How to Reserve a Puppy

 

Review our website

Become familiar with the breed and what stands us apart. Our website has information on the breed standard of the Australian Labradoodle. Our Frequently asked questions page is a great start! One of the first questions I am often asked, is in regards to our selection process. This is a great question, as all breeders have their own way of allocating puppies. Our selection process is detailed below.

Submit Application

We want to learn about you and your family to ensure we make the best puppy match for your home. The application asks specific questions to help us assess your needs. Once we receive your application, we’ll review it and get back with you an email and schedule a call. We will give information on our upcoming litters, reservation list, and provide an estimated time frame on when you can expect your puppy.

Place Deposit

When you’re ready to add one of our labradoodles to your home, a non-refundable $500 deposit will place your name on the reservation list. Your spot on the list is determined in order of deposits received. In your welcome email, you will receive a copy of our health warranty and spay/neuter contract. Please review thoroughly before placing your deposit. Payments can be made on the pricing and payment page.

 

I placed a deposit now what?

 

We wait.

Good things take time. A typical pregnancy lasts anywhere from 58-63 days from the time of breeding. Looking for some books while you’re waiting?’

“ The Other End of the Leash” by Patricia McConnel, “How to behave so your Dog Behaves” by Sophia Yin DVM, and “The Dog Listener” by Jan Fennel.

Birth Announcement & Updates

When a litter is born, we contact those on the reservation list. You will receive weekly email updates until the puppies go home. We include a ton of information in our emails to prepare you for life with your new puppy.

Selection & go home day

At seven weeks puppies are temperament assessed with our trainer. Once assessments are complete, we will send an email with detailed information on each puppy that is available to you. Puppies are scheduled to go home once they turn eight weeks.

How will I select my puppy?

caramel australian labradoodle puppy






Can I select my puppy in person?

newborn labradoodle puppy sleeping


Placing a puppy in an environment where it will thrive is our top priority. We would not want to place a very active puppy in a retired home. Just like we wouldn’t want to place a puppy who is sensitive to loud noises, in a home with young children. We encourage families to have an open mind about cosmetic traits. We understand people have preferences, and we will do our best to honor those, but first and foremost, we live with a dog's temperament and energy.

We have been observing puppies from day one and see how each puppy interacts with his littermates, mom and humans. Note: We carefully select breeders who have good temperaments that they will end up passing on to their puppies. There is no “bad” puppy just one that may thrive more in a certain environment over another.

Selections are made in order of deposits received after temperament tests have been completed. Temperament tests are always completed on the day the puppies turn 7 weeks. After assessments, I will gather my notes and you will receive an email with a write up for each puppy that is available to you. For example: If you are deposit #3 you receive information on all puppies in the litter, minus the two that were already chosen by the families ahead of you. We will then schedule a phone call if needed, to go over our notes. Families are welcome to take a couple hours to think about it and then will get back to us with their choice, and we will move down the line.

Many puppy buyers think meeting the puppies is the best way to select, it is in fact the worst way. It is common to become attached to one puppy because of your interaction with it in that moment. Puppies change from moment to moment depending on whether they are hungry or have just eaten, whether they are tired or just woke up from a nap, whether they have just had an active play session or a relaxing snooze, whether they have had visitors/activities that day or not. The puppy you see at the moment of your visit is not necessarily reflective of the puppy overall. You are more than welcome to visit the puppies, but we complete selections using our observations paired with the temperament assessment with our trainer.

what is a temperament assessment?

Chocolate Labradoodle puppy

The cost of an Ohio Valley Labradoodle is $3,000