this was so she could self-medicate the rest of the litter instead of taking the dogs to the vet to get diagnosed.
Two days later we got the results. Our puppy was positive for giardia, a parasite which is spread through fecal matter. Everything began to make sense. We were told that a dogs breath is a reflection of what hes eaten and his breath was putrid the first day. He must have been eating poop. Giardia is very highly contagious among dogs and can passed on to humans as well. It affects a dogs ability to gain weight and grow and if left untreated could kill a dog. Oh, I forgot to mention, at the time we got our puppy, he was extremely underweight too. He should have weighed 12 lbs and only weighed 6.
Anyway, we immediately purchased medication for the puppy and I texted the breeder to let her know that our dog had giardia and that hers probably had it too. I stated that they should get checked out.
Fast forward a week. Our puppys condition was getting worse. His diarrhea was getting more frequent, he wasnt putting on weight and wouldnt eat. We thought he was going to die. I cried myself to sleep several times fearful of what would happen to this little pup who immediately became a part of me. We went back to the vet for more medication and probiotics to try and help him. During this time I asked the breeder how the other pups were doing, and she stated they were doing great! I asked if they had diarrhea and she denied it, I asked what the vet had said and she stated that she had never taken the dogs to the vet and was self-medicating them with metronidazole. I asked her how she would know if the dogs were sick when she gave them to the new owners and she stated the medicine should fix it. However, giardia isnt something that is easily cured and requires aggressive treatment and disinfecting procedures. Things escalated and eventually leigh and I got into an argument because she stated she was not going to tell the other buyers that the puppies were sick or carrying a paraiste. She stated that giardia was not a sickness, that all puppies get it, and that it wasnt a big deal. It was at that time I realized that she probably started giving our puppy the syringe of medicine for coccydia because she knew he was sick with something but didnt know what. She lied and had told us it was "preventive" but really she knew he had diarrhea and something was wrong!
Anyway the medication, vet tests, and clean up supplies ran us about 150 dollars. She refused to assume financial responsibility even though the puppy was given to us already sick. She stated we could bring the dog back for a full refund if we were unhappy with him. How can you refund a puppy? We were already attached.
In addition when we first got the puppy, leigh tried to sell us these treats called nuvet. Well my boyfriend and I love the internet and a quick google search revealed that these nuvet supplements are a scam. Basically there is no scientific evidence to prove that these supplements have any positive effect on puppies and the breeder receives a kickback when the puppy parents purchase it. I confronted her about it and she admitted that she receives a kickback.
Anyway im sorry this review was so long. I just want people to know what theyre getting into.
Tldr: breeder sold us a sick puppy, knew he was sick, didn't take him to see a vet even one time, and refused to inform the other buyers that the rest of the litter was sick too. Run.
BEWARE! This breeder is fake. Our dog Beau that we bought from Leigh a few years ago had the same health issues as a puppy and we learned a lot through the process with beau that he more than likely was a dog that came from a puppy mill like the one Leigh has and that he is an in-bred dog. We recently lost beau due to a lot of health issues that could have been prevented if he did not come from an in-bred environment. He was the best dog but again he struggled with major health issues and behavioral issues that stem from not being born in the correct type of true AKC Bernese breeder. Please do your research before purchasing a puppy from any breeder and stay away from Leigh!
I am a reputable breeder and have purchased and got to know Leigh in the past year. First, Giardia can be obtained drinking from puddles or water dish that for some weird reason picked up the Protozoa. One puppy in a whole litter can get it quickly and not the time you take it home. 2nd UTI’s are very common. Mom for 4 weeks licks their butt and private area to make them go potty. Plus she eats it for four weeks. It’s a natural instinct to hide their pups scent from danger. More common in female pups but males also can get it. Vets can’t always catch all parasites, even if sent off. Question your vet. The comment about the smell is hilarious. Have you ever had more than one puppy? Try bathing then all and tell them all to hold it until their owner shows up. It’s impossible. I bathe all my puppies before we go to the vet and I can guarantee one is going to pee or poop before I get there from the stress. Puppies heart rates go faster which in turn makes all bodily functions process faster causing accidents. One, yes one flea if the puppy bites it can cause tape worms in dogs. Try raising more than one puppy at a time. We love them all and do everything by the book and still can’t prevent everything. Ever had children? I dare you to let one get sick but not you or the other one. If they do, you must be a horrible Mother. Can’t keep them separated or clean enough to not spread germs. Shame on you. The comment she is only in it for the money? She loves all her dogs like her babies. Obviously she gets paid for it, but I dare you to do all she or any breeder does for free. You would starve to death feeding them and buying all the supplies they need. Our first vet bill is $600 plus dollars. I spend $1,000 a month just on dog food. Not to mention all the heart worm medicine and flea tick med. she cares more for her pups then most breeders. I’ve seen her cry when thinking about retiring her babies so they are not over bred. Obviously you have no idea what it takes to make sure you have a loving pup. Parasites are easy to get rid of and so are UTI’s if you give the Medicine as directed and not lazily when you feel like it.
I am not a lazy individual however, I only write reviews when I feel strongly about something, especially when it's in response to a direct attack on someone's professional and personal character.
I was appalled when I read the review from the self proclaimed lazy person who recently purchased a puppy from Willow Pond. While reading the ladies review, it didn't take long to clearly see that her knowledge of dogs was via text book and her experience in owning a dog is limited.
I have known Leigh Blevins most of my life and would considerer her to be one of the most reputable and knowledgeable dog breeders in the area. Her love and compassion for all animals is what drives her and her length of experience is what sets her apart from others. To hear someone make these types of unfounded allegations and claims about her makes me sick. It's clear that her comment reeks of ignorance, however, I will not sit back and allow someone to make slanderous, defamatory remarks when I know they aren't true.
In response to her comment "When we got our puppy, we noticed that he smelled very heavily like dog. I mean, not your average dog. He smelled bad. Like he hadn't gotten a bath since he was born. His breath was extremely foul too. " It's a dog, it smelled like a dog... So what? Rather than complain about it, give it a bath. I'll give you a heads up lady... just wait till your puppy finds a cow pasture and decides to take a roll in it! You'll think stinky! If you wanted a freshly scented dog, you should have gotten yourself a little lap dog that you could pamper and hold with you when you're having one of our lazy moments sitting on the couch watching soap operas. It seems like a big dog is a little more than you can handle.
As for your comment "the breeder gave us a syringe of medicine which she at the time stated was a preventive medicine to treat Coccydia." Coccidiosis is typically found in puppies under 1 year of age and based on my knowledge it is usually not serious. It's not uncommon for a breeder to send you home with a syringe as a preventive measure. Be grateful, not hateful lady!
As for your claims that your puppy was positive for giardia. It's very common in puppies! You treat it and move on. You treat it and ya move on.
As for your comment that Leigh breeds dogs for the money... That's comical and couldn't be any further from the truth. Leigh breeds dogs because she knows the difference dogs make in people's lives and she enjoys being a part of that. She's the epitome of goodness and her love and compassion for animals can't be measured. You have no idea all the selfless caring things she has done for animals throughout her lifetime. She's not what I would call a typical dog breeder. She breeds dogs so that other people can enjoy all the pleasures that dogs have given her.
In closing, let's just say... To try and tarnish the reputation of someone such as Leigh is "barking up the wrong tree."
#choseyourwordswisely #unfounded #lies #allegations #character #integrity #bernesemountaindogs
Completely unfair - see my post below. We love Leigh, her animals and everything she represents!
I couldn’t disagree more with these terrible
posts. Leigh and her dogs have absolutely been a blessing to my life. I have never met someone more passionate about their line of work and also more hands on, helpful, HUMANE, and truly
just a good person. I have had two dogs from Leigh and she has always stood behind her word. She is there every step of the way, amazing at advice and puts her animals and clients (families) first. Leigh is the only, and will always be, the only breeder we work with. We have 4 dogs; 3 of which are rescues. The only dog we have ever justified getting as a pure bred is from Leigh. We have had two males and both (although completely different lines) have been such awesome additions to the family.
