One of the most common messages I receive goes something like: “I love what I see on your site — but I’m not sure how to start the process. What do I do first?”
This post is the answer. Here’s exactly how the process works at It’s a Doodle K9 Service — from your very first message to the morning you drive home with your puppy.
Getting a puppy from a responsible breeder is a different experience from walking into a pet store. There’s more conversation, more intentional matching, and sometimes a wait. But the families who go through this process almost universally tell me it was worth every part of it. They came prepared, they got the right dog for their home, and those first weeks were a pleasure rather than a panic.
Here’s how it works.
The Full Journey — 8 Steps from Inquiry to Pickup
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Submit Your Puppy Inquiry
Everything starts with the puppy inquiry form on our website, or a direct call or text to Sheila at 1-306-220-8991. Tell me about your family — how many people, what ages, your home and lifestyle, whether anyone has allergies, your experience with dogs, and what you’re hoping for in a companion.
There are no wrong answers. The more honestly you describe your situation, the better I can assess whether our puppies are right for your family — and whether the timing works for both of us.
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The Getting-to-Know-You Call
After your inquiry, I’ll reach out to schedule a call — usually via FaceTime or WhatsApp. This isn’t an interview or a test. It’s a real conversation so we can get to know each other properly.
I’ll ask about your daily routine, your home setup, your experience level with dogs, and your expectations for care and training. You’ll have the chance to ask everything you want to know about our breeding program, our Puppy Culture protocol, our parent dogs, and what life with one of our puppies actually looks like day to day.
Why a call and not just email? Matching a puppy to a family is one of the most important decisions in this whole process. A real conversation tells me things a contact form never can — your energy, your household dynamic, what you’re genuinely ready for. And honestly, I want you to feel confident in us too, not just the other way around.
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Joining the Waitlist and Placing a Deposit
If we’re a good mutual fit, you’ll be added to the waitlist. A deposit is required to secure your position. This deposit is applied toward the full purchase price of your puppy and confirms your commitment to the process.
I’ll give you an honest estimate of timing based on your position in the queue and our planned litter schedule. Sometimes families are matched to the very next litter. Sometimes there’s a wait of several months. I will never tell you what you want to hear if the realistic timeframe is different.
Transparency on deposits: Deposits are non-refundable but transferable. If a litter’s timing doesn’t work for your situation, your deposit carries forward to the next available litter rather than being lost.
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Litter Announcement and Weekly Updates
Once a litter arrives, you’ll receive a birth announcement with photos and the puppy count. From that point, weekly photo updates follow the litter’s development through their Puppy Culture milestones — ENS exercises, first socialization sessions, first crate introductions, and more.
Watching your future puppy grow from a few days old to the fluffy, curious bundle you’ll bring home is one of the parts families most often mention when they look back on the experience. I love sharing it.
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Optional Family Visit (Weeks 4+)
Families are welcome to arrange a visit to meet the litter after 4 weeks old. This is particularly valuable for allergy-sensitive families, households with young children, or anyone who simply wants to see where their puppy has been growing up before pickup day.
Visits are by appointment only. I ask that all visitors are healthy, and that children are supervised calmly — this is still a formative period for the puppies.
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Puppy Aptitude Testing and Matching (Day 49)
On day 49 — seven weeks — I conduct the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test and the Elite Breeder matching chart with each puppy individually. These standardized behavioral assessments evaluate each puppy’s energy level, confidence, sensitivity, social drive, retrieve motivation, and response to restraint.
I then help match each puppy to the family whose lifestyle, experience, and household dynamic best fits that puppy’s individual personality. An energetic, bold, high-drive puppy goes to an active family with dog experience. A calmer, more sensitive puppy goes to a quieter home or a first-time dog owner.
Families will have a couple of puppies that are high on their wish list. I help them make the right match — and I stand behind it. In many years of doing this, temperament-matched placements result in fewer problems, faster bonding, and happier outcomes than appearance-based selection. The puppy who catches your eye in a photo is not always the puppy who is right for your household.
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Your Match Is Confirmed (Week 7)
After testing, I’ll contact you and go through the puppies personality summary — what their temperament is like, what they respond to, and what to expect in those first days home. This gives you a week to prepare properly before pickup.
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Pickup Day at Sooke, BC (Week 8)
Puppies go home at 60 days — not earlier. This timing is important: the final days of week seven and week eight are a key bonding window, and puppies who leave before this point often have more difficulty attaching to their new family.
