frequently asked questions
How does the Volhard testing work?
Volhard testing is a series of tests that trigger responses in puppies. We take their responses and document what category the puppies fall into to help match them with the right families. The testing takes place when the puppies reach the age of seven weeks old. We clear out our dining room of it's furniture and have our testing props and notes ready. It takes a full crew to run the testing efficiently. We test the puppies one at a time with a person that they aren't familiar with. Each puppy takes about 10 minutes to test. Some of the things we are testing on is how they greet the tester, do they return toys, do they get underfoot when following the tester, and how do they respond to loud sounds, to name a few. We take detailed notes on each puppy and slowly make our way through the litter. We send the testing to our clients and ask the clients to choose their top three favorite puppies while watching the testing. Don't look for the color of their coats or focus strictly on gender, watch their personalities to see who would be a good match for your family.
Raising puppies, visiting the puppies & puppy selection
Can we come meet the puppies and visit your home?
YES! Our doors are open to you and you are always welcome to visit our home. You will need to book an appointment 48 hours prior to the time you would like to come visit. We have a daily schedule. It keep things efficiently ran but we can adjust our schedule to accommodate your visit. We understand that Parvo and distemper are a very serious threat to our puppies health. To reduce the risk, we don't allow visitors who have been to another kennel in the last 72hrs. Please also try to stay away from any unfamiliar dog just in case they have any diseases that the puppies aren't protected against. We look forward to meeting you and cuddling with some puppies together. ;)
visiting
puppy testing & selection
How does puppy selection work?
Puppies are selected in the order of the deposits that we receive for that litter and we go down the list from there. Everyone has to wait their turn, we won't skip anyone. After the Volhard testing is completed in the morning, we categorize the puppies and give you a break down of each individual puppy by the afternoon. In the evening of that same day, we then reach out to the family that was first on the list and see if they are ready to choose their puppy. Since everyone's work schedules are different, we do allow the first family to have until noon the next day to make their decision. If the first family is ready the night of testing, the selection process begins and the fun starts! Most times families know what they want quickly after receiving the results in the afternoon, so we ask that all families plan on making sure that their evening is free as to not hold up other families from making their decision if the first family is able to choose quickly. (There are often a lot of children who stay up late with their parents to see if they got the puppy they wanted.) We want this to be a fun experience for everyone on the list, so be ready and make your decision in a timely manner. If it is your turn to select your puppy and your specific application request choice is not available, you may elect another puppy from another future litter. If you choose to not select a puppy for other reasons that were not mentioned on your puppy application, the deposit will be forfeited. Your deposit will be applied to our costs of finding the puppy another home.
How do you raise your puppies?
We have been raising puppies for several years, in that time we have learned what works for both us and our dogs and puppies. As we have grown, each round we implement something we have learned. Dogs are fascinating! We started out raising puppies in our home. It was very convenient to have them near by and always within earshot. Our dams though didn't seem to relax fully. We kept our dams away from each other in separate rooms, but they were always on alert with another dame in the house with her litter. So we decided to put our savings for several years into making a dog barn that has all the comforts of home (wood floors, washer & dryer, cabinets, AC & Heating, washing sink) but with an important change. James designed very large, tiled stalls for each mother. Our dams LOVE their privacy! They relax now, and their puppies can tell a difference. We are constantly coming and going from the barn, but we try our best to keep it immaculately clean and calm for our dames. Each mother and pup is individually loved on every day. Because we are with our puppies all throughout the day and introduce Puppy Culture at a young age, we are creating confident, happy, healthy, and sweet puppies. We don't have a surplus of litters either, so each puppy has more time with us. Stimulating the puppies mentally is another aspect we implement. They have A LOT of toys to play with, and when they are old enough, we allow the puppies to interact with our other dames. The dams teach them boundaries, and how to have respect for other older members of the pack. They learn both crate training and impulse control together. The puppies learn when they are allowed to leave their crate and when they are allowed to leave their stall and when they must stay in their place. Although we don't teach basic the basic sit and stay, we focus on big concepts that will shape the puppies into better dogs in the future. Respect, impulse control, observing, and reading body cues lay a strong and structured foundation for our puppies. We believe that learning basic commands are a wonderful bonding experience for owners and puppies. We lay the ground work for successful training.
Raising Puppies
care
general puppy questions
What types of shots and tests are given to each puppy?
We deworm our puppies on week 2, week 4, week 6, and again two days before leaving our care. After the puppies are Volhard tested on day 49, they are given their first "puppy vaccine." This puppy shot is important because it protects against serious puppy sicknesses such as parvo, distemper, adenovirus type 1 and 2, and parainfluenza. We do microchip our puppies on week 6. All the information such as microchip number, deworming schedule, and proof of vaccines are provided on a health card that you will take home and bring to your vet visit.
