ADOPTION
How our adoption process works--
STEP ONE - JOIN OUR WAIT LIST
We release a certain number of litters at a time for reservations. These litters are set in stone unless something happens last minute and we need to change studs, postpone the litter, etc. This choice will always be at the breeder’s discretion, but changes like this will be announced as soon as possible.
The litters we have open for reservations can be found on the PLANNED LITTERS page of our website. Under each litter, there is a button that will take you to the individual page for that specific litter. On this page, you will find additional information about this upcoming litter, expected price range, pictures of past puppies from the parents and the wait list. We keep our website very up to date. So the wait list will almost always be current and correct.
If you are interested in the litter, there is another button that says “Apply Now”. This will bring up a short form that you can fill out and submit to us. Once we have received your inquiry, we will reach out to you via email. We will confirm which spot we have available on our list and you can choose whether or not to move forward and reserve your spot. We only accept a certain number of families onto our wait lists in advance. If a wait list fills up, we will start a back up list. Families on our back up list will be notified in the event that someone on the wait list chooses to drop off for whatever reason or if we have more puppies born than expected. Although we cannot make any guarantees, this does happen on a fairly regular basis.
We understand that it can be hard to place a deposit in advance, not knowing what the litter will look like or what puppies will even be available to you when it is your time to choose. For those reasons, we do not accept deposits to be on our wait list or back up list. However, once you are added to one of our lists, your spot on that list is secure.
If you you are on a list and do not get a puppy from that specific litter, that does not mean you automatically transfer to the top of the list for our next available litter. We post our litter plans pretty far in advance, so the families on our lists have typically been waiting quite a while for their puppies. We strongly encourage families to apply for as many litters as they want and be on multiple wait lists. This will give you more options and chances at bringing home your dream puppy!
STEP TWO - PUPPIES ARE HERE!
Once the puppies are born, we will reach out to everyone on the wait list. We will let you know what genders and colors we have. Newborn photos are typically posted 2-5 days after birth and then at least every two weeks after that. We love for our families to follow along on our Instagram (@glasshousepuppies), as we regularly post photos, behind the scenes and sneak peeks! We want to give our clients a glimpse into the daily life of our puppies and how they are raised. Information and photos of our litters can be found on the NURSERY page of our website.
STEP THREE - TIME TO CHOOSE
Our puppy selection process typically begins around 5-6 weeks of age. By this time our puppies have been seen by our vet and undergone an in depth heath exam. Prior to selections, we will provide our clients with any health concerns or special notes from our vet about the litter (such as incorrect bites, hernias, etc). After this vet visit, it will be time for our wait list families to choose their puppy! Pricing will be clearly listed under each puppy, as well as their expected coat type and current weight. We will also provide videos and will be available to answer any questions you have about the puppies. We understand that this is a huge commitment for your family and want to make sure that you have all the information you need to make a well informed decision. Each family will have 24 hours to make their choice, fill out our application and place their $300 deposit. This deposit will reserve the exact puppy that your family will bring home. After everyone on our wait list has chosen, any available puppies will then be advertised as such.
STEP FOUR - GET PREPARED
Now that you have selected your puppy, it is time to get prepared for their arrival! We will send out a newsletter that goes over what we will be sending home with your puppy and things we suggest buying and having on hand when your puppy comes home. Most importantly is puppy food. We send home a small sample sized bag of food with each of our puppies. But families are encouraged to go ahead and buy a full sized bag ahead of time. Keeping your puppy on the same diet will help prevent tummy upset during those first few weeks at home. It is a good idea to have a designated area set up for your puppy in a room that you spend a lot of time in. The more room you give your puppy to roam freely, the bigger the chance for accidents. So limiting space in the beginning will help with house training. We will typically get a crate and set up an exercise pen around it. You can add in toys, bedding, food/water bowls, etc. This gives your puppy its own bedroom at night and play area during the day when you are not actively working with them or if you need a safe space to contain them for short periods of time. Our puppy food, playpen components and many other products we suggest can be found on our FAVORITE PRODUCTS page.
STEP FIVE - PUPPY PICK UP
It's the moment you have been waiting for! This is always a bittersweet time for us, but we are so excited for you to finally be able to bring your new puppy home! Local families are always welcome to come to our home and pick up their puppy in person. We love meeting you!! However, we know that in person pick ups are not always possible, so we also have transportation options available for families farther away and out of state. We work with a fantastic flight nanny company that can hand deliver your puppy to the airport of your choice. This typically costs between $600-800, depending on your location. If you want to pick up in person, but have a long drive ahead of you, we are happy to meet families in Huntsville or Birmingham, AL to shorten your trip a bit. Your balance is due at or before pick up. Your puppy will not leave our possession until final payment has been made. We know that pick up is an exciting time, but please understand that this our home and not a pet store. If you pick up in person, please reasonably limit the number of people you bring and do not bring any other animals. We also ask that you use the bathroom before arriving. For safety reasons, we do not allow visitors into our puppy nursery.
STEP SIX - STAY IN TOUCH!
Now you are home with your new puppy and you may think our work here is down, but that is not the case! We provide our clients with lifetime support. We will always be here to answer any questions you have or address any concerns. We love keeping in touch and receiving updates and photos. When you leave our home, you are taking a little piece of our heart with you and we consider you part of our Glass House Family!