I can’t say enough about Leigh, her love for animals and sweet soul. I have kept in touch with her over the years and plan to as time goes on.
You won’t be disappointed and please consider looking at things from
The other side of the lens. Some people have unreasonable expectations when getting a puppy at 8 weeks old. Puppies are delicate, susceptible to many things until they are out of that crazy young stage. Just know going in that these dogs are amazingly gentle giants and all have their own quirks, which makes them special.
Willow pond, Leigh and her babies will be part of my family’s life for many years to come!
I totally agree she is ONLY in it for the money. I bought a Bernese Mt dog puppy from her. She brought it to her boyfriends house at 6 weeks of age so it would be closer for me to pick up. He had parasites , cocsidia, etc. I waited another week to get him so it could get cleared up but didn’t. I got him anyways. The medication she sent with him was EXPIRED and she was self medicating and giving too much according to my vet, whom I trust more than Leigh Blevins. He also had a UTI and still has. He’s been on 2 different rounds of antibiotics and will not clear up. Did a culture and it came back as a severe infection. Another 30 days of a different med and then an U.S of his kidneys. My vet said it’s either a very hard to treat UTI or a congenital defect.
I informed Leigh the other day about it and she responded to it’s common in puppies. Her favorite saying! She does not care about the puppies. She is money hungry…. So sad for the pups. She blocked me on Facebook, obvious doesn’t want or care to know the outcome. If it’s a congenital defect he will only live to be maybe 2yrs. When I do the Ultrasound in 30 days if it is a defect she will be hearing from my attorney. I am not playing games!
I Believe the only mistake Leigh made in all of this was allowing you to purchase a puppy from her. You clearly are very ignorant and uneducated when it comes to puppies. I purchased a Bernese mountain dog puppy from Leigh, and I could not be happier! From the moment I got on the phone with her she educated me and gave me tons of wonderful information on the breed and her breeding. Before putting a deposit on my puppy, after putting a deposit on my puppy, Leigh was always super attentive and compassionate. She always answered any questions I had and sent me pictures and videos every time that I asked with no hesitation! My puppy is 11 weeks old and I have been in contact with Leigh from the start and still stay in contact because that’s how loving and caring she truly is! She is a great person, and all of mountain dogs will forever come from her. I recommend her to everybody! everyone always compliments how beautiful, healthy, and well tempered my boy is. People like you should not even be allowed to have dogs! Puppies get parasites, UTI’s, and anything else! It’s NO BIG DEAL. My puppy had a UTI at 8 weeks, she paid for my vet visit and he was all healed up after antibiotics. You Ms. Karen need to get a life, and breeders should be cautioned about YOU as a buyer.
I read the original comment on this thread after visiting my puppy for the first time and to be honest, it scared me. It scared me until I called my mother, a doctor, who informed me that giardia was actually fairly common in puppies. Also, anyone with any remote experience of owning an animal knows that a $100-something vet bill is a vet bill for something that is not serious...
Anywho, for anyone who reads the original comment and gets worried, DONT! I have owner pure-bred animals for years (both dogs & cats.) Leigh was the best breeder I have encountered thus far. She answered all of my questions, sent pictures when asked & also helped us pick out our puppy using her expert advise on the breed. Upon first coming to visit my puppy, Leigh wouldn’t let us too close so that we didn’t give the puppy parvo… makes perfect sense and I appreciated that. My puppy was clean and smelled nice when my husband and I came to pick him up. Leigh gave us his full and valid AKC registration (which I promptly registered), a sample of the heart worm and flea larvae preventative that she has the full-grown dogs on (after I discussed in length what she recommends for them), well as a half a bag of the dog food that she had him on (Victor.) She didn’t ask for any extra money. He got a totally clean bill of health from his vet & is growing like a weed. His temperament is amazing and he is smart as a whip. I can’t recommend Leigh enough.
