Frequently Asked Questions
First off, congratulations! We’re absolutely thrilled that you’ve welcomed a new furry companion into your life it’s a truly special journey. The first few months will come with both joys and challenges as you and your puppy adjust to each other. Your little one will be learning to trust, bond with you, and settle into their new forever home. To help make this transition smoother, we’ve put together helpful articles on grooming, socialization, potty training, vet care, nutrition, and more. Just visit our website at www.mychoicepuppy.com and click on the Resources tab. There, you’ll find our Puppy Start Guide and Puppy Shopping List—two great tools to help you feel confident and prepared as you begin this new adventure together. Welcome to the My Choice Puppy family!
When Will I Get My Puppy?
At My Choice Puppy, most families on our standard deposit waitlist typically receive an email invitation to choose their puppy within 1 to 2 months after placing their deposit. However, for some of our larger or smaller Doodle breeds, the wait time may be slightly longer depending on availability.
It’s important to note that we can’t predict exact timelines for matches, as we don’t know the size, gender, or color of a litter until after the puppies are born. Many families are open to multiple breeds or sizes, which keeps the master list fluid as top-positioned families are matched across different litters. The more flexible you are with your preferences—like being open to either gender, various colors, or multiple breeds—the more likely it is that you’ll be matched with a puppy sooner.
If you’re looking to bring a puppy home right away, we do occasionally have immediate availability listed on the Puppies page of our website. If you see a puppy you love there, simply click the “Inquire Now” button and fill out the form. One of our Adoption Assistants will follow up with a call to answer your questions and walk you through the next steps.
Not ready to adopt just yet? Joining our deposit list means you’ll receive early email access to our upcoming puppies before they’re ever shown to the public on our website.
What is the Price of Your Puppies?
Do You Offer Financing Options
At My Choice Puppy, we offer convenient financing options through Splitit and Credova. When you’re ready to complete your payment, you’ll find these flexible payment plans available in your checkout cart for a smoother and more manageable purchasing experience.
How Do You Match Puppies if we’re on the Regular Deposit List?
As your name moves up on our deposit list, you’ll receive an email announcement alongside a few other families when a new litter becomes available. We encourage you to review the photos and descriptions, then respond with your ranked preferences. Puppy selections are made based on these preferences and the order of deposits received. You’re always welcome to pass on a litter if the timing isn’t right or you’re waiting for a specific match. Unlike most breeders, we won’t lock you into one particular litter. Until you reserve your puppy, your deposit remains refundable for up to two years (minus a 9% processing fee). Once you select and reserve a puppy, your deposit becomes non-refundable and will be applied toward your final balance on Adoption Day.
Can You Explain Your Partner Home System?
Our family network includes a variety of Partner Homes that play different roles in caring for and raising our puppies. These roles include Guardian Homes, Surrogate Homes, and Transition Homes. Each family brings their own unique strengths, and this variety allows us the flexibility to meet the diverse needs of our puppies and breeding program. Many families take on more than one role for example, a Guardian Home might also serve as a Transition Home, or a Surrogate Home may do both.
Our parent dogs live as beloved family pets with the families in our network. There is no rigid breeding schedule each family chooses when and how often to breed their dog based on what’s best for everyone involved. Because these dogs are part of their family’s home life, there’s no need for “retirement” placements; they remain with the same loving families throughout their lives.
Many of our Partner Homes have children and other pets. While not required, this environment gives our puppies a wonderful advantage early socialization with kids and other animals helps shape well-mannered, confident companions.
Each Partner Home is carefully chosen and held to high standards, receiving ongoing guidance and oversight to ensure the highest level of care. Raising puppies is a serious commitment that demands dedication from the entire household, which is why we are very selective in choosing our partner families.
Over the years, we’ve expanded our network to include Partner Homes in several states, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, and Iowa—providing convenient pick-up options for adoptive families.
Guardian Homes: Our Guardian Homes are made up of trusted family members or close friends who have been gifted or matched with a high-quality breeding dog. These dogs live full-time in their Guardian family’s home as cherished pets and occasionally have litters as part of our breeding program. The puppies are born, raised, and socialized right alongside the family.
