Frequently Asked Questions
What is your potty-training process?
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We start the potty-training process at 3 weeks old. We introduce a litter tray in the whelping box around the 3-week mark, taking advantage of their natural instincts to move away from their sleeping area to potty. At 5 weeks we bring the puppies downstairs into our living room where we keep potty pads. At this point, they should be pottying 100% on the pads. The next step is to build their pottying association to the outdoors. We do this by feeding meals outside. After every meal, they will immediately want to potty. The more they potty outdoors, the more they build that association and therefore the habit of going outside. By 7 weeks old they will be majority going outside. Puppy pads will still be inside as back-up.
What is your health guarantee?
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Our health guarantee covers dry eye curly coat syndrome, degenerative myopathy, episodic falling, heart conditions, knees, eyes and hips. The condition must be diagnosed by the dog’s first birthday. Dogs desexed before one year old nullify the guarantee on hips & knees, as desexing disrupts normal bone development. A replacement puppy from a different pairing is offered as compensation for dogs diagnosed with above listed conditions within the guarantee period. Repairable & treatable conditions consistent with normal dog ownership, like injury in the new owner’s care, are not covered.
Do you vaccinate puppies before they go home?
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No, we do not vaccinate puppies before they go home at 8 weeks. Based on my research, studies have shown the vast majority of maternal antibodies are still present in young puppies up to 12-16 weeks old. If vaccinated too young, maternal antibodies will render the vaccinations useless and leave puppies more vulnerable than before.
Are puppies microchipped before going home?
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Yes, we microchip puppies before going home. The instructions for transferring the microchip into the new owner’s name will be in your binder and will be talked over at Go-Home.
Are puppies seen by a veterinarian before going home?
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Yes, puppies are seen by our veterinarian before going home. You will get a copy of their health report & record in your binder.
What comes home with puppy?
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Puppies go home with a binder, bag, recommended chews, toys and blanket with our scent. In their binder you will find helpful tips & guides, their current schedule, vet records, health certifications of parents and their microchip information.
Their bags are custom & handmade by us. Each bag is filled with things we recommend, like Dentley’s chews and toys hand picked for each puppy’s individual personality. A blanket is sent home with our scent to help with their transition to home.
Are puppies hypoallergenic?
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The definition of hypoallergenic is a thing unlikely to cause an allergenic reaction. In general, Cavapoos and poodle mixes have been shown to be less likely to cause an allergic reaction in people with dog allergies. There is no guarantee, so if allergies are severe, I recommend trialing an individual dog or puppy before bringing them home. Studies have also shown that a curly coated dog is better suited for those with severe allergies.
Do your puppies shed?
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In general, Cavapoos are low shedding dogs. Shedding is linked to the furnishing gene. If shedding is very important, you want a dog with at least one copy of strong furnishings. These are usually first generation. A double furnished dog has even less chances of shedding. These will either be multigeneration Cavapoos or F1b (Poodle x Cavapoo). However, there is a variant of furnishings considered “weak” that will cause a dog to shed more. Learn & understand these genetic traits before making a decision if shedding is very important to you.
What is a Guardian Home?
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A guardian home is a family who chooses to be the forever family of one of our breeding dogs. We place a breeding prospect in a home at no cost to the family. The family gets a loving pet at the cost of being a part of our breeding program. This is a trade off and not meant for everyone. It takes a special person to be a guardian. You need to have a good understanding that your puppy/dog is serving a bigger purpose. Our guardians become our partners. Everyone knows the joy of bringing a new puppy home, but it takes special people to volunteer for what it takes to make that happen.