PUPPIES!!
Puppies can be super cute and fun. However, they require just as much, if not more, work than adopting an adult dog. We require that our puppies are either spayed/neutered before adoption depending on their age. If the puppy is too young to be spay/neutered prior to adoption, we send them home with a spay/neuter contract in which the adopter pays a $200 deposit that is refundable when you provide proof of spay/neuter within 90 days.
Puppy class is also incredibly important to ensure puppies grow up into friendly, sociable dogs, so we require all of our adopters to sign up for a puppy class prior to finalizing the adoption.
To learn more about raising a puppy, please check out our free puppy guide!
Is a puppy right for you?
WHAT ADOPTERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PUPPIES: Our policies all revolve around finding the most suitable home possible for our dogs of all ages and breeds. As part of our commitment to finding these homes we maintain policies on the adoption of our pups. Please read the below FAQs prior to filling out an application for one of our younger pups.
Q. Would I qualify for an 8 wk old puppy if I work full time?
A. Because the puppy period of a dog’s life is crucial to its development and training, SDR feels that an applicant must not leave the dog alone for any more hours than the dog’s age in months. For example, an 8 wk old puppy (2mos) cannot be left alone longer than 2 hrs. If you do not meet this requirement, we will not be able to adopt a young puppy to you at this time.
Q. I work all day, but I want to adopt a puppy and plan on coming home during my lunch breaks to let the puppy go to the bathroom. I do work 8 hr days but the dog would only be left alone for 4 hrs at a time, would I qualify for a 4 month old puppy?
A. Unfortunately, no. SDR's policy states that adopters must spend an equal or greater amount of time with the dog than you do away from the dog. For example, a 4 month old puppy could be left alone for 4 hours, but you must spend at least that time with the dog when you next see them. 30 minutes is not enough care and attention prior to another 4 hour span alone.
We put this policy in place because the return rate of puppies who develop behavioral or physical problems due to lack of care and training is very high. We try to prevent this to the best of our ability and believe this rule is the means to do it.
Q. I have raised all of my dogs from their puppy stage, even though I was not home all day, and they turned out to be great dogs. Wouldn’t I be an exception to the rule?
A. Whenever we come across great applicants that may not meet one of our requirements, we do try to look at them on a case-by-case basis. However, our ‘puppy rule’ is one that we really do not budge on. We have all the confidence that you would make a great pet owner, however, in SDR's experience, we have seen too many dogs returned because of problems that develop due to a puppy’s lack of training in its early months. Even the most experienced dog owners, when gone all day, can run into this problem, so we still abide by the ‘puppy rule’ in this case.
Q. I do work all day, however I have arranged to bring the puppy to work with me until it is old enough to be left alone, will this suffice?
A. We look at these situations on a case-by-case basis as well, but usually, yes. Once we review your application and get more information about the work arrangements via the phone interview, we will determine whether the work environment is a safe one for the dog. If it is, we will usually consider that applicant for a puppy. Please keep in mind that we may need written or verbal consent from the business owner or supervisor, as well as any contact info pertaining to them, to verify these conditions.
Q. I am currently away from my home during the day, but when school lets out for the summer in a few weeks, I will be home all day. Can I adopt a puppy now?
A. You may certainly start the application process and we can conduct your phone interview, home visit and start the matching process. However, if we find a young pup to match your wants and needs, that dog cannot go home with you until you are available during the day to watch it. Unfortunately, it takes only a short time for behavioral issues to form without proper guidance, so it is best if the dog enters into a home where the family can spend the proper amount of time with him/her.
Q. I will not be able to spend the day with my dog, however I have arranged for a friend to watch my puppy during the day while I am at work, will I qualify for a puppy then?
A. Usually, no. We may look at this on a case-by-case basis, but since we are adopting to you, and not your friend, we cannot verify the care the dog would be in while away from you. We perform a phone interview and home visit for all of our applicants to ensure the dog is in great care and we may not be able to do that for any friends that may be the pup’s primary caregiver for the majority of the day.
