I’m interested in a puppy, now what?

Step 1: Complete an Application

An application is the best way to stay up to date on potential pairings and planned litters. Submitting an application automatically adds you to the waitlist for any puppy produced in our breeding program. If you are interested in a particular pairing, please indicate on your application or reach out to me directly. Once a female for a planned breeding goes into heat, a detailed email is sent out to every applicant on the waitlist. Unless there is a spot open from a current litter, applicants won’t receive an email until there is an update for a future breeding. Otherwise, keep checking our website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know.

Step 2: Phone Interview

A phone interview is conducted on or around the time a litter has been whelped. This is a BIG part of the decision making process. An interview allows both the breeder and the puppy buyer to start a conversation about litter goals that will help to ensure that a puppy from the current litter and/or breeding program would be the right fit for your home and lifestyle.

Step 3: Deposit

When all applicants being considered for a litter have been reviewed and interviewed, the right fit homes will be contacted and notified of next steps. This will usually be in the form of an email asking for a deposit to secure the applicant’s puppy slot. The deposit must be sent via Venmo or PayPal USD and will be applied towards the purchase price.

Step 4: Litter Raising and Updates

As a breeder, I do my best to post weekly photos and updates of the litter as they grow. This is something I thoroughly enjoy, but don’t always have time for. It depends on the season and how busy we may be as a family. Generally, I don’t whelp a litter unless I can be with the puppies for the full 8 weeks it takes to raise them, as I really do believe in pouring into my puppies. The puppies are born inside the home. They are immersed into our family with all the sights, sounds and smells that come with the average household. They have a little girl who handles and adores every sweet fluff ball with supervision, of course. And I follow Puppy Culture to help raise our puppies into well-rounded, confident border collies that will succeed in their forever home.

Step 5: Placements

All puppies will receive temperament testing at 7 weeks old and placed according to which home may be the best fit. It’s important to go into this puppy buying process with an open mind and not get too attached to any particular puppy. Sometimes, there are enough puppies with similar temperaments who could fit into multiple homes on the waitlist, which may allow for options. However, this is usually NOT the case. I do my absolute best to take preferences into consideration when making placements.

Step 6: Picking Up Your Puppy

We ask that all puppy buyers come in person to pick up their puppy UNLESS they have experience with using a trusted flight nanny. I do not like using ground transport, if I can help it. The easiest way to pick up your puppy is to fly into our local airport and add your puppy as carry on for $150 (this varies by airline). We live very close to Glacier International Airport (FCA) where I am able to meet you with your puppy in person for a quick hand off.

Step 7: Final Details

All puppies must be paid for in full on or before their scheduled pick up date. If transport has been arranged, the balance must be paid 24 hours prior to hand off. Each puppy will come with a standard contract which also must be signed on or before the puppy leaves our premises. Additionally, you will receive a swag bag that includes: a full vet check up document with first round of puppy shots and deworming, ABCA and/or AKC registration, a copy of the signed contract printed and electronically, microchipping and information, puppy kibble for the road, a handmade biothane collar and leash from The North Fork Dog shop, some puppy toys, collapsable travel water bowl, clicker, potty bags and a USB drive with all the edited puppy photos.