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
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 old, we invite families with reservations to join us for Puppy Pick-Out Day. This is a special time to meet the entire litter in person and get to know each puppy’s unique personality (for families at a distance, we’ll connect via FaceTime or Skype so you don’t miss out). During this visit, we’ll share insights from the Volhard Puppy Temperament Test, which helps us understand each puppy’s strengths, tendencies, and ideal home environment. After spending time with the puppies, you’ll be asked to list your top three (or more, in larger litters) in order of preference.
At seven to eight weeks old, Sunrise Australian Labradoodles (Karen) carefully reviews everything we know — your application, the temperament and personality evaluations, and your preferred puppy choices. From there, we thoughtfully match each family with one of their top three puppies to ensure the best fit for both the puppy and the home they’re joining.
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 feel drawn to choosing a puppy simply by falling in love with a photo — and while those first connections are wonderful, the puppy choices you pick based on looks alone may not always be the best match for your lifestyle. Our placement process is designed to ensure that your puppy’s temperament and personality align beautifully with your family. Whether you’re looking for a calm companion to cuddle on the couch, an energetic partner for agility, a loving family dog for children, or even a puppy with the potential for service or therapy work, this thoughtful approach helps create the perfect lifelong match.
