Labradoodle Puppy Adoption Process

1. Read this Labradoodle Information website and email us with any questions; we are here for you and your family
2. Look at the wait list and expected delivery dates, paying attention to your preferences (male/female, size, color) to count and get a general idea of when a puppy may be available for you.
3. Fill out an online application
4. If you are local come out and visit our home, meet us and our wonderful dogs. If you are not local we can provide references or you can call our vet and get an idea of who we are and how wonderful our dogs and puppy are in terms of health, temperament and conformation.

Deposit

5. Send in a deposit, mail or paypal, to get on the wait list.
6. Check the online wait list to see your family name and check your preferences.
7. You will receive monthly updates as to happenings at the ranch, puppies due and when to expect your 4 legged bundle of joy.
8. When we are expecting a litter we have an ultrasound at 4 weeks prior to birth to verify pregnancy.
9. Just before delivery we have a low level x-ray to confirm the number of puppies; again we will notify all our families to give you a heads up. PLEASE email us ASAP if you will be out of town during the next two weeks and we will not be able to get in touch with you and you are interested in this litter.

The Rainmaker Ranch What to Expect When You are Expecting series (Summary, details to follow weekly).

The Puppies are Born

1. The day after birth we put first photos online and send a notice to all the families on the wait list.
2. We will email everyone, the delivery time and process, number of males, females and coat colors.
3. All the photos are placed on the website and updated every week.
4. If needed the puppies receive an identification collar with general information written on it, much like a newborn baby ID wrist band if we cannot tell them apart at birth.

Week 1

5. During the first week we contact each family in order of the wait list to confirm the following: your family would like to adopt a puppy from the litter, what puppies will most likely be available in relation to gender and color, or if you want to adopt or hold over for the next litter.
6. Again, please email us if you will be out of town during this time, we need quick responses so we can move on if necessary.
7. We place each puppy in the appropriate home based on a series of questions and our personal contact with you, however we use the order of the wait list as a guide to which family adopts first. We do not allocate the puppies until the 6-8th week and personalities have emerged. There is more about allocation later, on this list. At this point we want to know we have the correct number of families adopting, so many wanting female, so many wanting male, so many open on gender and that is a match to the litter.
8. Once the first week is up and all families are confirmed to adopt we place the family names on the litter specific web page, and begin working with each family individually to select the perfect puppy from the litter.

Week 2

9. Families receive emails with photo's every week including updates on their progress.
10. Puppies receive dewormings and vet checks as directed by our vet even though they live inside this is required.

Week 4

11. At 4 weeks, we email you the FAMILY PROFILE, a questionnaire to fill out concerning your activities and puppy related relationships, including kids, other animals. At this point gender preferences are already set, this is the only preference that cannot be changed.   If all the puppies are allocated at birth due to color and gender we then work with each puppy to adapt them to their family.  Those going with kids are given more time with the kids.
12. We will also mail you part of your puppy package which includes a puppy training book to prepare for your puppy.  Remember your final payment is due during week 4. The payment should be mailed directly to Krista, Kathy, Alisa or Cindy depending on the location of your puppy. Payment is less the $150 deposit you have already sent.  Shipping is an additional $300 and will be arranged with you during the last two weeks.   We do offer delivery at $300 plus transportation costs depending on your location.
13. For additional reading, we suggest the training books and materials on our website under FAQ, “A few of our favorite things”.  There you will find info on training, grooming, toys etc.
14. Puppies will have colored collars if necessary and as you receive pictures you will begin to get an understanding of each puppy’s temperament, physical characteristics and playful behaviors.
15. You will see that our puppies live in our home, not a cage or outside kennel. They are taken outside for supervised group playtime and taken during the day in small groups to play inside and be loved by us and the kids. They are potty trained to wee pads and beginning obedience training takes place. Mainly deterring jumping up for attention and nipping.

Week 6

16. Remember at week 8 the puppies receive their first shot and their microchip. This first shot is one shot that is divided into 4 parts. One part is given with us at week 8 and the other 3 parts are given by your vet at week 11, 14 and 17. You will receive a vet record with your puppy to give to your vet at pick up or shipping. At your first vet appointment ,within a few days after you receive your puppy , you will make arrangements for these follow up visits with your vet.   At this point you should have a vet and as soon as we have allocated a puppy to your family you will receive via email a home again conformation that the puppy has been registered with the AKC home again network.
17. During week 6, appointments are scheduled for pick up. If we are shipping your puppy we will schedule that with you, a direct flight for the puppy. We strongly recommend coming to pick up your puppy. Shipping is the easy part and the time in a crate on the plane is not a problem, it is the exposure to other areas and animals that can cause any sort of issues. Although all our puppies are cared for and given the best of care, other dogs being shipped can be carrying all sorts of virus’s especially older dogs that may not exhibit symptoms of viruses that can cause harm to a puppy. Please consider at the least coming out and we can meet your plane, give you the puppy for a return trip under your seat.
18. At the 6th week allocation begins for those families that do not already have a designated puppy due to gender or color preferences. We use a series of questions, called a family profile, and discuss puppy issues with each family. We then study all the puppies in the selection group. We can typically select one maybe two puppies best suited for each family (our first maybe second choice) based on the puppies personalities and the family profile. We will confirm with each family in order as to the puppy we feel best suits them and why. If the family agrees we go on to the next until all the puppies are placed. Some families have a narrow choice, like chocolate male and some are open to any male. It really is a group placement with everyone in mind not just the order of wait list. All the while we keep the families informed, so there are no surprises. Please note, all the puppies can typically be trained to work out in any situation, but within the group of excellent puppies some are, for example, more apt to want to play with the other puppies and more willing to experience new situations while others are more apt to want to watch the group or be with a human. In this example, the first puppy is better suited to the large family having another dog or cat, while the second is suited to the retired couple or the couple with just one child. With this process we have never had a negative first few days at the puppies forever home, the puppies tend to be more initially suited to the family and vice versa. Versus the other way of just letting each family pick based on a picture or description and having more training required in the first weeks.
19. Hopefully you have selected a name for the puppies microchip, if not we use your last name for example "Miss Jones".

