About Us
Welcome to Crow Woods Homestead!
Our Story
The story of Crow Woods Homestead LLC, began when Sam Zook and his family realized the need for healthy, well socialized puppies and were inspired to make a difference. With the goal of creating the perfect family companion, they began their breeding program on a small scale with their house dog. The hobby that started in 2010 blossomed into a full time profession. The passion to raise healthy puppies for loving, qualified homes became a calling for the Zook Family. Today Sam and Ruth Anne operate their own state of the art facility called Crow Woods Homestead LLC nestled in the rural landscape of Manheim Pennsylvania.
Our Puppy Philosophy
Here at Crow Woods Homestead LLC we believe that every pet deserves the best possible start in life. Your puppy’s journey begins when we carefully select the two most compatible parents whose health and temperament compliment one another on multiple levels. Our puppies are born in a peaceful puppy nursery where they live with their mother until they are old enough to begin exploring on the homestead! Each puppy has designated playtime sessions where they are free to develop their confidence through a variety of experiences, in a safe, and loving environment. We consider it a joy and privilege to introduce to you our available puppies!
Our Team
The Zook Family
Hannah
Hannah handles placement of puppies and enjoys finding the perfect match for each puppy! She is in charge of communicating with forever families, managing the waiting list, scheduling visits, taking deposits, and providing support to forever families after the puppy is in their new home! Hannah manages the genetics and health testing for dogs in our breeding program to ensure that our puppies live long and healthy lives! She also enjoys dabbling in grooming and helping our photographer with puppy pictures! Hannah’s favorite part is getting to see families experience the joy our puppies bring to their new home!
Krista
Krista is our puppy photographer! Without our photographer we would not be able to share the adorable snapshots and videos from our puppies early weeks with their forever homes! Krista enjoys capturing the special moments and getting cute footage of our puppies during their indoor & outdoor play times!
Sam is the president of Crow Woods Homestead! Together with his wife Ruth Anne and their children, the Zook family provides 24-7 care for the dogs! From simple tasks like supplementing dog food with home cooking and overseeing the socialization process, and assisting the mother dogs during and after delivery, everyone has a special task to help our dogs and puppies live their best lives! Sam & Ruth Anne conduct virtual and person meetings, and enjoy the joys and challenges of raising puppies!
The Dogs
Perhaps the most important part of the Crow Woods Team is the dogs! Each dog in our program has met strict requirements in health, personality, and breed standard and will be a treasured part of the Crow Woods Family even after they are placed into retirement homes! Our dogs enjoy playing with toys indoors, snacking on PawTree treats, and running in our fenced in yard with the children!
Nicole
Nicole is our foster mom and is responsible for communication and placements of adult dogs seeking their retirement homes! She adopted her first puppy Koko from us, and became our foster mom after adding Mickey her second Crow Woods puppy to her family. They help her keep the new retirees well socialized! She screens potential adopters, conducts in person meet and greets with families, and matches adult dogs with their forever families after they are retired! She enjoys hearing about the adventures of our beloved retirees and stays connected with our retirees after they are adopted!
Paige
Paige is our administrative assistant! She makes sure we never run out of the essentials like squeaky toys, & treats!
Our Qualifications
We understand that the decision to adopt a puppy can be both exciting and challenging. It is our goal to seamlessly transition the most compatible puppy from our family to yours! With over 10 years of experience we have achieved the title of ACA Five Star Breeder, and have become a member of the Pennsylvania Professional Dog Breeders Association. Our facility is both State and USDA Licensed, ensuring that your puppy has only the best of care from birth to adoption. The health of a puppy’s parents should be the concern of every adoptive home, and the priority of every responsible breeder. For this reason our dogs are examined by a licensed veterinarian canine reproductive specialist at least twice a year. Genetic health testing is one of the most reliable ways to improve the health of our program. We work closely with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), Canine Health Checks with NEOGEN Animal Genetics, PawPrint Genetics, and Embark Genetic Testing. Making a commitment to improving the future of dogs means more than responsibly managing your own breeding program, Sam, the Owner and Operator of Crow Woods Homestead, is committed to advocating for better breeding practices by maintaining a leadership position as the Vice President of the Pennsylvania Animal Welfare & Safety (PAWS) Board. If you are looking for a reputable breeder who is qualified to raise your puppy you have found them at Crow Woods Homestead!
