Puppy Picking Process
 

Around the 6-7 week mark, we will complete puppy picks, where we pick each puppy for our prospective families. We do not let families pick their own puppies, no exceptions. 

Our ultimate goal is to match each puppy with the family that we think will be the best fit. We are looking at each puppy's temperament, energy level, potential, etc. and each of the family's desires, goals, lifestyle, etc. In doing this matching process, we hope that it will lead to a better chance of success with transitioning into the home, training, relationship building, reaching their potential, and ultimately a happier future for both the puppy and it's parents.

In order to get to know each of the families, we utilize the information given on the initial application, as well as our conversation over the phone.  It is really just not possible for future parents to truly get to know each of the puppies well enough based on photos, videos, and even meeting them for a short period of time. As their breeder, we get to know each of them very well of course just by seeing and interacting with them on a daily basis.

Starting from day 1, we are holding them, interacting with them, and observing them, both when they know we are there, as well as when they don't know. So, just spending that quality time with them and observing as they develop throughout the weeks is very telling. We also perform a puppy temperament test that exposes them to different scenarios/stimulants to then see how they react. The temperament test guideline that we follow is the Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test. Both of these helps us get to know their confidence level, dominance level, social skills, adaptability, trainability, etc.

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Once we feel that we have a good idea about their developing temperaments, we sit down and go through our prospective puppy parents and decide which puppy we think will best suit which family. 

I truthfully have no doubt that all of my puppies should make fantastic family pets. Not only because of their selective breeding and parent's temperaments and qualities but because of how hard we work with socialization, exposure, and confidence building within the first 8 weeks of their lives. Most of these puppies also have a ton of potential for a variety of different venues, it is just up to the parent's to guide them to that potential. We have puppies thriving in many different types of homes including Hunting/hunt tests, service, therapy, search and rescue, sporting venues, and as family companions.