First steps

The first step in adopting a puppy is filling out an application form. This is not yet a firm commitment to purchase, but it does indicate that you are a serious party and helps us to assess what you are looking for in a dog and whether you will provide a good home. Some of the questions are designed to help you reflect on the commitment involved in taking in a new, albeit four-legged, member of the family.

Once we receive your application form we will contact you to discuss further what you’re looking for (in terms of temperament, size, colour, etc) and which litter you are most interested in. After determining which litter is likely to produce a good match, if we are still in a pre-breeding stage, we will place you on our reserve list for that litter. At the time we breed the Mama, we will inform you by e-mail of the (we hope!) successful breeding. We will begin taking deposits at that point.

Deposits are $500 (by cheque or PayPal) and are non-refundable except under the limited circumstances outlined below. People will be placed on our “sold” list based on the order in which deposits are received.

Puppy counts and deposits

The next step is to confirm pregnancy and get a rough puppy count. This is done either by ultrasound at around four weeks’ gestation or by x-ray at eight weeks’ gestation. (The gestation period for dogs is nine weeks. Note that in-utero puppy counts are not always accurate, particularly if based on ultrasound.)

Once we have an idea of how many puppies to expect, we will send another e-mail  to everyone on our reserve list informing them of the successful pregnancy and how many spaces are open, depending on whether we intend to keep or trade any breeding prospect puppies. This e-mail will invite you to put down a deposit if you have not already done so.

Birth announcement

A birth announcement will be e-mailed to everyone on the “sold” list within 24 hours of the puppies’ birth. From this point on you can keep checking our website for photo updates and progress reports.

Deworming commences at two weeks of age and continues until you take the puppy home. You will need to continue the deworming treatment until the puppies are four months old. (We will provide information on what to do.)Crate training will begin when the puppies are five to six weeks of age, when they are weaned. This will help you with house-training. Puppies will be vaccinated and microchipped at about six weeks of age, and registered with the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA).

During this period the puppies will be handled daily, so they will be very used to human touch and companionship. They will have plenty of play time with the children in our house and receive extensive socialization and exposure to different sights and sounds. Our whelping area and puppy play space is right next to the kitchen, so the puppies are at the hub of the family, constantly exposed to the daily activities of a normal busy family. By six weeks’ of age they will be starting to go outside to play (and, we hope, to do their business there!) so the sights and sounds encountered outdoors will also become familiar to them.

Visiting your puppy

At seven weeks of age we will do temperament testing and allocate puppies to the families on the “sold” list. You will be able to visit the puppies and interact with them to help determine which one best suits your family. (All visits must be pre-arranged. Visits prior to seven weeks’ age are discouraged to maintain the Mama’s sense of safety and security of her young puppies.) If you are not able to visit owing to distance we will call you to discuss the puppies’ temperaments and characteristics to help us make a good match. Once we have matched a puppy with your family, we will draft the sales contract and ask you to make the final $2,000 payment (by cash, certified cheque, bank draft, or PayPal).

The sales contract also contains our two-year health guarantee against debilitating congenital defects or illnesses.

Between seven and nine weeks of age the puppies will be neutered, and will be ready for their new homes within one week of neutering. When you receive your puppy we will give you a New Puppy package, including a sample of food to get you started, a few toys, a puppy blanket, a CD with puppy photos, and information on how to care for your puppy. ALAA registration papers will be sent to you once we receive them.

Shipping

If shipping is required, we will work out arrangements with you once we have received your final payment. The cost of shipping is extra. Shipping within Canada costs around $250-$350 (including crate for shipping). Shipping to the US or overseas can also be arranged.

What if not enough puppies are born?

If it turns out that not enough puppies are born to provide one to everyone who has put down a deposit, the people at the bottom of the list will be able to transfer the deposit to a subsequent litter to be born within the next year.

If no puppy is born within one year that is suitable for your family, we will refund your deposit. Note that indicating a colour or gender preference on the application form does not make it a requirement. Size and temperament are the traits used to determine suitability. (Males neutered prior to sexual maturity display little difference in temperament from females. This is the reason that the sex of the dog is not taken into account in determining suitability.)