When should I have my puppy seen by a vet?
Our puppies are required to be seen by your vet within 72 hours of leaving our care. You will want to make sure to have this appointment booked prior to picking up your puppy. Your vet will need to test for any communicable diseases during their check up. While you are there, your vet will also put you on a puppy vaccine schedule. Most puppies will be fully vaccinated by the time they reach 16 weeks.
What does it mean to "socialize" your puppy?
Socialize means for puppies the same it applies to humans. It means to get out, meet new people, try new things, and explore. Just like it is critical in children, it is critical for puppies as well. We get our puppies out of their comfort zone every day by having them interact with a variety of people and our adult dogs (when the puppies are old enough). We play movies in the background while we clean, talk on the phone, and during bath time we use an industrial grooming blower to dry off the puppies. The more we expose them to as little puppies, the more confident they will be when they are full grown. The critical time to make sure to be introducing the puppy to as many sounds and experiences as possible is from week five to week twelve. We start the process, but the puppy will leave us at week 8. That means you as the owner don't need to keep your puppy away from the scary world, you need to expose them to as much as you can at an early age. Stay away from dog parks and other high trafficked dog areas, but get them out of the house and exploring. The more they experience the more confident they will be in the world around them.
shots, vet visits, & Spay/neutering
Will my puppy be checked by a vet before I make my final payment?
Yes! We want each of our buyers to have peace of mind before making that final payment and picking up their puppy. We take each litter into our local vet for their "litter exam." They check each puppy's body, skin, coat, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. They also note things such as presence or absence of a heart murmur, eye or ear issues, skin issues, hernias, internal and external parasites, if boys have both testicles, more. They check to make sure our microchips are working and do a fecal float. Fecal flotation is a test used to diagnose internal parasites or "worms" in puppies. The test detects the eggs of mature parasites that live inside the body and pass their eggs to the outside by shedding them into the puppy's stool. We let our clients know how the visit went and send a copy of the doctor's notes to each client.
What is your policy for Spay/Neuter for your puppies?
We ask that our clients seriously consider waiting a little longer than what is normally suggested for spaying or neutering their pet. We have found that it is best to not spay a female until after she has finished her first heat. If you adopt a male, it is SO important for them to have that testosterone in their system until they are at least 18 months old. Having to deal with a female's heat may be inconvenient or a male's need to mark everything on a walk if a girl in the neighborhood is in heat, but it is so important for your puppy to develop properly. We require all of our puppies to be spayed/neutered.
1. Dog Food
2. Plastic Carrier Crate- Best Option for Traveling
3. Blankets
4. Baby Wipes
5. Puppy Collar
6. Leash
7. Collapsable Dishes
8. Water Bottle
9. Plastic Bag- To Throw Away Trash In
10. Poop- Bags
11. Paper Towels
*Bring an Airline Approved Collapsable Soft Crate if flying. Check Airlines for specifics.
puppy delivery
travel info & Extended Stay
Shipping Puppies & Travel Info
Do you ship or deliver your puppies?
We do not ship our puppies, but we are very happy to be travel companions for our puppies. We give our clients three options: come pick up your puppy, if you live 4 hours or less away we can drive the puppy (traveling fee), or we can have the puppy flown to you with a travel companion (flying fee).
If you choose to have us drive the puppy to you, we charge for the following: our time, rental, gas, tolls, food, and if needed lodging. We give custom quotes for each road delivery.
There is a reason we try to encourage clients to go the flying option if the delivery is over 4 hours away. It is because studies have shown that puppies do better in flights rather than very long car rides. So we have partnered with a wonderful local, who for the last 5 years has been professionally delivering puppies and comes VERY highly recommended! He has delivered puppies all over the U.S. and Europe, he is very qualified and has a lot of puppy experience. Him and his wife are the sweetest people! We are very excited to give our clients the opportunity to work with him and the incredible service he provides. He can give you a quote on his travel fees in which the flight tickets are included.
When is the earliest we can pick up our puppy?
We allow our puppies to go home at 8 weeks old. In the first two weeks, puppies eyes open and they begin to learn to walk. When the puppies are between week 3 and week four, they are confidently moving around and their teeth are coming in. At week five, the mother begins to wean her litter and the puppies begin to eat soaked puppy food. At the end of week five, the mother is no longer nursing the puppies. Once they begin week six, they start crate training and learning impulse control, the puppies also are wrestling and teaching each other bite sensitivity. The puppies see the vet at week seven and are Volhard tested. By the time they are eight weeks old, they have a progressional separation from mom, learn to be better puppy playmates, and are confident in their crate training. Because there is so much change that takes place in those last few weeks, we don't allow the puppies to leave a week earlier.
What do I need to bring with me when I come get my puppy?
What happens if I can't pick up my puppy on the pick up date?