Also, to confirm, I picked up my puppy at 8 weeks. I spoke with other Bernese breeders in NC and they advise 8-9 weeks as pick up age, because that is the age at which they have their bite inhibition. I have no idea what the original post’s author is speaking about regarding illegality of selling dogs before 10 weeks. No dog breeder ever waits that long. Also I would like to note that I confirmed Leigh did take my puppy to the vet for a check up before I got him… it was written on his paperwork with his vaccine info. That person was clearly too naive to own a dog, knew nothing about the breeding process & nothing about illness in dogs.
Good for you. I’ll agree to disagree with you.
Good. Enjoy being a troll on this comment board
Very mature
….says the one responding to every comment on here. Get a life Jodi.
Couldn’t agree more! My post is similar to yours. Leigh is amazing and so are her animals
I have known Leigh in a personal and professional capacity for several years. She is a VERY knowledgeable and experienced breeder that is truly bettering the breed with every litter she plans out. She is highly concerned about not only genetics but also orthopedics, as well as raising BMDs that meet (and exceed) the breed standard. She is also very helpful and can answer ANY question not only about breeding, but health issues, training ect. This comes from years of owning dogs, living with her dog’s, and raising litters. I feel truly blessed to know Leigh.
Good for you. I’ll agree to disagree. I’m sure you did have a positive experience. But I DID NOT! Every time someone asks where we got them I cringe.
This complaint sounds TOO FAMILIAR! Leigh Blevins IS NOT a breeder! She’s only in it for the money! My dog was sick exactly like your poor baby. He was very underweight. My vet examined him and said he was 6.5 pounds when he got here. More than two pounds underweight. I paid her IN FULL being the nice person WELL before transport! She needed the money. But when it came to asking questions about MY DOG’s! Yes I got a Great Dane from her too. She told me I had no right asking questions about who was transporting my dogs, what the route was, etc. After the dogs arrived we found out my Dane had Giardia. Texted her to let her know so she could let other dog parents who bought from her know? She came at me in text. Leigh Blevins I’ve waited ONE YEAR to voice my complaints. You are a disgrace to the breeding world. People like you make breeding and breeders that ARE REPUTABLE have a bad name. You’re a mean and nasty person that SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED to be a “breeder”. Which you’re not! You’re a puppy mill IN MY OPINION!
I have purchased 3 dogs from Ms. Leigh on different occasions and have been more than satisfied. I had to drive about 12 hours to get each dog but it was well worth the ride. When we take the dogs out in public, people always compliment on how beautiful they are. I have also had my dogs genetically health tested and all is well. Ms Leigh has helped answer any and all questions I may have. She has been a huge help with each of my dogs.
You turned a simple puppy has diarrhea story into a near death experience. Your story reeks. I bought a Doodle puppy from Leigh in May of this year and you are right about her loving dogs. Her veterinary bills would make your knees go weak. I especially like the part about her being responsible for your cleaning supplies. Are you drunk? You wrote that the puppy “ smelled very heavily like dog “. Your tale on the other hand “ smells very heavily like bull hockey “. I like the part where you school the reader on the best practices of veterinary medicine and the degrees of validity of lab work. Leigh offered you your money back and would take the puppy back. I will bet there is a whole other story about what you were demanding from her. What did you do, brag on Facebook that you would keep the pup and get the money back? That is what this mean spirited review of yours is all about. Best laid plans and all that
I agree Buyer Beware. Leigh Blevins has a flip switch. She comes across upon first impression as very kind and caring towards the pups but she will quickly turn when its time to deliver the pup. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a real understatement. After reading this review I'm grateful my experience derailed before ever receiving a pup but reading the review rings true in my experience with dealing with Leigh Blevins. This is not a reputable breeder and I would strongly encourage anyone looking for a pup to look elsewhere.
