For those who are truly interested in bringing one of our wonderful puppies into their home, we offer a waiting list. Since we do not force our dogs to breed, we can only PLAN litters and cannot guarantee a litter’s arrival. As a result, when on the waiting list, you will be reserving a puppy from the next available litter. This does not guarantee you a puppy from the litter born immediately after you get on the list. It means that when a puppy is available and those on the list before you have chosen their puppy, you will have the chance to choose a puppy.
The list is arranged in this way is because we cannot guarantee how many puppies will be born in each litter and how many females conceive each heat cycle. In addition, we do not limit how many people can sign up for the waiting list. We guarantee those on the list get a puppy before those not on the list, we just cannot guarantee when that puppy will be available.
Adoption Fee:
To reserve a spot on the list, there is a $300.00 non-refundable reservation fee. Consequently, the reservation fee applies to the overall adoption fee of the puppy. The overall adoption fee for our puppies is $2300. We do not charge more for color, gender, or origin (English or American). Unfortunately, sometimes, due to outside costs, we must raise our adoption fee. If this happens and you are already on the list, the adoption fee associated with the time of signing up will be “locked in.” (See “How the List Works” below for more info.)
Puppy Availability:
Puppy availability primarily depends on your location on the list. However, this is not always the way it works. Many people sign up on the list before they are ready for a puppy. It is somewhat common for me to run through the list quickly and end up near the end of the list due to those higher up on the list not being ready for their puppy. Sometimes, people usually choose to wait due to personal reasons. In reality, sometimes life happens, and we understand that. As a result, I cannot tell you when you will be contacted about a puppy. However, please understand that I want to help you get a puppy just as you want a puppy. Nonetheless, I do not have the ability to control all variables.
Litter Size:
Sadly, we cannot guarantee what size a litter will be. Even though we often do ultrasounds, sometimes a puppy is hiding or there are complications at birth. As a result, at times, a person may have to wait until the following litter. This has never been an issue since those on the list are interested in our dogs due to quality, not quantity.
How the List Works:
Once a puppy is available, I will contact you to see if you are ready for a puppy. If I contact you via phone and text and you do not respond, you will automatically be removed from the list. I am sorry, but I believe communication is imperative. If you cannot return a call/text to say you are or are not ready for a puppy, then I am not sure that I can rely on communication once a puppy is in your home.
When I call, if you are ready for your puppy, I remove your name from the waiting list and move your application to the “current litter book.” This is a book that I put together for each litter to keep the records straight. If you say you are ready for a puppy and are placed in the litter book and then change your mind, but want to stay on the list, you will be moved to the end of the waiting list.
If you have ANY questions, I am always available. Additionally, I will stay in contact with you, you will be able to watch the puppies grow through online posts, and photos will be consistantly updated on our website.
Passing on a Puppy
If you are not ready for a puppy, you can pass. After passing, your name will move up the list and you will be contacted again when another puppy is available. However, once you have passed the second time on a puppy, your name will be moved to the end of the list. Once moved to the end, if the adoption fee has changed since sign up, your fee will change to the current adoption fee.
When your name comes up again, you will be contacted about another available puppy. If you pass again, your application will again move to the end. This makes it “fair” for those who sign up and are ready for a puppy immediately. Trying to work around ready dates that are two or more years out has become too complicated.
If you pass on four available litters, you will be removed from the list. To pass on four sets of litters, you will have (more than likely) been on the list for over a year.
Picking a Puppy
We work a little different here. Unlike some other breeders, when the pups hit eight weeks we do not allow people to pick out their puppy. I do not feel this is the best way to choose a puppy. I have been breeding dogs for over 27 years and there is a better way to match puppies with their families.
When a person comes to a breeder’s house to “pick” a puppy, they base their choice based on what they see in a 10-20 minute time span. This is not enough time to get to know a puppy as there are too many variables. It is common that each family chooses the most dominant or the most submissive puppy in the litter that is still available at the time of pick up. Additionally, in every litter, a person ends up taking home the “puppy that is left.” Unfortunately, this is just how it works based on what people believe they are looking for.
The issue is that depending on where you are on the list, you may not end up with the personality you are really looking for. As a result, I do my best to help you find the puppy that will fit best in your family. I have found that this often makes happier families.
The Right Puppy for Your Family
To pick your puppy, I will start taking photos at 1 week of age. Once the puppies hit 5 to 5.5, I send out an informational email about all the goodies you will need to acquire for your puppy and the “Personality Placement Questionnaire.”
The questionnaire informs me of your wants/needs concerning your puppy. When you complete the questionnaire, you are also able to list the puppies from favorite to least favorite concerning how they look. I try to pick a puppy that will match your family that is closest to the top of your list.
Puppy Aptitude Testing
At 7 weeks of age, I put each of the puppies through Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test. This will rate the puppy’s personality and temperament. Based on your puppy choices, and your results on the questionnaire, I figure out the best puppy for your family. I do my best to find pups out of your “favorites” that will be a good match. Sadly though, I cannot guarantee this.
In every case, I try to place each family with puppy that will best fit with your wants and lifestyle. After completing the personality testing, I contact each person individually and tell them which puppy will go home with them. At this time, I also explain my reasoning and go over the puppy’s test results. At this point the person chooses their puppy and will no longer be available. I contact people in order of sign up.
Final Steps…
Once the temperament test is completed, I call you to discuss the temperament tests. At that point we will discuss the pup that will go home with you. After this point, it will not be long until you can take your puppy home. Again, I will send out another informational email included with your contracts. Puppy pick up will be when your pup is between the ages of 8 and 9 weeks. Puppies must stay with us until they go to the vet for a full exam at 8 weeks old. Until completed, the puppies cannot go to their new homes.
List Order
We have our waiting list set up on a first-come-first-serve basis. That means that your name is in the order in which you applied for the waiting list. The only reason this changes is if you have been moved to the end of the list due to passing on available puppies more than twice. If you sign up for one gender and change your mind, we can change the waiting list information.
**If you are hoping for a puppy by a certain time, I am sorry, I cannot guarantee that. However, I CAN make a Gift Certificate for you so you can give it to your child, wife, husband, etc. The person receiving the puppy can pick from the next litter using a gift certificate. **‘
Puppy Availability
There are too many mitigating factors to guarantee when a puppy will be available. All we can do is promise to contact you when your a puppy is available for you. The best way to keep up with our prospective litters is by, “liking” and “following” our Facebook page. We try to do our best to ensure that each family on the list gets their puppy. However, maintaining the quality and care of our puppies and dogs is also important. In turn, sometimes, it may require some patience.
Waiting List Update
I work to make sure that my waiting list is always up to date. However, sometimes, there are people on the list who are waiting for a specific litter or month. In these cases, the people are still on the list, but they are not necessarily waiting for the next litter. Since all of our females are from our bloodline, often our litters come in groups and then we have a “lull.” As a result, if you are happy with our beliefs and how we care for our puppies, do not be afraid to sign up for the waiting list.
**If you sign up for the waiting list, we may contact you in one month or one year. Unfortunately, we cannot know how many people on the list will pass or how many puppies will be born. We would love for you to join our list, but we are not able to give time guarantees. Do not allow the length of the list detour you as we often call much sooner than expected. **
Signing Up:
To sign up, click the cute puppy photo below to be taken to the application. You will be required to complete the application and make the reservation fee at the same time. The application and reservation payment must be completed at the same time. If there is an issue with the application, please let me know so I can fix it asap. Thank you!
If you are interested in joining our waiting list, please click on the button below to go to the application.