Week 7

20. At 7 weeks the puppies are spay/neutered and we will let you know when they are scheduled to have the surgery.  Those with a slight underbite as typically with so many Australian Labradoodles have this corrected http://www.labradoodle-breeder.com/Labradoodlemouth.html  during that time under for spay or neuter.  Please note this is rare. If you or your vet has any questions of this or any treatment you can call or email their office. 
21. They also receive a heart guard treat and their first shots.
22. Read the puppy care section of our website.
23. Your puppy comes with a large baggie of food to get you through the week, a collar, leash, and his/her favorite toy from the litter toys. Also our vet certified shot record and a signed health guarantee, health certificate, a 6 or greater generation pedigree.
24. You will need to set up a vet appointment at your vet to check the puppy after arrival and then you will continue the puppy shots at 3 week intervals until complete. The puppy will have had the first in the series of shots and all dewormings as mentioned.  We ask that you do this as soon as possible the first week the puppy comes home to get acquainted with your vet and plan the shots.
25. If you are going to crate train, purchase a crate(s) accordingly, I prefer crates that can be adjusted in size as the puppy grows. I like the Life Stages Ultima Triple Door Folding Dog Crates with an adjustable additional wall that allows the crate to grow with your puppy. No bedding in the crate until the puppy is trained, believe me anything absorbent will be used as a wee pad. Wait until the puppy is potty trained and then add a nice bed.   Inside the crate you need to put the best toys.  Something like a plush toy, Kong filled with a treat or a chew stick or bone.  These treat toys should only be in the crate.  When the puppy brings them out put them back it.  These are special toys that will entice the puppy into the crate and interested in crate time.  The crate should be reserved for night and when you are out of the house.  The rest of the time the puppy should be able to roam the house (restricted roam) in the areas you are in so you can watch them. They need to learn to sleep on the floor when tired, just follow you around, and actually learn how to just be in the house.  There should be play time, quiet loving time (sitting with you while you watch TV) and free time (when you are eating, putting away groceries and going about your day.
26. Purchase food, there are four top foods all of which we recommend and have used. Evo, Blue Buffalo, Wilderness and Puppy Chicken, Orijen Chicken, Wellness or Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul.  These can be found at various locations like Petsmart, Complete Petmart and others. It can be found on the internet for a location to purchase near you. We give you a large baggie of food so you can gradually mix it with whatever you desire. We recommend distilled water for the first few days gradually mixing it with your tap water until they are fully on tap water. Sometimes changes in water and food causes slight poop problems.
27. We will give you a wee pad for beginning training if desired.  I recommend putting one near the door you intend to take the dog out, this gets them in the habit of going to the door.
28. Do NOT plan on taking your puppy anywhere in OPEN public until at least 3 months old. Do NOT take them to the pet store, dog parks etc. The puppy has not built up the immunities needed for these situations. If you have neighbor or other family dogs that you know are fully updated on shots and are not going to dog parks they are most likely fine for a visit and play.   Visiting friends and having visitors is highly recommended to socialize your puppy, just select a safe location.
29. Plan on training, basic at a minimum.   This is ideal for socialization and training with distractions.  Anyone can train a puppy to come and sit in their home, but try and do it with 10 dogs and humans all yelling commands and you have trained your puppy for a typical emergency situation. We also recommend at least two home visits with a good trainer.  One the first few days home.  They can help set up the home and deal with your specific needs. 
30. Currently the puppies are on the following schedule. 
1. 7-8 am up and potty
2. feed 2/3 of daily food and given water for the day
3. feed 1/3 of daily food at 4 pm, refresh water
4. outside play with us until pooped, water given
5. inside no food or water
6. lights out 10 pm

Week 8

31. During the scheduled pick up you will come to our home, meet the puppies and us. We will walk you through all the paperwork. You will receive: the puppy, shot record, sales certificate, 3 year health warrantee signed by us, microchip information will come directly to you in the mail if it has not already, it will include an id tag, a baggie of food, a toy, and pedigree.   We like to have about an hour so we can walk you through some basic training.
32. If shipping we will work with you during all the arrangements from beginning to end.

After

33. IF any health issues arise as stated in our warrantee follow Puppy First Treatment. Take the puppy to the vet or the emergency room ASAP, and get the puppy care and treatment. Call us once the puppy is getting treatment.   Our process is to get your vet and our vet talking to determine the best action for the puppy and proceed.  We are not experts in puppy health and leave that to your vet and ours to work together to get the puppy healthy and back to the family.
34. We encouraged you to call us and keep us updated on the puppy’s progress. We will be here to answer any questions and help in any way we can.