I regularly am asked how we handle our allocation process. I thought I would share today a letter that I have recently sent. Never hesitate to call or email me about our protocol. I welcome questions and will always evaluate each request!
Dear xxx,
I appreciate the concern that you place in getting a puppy. I would love to explain how we complete our allocation process and if you feel comfortable we can proceed. Every breeder does something different. I have been breeding for almost 8 years and after some initial trial and error of letting people pick the wrong puppy for them, my trainer and I have worked out a process that has worked 100% of the time for my program since we have started our new protocol.
Australian Labradoodles are bred for temperament from well health tested parents. I am striving for consistency of temperament. At around 42-44 days, we have our trainer come and conduct the Wendy Volhard Temperament Assessment. All of the local therapy groups that I donate to utilize this process to screen potential candidates, too.
The test screens puppies based on 10 responses to stimuli and rated from 1-6. A well socialized pup is what we are looking for and so we want pups that fall in the 3-4 category. A healthy mix of 3-4s makes the perfect family dog. If there are any puppies with numbers that stand out for dominance or reticence, I do not place that pup at 8 weeks and send it off for additional training. My trainer and I then sit down and choose the puppy for each family based on my detailed application, any additional notes of requests, and the results of Volhard test. I then email families with a detailed report of their puppy and pictures. I try to take into consideration color and sex but my greatest concern is temperament. If I do not have exactly what they are looking for, I am honest and tell them that I think they should wait for a future litter. Some families choose based on color and sex and the “look of the puppy” only and I find that sets up for disappointment for all involved.
All of this being said, I do not do “pick.” Pick for every family is different and I think by the way we handle assessment and placement, we avoid “pick.” If at placement, a family is not pleased with the pup chosen for them, we move their application and deposit to the next litter that would fit their requests. We allow families to come and meet their puppies and spend an hour visiting around 7 weeks so that they can get to know their vaccinated puppy. I try to have surgeries done 4-5 days prior to pick up or puppy’ s flight.
My vets and my trainer and I have invested countless hours and dollars into this process and I hope I explained our protocol well.
I can tell you for my Zeus and Kennedy litter, we have 4 applications already. Three for pets and one for a dog to be used as a therapy dog for a wonderful child psychologist that will utilize the pup in his practice. We will be holding back a female if there is one available for breeding, too. The qualities that you are looking for in a puppy will be different than the requests for my pet families. Most of my litters are fully sold before the mama gives birth and some litters are sold before the mama even gets pregnant.
We place roughly 20-25% of our dogs in special needs homes and I think that Karen Patitz (my trainer) and I truly understand the needs of these families.
I hope this process works for you. I have a dog in labor today but feel free to call at your convenience and if I am busy, I will return your call.
Blessings, Mindi McMillan
317-769-3830