We oversee a select number of litters for each Guardian dog, carefully selecting the right stud and managing the entire breeding process. Puppies are typically raised in the Guardian Home, but if needed due to scheduling conflicts, travel, or other responsibilities they may be raised in a Surrogate Home instead. Guardian families receive a financial gift as appreciation for partnering with us in the program.
The key distinction between a Guardian Home and a Surrogate Home is ownership and daily care of the mother dog. In a Guardian Home, the mom is a permanent member of the family. In contrast, a Surrogate Home does not own the mother but may temporarily care for her and her litter when the Guardian Home is unavailable.
Once the puppies are old enough, our team arranges their placement with loving Forever Homes. The Partner Home involved in raising the puppies receives a significant portion of the proceeds from the litter.
Surrogate Homes: A Surrogate Home is a loving household that occasionally raises puppies. We partner closely with these homes and provide compensation for their support. Puppies raised in Surrogate Homes are cared for under strict supervision and in close collaboration with our veterinary team. After nurturing a litter and caring for the mama dog for about 8 weeks, the Surrogate Home assists with weaning the puppies. The mama dog then returns to her Guardian Home where she remains a cherished family pet. Meanwhile, the 8-week-old puppies move to a Transition Home to prepare for their new lives with their Forever Families. Although Surrogate Homes do not own the mama dog, they are held to high standards to ensure puppies are family-raised and well-socialized. These homes don’t need to be close friends or family, do not have access to financial information, and are not responsible for communicating with Forever Families. Surrogate Homes willingly and responsibly raise a few litters per year and are compensated fairly for their care.
Transition Homes: Transition Homes are typically family members or friends who care for puppies during the crucial days right before Adoption Day, helping introduce them to their Forever Families. These homes receive significant support in training, time, and resources. They are entrusted with important responsibilities, including managing adoption fees and working closely with the team as puppies get matched with their new families and complete final veterinary checks before going home.
Transition Homes assist puppies in progressing with crate training, starting house-training, and adjusting to being away from their mom if they’ve recently moved from a Guardian or Surrogate Home. A gradual transition helps ensure puppies adjust more smoothly to their new lives.
Often, Guardian Homes also serve as Transition Homes to handle Adoption Day and manage the final week of care for their puppies. If a Guardian or Surrogate Home cannot manage this due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons, a trained Transition Home steps in to manage the Adoption Day and transition process.
Regardless of which type of Partner Home your puppy comes from, you can be confident they have been loved, cared for, and well-prepared to join your family.
How Can I Be a Partner Home for My Choice Puppy?
We are incredibly grateful to the more than 150 families who have partnered with us in various roles to make our program possible. While we are currently accepting applications, we are not actively adding new Partner Homes at this time, as our supply and demand are currently balanced. However, we are happy to keep your application on file and will reach out if and when we decide to expand and add more families in your area.
Can We Visit?
Our parent dogs are cherished family pets living in our Guardian Homes (as described earlier). Puppies are raised either at these Guardian Homes or at Surrogate Homes. When we first started, we welcomed visitors to meet our parent dogs in person. However, as our program has grown and with the realities of Covid, it’s no longer feasible to accommodate the many daily requests for home visits, though we truly wish we could.
Dr. Nathan Crockett, a full-time administrator and professor with five young children, travels frequently and cannot host daily visitors at his private home. The same goes for our Partner Homes, whose families have their own professional commitments. We understand that this may not suit everyone, and we encourage families who prefer regular kennel visits to explore other breeders who offer that experience.
Many traditional breeders often have many puppies available and are happy to welcome visitors. We’ve been fortunate to have more interested families than puppies available. Almost every family who visits to pick up their puppy leaves happily with their new furry family member. We’re truly thankful for the daily encouragement and kind reviews from the families who adopt our puppies (click here to read reviews).
What Can I Expect On My Pick-up Date?
After you’re matched with your new puppy, we’ll coordinate a pick-up date and time when your puppy is between 8 and 12 weeks old. Each puppy is evaluated individually, and we’ll advise you on the optimal timing for their transition to your home. We’re happy to help capture the special moment of you meeting your puppy for the first time on your phone.
One of our trained team members will guide you through our Puppy Quick Start Guide, which covers important topics such as vet visits, selecting a groomer, our Health Guarantee, and tips on feeding and crate training.
