Body Arts

Visit one of our four locations:
GENESEE VALLEY CENTER - Phone: (810) 733-8161
3341 South Linden, Suite 670, Flint, MI 48507

FOUNTAIN WALK - Phone: (248) 305-7008
. 44125 W 12 Mile Rd # 121, Novi, MI 48377

OAKLAND MALL - Phone: (248) 588-9950
528 W 14 Mile Rd, Troy, MI 48083

Here are a few of the things we require of our breeders:

1) EXERCISE and SOCIALIZATION-
Exercise pens to get the breeding parents out of the kennel regularly. The elements of these “Playgrounds” are: Minimum of 45’ in length, Shade available, Covered primary water source, Grassed ground cover and a Cool-Down kiddy pool for hot days. These playgrounds are used for group play of both breeding parents and litter to litter interaction. We have personally seen the joy in the dogs and puppies as they romp with each other. This dog-to-dog interaction is huge in the area of socialization. This socialization helps set the temperament of the pups for life! This is just one of the areas that set us above the pack in providing gentle family puppies to our customers!

2) VETERINARY CARE-
Dr. Hilary Reinhold is charged with screening and tracking any health issues in the pups we purchase. Dr. Hilary travels to the kennels a minimum of 4 times a year (USDA requirement is once per year) to examine and care for all breeding parents. We have begun genetic testing of parent dogs’ hearts and patellas on small breeds, and hips on large breeds. The breeders are submitting for OFA certification. Both Dr. Hilary and the vets that visit the store weekly examine each and every puppy before we allow them to be sold. This proactive screening of breeding parents coupled with two puppy exams is NOT being done anywhere in the pet industry that we know of, and is a great benefit for our customers.

3) BREEDING PRACTICES-
We have established guidelines for breeding age and frequency. We also have a strict policy against In-Breeding or Line-Breeding. We ONLY sell "Family Friendly" breeds. Our years or experience has taught us that not all families can handle certain breeds, mostly the breeds that AKC labels as "Working Class". We also do not sell breeds that have many health issues. Our breeders only breed what we have called "1st Generation Crossbreeds", example PUGGLE - A purebred Pug crossed with a Purebred Beagle. This enables us to reasonably determine the outcome of the cross breeding. All of our breeding parent dogs must be AKC registered.

4) KENNEL DESIGN-
We have designed a retrofit to the kennels to increase the size of the kennel above and beyond what USDA Animal Welfare Act requires and, if possible, remove the top row of kennels making the kennel single level. We have also found flooring that we suggest replacing coated wire, even though we know wire flooring is the best for sanitation, that’s why many shelters use it in their kennels.

5) INSPECTIONS-
Our breeders are inspected and given oversight by multiple government or industry organizations. Our breeders, depending on the kennel size, are inspected by up to 5 different organizations:
-USDA United States Department of Agriculture
-AKC American Kennel Club
-IBOH Indiana State Board of Health
-ICAW Indiana Council for Animal Welfare - Breeders Association
...and of course all kennels are inspected by the owners of The Family Puppy. This is a huge benefit to our client families. These inspections and screening is our way of servicing our clients in a manner that is unattainable with other puppy sources.

There are only four (4) sources you can get a puppy:
1) Shelters/Rescues
2) Show Breeders
3) Casual/ Backyard Breeders
4) Pet Stores partnering with Professional Breeders

Pet Stores partnering with Professional Breeders is the only source with the inspections listed above. Most other sources have neither oversight nor inspections to ensure proper care of the animals they breed!

If you have any questions about our breeders, or would like to request more information, please visit one of our stores! We are always happy to brag on our breeders.

GENESEE VALLEY CENTER - Phone: (810) 733-8161
. 3341 South Linden, Suite 670, Flint, MI 48507
FOUNTAIN WALK - Phone: (248) 305-7008
. 44125 W 12 Mile Rd # 121, Novi, MI 48377
OAKLAND MALL - Phone: (248) 588-9950
. 528 W 14 Mile Rd, Troy, MI 48083