If your puppy's pick-up date falls on a weekday, we will be able to hold your puppy at no charge until the upcoming Saturday of that week. It is important that the puppies are pickup within a reasonable window after the take home date. It is so important for that socialization widow that we talked about earlier on this page. Puppies can not be boarded at a kennel until they have received all their full immunizations. Because of that, we are willing to offer extended stay for families whose puppy pick-up date conflicts with previous travel or vacation plans. We can board a puppy for $300 a week, or $50 a day past the pick-up window grace period. If are going on a trip after having picked up your puppy, and before the puppy is 3 months of age, we can board the puppy for you. The cost is the same as listed above, but the puppy must not have come in contact with other dogs or puppies.
Deposits
Payments
Applications, deposits, & payments
applications
Once you submit your puppy application, (The form can be found on "The Process" page.) it will take us 24 to 48 hours to go over your submission. If we feel like we will do well together and that we are a good fit, we will reach back out to you from the email the application was sent through. If you don't hear from us after 48 hours, please email us at pmgoldendoodles@gmail.com.
We only accept deposits if we have approved your application. Once you are notified that we are good to precede, a $500.00 deposit is required. You will need to select which litter you would like to be placed on. We can schedule a phone consultation if you need help deciding which litter will be right for you. Positions on each litter are a first come, first service basis. Deposits are accepted in good faith. We are promising to hold a puppy for you. You are promising to keep your part of the agreement and pay for the puppy. If you paid your deposit, and unforeseen circumstances arise where you cannot buy the puppy at that time; you may move the deposit to the next litter of the same size one time without penalty.
If you do choose to move your deposit, you must choose a puppy for the very next litter of the same size. We cannot keep up with deposits past that first "forgiveness," transfer. It is unfair to us to do so any further. We can return a deposit to the buyer at anytime if we feel we are being treated unethically or unkindly.
how deposits work
How will I make my final payment?
Your final payment of $3,400 is due on the day of puppy pick up. If you are having your puppy flown to you, we accept the payment a week prior to delivery day. We accept deposits through Zelle and Venmo, and final payments through Venmo or a cashier's check (made out to Megan Castillo for final payment). NO PERSONAL CHECKS FOR FINAL PAYMENT.
How do your deposits work?
In the past, we used to allow our deposits to be fully refundable up until the litter you were placed on turned 4 weeks of age. We had this system in place to be a helpful "in case life takes a drastic turn" and you no longer can come get your puppy; we worked with families. But we have noticed in the last few years people would take advantage of our kindness and not truly think through the commitment and we would turn other people away because those spots were taken. People would decide to change their mind last minute and pull their deposit. This would be unfair to the other inquiring families and a vast lack of respect of our time at Parfait Mischen. We do not take time from our families and other interests for free. Due to this issue, we no longer hold to our previous returned deposits system. Once a deposit is in place, it stays with Parfait Mischen. It will not be refunded for any reason. If the litter you are on doesn't have a puppy that aligns with your puppy application specified needs, we will move your deposit to one future litter. Adopting a puppy is an important commitment. We ask our families to really think through that commitment before a deposit is placed because once that decision is made, it's full steam ahead and the fun begins!
PARFAIT MISCHEN GOLDENDOODLES AGREES:
1. Breeder guarantees that puppy has had proper care to date and has been checked by a veterinarian. Shot records will be furnished at time of purchase. If within 3 business days of receiving the puppy and he/she is examined by a reputable veterinarian and the health of the puppy is found to be at serious risk of euthanasia or death due to a congenital or genetic defect (existing at birth), owner shall notify breeder and provide a written statement from a licensed vet describing puppy's condition and shall return the puppy and papers to the breeder within three days of the examination. Breeder will replace puppy or refund the full price of the puppy (minus shipping fees). This does not include worms, fleas, mites, coccidiosis, giardia, or any other parasites as they are common in dogs and puppies. Breeder assumes no responsibility for veterinarian or shipping fees.
2. Breeder is not responsible if puppy contracts a communicable disease after 72 hours leaving breeder's possession.
3. Breeder guarantees puppy against any congenital or genetic defect causing death of or making necessary euthanasia until 2 years of age. If NuVet is purchased under breeder #158807 so that breeder can track usage, then an additional 2 year warranty will be given (4 years total). If this occurs then breeder will replace the puppy or refund the FULL price of the puppy (minus shipping). Breeder will not assume any veterinarian bills.
4. Breeder offers 2 year hip guarantee on any puppy found to have moderate or severely affected hip dysplasia (again, an additional 2 year warranty given with NuVet usage- 4 year total). The following applies: The puppy must have an x-ray by your veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis and it must be documented by an official OFA consultation. If this occurs the buyer will get 100% refund of purchase price (minus shipping fees& veterinarian fees) prior to two years of age. After two years of age a 50% refund of purchase price (minus shipping fees& veterinarian fees) will be given.
5. Breeder offers 2 year heart (extended to 4 years with NuVet usage) guarantee on any puppy found to have a severe heart murmur (Grade 5/6 or 6/6). The following applies: The puppy must have a canine cardiologist perform an echogram to confirm the diagnosis.
If this occurs the buyer will get 100% refund of purchase price (minus shipping fees& veterinarian fees) prior to two years of age. After two years of age a 50% refund of purchase price (minus shipping fees& veterinarian fees) will be given.
6. We reserve the right to have a second opinion from our veterinarian. We also reserve the right to acquire DNA to determine the dog or puppy as one of our lineages.
7. Breeder does not guarantee shedding, color, size, championship, training or temperament of any puppy.
BUYER AGREES:
1. To have puppy examined within 72 hours of purchase by a licensed veterinarian to validate puppy is healthy.
2. The puppy is not being purchased for resale and will never be sold to a person, pet shop, puppy mill or agent of same.
3. To provide all annual vet exams, to continue all required vaccine shots as recommended by their vet and proper vet care. It is important the puppy has all puppy shots, and their yearly boosters.
4. The Buyer is to spay females no earlier than 12 months of age or after her first heat whichever comes first and neuter males between 12-18 months of age or genetic health guarantee will be voided. Health guarantee for hips, elbows, knees, and heart will be voided if spayed earlier than this guarantee has outlined. Follow this link to understand why: Health Implications in Early Spay and Neuter in Dogs
5. To provide adequate housing away from the elements. Buyer will have a fenced yard or kennel if the dog will be housed outside. Your dog will NEVER be left on a chain. The Buyer will groom, train, and care for this dog in the manner consistent with high quality animal husbandry.
6. That the Buyer will return their goldendoodle to Parfait Mischen Goldendoodles if the Buyer is unable or unwilling for any reason to care for their goldendoodle (no refund to be given). Buyer agrees that they will never surrender their dog to a dog rescue, animal shelter or a friend/family member without permission from Parfait Mischen Goldendoodles.
7. This agreement shall be deemed consummated in the county of Iredell, NC and shall be governed by the laws of the state of North Carolina. If for any reason litigations should occur, the venue shall lie in Statesville, NC. Breeder will not be responsible for any costs associated with this process.To be covered by this guarantee, the following conditions need to apply: Puppy must be owned by original owner named in this agreement.
In the case of sudden demise of puppy, breeder must receive a written notice of puppy's death from owner's vet, along with a necropsy report indicating cause of death.
We strongly recommended buyer to continue to give puppy 1 NuVet K9 Plus wafer each day until the puppy reaches 16 weeks old then we recommend that you begin giving 1 NuJoint DS Wafer. The K9 Plus wafer is a powerful antioxidant that gives a tremendous boost to the immune system to prevent skin and coat problems, and creates a defense against over fifty major diseases. The NuJoint DS wafer contains precise percentages of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Methysulfonymethane (MSM) and Vitamin C (Ester-C®) which will help support optimal joint health and mobility in dogs of all ages. This can only be ordered by calling 1-800-474-7044, order code #52992 or on our website, by clicking on the NuVet Logo. For less than 30 cents a day, you can insure your puppy's health. If you reference the number we have provided so that we can track your use for 4 years, we will extend our warranty on hips, elbows, eyes, and heart for an additional 2 years. (combined total of 4 year warranty)!
warranty
contract information
Health Clearances
Health Clearances, contracts, & warrantees
What type of health clearances do you have?
We have our goldendoodles checked annually by a board certified ophthalmologist and have had normal results. They have OFA certificates for their eyes, knees, hips and elbows . They have been DNA tested and cleared for the following: GR - PRA1, GR - PRA2, vWD1, NEwS, DM, and Ich. Please see each individual dog for further details. Our goldendoodles have also been DNA tested for osteochondrodysplasia (normal). Our goldendoodles have been tested and cleared from PRA- prd -vWD1, NEwS, and DM (normal/normal)
Can you explain your extended health warranty?
We have a warranty that will cover any congenital defect that causes death or requires euthanasia until the puppy reaches two years of age. If you purchase NuVet vitamins using our order code #158807 and give it to the puppy daily, we will lengthen our warranty from two years to four years. If your puppy does have to be euthanized or passes away due to a congenital defect before the age of two, we will replace your puppy, or refund the full purchase price of the puppy. We will not cover any veterinarian bills.
read our full two year warranty
warranty
Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, we will not send a puppy home that doesn't have a signed contract and warranty. Once you have selected your puppy on puppy testing day, you will be sent your puppy's contract. Please read it in it's entirety. If you have any questions, you can reach out to us. We aren't willing to alter our contract in anyway for a client. So you must be in agreement with the entirety of the documents and sign them before being allowed to bring your puppy home.
