How Does the Puppy Pick-Out Process work?
This is one of the most common questions we receive, and we’re always happy to explain!
Step One: Reserving Your Spot
When you place a deposit, you are reserving a puppy from the litter that best matches your preferred size and color range.Because puppies are nature’s little surprises, we will not know ahead of time how many boys or girls will be born, or the exact colors in the litter. If you reserve a spot in a multi-colored litter, we ask that you be open and excited about any of the beautiful colors that may arrive.Reservation spots are held in the order deposits are received. The first deposit received receives the first reservation spot, the second deposit receives the second reservation spot, and so on.While we do our best to estimate litter sizes, the number of puppies born can vary. If there are more reservation deposits than puppies available in a litter, families will be accommodated in deposit order. For example, if six families have placed deposits and only five puppies are born, the sixth family on the reservation list will have the option to transfer their deposit to another available or upcoming litter that best matches their preferences.Our goal is to be as transparent as possible throughout the process and help every family find the right puppy, even if plans need to be adjusted due to litter size.
Step Two: Gender Preferences/Puppy Pickout
It’s natural to feel drawn to a particular gender, but we want to reassure you: with Australian Labradoodles, temperament is not determined by whether a puppy is male or female. All of our puppies are bred to be loving, people-focused, and wonderfully social. While individual personalities may vary slightly, boys and girls alike make equally amazing companions. With that in mind, we encourage families to keep an open heart and mind when it comes to gender and color.
At six weeks of age, families are invited to attend Puppy Pick-Out Day (or join by FaceTime if they are unable to attend in person). This is an exciting opportunity to meet the litter, observe each puppy's developing personality, and learn more about their individual temperaments.
Before Puppy Pick-Out, each puppy completes the Volhard Puppy Temperament Test, along with our own daily observations from raising the litter. We'll share what we've learned about each puppy's personality, confidence level, energy, and overall temperament to help guide your decision.
Families will choose their puppy in the order deposits were received. When it is your turn, you'll have the opportunity to select from the puppies that are still available. While the final decision is always yours, we're happy to offer recommendations based on your application, lifestyle, and what we've observed about each puppy to help you make the best choice.
Our goal is not simply to help you choose the puppy you think you want, but to help you choose the puppy that will thrive in your home for years to come.
If, based on temperament, we believe another puppy may be a better fit for your family, we'll gladly discuss our recommendations with you. However, the final decision remains yours.
Because our priority is creating lifelong matches, it’s important that families are open to three or more puppies in their chosen litter. If you feel you cannot select at least three, please reach out to discuss other upcoming litters that may be a better fit for your preferences.
This process is very successful!
Many families naturally fall in love with a puppy based on a photo—and we completely understand! While appearance often creates that first connection, we encourage families to also consider each puppy's temperament and personality when making their final decision.
When it's your turn to choose, we'll provide temperament information, personality insights, and answer any questions you have about each puppy. Our goal is to help you feel confident that the puppy you choose will be a wonderful match for your family for years to come.
