We Believe a Puppy Should Become Who They Are Becoming Before You Have to Choose

There is something wonderfully exciting about waiting for a litter to arrive.

Families have hopes. Maybe they’ve dreamed about a blue merle girl for years. Maybe they love traditional black tris, want a boy, have always wanted blue eyes, or simply know what catches their heart.

We understand that.

We love those beautiful details too.

But at birth, those are some of the only things we know about a puppy.

We can see sex. We can see color. We can see markings.

What we can’t yet see very well is the little dog who will eventually live in your home.

And we think that part matters most.

Why We Don’t Use a Traditional Waitlist Picks

Traditional breeder waitlists often establish picking order before puppies are born or while they’re still very young.

First pick. Second pick. Third pick.

There is nothing inherently wrong with that system, and it works well for many breeders and families.

It simply isn’t the system we’ve chosen.

Our puppies are being raised primarily as companions, so we prefer giving them some time to show us more about themselves before families are asked to make such an important decision.

A newborn puppy cannot tell us whether he’ll grow into the adventurous one who wants to investigate everything first, the thoughtful puppy who watches before joining, the easygoing little soul who happily follows along, or the busy, clever character who’s always looking for something to do.

Color arrives at birth.

Personality takes a little longer.

Your Preferences Still Matter

Tell us you love merles. Tell us you’ve always wanted a red tri. Tell us you prefer a male, hope for blue eyes, want a certain size range, or keep returning to one particular puppy’s photograph.

Those things are part of choosing a dog, and there is nothing wrong with loving what you love.

We simply don’t want appearance to be the only information available when you choose.

As puppies grow, we can begin considering your preferences alongside something even more valuable:

who that puppy appears to be.

What does everyday life look like in your home? Are you looking for a little shadow who wants to be involved in everything? A confident adventure buddy? A gentler personality? A playful family dog? Do you have children, other dogs, livestock or a quieter household?

How active do you realistically want your dog to be—not just on vacation, but on an ordinary Wednesday?

That last question matters.

Different doesn’t mean better or worse.

Puppies are developing little beings, not personality tests with fur.

We can observe tendencies. We can watch how they interact, approach new experiences, respond to people, play, recover, settle and engage.

Those observations give us useful information.

They don’t give us a crystal ball.

A young puppy will continue changing as he matures, and his eventual temperament will be shaped by genetics, development, experiences, training, environment and the relationship his family builds with him.

Matching isn’t about promising exactly who a puppy will become.

It’s about making a thoughtful decision with more information than we had on the day he was born.

Why We Use a Puppy Watch List

Our Puppy Watch List allows families to tell us what they’re hoping for and follow a litter as the puppies grow.

And yes—sometimes one particular puppy captures your heart early.

When that happens, families have the opportunity to complete our Puppy Application and place a retainer on that puppy.

That gives you the security of knowing someone else won’t choose him while we’re giving him time to grow.   As the puppies develop, we’ll continue sharing what we’re seeing.

Around eight weeks, we’ll reconnect and talk about the puppy you’ve chosen—not simply what he looks like, but the little dog he’s showing us he may become.

You may decide your chosen puppy is exactly the one you want. Or, you may realize another available puppy feels like a better fit.

Your choice doesn’t have to become final until you have more than a photograph to make it with.

When that time comes, your preferences are still part of the conversation—but now we can add our observations of the puppies themselves.

That’s a much richer starting point than simply, “You’re third, so choose from the three puppies remaining.”

So, yes—tell us which puppy has your heart. If there is a particular puppy you’re interested in, we’ll place your name with that puppy on our Watch List with no commitment or obligation, or you can make it final with a paid retainer to hold that sweet puppy.