Puppies can be super cute and fun. However, they require just as much, if not more, work than adopting an adult dog. We require that our puppies are either spayed/neutered before adoption depending on their age. If the puppy is too young to be spay/neutered prior to adoption, we send them home with a spay/neuter contract in which the adopter pays a $200 deposit that is refundable when you provide proof of spay/neuter within 90 days.
Puppy class is also incredibly important to ensure puppies grow up into friendly, sociable dogs, so we require all of our adopters to sign up for a puppy class prior to finalizing the adoption.
To learn more about raising a puppy, please check out our free puppy guide!
Is a puppy right for you?
WHAT ADOPTERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PUPPIES: Our policies all revolve around finding the most suitable home possible for our dogs of all ages and breeds. As part of our commitment to finding these homes we maintain policies on the adoption of our pups. Please read the below FAQs prior to filling out an application for one of our younger pups.
Q. Would I qualify for an 8 wk old puppy if I work full time?
A. Because the puppy period of a dog’s life is crucial to its development and training, SDR feels that an applicant must not leave the dog alone for any more hours than the dog’s age in months. For example, an 8 wk old puppy (2mos) cannot be left alone longer than 2 hrs. If you do not meet this requirement, we will not be able to adopt a young puppy to you at this time.
Q. I work all day, but I want to adopt a puppy and plan on coming home during my lunch breaks to let the puppy go to the bathroom. I do work 8 hr days but the dog would only be left alone for 4 hrs at a time, would I qualify for a 4 month old puppy?
A. Unfortunately, no. SDR's policy states that adopters must spend an equal or greater amount of time with the dog than you do away from the dog. For example, a 4 month old puppy could be left alone for 4 hours, but you must spend at least that time with the dog when you next see them. 30 minutes is not enough care and attention prior to another 4 hour span alone.
We put this policy in place because the return rate of puppies who develop behavioral or physical problems due to lack of care and training is very high. We try to prevent this to the best of our ability and believe this rule is the means to do it.
Q. I have raised all of my dogs from their puppy stage, even though I was not home all day, and they turned out to be great dogs. Wouldn’t I be an exception to the rule?
A. Whenever we come across great applicants that may not meet one of our requirements, we do try to look at them on a case-by-case basis. However, our ‘puppy rule’ is one that we really do not budge on. We have all the confidence that you would make a great pet owner, however, in SDR's experience, we have seen too many dogs returned because of problems that develop due to a puppy’s lack of training in its early months. Even the most experienced dog owners, when gone all day, can run into this problem, so we still abide by the ‘puppy rule’ in this case.
Q. I do work all day, however I have arranged to bring the puppy to work with me until it is old enough to be left alone, will this suffice?
A. We look at these situations on a case-by-case basis as well, but usually, yes. Once we review your application and get more information about the work arrangements via the phone interview, we will determine whether the work environment is a safe one for the dog. If it is, we will usually consider that applicant for a puppy. Please keep in mind that we may need written or verbal consent from the business owner or supervisor, as well as any contact info pertaining to them, to verify these conditions.
Q. I am currently away from my home during the day, but when school lets out for the summer in a few weeks, I will be home all day. Can I adopt a puppy now?
A. You may certainly start the application process and we can conduct your phone interview, home visit and start the matching process. However, if we find a young pup to match your wants and needs, that dog cannot go home with you until you are available during the day to watch it. Unfortunately, it takes only a short time for behavioral issues to form without proper guidance, so it is best if the dog enters into a home where the family can spend the proper amount of time with him/her.
Q. I will not be able to spend the day with my dog, however I have arranged for a friend to watch my puppy during the day while I am at work, will I qualify for a puppy then?
A. Usually, no. We may look at this on a case-by-case basis, but since we are adopting to you, and not your friend, we cannot verify the care the dog would be in while away from you. We perform a phone interview and home visit for all of our applicants to ensure the dog is in great care and we may not be able to do that for any friends that may be the pup’s primary caregiver for the majority of the day.