We raise our puppies in our home with intention, health, and heart.
Here’s what the journey looks like from first hello to homecoming day.

 

STEP 1 — Apply

-Submit Your Puppy Application

Families begin by completing our puppy application so we can learn about your home, lifestyle, and hopes for your future pup.
This helps us thoughtfully match each puppy to the right family.

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STEP 2 — Reservation

-Reservation & Waiting List

Approved families may place a reservation fee to join our waiting list for an upcoming litter.
Reservations are honored in the order they are received and are applied toward the final purchase price.

 

STEP 3 — Raising Your Puppy

-How Your Puppy Is Raised

• Raised in our home with daily handling and love

• Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) & Early Scent Introduction (ESI)

• Puppy Culture socialization foundations

• Embark genetic testing

• Vet health exam & age-appropriate vaccinations

• Beginning crate, potty, and routine training

• Individual puppy personality report card

 

STEP 4 — Homecoming Day

-Going Home

Puppies typically join their families around 8 weeks of age, confident, loved, and already beginning their transition into family life.

Each Pickerel Pup goes home with:

• Complete health records and veterinary exam

• Embark genetic testing results

• An individual puppy personality & development report card
  (including weights, ENS/ESI notes, temperament insights, and early training progress)

• A starter sample and coupons for NutriSource Large Breed Puppy Food

• A blanket with mom’s scent to ease the transition

• Collar, toys, chews, and familiar enrichment items

• Helpful care guidance for the first weeks at home

• A one-year health guarantee

• Lifetime breeder support — we are always here for our families

 

Our relationship doesn’t end at pickup day — it’s only the beginning.

 

What Makes Our Waitlist Special?

At Pickerel Pups, transparency is everything. We'll keep you updated every step of the way with regular updates about our breeding plans, pregnancy confirmations, and those magical birth announcements! We love sharing photos and videos of our growing puppies too, so you'll feel connected to the process.

Currently, we're expanding our breeding program focus. While we're developing our Standard Poodle program, we continue to offer limited litters of our beloved Goldendoodles, AKC Golden Retrievers, and special Bernedoodle litters. We're even exploring the possibility of AKC Bernese Mountain Dog litters, provided we locate properly health-certified studs that meet our rigorous standards.

 

How Our Waitlist Works

Our waitlist is so special.  Each family on our list has specific preferences, just like yours. If someone passes on a litter because it wasn't quite right for them, that might move you up the list! Similarly, you have the option to pass on a litter ONCE if the available puppies don't match your preferences (such as coat color). For gender preferences specifically, we understand how important this can be, so we permit three passes if your preferred boy or girl isn't available in consecutive litters.

Families with flexible preferences typically welcome their new family members sooner than those with very specific requests. We completely respect your vision of the perfect puppy – whether that's a chocolate Goldendoodle, a cream Standard Poodle, or a traditional Golden Retriever – and we promise it's worth waiting for the right match!

Throughout your wait, Craig and I are always available to answer questions and share in your excitement as we work together to match you with the puppy that will bring years of joy to your family!