All breeders are different but we think there are some things to look for when deciding where to get your new puppy. Most seasoned breeders do OFA Eyes, Heart, Hips and Elbows health and genetic testing. This is the industry standard and absolute bare minimum to look for. All breeders don't go above and beyond and we believe that's what sets us apart here at Cuddlydoodes. Most breeders produce adorable puppies and may even do early neurological stimulation. We incorporate that along with parts of "Badass Breeder" and "Puppy Culture" programs. They add a level of enrichment to our puppies that's hard to match. We litterbox train starting between 2-3 weeks of age. This helps puppies when we start bringing them out to potty around 6 weeks old. They know there is a place for a potty and a place not to potty as long as their initial indoor play area isn't too big. We start crate training by making a positive association with the crate and sleeping next to them at least the first few days so they feel safe and secure and the last few days to prevent accidents in the crate. 

We are of the belief that you should always be able to see your puppy in person before making a purchase. You should take us up on this, rather than meeting with us in another location, no matter how convenient it might be for you. You want to look around and make sure the area your puppy is being raised is clean, doesn't smell too bad (considering the puppies will poop) but there should be no overwhelming lingering stench beyond that. The puppies and other dogs on the premises should look well cared for, brushed, and be well fed. A good visual inspection is necessary to help you identify any indications of veterinary expenses later on. Limbs should be straight and strong, eyes and ears should be clear and free from odor, teeth should be properly aligned and straight, puppies should have alternating periods of energetic puppy play and sleep depending on the age of the puppies and the amount of time spent here. All legitimate breeders breed from home where the animals can be well cared for and properly socialized, not a warehouse. Cuddlydoodes maintains relationships with more than one local veterinarian and we're be able to produce accurate, reliable health and vaccination records for our puppies. If a breeder doesn’t have vet records on hand for your pup, you should assume there are none. Or worse, it might be a sign there is something physically wrong with your pup. Some physical characteristics can be obvious red flags for the prospective pet owner. A puppy that seems significantly thin, with prominent bones of the spine or ribs, could signal a nutritional problem that may need care, or it could be that the puppy is failing to thrive, even when provided with nutritious food. If the puppy seems hunched over, as if protecting its stomach, it could be a sign of intestinal problems or a spinal problem that could need extensive veterinary care. A good breeder wants to know their dog has gone to a good home and will make room for the unfortunate possibility that you’ll realize that you can’t provide that good home to your new pup. A good breeder will, at the very least, advise you of what you should do in the event it doesn’t “work out, and preferably provide you with written instructions. And while you can’t know this until you walk out the breeder’s door, a reputable breeder will be in touch with you in the first days and weeks to make sure all is well. We all get busy but the lines of communication should remain open. If you need to reach out to me for any reason throughout this process I'm available. If you call, please leave a voicemail and if it's the middle of the night please don't feel bad, if you need me immediately continue to call until I'm jolted awake and can listen to your voicemail and immediately help. If the parents aren’t available, it’s a sign that something may be off. It can mean the pups have been separated from the mother too early. This can interfere with your new puppy’s ability to thrive. Sometimes tragedies happen but a surrogate mother should be found to raise the puppies until 8-9 weeks. Sometimes the mother who is wonderful before having puppies will suddenly not want strangers around. This is usually only seen in first litters and if it happens with a second the mother is spayed at that time for being ill tempered. It shows she isn't fit for breeding even though before and after she may love everybody. Some dogs are too stressed out and we should honor them by letting them retire. Sometimes when puppies are past 9 weeks and most have gone home our mom or dad dogs may be working as emotional support dogs for people needing their services who may not afford to have one of their own full time. This is rare but it can be a reason they may not be available. We have many dogs but not more than we can comfortably exercise, train, socialize and care for. This is very personal. Some people feel very comfortable with 2-3 dogs and could never ever imagine having 6+ dogs. We are two healthy energetic people with a house designed for dogs and a nice amount of land and it works very well for us. The condition of our dogs is more important than how many we own. Some people can't even properly care for ONE dog. Don't be intimidated by the number of dogs we have, let the dogs speak for themselves.