What to expect, how our waiting list works, and how to spot a responsible breeder.
Good to Know
If you've checked out our website and see that we're expecting a litter of puppies at a time that would fit in nicely for you and your family, you're ready for the next step. We welcome you to visit our Contact Us page and call or email us with any questions you may have. Sometimes people like to come out and meet us and our dogs before committing to buying a puppy — we welcome the opportunity to meet with you.
When all of your questions have been answered and you're sure you want to purchase a puppy from Ivy Spring, we ask that you visit our Waiting List page and fill out the form. This provides us with your contact information and some other basic information we require. A $50 deposit is also required to be added to the waiting list. This $50 will be applied toward the purchase price of your puppy. It's nonrefundable unless we don't have a puppy available for you within one year from the time you filled out the form — if that happens, you can choose to remain on the waiting list, or receive a refund of your deposit.
After you're added to the waiting list, we'll keep you informed as things progress and contact you when the puppies are born. At that time, a second deposit and a signed purchase agreement will be required to reserve a puppy. The second deposit is half of the purchase price, minus the initial $50. The balance is due when you pick your puppy up. We don't allow visitors during the first two weeks of a puppy's life, to help protect them from germs and let Mom relax and tend to her babies. After the puppies are two weeks old, you're welcome to visit and help us socialize them.
Puppy buyers are allowed to pick out their puppies in the order they were added to the waiting list. You'll come to pick your puppy up in that order — so if there are 5 male puppies and you have first pick of the males, all 5 will be there when you arrive. When the person with second pick comes, there would be 4 males left to choose from. We've found this method works best, since puppy buyers often travel from far away and we don't want them making a separate trip just to pick a puppy. It's also hard to keep collars on the puppies, so this way we can be sure you're getting the correct one — and puppies change so much between five and seven or eight weeks that people often prefer a different one by pickup time anyway.
After you take your puppy home, you can expect help and advice from us for as long as you have your dog. We love regular updates by phone or email, whatever's convenient for you, and we especially love photos so we can see how our puppies are growing. Please don't forget about us after you take your puppy home!
Below is a link to breeders who have been suspended by the AKC — not breeders you probably want to get a puppy from: