FAQ:  You Asked, We Answered

How does the wait list work?

Our waitlist is not litter specific. Families who join our waitlist simply want a puppy from us in the future because they love our program! When we have a confirmed pregnancy, we will reach out to our waitlist FIRST for that particular breed. Once puppies are born, we will offer puppy spots in order of waitlist fees received. If there are spots available after contacting those on our waitlist, we will announce those remaining available spots.

Our wait list families are allowed 3 skips before moving to the bottom of the list. There is a waitlist fee of $100, which is applied to the total fee for the puppy. After you move to a specific litter list, we require an additional $400 reservation fee, which is applied to the total cost.

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​How long is the wait?

Wait times are reasonable and are breed specific.  Contact us today for more information on the breed of your choice.  The sooner you apply the better the selection.

If you’d like to bring home a puppy within the next year, I’d suggest applying for our waitlist now. There is always a possibility that we will have puppy spots available sooner after contacting those on our waitlist, but there is no guarantee.

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When/How do we choose our puppy? When Can I bring my puppy home?

We believe in choosing your forever family member based on temperament and personality versus physical attributes alone (though we know those are important, too!)  and ultimately the final decision is up to you.

We perform puppy temperament testing at approximately 6 weeks of age and allow families to pick their puppy via FaceTime/video call soon thereafter. Puppies can transition to their new homes typically around 8-10 weeks old. ​

When can my puppy go outside for a walk or in the yard?
Going in the yard:
As long as your yard is safe and enclosed with solid fences and not used by other dogs, then your puppy can go out in the yard right away. It’ll help to build their confidence, get them used to their new home and you can start their toilet training!

Going on their first walk:
Taking your puppy for its first walk is a huge milestone, but you’ll need to wait until they are fully covered by vaccinations to be safe. This is usually a few weeks after their second shots in their primary vaccination course, but this does vary from vaccine to vaccine. It’s best to ask your vet when you take them in for their shots as they’ll be able to give you exact timings.
 
When can my puppy meet other dogs?
You’ll need to wait until your puppy is fully vaccinated before letting them meet other dogs. This will help stop them from getting any nasty diseases. Wait for the all-clear from your vet, then you can take your puppy out and about to socialize. Keep them on the lead and watch other dogs’ body language to make sure they are happy to greet your puppy. Always ask owners first before you allow your puppy to go up to strange dogs.
 
How should I introduce my new puppy to my current dog?
You’ll need to make sure your current dog is fully vaccinated and well in itself before bringing your new puppy home. Then it’s best to do introductions slowly, making sure your dog has a quiet space away from your boisterous new puppy!  Obviously, it might be a bit difficult to introduce them on ‘neutral territory because your puppy won’t be fully protected by their vaccinations yet, but do take away favorite toys or anything that your current dog feels protective over so that these won’t become a problem between your dog and puppy. You should probably keep both dogs on a loose lead when they first meet – make sure you can recognize their body language so you know if the meeting is going well.
Always supervise your dogs together. Remember your puppy may be a lot more playful than your current dog so make sure you are playing with your puppy to give your other dog some space, but make sure you stick to your current routine with your first dog so that they don’t feel a dramatic change to their life.
 
Remember to feed both dogs away from each other so neither feels the need to guard their food as this can cause a lot of tension in the long term.
 
How do I crate-train my puppy?
Crates are a good way of making sure your puppy is secure and out of any mischief at night! Again, it’s something your puppy will need to get slowly used to and each dog will take a different amount of time before they are happy to be in their crate. 
 
Why is my puppy biting and chewing and how can I stop it?
Nibbling and chewing is a natural part of being a puppy. Just like people, puppies go through teething and need to bite and chew. They also explore the world through their mouth, so it’s only natural that they bite and chew anything and everything they can! Rather than trying to stop them from chewing, make sure you give them lots of dog-safe toys they can chew. 
 
What should I feed my puppy? How much should I be feeding my puppy?
We recommend a complete, life-stage-appropriate puppy food (so one that’s labeled as being for puppies rather than an adult or senior food). This is because puppies need different levels of nutrients to help them grow. Look out for specific puppy diets such as puppy food for large breeds, or puppy food for toy/small breeds. If you need to change your puppy to different food, make sure you do this over a couple of weeks to avoid stomach upsets.
Follow the advice on the packet for how much to feed your puppy. If you’re unsure, ask your vet or vet tech and they can give you the best advice for your dog. Remember not to feed your puppy any human food or scraps. We know it’s hard to resist those puppy-dog eyes, but some human foods are harmful to our dogs and can unbalance their diet.

When can I start feeding my puppy adult dog food?
Generally, dogs are considered to be puppies until they are around one year old, but this will change depending on the size and breed of your dog. Small and medium breeds might become ‘adult’ dogs at around one year, but larger and giant breeds take more time to grow so might not be ‘adults’ until they’re two! It’s best to speak to your vet or vet tech as they can advise you on when to change your puppy’s food to adult food.
 
Will my puppy need milk?
In short, no. Your puppy won’t need any milk at all after they’ve been fully weaned from its mom! Milk has lots of extra calories that’ll mean your puppy quickly piles on the pounds.
 
How do I toilet-train my puppy?
Toilet training is a really important part of training your puppy and we recommend that you get started right away.  It’s important to use positive, reward-based training and never punish your puppy as this could make the problem worse.  Toilet training might take some time, but it’s important to stick with it and be consistent in taking your puppy out every thirty minutes or so.  You can gradually increase the time as they get older.
 
How often should I take my puppy to the vet?
Your puppy will need to go to the vet to get the rest of its primary course of vaccinations. Make sure you register with a vet before your puppy comes home so you can get these appointments scheduled in advance. Their remaining shots might need to be done over a couple of visits, but your vet will be able to advise you of an exact schedule.
 
You’ll then need to return back to the vet when your puppy is ready to be neutered. This is usually between 12-18 months. Don’t forget to book their boosters and annual health check, too!
 
If your puppy gets sick or you need some extra advice, your vet will always be happy to help over the phone or make you an appointment if necessary. There’s no exact amount of visits you and your puppy might make to the vet in their first year – it’ll all depend on your puppy and their general health! Remember that where you get your puppy from will have a big effect on their health and well-being too.