I never sold this person a dog or even met them!
I never met this person or even sold him a puppy!
@Willowpobd Why are you lying? You have done this more than once Leigh Blevins. Every complaint you’ve answered the same thing. “I never sold this person a dog or even met them”. It’s complete lies and [censored]!
You appear to have way too much time on your hands... Get a hobby!
@Mysticaldawn41 - Did your pup make it and pull thru ?
Leigh was incredibly nice and helpful when I picked up my Bernese from her. She was kind enough to show me around the facility and let me meet the whole family, she then gave me the options of the puppies left from the litter. I can't even begin to explain how nice and insightful she was when I had a dozen questions for her, she even text me the next morning to check and see how our new girl was doing. Our puppy is very sweet, very healthy, and a very welcomed new addition to our family, she also came with all her papers and just for curiosity sake I called Leigh's vet to confirm everything and they did. I personally had a great experience and would definitely recommend Leigh, I can not imagine why anyone would leave a bad review for her as she is fantastic!
Ms. Leigh was almost too helpful in the process of purchasing my Dane. She always answered my calls and showed the utmost patience and professionalism even when I had the most silly of questions. As a new Dane owner she made sure all the early shots and paper work we're in order. As well as being sure I knew what to expect in the breed in terms of health and nutrition. It's reassuring to know how me she cares about her litters even after they have left her. Thank you a thousand times thank you!
I’m so sorry to hear that happened to you. I just wanted to comment because I have received a happy and healthy Bernese from Leigh. She was amazing to deal with and met me halfway to meet my new pup and his mom. She’s been very attentive and answered all my questions and concerns as this was my first Bernese puppy. I have already recommended her to several people who have inquired about my little guy
I bought my first Bernese Mountain dog from Leigh Blevins and couldn't be happier, my Heidi is a healthy happy girl who is 3 years old today! I found Leigh to be knowledgeable and very helpful with any questions I have. I took my pup to the vet the day after I picked her up and was told she was of good weight, good coat and no parasites. I have had no health issues, I am completely satisfied with my experience with Leigh Blevins and with my precious Heidi. If I were going to add another bernese to my family I would certainly buy from Leigh without hesitation.
Angela
Ive bought 3 Berner pups from Leigh Blevins and Willowpond. These are three different puppies from 3 different litters . My experience with Leigh has been professional and knowledgeable with 3 puppies that were and are of good health and temperament. Would certainly recommend Willowpond for your next puppy purchase. Paul Carlton..South Carolina.
This nut told one lie after another I never gave her metronidazole. I gave her toltrazuril for a preventative for coccidia! She got the metronidazole from her own vet. I never harassed her! She picked her own puppy out I went to a lot of trouble to get her to my house earlier so I wouldn't hand her the runt and that's the one she chose! I then offered her money back after she harassed ME and she went on PayPal to try and get her money back and keep the puppy too!
Nobody would return a puppy to you after the condition it was in when it left your home. Riddled with parasites and absolutely covered in filth. You had the nerve to lie that the reason you brought him out rather than seeing the other puppies was because you were gave him a bath. What a joke, even our vet was concerned upon seeing his state, blood in his stool, covered in filth, and less than half the weight he should have been.
The truth is you prevented us seeing the other pups because then we would have realized how underweight he was compared to the others. You even talked about how big he had gotten, which was dishonest because you knew how underweight he was.
Anyone that would like to check with my vet can do so. This crazy lady is talking about my Clover litter. I only have 3 females! Dr Dixon and Dr Martin are my veterinarians and they are the ones that do the wellness exams, fecals and veterinary work on all my dogs. They will vouch for my competence and that I get my meds for all my puppies from them and sometimes pass them on to puppy buyers! I NEVER said they didn't see a vet because they ALWAYS DO! That's how the get their dewclaws removed! I don't do that myself like some breeders do. I do however give shots and some meds but under guidance of my veterinarians ALWAYS!