Testimonials
Our Breeds
We are a reputable breeder who specializes in only a small handful of breeds. Within these breeds we sometimes cross them when it is in the best interest of the future litter. While we believe our puppies are perfect, not every breed is perfect for your family. We look forward to connecting you with the perfect match! To learn more about the breeds we have available feel free to continue reading!
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is also known as a Bichon is an adorable, loyal, and joy filled dog who would make an excellent pet or companion for a family, single person, or retired couple! With arguable one of the most challenging names to pronounce a Bichon Frise (BEE-shon FREE-zay) has been a popular choice among pet owners in the United States in recent years! While they are prone to health issues such as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Cataracts, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. As a reputable breeder it is important to know the health issues associated with the Bichon Frise breed and be sure to complete appropriate health testing on the parents before adding them to a breeding program.
Toy & Miniature Poodle
According to the American Kennel Club Poodles are available in three sizes; Toy, Miniature, and Standard! With a variety of sizes the Poodle is a versatile breed that can do well in almost any family… All three sizes are highly intelligent, loving, and loyal. Poodles are prone to a variety of health problems such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy, NEWs, and Epilepsy so it is important that we as the breeder do extensive genetic health testing to ensure all of our puppies will have the best foundation in health going forward! To learn more about Poodles contact us today!
he Shih Tzu also known as a Little Lion Dog or Chrysanthemum Dog is known for their manageable energy needs, affectionate nature, and short muzzle! Shih Tzus are hypoallergenic and are an excellent choice for allergy sufferers who are looking for a low energy dog to share their home with. Shih Tzus are not a good choice for people looking to have an agility dog or jogging partner, due to their breathing challenges caused by the short nose! Our Shih Tzus are genetically tested for health issues common to the breed such as Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), and Dilated Cardio Myopathy (DCM). If you feel a Shih Tzu is the best breed for your family feel free to reach out!
Our Priorities: Health, Wellbeing, Personality & Breed Standard
Health testing is a crucial step in identifying and preventing genetic disorders in dogs. It’s a responsible and proactive approach that minimizes the risk of passing on hereditary conditions like heart disease, eye disorders, and life threatening genetic diseases. Through health testing, Crow Woods Homestead can ensure that our dogs are free from preventable conditions, allowing our puppies and adults to live happy, healthy, long lives!
Unfortunately, not all breeders follow this practice. Puppy mills and irresponsible breeders often focus on profit over quality, cutting corners when it comes to ensuring the health and well-being of their animals. They may sell puppies at a lower price, but at the cost of the puppy’s long-term health. This creates a vicious cycle that hurts not only the puppies but also the families who invest in them. Good health is priceless. Some buyers may be tempted by the lure of a cheap puppy, but the hidden costs associated with health issues that arise from poor breeding can be staggering. Medical bills, surgeries, and the emotional toll of watching your pet suffer are just a few of the unfortunate realities when a puppy’s parents have not been health-tested.
On the other hand, purchasing a puppy from a responsible breeder who invests in health testing ensures you are bringing home a healthy, happy puppy. While the initial price may be higher, the value of knowing your puppy is healthy—and the peace of mind that comes with it—is worth every penny. Not only will you save money in the long run on medical costs, but you will also enjoy a long, fulfilling life with your new companion. As a reputable breeder, I petition every buyer (even if you do not decide to get a puppy from us) to refuse to purchase a puppy whose parents have not been health tested!
Hereditary vs. Congenital Conditions
Hereditary conditions are genetic traits passed from parents to offspring. These conditions, that can cause blindness, heart failure, etc and can be tested for through health screenings and are preventable by responsible breeding practices. Reputable breeders conduct health testing to ensure they are not passing on known hereditary diseases that will have a devastating affect of their breeds future generations!
Congenital conditions, however, are defects present at birth but not necessarily inherited from the parents. They may arise due to random factors, environmental influences, or complications during pregnancy. Unlike hereditary conditions, congenital issues are not testable and usually cannot be prevented or even detected in many cases!
While health testing helps avoid hereditary health problems, it does not guarantee prevention of congenital issues, which can occur due to unknown or random causes. Therefore, reputable breeders are not liable for congenital defects in puppies, as these are often unpredictable and beyond their control. Health testing primarily focuses on minimizing hereditary risks caused by known issues common to a specific breed. While we are doing our best to improve the health of our breeds through recommended health tests and screenings.