You’ll receive your puppy’s Vaccination Record detailing all vaccinations and deworming treatments given to date. We recommend sharing this with your vet during your puppy’s first appointment. At pick-up, you’ll also sign the spay/neuter agreement and receive your puppy’s purchase receipt.
Puppies and Potty Issues?
Your puppy should be able to sleep through the night. While they might need a little time to adjust after being separated from their siblings, most puppies quickly get comfortable in their crate.
Generally, puppies can hold their bladder for about half the number of hours of their age—for example, an 8-week-old puppy can hold it for around 4 hours, a 10-week-old puppy about 5 hours, and so on. At night, they often manage a few extra hours beyond that. During the day, puppies tend to have bursts of energy followed by naps since they still need plenty of rest as babies. For more helpful tips, check out the links on Crate Training and House Training.
Is my Deposit Refundable?
We are proud to offer one of the few breeders’ refundable deposits just $200 which can be refunded up to two years from your deposit date, minus a 9% processing fee. This deposit applies toward the purchase price of any puppy from any breed within our network of families.
Once you choose to reserve a specific puppy, the $200 deposit becomes non-refundable and will be credited toward your puppy’s remaining balance on Adoption Day. If your circumstances change and you decide not to move forward with that puppy, you may back out before Adoption Day, but the deposit for that puppy will not be refunded. Should you wish to reserve another puppy later, you are welcome to place a new deposit.
Please note that if you do not adopt a puppy or request a refund within two years of your deposit date, your deposit will be forfeited entirely.
How Far In Advance Do I Need To Reserve a Christmas Puppy?
Our 2025 Christmas Priority List opens in July!
If you’re hoping to welcome a puppy home in December, keep an eye on the Puppies page on our website, where we expect to have some puppies available for immediate adoption throughout December.
If you’re not yet on our regular waitlist and don’t have an account with us, you can start the process by filling out an application here.
Once approved and after placing your deposit to join the regular waitlist, you’ll have the option in your account to add a $100 non-refundable Christmas Priority deposit. This deposit will be credited toward your puppy’s balance if you adopt in December. Adding this Christmas Priority deposit grants you priority access to December puppy announcements via email. Puppies are matched fairly by deposit date.
We’ll offer Ground and Flight Nanny delivery as well as training options in December, all subject to availability.
Please note, due to our own family holiday plans, we cannot hold puppies past their scheduled Adoption Day in December. Many families have arranged for a friend or family member to “hide” the puppy until the perfect moment.
While we can’t yet confirm all breeds available in December, we plan to have a range including Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, and Cavapoos, subject to availability.
If you’re already on the 2024 Christmas Priority List and we don’t have your preferred breed or size available in December, your Christmas Priority deposit will be fully refunded or can be applied toward a puppy available after December.
Families on the Christmas Priority List will continue to receive puppy announcements before December. If you adopt a puppy before December, your $100 Christmas Priority deposit will be applied toward your puppy’s balance.
If we offer your preferred breed and size in December but you choose not to adopt at that time, the $100 Christmas Priority deposit will be forfeited.
Do You Offer Delivery Options?
Yes! We offer both Ground Delivery and Flight Nanny Delivery services for our adoptive families. You can find pricing details and more information about these options here: Delivery Services.
- Multiple Puppies by Ground Delivery: If you’re having more than one puppy delivered to the same address through our Ground Delivery service—whether you’re adopting two puppies or friends or family are adopting at the same time—the delivery fee will be full price for the first puppy, and a discounted fee applies for each additional pup based on your region: Southeast/Northeast – $250, Southern Midwest/Northern Midwest – $300, Southwest/Northwest – $350.
- Multiple Puppies by Flight Nanny: When adopting two puppies simultaneously with Flight Nanny delivery, the fee is full price for the first pup and reduced for the second as follows: Southeast/Northeast – $300, Southern Midwest/Northern Midwest – $400, Southwest/Northwest – $500.
Please note: The discounted rate for the second puppy only applies if both puppies can comfortably fit in the same carrier.
If you prefer to pick up your puppy yourself, you are more than welcome! Over the years, families have flown in from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to pick up their puppy either from our Greenville, SC location or one of our Partner Homes in other states. Most airlines allow small puppies (under 15 pounds) to travel in a soft carrier under the seat with the passenger—be sure to check your airline’s policies before booking. We’ve found that puppies travel very well.
For families flying in, many have found convenient flights into Charlotte or Atlanta airports and have requested delivery of their puppy to those locations, which we are happy to accommodate.
What if I’m Afraid to Buy my Puppy Sight Unseen?
We completely understand any concerns about adopting a puppy online. We frequently hear from people who have unfortunately been scammed by sellers requesting money for puppies that never existed. At My Choice Puppy, we take pride in our stellar reputation and commitment to transparency. That’s why we always require that you meet your puppy in person before finalizing any payment. Unlike many others, we ensure the puppy is physically present along with a My Choice Puppy team member at the time of adoption.
While we encourage families to pick up their puppy directly from one of our Partner Homes, we understand that travel isn’t always possible. That’s why we offer personalized Ground Delivery and Flight Nanny services, where a team member personally delivers your puppy to you. Final payment is only collected after you’ve met both our representative and your puppy in person. We never “ship” puppies alone on planes or carriers for you to pick up later.
If you can’t pick up your puppy at a Partner Home, rest assured we’ll arrange a face-to-face delivery with one of our trusted team members before you pay. Though personal delivery requires more effort than simply shipping a puppy, we believe it’s the right approach. We want to witness your joy the moment you meet your new furry family member.
Do you Ever Ship Puppies?
We completely understand any concerns about adopting a puppy online. We frequently hear from people who have unfortunately been scammed by sellers requesting money for puppies that never existed. At My Choice Puppy, we take pride in our stellar reputation and commitment to transparency. That’s why we always require that you meet your puppy in person before finalizing any payment. Unlike many others, we ensure the puppy is physically present along with a My Choice Puppy team member at the time of adoption.
While we encourage families to pick up their puppy directly from one of our Partner Homes, we understand that travel isn’t always possible. That’s why we offer personalized Ground Delivery and Flight Nanny services, where a team member personally delivers your puppy to you. Final payment is only collected after you’ve met both our representative and your puppy in person. We never “ship” puppies alone on planes or carriers for you to pick up later.
If you can’t pick up your puppy at a Partner Home, rest assured we’ll arrange a face-to-face delivery with one of our trusted team members before you pay. Though personal delivery requires more effort than simply shipping a puppy, we believe it’s the right approach. We want to witness your joy the moment you meet your new furry family member.
What Will I Need for My Puppy?
We’ll provide you with a starter pack of essential supplies, but one of the most important items you’ll need to purchase is a crate. We recommend selecting a crate that will accommodate your puppy once fully grown crate listings usually include weight ranges to help guide your decision. Most crates come with a divider, which is perfect for adjusting the space while your puppy is small. Since dogs are natural den animals, they instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping area.
A properly sized crate reinforces this instinct and becomes a powerful tool for potty training. If the crate is too large, however, your puppy may designate a corner as a potty area something you want to avoid during training. Using a divider helps ensure the crate remains a clean, cozy den that supports your puppy’s development and house-training success.
Will I Receive a List of Vaccinations That My Puppy Has Received?
On Adoption Day, you’ll receive your puppy’s Vaccination Record, which details the two vaccines your puppy has received along with the administration dates.
Our puppies are typically given Neopar and Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPv (which protects against Canine Distemper Virus, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus). The record will also include information on the deworming treatments your puppy has received so far. This record is intended for you to bring to your vet at your puppy’s first appointment so that they can plan out the remaining vaccinations. Most veterinarians recommend additional vaccinations at 12 and 16 weeks of age, along with other routine care to maintain your puppy’s health.
At My Choice Puppy, vaccines are administered either by licensed veterinarians or by trained members of our team who are experienced in proper storage and administration. Because of this, your vet should not re-administer vaccines your puppy has already received, as doing so could lead to allergic reactions or other health issues related to over-vaccination. Instead, your vet should continue the series that has already been started. The rabies vaccine is the only one legally required to be administered by a veterinarian. Your vet will need to give your puppy this vaccine at the appropriate time, typically around 14 weeks of age.
Do You Do Health/Genetic Testing?
All of our parent dogs undergo comprehensive genetic health testing specific to their breed and must be cleared by both these results and our licensed veterinary team before being approved for breeding within our network. We do not breed any dog that has not passed both genetic screening and veterinary evaluation. If you’ve adopted a puppy from My Choice Puppy, we’re happy to share the parent dog’s test results upon request. Our mission is to raise healthy, happy, and well-tempered Doodles that are a perfect fit for loving forever homes.
We do not conduct testing for coat type or color fading. While coat testing is not related to health issues, it is often used to predict whether a Doodle will have a straight, wavy, or curly coat. Since families have preferences across all coat types, we focus instead on health and temperament.
For our larger breeds where hip dysplasia may be a concern, we strictly exclude any parent dogs from our program that show signs of this condition either in their genetic results or during veterinary evaluation. We do not require our families to sedate their dogs for hip x-rays—if there is any concern, the dog is simply retired from our breeding program.
Please note: Because veterinary opinions differ widely on tail docking and dewclaw removal, we do not require these procedures. They are only performed if a veterinarian deems them medically necessary for the health of the puppy.
What Food Do You Recommend?
Welcoming a new puppy into your home is a joyful and memorable experience—but it also comes with important responsibilities, including making sure your puppy gets the right nutritional foundation from day one.
Selecting a high-quality dog food plays a vital role in your puppy’s development, influencing their overall growth, immune strength, and long-term well-being.
At My Choice Puppy, we recognize how significant this decision is, which is why we proudly recommend two premium pet food brands: TLC and Health Extension. Both options are thoughtfully formulated to support the needs of growing puppies, offering complete and balanced nutrition for a healthy start to life.
As part of our commitment to your puppy’s lifelong health, if you choose to feed your puppy either Health Extension or TLC for the lifetime of your dog and maintain pet health insurance for at least the first 6 months after adoption, we’ll extend our standard 1-Year Health Guarantee to an exceptional 12-Year Health Guarantee.
Where Will I Pick Up My Puppy?
Currently, our main location is in the Salt Lake City, Utah area, so most families will pick up their puppy there. We do have a few other partner locations, but they don’t yet have as many Partner Homes as Salt Lake City, which remains our central hub.
If you adopt through our Northeast network, you may also have the option to pick up your puppy in areas like Corning, NY, or Harrisburg, PA. Many families choose to take advantage of our Delivery Services. You can learn more about these options and view pricing here: Ground Delivery and Flight Nanny Services.
Do You Arrange International Adoptions?
We’ve had many puppies happily adopted by families living outside the contiguous United States. Because different countries have varying health and age requirements for bringing live animals in, we encourage you to contact your country’s Department of Agriculture or equivalent agency to understand their specific guidelines. Our puppies are typically adopted around 8-10 weeks of age and will be current on their vaccinations at that time.
Most countries require that a puppy receive the rabies vaccination before entry, which is usually given when the puppy is about 12-16 weeks old. For this reason, we ask international families to coordinate with a trusted friend or family member within the United States to adopt the puppy first. This person will care for your puppy until it completes its booster shots and receives the rabies vaccine. The veterinarian administering the rabies vaccine can then provide the necessary paperwork for international travel. Your contact in the U.S. can then assist in arranging travel for your puppy to your home country.
We also recommend contacting your preferred airline directly to learn about their pet travel requirements. Currently, we are unable to make travel arrangements on your behalf or hold puppies until they meet vaccine age requirements. If you are interested in adopting from My Choice Puppy and live internationally, please provide the name of your U.S.-based friend or family member who will adopt on your behalf, and we will gladly assist you through the process.
Can I Talk to a Team Member?
You’re welcome to call us during our office hours, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST) to speak directly with a team member.
When a family places a deposit for a puppy available immediately from our Puppies page on our website, they’ll be given the option to request a phone call via text. If they choose this, an Adoption Assistant will contact them within 24 hours. Please, serious inquiries only.
Families who apply to join our regular deposit waitlist to receive email announcements about upcoming litters will also receive a call from one of our team members. We want to ensure all your questions are answered and confirm you’re a great match for one of our puppies.
For much of the information you need—such as choosing the right breed or coat type, breed characteristics, comparison charts, puppy pricing, delivery options, training programs, and more—please visit our website at www.mychoicepuppy.com and explore the tabs at the top of the page.