Purchasing A Puppy

Puppy Picture Updates

We love keeping families involved as their puppies grow. Families receive photos of their litter at approximately:

• Birth
• 3 weeks
• 6 weeks

The next big milestone is Gotcha Day!

Puppies are selected in deposit order during their scheduled Gotcha Day appointments. We also spend significant time getting to know each puppy’s personality and temperament so we can help guide you toward a puppy that fits your family, lifestyle, and goals.

We reserve the right to hold back up to two puppies from a litter for our breeding program.

What’s Included With Your Puppy

Your Sterling Brook Doodles puppy goes home with:

• One-year health guarantee
• Two-year health guarantee when NuVet requirements are met
• Age-appropriate vaccinations
• Deworming
• Microchip
• Puppy toy with the litter’s scent
• NuVet vitamin sample
• Puppy information folder
• Ongoing breeder support
  
  

Gotcha Day

Bringing Your Puppy Home

Our puppies remain with us until approximately 8–9 weeks of age, allowing them important time with their mother and littermates while receiving early socialization and age-appropriate care.

Gotcha Days are typically held on Fridays between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Appointments are approximately 30 minutes, and your scheduled time will be provided about one week beforehand.

During your appointment, we’ll review your puppy’s paperwork, medical records, feeding information, and other important details for bringing your puppy home.

Whenever possible, families will also have an opportunity to see the puppy’s mother and, in some cases, the father.

Please Arrive at Your Scheduled Time

Please do not arrive early, as another family may have the appointment before yours. If you arrive late, your appointment may need to be shortened to keep the day’s schedule on time.

If you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, puppy selection will need to take place through FaceTime or photos.

Need Us to Keep Your Puppy Longer?

We offer a two-day grace period if you’re unable to pick up your puppy on Gotcha Day. After that period, boarding is available for $25 per day.

Puppy Placement & Temperament Matching

Choosing your puppy is about much more than appearance.

We spend a great deal of time with each litter and get to know the individual personalities and temperaments of our puppies. This allows us to provide meaningful guidance when it’s time for your family to choose.

Before Gotcha Day, we want to understand what you’re looking for in a companion, including your family, lifestyle, activity level, and expectations.

Our goal is to help you find a puppy whose personality fits naturally into your home.

What to Bring on Gotcha Day

We recommend bringing:

• A puppy blanket
• Paper towels
• A basket, carrier, or comfortable place for your puppy during the ride
• Leash and harness if you plan to stop during your trip

Most puppies prefer being held on the ride home, so a crate usually isn’t necessary unless you’re traveling alone.

There is generally no need to provide food, treats, or water until you arrive home unless you have a longer trip. We’ll provide guidance based on your individual travel plans.

Feeding Your New Puppy

Your puppy will go home on the feeding routine they’ve become familiar with at Sterling Brook Doodles.

We currently feed Victor Hi-Pro Plus dry food.

Daily Feeding Schedule

• 7:00 AM: Breakfast
• 12:00 PM: Midday meal
• 5:00 PM: Dinner

Begin with approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup of dry food per feeding and adjust gradually as your puppy grows, based on body condition, activity level, food manufacturer guidance, and your veterinarian’s recommendations.

NuVet vitamins are given with the morning meal and can be crumbled over the food.

Fresh water should be made available appropriately throughout the day. If your puppy is hesitant to eat during the transition to their new home, we recommend adding wet food.

Preparing for Your Puppy

Having everything ready before Gotcha Day makes your puppy’s transition much easier.

We recommend having:

• Victor Hi-Pro Plus food
• Dog crate with divider
• