Puppy Placement/Acquisition

Thank you for your interest in one of our puppy prodigies! Selecting quality puppies for your organization's purpose is one of the most important decisions you have to make. We take your decision-making seriously. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibility of providing puppies that show the most potential for your objective. We want to assure you that if you acquire a puppy from us, you can expect the highest standard of training and support. We hope that this page will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about acquiring one of our puppies. If you have additional questions, please send an email to puppyprodigies@aol.com. You can also complete our online Puppy Interest Form.

HOW OLD ARE THE PUPPIES WHEN THEY'RE PLACED?
Puppies are typically placed at 7 weeks of age. However, we can make arrangements with service dog organizations to continue training a puppy until he/she is approximately 12 weeks old. By this age, the pup will typically learn many service dog behaviors, except for those that require physical growth and maturation. We work very carefully with the pup(s) to make sure they're getting the continued socialization and exposure away from their environment, dam and littermates. We encourage programs to visit and interact with the puppy as often as possible during the training post the 7 week age.

We also retain a number of puppies and continue their service dog training until they've matured and are ready for their career placement. We donate these "finished" dogs to organizations so they can be matched with an appropriate client. A Puppy who continues in our program is provided the consistency of his early training which produces a dog with deep-rooted abilities, proficiencies and the enthusiasm to assist.
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HOW ARE PUPPIES SELECTED FOR PLACEMENT?
Puppies are selected to be placed with an organization based on a number of desirable traits specific to their future role, and are carefully evaluated. We want to find the best pup for the required job, and therefore put a lot into our selection process. We evaluate every puppy, and place them in a role that best suits their temperament. We work closely with each organization to select the most appropriate puppy based on individual needs.

Because our puppies live with us from the time they're born, we have a pretty good idea of their individuality and trainability, as well as their potential qualities such as willingness to work, how they respond to environmental stimuli and natural inclination. However, in addition to day to day observations and record keeping, we have a standard protocol of formal temperament testing which is executed on the 49th day by a person the puppies have never met.
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WHAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE DOG ROLES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THESE PUPPIES?
Because our puppies have such a solid foundation, they are appropriate for most assistance dog type roles. Due to our early conditioning, we can work with programs to introduce specific stimuli based on your needs. Our dogs can fill roles, such as:

Mobility Assistance	Balance Support
Hearing	Facility Dogs
Guide	Companion Dogs
Seizure Alert	Special Needs Dogs
Medical Alert	Autism

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ACQUIRE A PUPPY?
The first priority in placing our puppies is with non-profit assistance dog organizations that do not have their own breeding program, time or resources to effectuate early intervention. However, if the puppy isn't appropriate for a career as an assistance dog, we will work with other programs such as social therapy, search and rescue, scent detection, etc.
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WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR AN "OWNER TRAINER"?
We require that owner trainers are working with a certified dog trainer who has experience with training assistance dogs, and knowledge of puppy development, or an assistance dog program that provides services to owner trainers.
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IS THERE A WAITING LIST?
Because our early learning program is so comprehensive there is a high demand for our puppies. That, coupled with the fact that not every puppy will have the temperament for assistance work, we often have a waiting list. Plus, we strive to match our puppies according to the closest match based on future role requirements of each organization. This means that requests may not be fulfilled in the order they are received. If the roles are the same for multiple organizations, we then base applications on a first come first served basis. We require a $150 "good faith" deposit, and if we are unable to provide a puppy to you, then your money would be returned. Or, you have the option of leaving your deposit for the next litter. Please understand that giving us "good faith" money does not guarantee what litter your puppy will be born in. If you're interested in reserving a puppy, please complete the Puppy Interest Form. Your name will go on the waiting list when we receive your deposit.
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ARE THERE REQUIREMENTS AFTER PLACEMENT?
We require that the recipient organization makes a commitment to continue the puppy's training and socialization in accordance with critical periods of development. Also, because our program is research based and outcomes are a critical component, we require quarterly reports and continued feedback on the puppy's progress until placement, change of career, or release. This feedback is also a way for us to keep our puppy sponsors and breeders informed of the puppy's progress. We also require a letter from the recipient six months after placement indicating their experience with the dog.
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WHAT IF WE HAVE A BREEDING PROGRAM, OR A BREEDER WHO ALREADY DONATES TO US? WILL YOU WHELP PUPPIES FROM OUR BREEDING STOCK?
If you have a breeding program, or you have a breeder who donates to your organization, but not the time or resources to provide the early intervention, we can make arrangements to whelp and provide the early learning program to your puppies. Please send us an email if you're interested in this possibility.
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WHAT ABOUT SHIPPING A PUPPY?
We prefer to have a representative from your organization pick the puppy up at our location, but realize that isn't always possible, and shipping will be necessary. However, a plane ticket for you could be less expensive than shipping. We'd much rather see our puppies riding in the cabin with you, than in cargo. Also, keep in mind that airlines will not accept puppies for shipping in extreme temperatures (over 85 degrees at either the departure or arrival airport). Scheduling an early morning or late night flight can help in this situation. Puppies are typically sent C.O.D for the shipping charges. We begin conditioning the puppy to a crate if shipping, or soft-sided carrier if flying in the cabin about a week before placement. Airlines will not accept a puppy until he/she is eight weeks old.
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HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE FOR YOUR PUPPIES?
Our goal is to provide our puppies to non-profit assistance dog organizations, and owner-trainers at a reduced rate, or through a donation. Because we are also a non profit organization, we rely on donations and grants from our donors to help achieve this objective. So, we look at each individual situation and work together to provide the best possible outcome. A $50 processing fee, plus the cost of shipping is also required. For puppies going to other (non assistance dog) programs, individuals, or pet dog homes there is a charge of $1200, plus shipping. There is also a $150 good faith deposit required with all applications. We look at each individual circumstance, and work with each person in an effort to combine
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WHAT ABOUT RELEASED PUPPIES?
Some of our puppies may be released from our program if we determine they do not have the potential for future assisting roles. While these puppies may not be suitable for assistance work, they make excellent pets. These puppies have received the same early learning opportunities (and love), so they have a solid foundation on which to build. The released puppies are typically 7 weeks old, and their cost is $1200 which includes pre-training of basic behaviors and housetraining, as well as the early imprinting, conditioning, and socialization. If you're interested in adopting one of our released puppies, please send us an email.
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WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
We require an application and a subsequent phone interview to determine your needs, and ensure we have a complete understanding of each organizations individual requirements. During our phone consultation, we'll have the opportunity to ask each other questions and discuss specific details. If we come to a mutual determination that one of our puppies will fit your organization's purpose, we'll request the good faith deposit and your name will go on the waiting list. When a puppy becomes available we'll contact you to discuss final arrangements. Your good faith deposit will be applied to the purchase of your puppy. If you're interested in one of our very special puppies, please complete our Puppy Interest Form.
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"A new puppy is like the beginning of all things -
wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities"
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