How to Adopt

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you match puppies with families?

From the day our puppies are born, they are never alone. We are loving them, playing with them, and helping them learn. We take photos every two weeks and shoot beautiful HD videos at six or seven weeks as well.  Needless to say, we know each puppy very well with this 24/7 attention.  

The photos and videos we take of your litter of puppies will be posted in a private puppy photo album that you can view when you’re enrolled as a member. We allow our clients to give us their first and second puppy choice based on the pictures that we post, and we allocate the puppies at seven weeks old. 

We also do temperament testing for all puppies at seven weeks old. Temperament rules at Smeraglia. Temperament testing is the main factor in deciding which puppy is best for your family’s needs.  We do highly consider the two puppies that you choose and include you in the process, but the final match is always based on the temperament test. Our professional opinion is just that, but ultimately the choice is yours. 

Our temperament testing process ensures that we match each family with the puppy that best meets their needs. We’ve found that this is the best-proven way to choose the right puppy and have had great success with many, many families over the years.

When is my balance due?

The balance will be due for your puppy when it reaches four weeks of age. Puppies not confirmed or paid for will be offered to the next family on the list. If there is an unforeseen problem, please call. We are always willing to work with you if you let us know.

Don’t forget to enroll your puppy in Doodle Prep School by six weeks of age. Paying your balance due at four weeks is a good reminder and will ensure that your spot is reserved.

Where will I pick-up my Puppy?

The puppy pick-up experience happens at the Smeraglia family Estate and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We go all out to make sure this is a day you will never forget. You will need to schedule your pick-up appointment with your adoption specialist. If your puppy is going home from Doodle prep School, you will schedule your pick-up appointment with your trainer. Adoption Specialists do not make trainer appointments.

Our Hospitality Team will meet with you upon arrival and will go over your puppy kit as well as all the information you will need for your travel home.

What if something happens and I can’t take my puppy when it’s time?

If a life event happens, and the timing is not right for you to adopt a puppy, no worries. If you have been placed on a litter for a puppy and you find that you cannot take the puppy at that time, you can go back on the waitlist.

If you have questions that we did not answer, please feel free to email us at [email protected] or call at (251) 960-1311. We look forward to hearing from you.

Puppy Announcements & Updates

Once the puppies are born, we match and offer them to families on our waitlist prior to making them available online. If you are matched with a litter you will get a “Good News” Birth announcement email with all of the litter information. You will be informed as to where you are on the litter, you will need to respond back to confirm that you would like to stay on this litter or you can pass and wait for a future litter. 

If you confirm, then you get regular updates, pictures, and a video so that you can watch the litter grow. Puppies are not allocated until they are seven weeks old and temperament testing has been completed.

Microchips

Yes, All puppies have AKC Reunite Microchips. You will need to register your microchip once your puppy is home. When you enroll your pet’s microchip, your pet’s ID is linked to your name, phone numbers, emergency contacts and other vital information in AKC Reunite’s database. When your lost pet is found,  they immediately send you text messages, emails and begin contacting all the phone numbers on your pet’s record to reunite you as quickly as possible.

What is my puppy doing after it is born?

Mostly getting “loved on” and interacted with, so they go home very well socialized. They are played with and handled from the day they are born. They are weighed and checked around the clock and every litter is placed on a schedule that provides for their specific needs.

Puppy collars, what’s that all about?

Within minutes after a puppy is born at Smeraglia and welcomed into the world, they are tagged, weighed and given their defining, color-coded paper collar. They may be blue, green, orange, pink, red or white….or occasionally yellow. If you are a boy, you will get a boy’s color of blue, green or orange.  If you are a girl, you will get pink, red or white. If you are in need of special care, you have a yellow one around your neck. If you have a lot of brothers and sisters, then some of them have to have dots or stripes on their collars, so we don’t get confused. We will always call them by their mom’s name and their designated color. “Gracie pink sure is getting plump.” Charlotte Orange thinks he’s the boss.” “Rosie Yellow gained another pound today.”

We are amused when families become attached to their color and want to incorporate it into their pup’s name. There are a lot of “Pinkys” and “Big Blues” out there …and we love it. (No dog named “Green Dot” as of yet.)

Early Neurological Stimulation

The very next day we begin Early Neurological Stimulation.  This is crucial for proper neurological development. It has also been proven to increase intelligence.

We continue to perform daily stimulation until the puppy is enrolled in Doodle Prep School or travels home. We have found that our puppies do extremely well with handling, are highly intelligent, and very social little puppies when they go home.

Can I visit my puppy before it comes home or goes to doodle prep school?

Puppies can be visited after they have had their 6-week puppy vaccination. It is vital that you do not bring other dogs to this visit and you have not visited any other Kennel prior to your visit to Smeraglia. Puppies that will be returning to the puppy nursery will be visited in a specially controlled and sanitized area designated just for them. Children can visit but must remain seated at all times when holding puppies. Visits are by appointment only for clients that have approved applications.

When can my puppy go home or doodle prep school?

Our Medium & Large puppies can be picked up or go to Doodle Prep School at 9 weeks old.

Our Small puppies can be picked up or go to Doodle Prep School at 10 weeks old

Our Extra Small Puppies have to be 12 weeks old before they can be released

• Any puppy that is delivered must be over 5 lbs, they can be picked up under 5 lbs.

• Working dogs (service and therapy dogs) are not required to be visited prior to delivery.

What do I do until my puppy comes home?

• Be on the lookout for puppy announcements and updates and respond back promptly.

• Watch our Facebook page for daily updates

• Become a Facebook Supporter and get a monthly gift for your puppy and lots of behind the scene information. There is a $19.99 fee but it’s well worth it.

• Watch the Available Puppies page even if you are on the waitlist, a puppy may touch your heart that is different than your specifications. It happens all the time.

• Get your puppy set up on Trupanion or the Insurance of your choice before it comes home.

• Order your Nuvet Plus Vitamins

• Enroll your puppy in Doodle Prep School – Smeraglia’s exclusive Doodle training program. Early enrollment is encouraged to ensure we have space for your puppy.

• Schedule your Doodle Pawtography Photo Session with Meredith $375 

• Visit our Smag Dog Pet Boutique 

• Watch the “Puppy Kit” Video 

• Determine your puppies go home plan; Picking up or Delivery

• Decide on a vet

• Like our Smeraglia’s Teddy Bear Goldendoodles & Schnoodles Facebook Page to meet new friends 

• Follow us on Instagram, YouTube & Pinterest

• Read some Recommended Puppy Books