Picking Your Puppy

The puppy you choose today will hopefully be your companion for the next 10-15 years. That's why we wait until 7 weeks of age to make puppy selections.

Our Goal Is the Right Match

Choosing a puppy is exciting, but the puppy you bring home will hopefully be your companion for the next 10-15 years. That's why we wait until 7 weeks of age to make puppy selections. By that point, we have temperament testing, growth data, health evaluations, and weeks of observations to help you select the puppy that best fits your lifestyle.

Selections before this time simply come down to choosing a color and gender. While those things are a start, they don't set you up for long-term success.

Here's why I believe waiting until 7 weeks allows me to provide the best possible information to help you make an informed decision. If you're a visual learner, the comparison chart below will help illustrate the difference.

benefits of selecting puppies at 7 weeks

Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test

One of the most valuable tools available at 7 weeks is temperament testing. Desert Sky Poodles uses the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT), a widely used evaluation that helps breeders, trainers, and puppy buyers better understand each puppy's natural temperament.

Just like children in the same family have different personalities, puppies in a litter do too. Some are naturally more confident, some are more independent, some are more people-focused, and others are more cautious. The purpose of temperament testing is to help identify those tendencies so families can make a more informed puppy selection.

How Temperament Testing Helps

The Volhard PAT provides objective information about each puppy, including:

Confidence and resilience
Sociability and attraction to people
Response to new sights, sounds, and experiences
Trainability and willingness to follow guidance
Independence versus people-focus

This information helps puppy buyers look beyond color and gender and focus on selecting a puppy whose temperament best matches their lifestyle and goals.

For example, an adventurous family looking for a hiking companion may prioritize different traits than a retiree looking for a calm companion. Likewise, a future therapy or service prospect may need different characteristics than a typical family pet.

Is the test ever wrong?

No evaluation is perfect, and the test represents a snapshot of the puppy at a specific point in time. However, the Volhard PAT has been used for decades by breeders, trainers, and dog handlers because it provides valuable information that improves the odds of making a successful match.

Can a puppy "fail?"

No. Temperament testing is a tool, not a pass-or-fail exam.

The results help identify a puppy's strengths and areas where additional socialization or training may be beneficial. Many traits can be influenced through thoughtful training and positive experiences.

Can I see the score cards and the actual test?

Absolutely. The score sheets can be shared, and I also record the testing process so you can watch the puppies during the evaluation. This can be especially helpful for families looking for a specific temperament, sport prospect, or service-dog candidate. Click here to see the score card and to read more about the test.

Is there a chance that the PAT will tell me that there isn't a puppy available in the litter that will match what I'm looking for?

It's possible, but unlikely.

Through careful selection of breeding dogs, early neurological stimulation (ENS), and thoughtful socialization, the vast majority of our puppies score in a range that makes excellent companions. Temperament testing helps identify subtle differences between puppies so families can make the best possible choice.

Growth Charts

When human babies visit their doctor for regular checkups, parents are often shown growth charts to help them understand how their child is developing. I keep detailed growth records on my puppies during their first 8 weeks and continue collecting data at 4, 6, and 12 months from puppy owners.

Because Standard Poodles have such a wide range of possible sizes, growth data can be a valuable tool when selecting a puppy. By 7 weeks of age, I can begin identifying which puppies are likely to mature on the smaller end of the litter and which may mature larger.

While no ethical breeder can guarantee adult size, this information helps us make more educated estimates. More importantly, it helps puppy buyers think about how a future dog will fit into their lifestyle. Whether you're looking for a travel companion, a dog that's easier to lift into the car, a hiking partner, or simply a size that feels comfortable for your family, growth data can be another helpful piece of the puzzle.

If puppy selections were made shortly after birth, you could unknowingly choose the largest or smallest puppy in the litter without having any information to guide your decision. By waiting until 7 weeks, we have another valuable tool available to help you make an informed choice.

Boone & Darla's 'Little Rascals' Growth Chart

Breeder Observations

The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test provides a formal snapshot of each puppy's temperament at a specific moment in time with someone they have never met. My observations add another layer of information because they span the puppies' entire first seven weeks of life.