Pickup happens at our home in Sooke, BC, close to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Please allow at least an hour for the handover — this isn’t a transaction, it’s a handoff. I’ll walk you through your specific puppy’s current routine, demonstrate the crate and potty training they’ve been doing, go over the care guide, and answer every question face to face before you leave.
What Your Puppy Comes With on Pickup Day
- First veterinary examination
- Age-appropriate vaccinations
- Deworming completed
- Microchip registered
- Written health guarantee
- Puppy care and training guide
- Food sample (current diet)
- Scented bedding from the litter
- Night Crate trained before leaving
- Potty training foundation in place
- Clicker conditioned
- Basic commands introduced
- 25+ people socialized
- Puppy Culture milestones complete
No add-on fees for training, no extras for socialization. What other breeders charge separately, we include as standard in every puppy.
The Timeline at a Glance
You → Inquiry form or call
Start the conversation. No commitment at this stage.
Days 1–7 → Getting-to-know-you call with Sheila
FaceTime or WhatsApp — relaxed, no pressure.
After the call → Deposit + waitlist position secured
You’re officially in the queue. Realistic timing discussed.
Litter born → Weekly photo and milestone updates begin
You follow the litter’s Puppy Culture journey from day one.
Weeks 4+ → Optional family visit
Meet the litter in person, especially recommended for allergy checks.
Day 49 (Week 7) → Aptitude testing and puppy matching
Sheila conducts the Volhard test and confirms your match.
During of Week 7 → Your puppy match is confirmed
You receive your puppy’s name and personality summary.
Week 8 (day 60)→ Pickup day in Sooke, BC
Allow one hour for the handover. Your puppy comes home.
After pickup → Ongoing support from Sheila
Available by call or text for questions in the weeks and months that follow.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Up Front
We are a small, home-based operation — intentionally
We raise one or two litters at a time, never more. Every puppy in every litter gets the same daily individual attention. This is not a high-volume operation, and it’s deliberately not. The wait may sometimes be longer as a result — and the puppy you get is different because of it.
The price is fully inclusive
The purchase price includes every item in the pickup checklist above. Vet exam, vaccinations, microchip, health guarantee, weeks of Puppy Culture preparation — all included. There are no add-on training fees, no socialization surcharges. What some breeders list as premium extras, we treat as baseline responsibility.
We stay in touch after the door closes
The relationship doesn’t end at pickup. Families text photos, updates, and questions for months and sometimes years after bringing their puppy home, and I welcome every one. If something comes up in those first weeks and you need guidance — real, specific guidance from the person who raised your dog — I’m always reachable.
Already on the fence? The most common thing I hear from families who waited is: “I wish we’d reached out sooner.” If you’re seriously considering a Labradoodle, the best time to start the conversation is now — even if you’re not ready to commit yet. There’s no pressure. Talking through your situation costs nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get on the waitlist for a Labradoodle puppy from It’s a Doodle K9?
Fill in the puppy inquiry form on our website or call Sheila directly at 1-306-220-8991. We’ll have a getting-to-know-you call via FaceTime or WhatsApp, and if we’re a good fit, you’ll be added to the waitlist with a deposit to hold your position.
How long is the Labradoodle puppy waitlist in BC?
It varies depending on litter timing and queue position. Sheila gives an honest estimate during your initial call. Many families join before a litter is planned, so the earlier you reach out, the better your timing options.
How are puppies matched to families at It’s a Doodle K9?
Sheila conducts the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test at day 49 to assess each puppy’s individual temperament, then matches each puppy to the family whose lifestyle and experience level best fits that personality. Families are guided by Sheila to choose the best match from their wish list. The match is made, and Sheila stands behind every placement.
What is included when my Labradoodle puppy goes home?
Vet exam, vaccinations, deworming, microchip, written health guarantee, puppy care guide, food sample, scented bedding, and a puppy already crate trained, potty trained, clicker conditioned, and introduced to basic commands. All included in the purchase price — no extras.
Can I visit the puppies before pickup?
Yes — visits are welcome by appointment after 4 weeks old. Recommended for allergy-sensitive families and homes with young children. All visitors should be healthy and children must be supervised throughout.
Do you ship puppies or is pickup in person in BC?
We strongly prefer in-person pickup at our home in Sooke, BC. The in-person handover lets Sheila walk you through your puppy’s specific routine and answer all questions face to face. Off-island arrangements are considered case by case.
Ready to start the conversation?
The first step is a simple message or call. Fill in our puppy inquiry form or call Sheila at 1-306-220-8991. No commitment, no pressure — just a conversation. You can also check our currently available puppies here.
Related reading: What is Puppy Culture? · Why our puppies come home already trained · About our breeding program
