Puppy Buying Process
We are so excited for you as you start this puppy journey. We want you to understand the process that goes in to buying a puppy from us. Below we list our policies and procedures in this process. These are subject to change, and can be changed without notice. But we will keep the site up to date on changes made. One thing we encourage all potential puppy owners to do is ask questions, make sure you understand the breed, the breeder and their program, and the parents of your potential puppy. Even if you do not choose us for your breeder, make sure that the breeder you choose has done appropriate health testing and that they breed to breed standard and to better the breed as a whole.
Wait Lists:
Currently we do not keep a wait list for future litters or take deposits until puppies are on the ground. We do keep a notification list where we will text you when the bitch has gone into heat/been bred, the pregnancy test results, and when puppies are on the ground. When pregnancy has been confirmed we will start accepting puppy application, which can be found under the Available Puppies page.
Being placed on the notification list or filling out an application does NOT guarantee you a puppy. Being placed on the list means that you have the potential to get a puppy from the current litter being born dependent on how many puppies are born, your placement on that puppy list (which is determined by when your deposit is received), as well as other factors.
The Application Process:
We start looking at applications when we are near a time of a potential litter or breeding. If you are interested in a breeding a few years' out, that is wonderful. We do not recommend submitting your application until closer to the time of breeding, however (which we keep updated on our Available Puppies page), A lot can change in a couple of years and you want your application to be the best representation for your current life situation and what your future plans are with this new puppy.
Anyone interested in a puppy is required to fill out an application. This is required before we will go over any more detail on litters, puppies in a litter, etc. If an application is not filled out in detail or has areas left blank, your application will not be considered and you will not be able to move forward in the process. The application is about getting to know you, your family, your ideal puppy, and your goals. We want to not only make sure that one of our dogs would be a good fit for your home, but also that we can best match you with the right puppy.
In terms of the order in which we review applications, homes which we already know and people who have shown consistent interest in our dogs, whether that be through our social media pages or through conversation with us directly, receive priority in the interview process. After that, if your application shows us that you may be a good fit for one of our dogs, based on your needs and wants in a dog, then we will set up a phone or video interview to get to know you better and learn more about what your desires and goals for owning one of our puppies is. We want to ensure that our dogs will be a good fit for your lifestyle and goals.
After the interview, if we believe that it is a good match you will be placed on the puppy list. This list receives first notification on puppies on the ground. If you have not filled out an application and are on our notification list you will be notified of puppies on the ground once those on the puppy list have a chance to respond.
The Puppy "Choosing" Process:
There is no requirement of a deposit once on the puppy list until puppies are on the ground. We reserve the right to keep ANY puppy that we choose. Depending on stud contracts with outside sires, the stud owner may have "second pick". We recommend not to get hung up on "pick" order, because the puppy you will get is not necessarily based on your placement on the list. It is more dependent on which puppy will best fit with your goals and lifestyles.
Once the puppies are born, we know how many there are, if we will be keeping any, and if the stud owner will be keeping any, we will contact those on the puppy list based on the amount of puppies we have. Once we reach out at this stage and you decide if you want a puppy from this litter, we require a non-refundable $5oo deposit which is deducted from the price of the puppy. This deposit holds a puppy for you, but not necessarily a particular puppy from the litter. If we cannot provide a puppy for you from that litter due to puppy illness, injury, death, we decide to keep another puppy back, or any extenuating circumstances on our part, we will return your deposit. If you no longer wish to receive a puppy or decide to get a puppy from another breeder, you forfeit the hold fee and will not receive a refund or be able to extend the hold to a future litter.
If you are on the notification or puppy list and are not contacted once the puppies are born, that does not mean we will not have a puppy available for you. For example, if we have a litter of 8 puppies, we may only contact 6 people on the puppy list to leave us room in case we or the stud owner chooses to keep a puppy or two. As these decisions are more finalized we will reach out to more people on the list that we believe to be good matches for the puppies that are currently on the ground.
Once the puppies are closer to 6 weeks of age we will begin to have an idea on their personalities and temperaments. We will then administer the Volhard test. Based on what we see at this point we will contact those who have placed a deposit and discuss with them which puppy we feel will fit best with their goals. This is NOT a guarantee for the puppy's temperament or personality as they age, it gives us an idea of where the puppy currently is and the potential it has. If you agree that you would like the puppy that matches your lifestyle and personality, we require 50% of the remaining balance of the puppy to hold that specific puppy for you. Until we receive the second payment, that puppy is not guaranteed. The remaining balance is due at the time you pick up your puppy.
Sex & Color:
You may have a preference for a certain gender or color. We understand, it is normal to have a preference. We do ask for your preference on the application, and will take your preference into consideration. However. we match puppies based on their personality and temperament that will best fit with your lifestyle and goals. For example, you may want a black male, but we have a red female who would fit better with what your goals are and that of your household, this is the puppy we are going to recommend for you. If, however, we have 2 blue males and either one will be an excellent fit for your goals and lifestyle based on what we are currently seeing in their temperament, then based on where you are on the puppy list, we will let you choose between the 2 puppies. Based on this, please tell us your preferences, but also please be open to getting a puppy that may look different that what you originally wanted. While color is pretty, ultimately you will be happier with a dog that fits your lifestyle and family. There's a saying in the horse world, 'you can't ride color'. The same is true for dogs. Each dog has a different personality and temperament, with the potential to do better and be happier with different 'jobs'.
Getting Puppies Home:
Puppies go home no earlier than 8 weeks of age, no exceptions. We do not ship puppies or send them on a plane to their new home. You will either need to come to us or we can talk about delivery, which we do for $0.60 per mile. We want to make sure we meet the families these puppies are going to before they are sent off.
Your puppy will go home with a copy of their worming schedule, vaccination schedule, and health certificate. They will also come with some food that they are currently eating, along with a toy and blanket that smells like their siblings and mother.
Registration:
All puppies will be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC). Puppies are sold with limited registration unless discussed with breeder. This means that puppies will NOT have breeding rights and cannot be bred, they also cannot be shown in confirmation. We require that your puppy be spayed or neutered between the ages of 24-30 months of age. Fixing them too early can contribute to joint issues is they are no longer producing the hormones they need as they develop. If you get them fixed before this age, their health guarantee is void. It is your responsibility, however, to prevent your dog from reproducing. With limited registration, you can still participate in sports such as agility, rally, dock diving, obedience, etc, and earn trick dog titles, canine good citizen, and farm dog with the AKC. The only sport you cannot compete with limited registration is confirmation.
We will sell puppies with full registration under rare circumstance that the homes meet our specific guidelines and criteria on puppies that have the potential to be show prospects. Puppies sold under full registration will only be considered for proven show home, on a co-own contract, with the requirement of being shown in AKC and will remained under limited until the puppy has received proper health testing done and met the requirements before breeding will be considered.
You get to choose the call name for your dog, this is the name you use every day. For example, XIXi Top Swift Run Xena is the registered name, Xena is her call name. Our litters of doberman puppies have letter themes and the registered name must include a name with that letter. When the puppy is yours you may choose its call name and we will try to start calling the puppy by that name to help them learn it. The call name is what you call the dog everyday at home, the registered name is only seen on documentation.