By the time puppy selections take place, I've spent countless hours watching the puppies interact with people, their littermates, and their environment. I know which puppies naturally seek out human attention and which are more interested in independent exploration. I see who is the first to investigate a new toy, venture into a new area, or learn a new routine. I notice which puppies are quick to recover from a surprise, which ones are the most vocal, and which ones prefer to quietly observe before jumping in.

I also observe everyday behaviors, such as which puppies learn to use the dog door first, which adapt most quickly to new experiences, and which show the strongest desire to interact with people. These patterns often emerge over weeks rather than minutes.

Health Evaluations

Another benefit of waiting until 7 weeks for puppy selections is that it gives the puppies time to grow, develop, and demonstrate that they are healthy and thriving.

While most puppies do very well, some health concerns are not immediately apparent at birth. Occasionally a puppy may fail to thrive, and certain conditions may not become noticeable until the puppy is older. By waiting until 7 weeks, puppies have had time to develop and can be evaluated both through daily observation and a veterinary health exam.

This gives puppy buyers greater confidence that the puppy they select is healthy, thriving, and off to the best possible start in life.

Summary & FAQs

I hope this page helps you recognize the many benefits of waiting until 7 weeks of age to select your puppy. If you place a deposit on a future litter, I understand that you are placing a great deal of trust in me as a breeder, and I sincerely appreciate that trust.

Over the years, I have seen many successful puppy placements using this process. It would certainly be easier to have puppy buyers select based solely on color or gender, but my goal is to give you something better: the opportunity to make a well-informed decision based on temperament testing, growth data, health evaluations, and weeks of breeder observations.

Ultimately, my goal is not simply to help you choose a puppy. My goal is to help you choose a companion that will be a great fit for your lifestyle, goals, and family for years to come.

What does puppy pick day look like?

Puppy pick day is exciting! During a scheduled video call, I will work through the waitlist in order. For each family, I'll share the information described on this page, including temperament testing results, growth data, breeder observations, and health evaluations. Using these tools, you will select the puppy that best fits your lifestyle and goals.

Once a family has made their selection, I'll move to the next person on the pick list. After all deposit holders have chosen their puppies, any remaining puppies will be available to the public and may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis by placing a deposit.

Can I wait until after the puppy is 7 weeks old to place my deposit?

Occasionally, I have a puppy available after the waitlist has made their selections. In that case, yes. You may place a deposit after selecting an available puppy that is 7 weeks of age or older.

However, if you're hoping to find the puppy that is the best fit for your lifestyle and goals, your greatest advantage is to choose the breeding program you trust first and then place a deposit to join the waitlist. This gives you access to the full selection process and the best opportunity to choose from all available puppies rather than only those remaining after the waitlist has picked. Read more about the deposit.

Will you (the breeder) select my puppy for me based on all of the results and data?

No. The final selection is always your choice. Puppies are selected in the order that deposits are placed.

My role as a breeder is to provide you with as much information as possible, including temperament testing results, growth data, health evaluations, and breeder observations. I'll help you understand what I've learned about each puppy and answer your questions, but ultimately the decision is yours.

My goal is not to choose your puppy for you.

My goal is to give you the tools and information needed to confidently select the puppy that best fits your lifestyle, goals, and family.

Can I select my puppy based on color?

Yes. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

While color is often the first thing people notice about a puppy, it is one of the least important factors in determining whether that puppy will be a great fit for your family. Temperament, trainability, health, and personality will have a much greater impact on your day-to-day life with your dog.

That said, I understand that color matters. Most of us picture a certain look when we imagine our future dog. My goal is not to convince you that color doesn't matter, but to help you see the bigger picture as well.

I have intentionally included a variety of colors and patterns in my breeding program so that every litter offers beautiful options. My hope is that whether you have first pick or last pick, you'll have the opportunity to choose a puppy you love both inside and out.

To learn more about Poodle colors, patterns, and terminology, be sure to visit the Poodle Colors page.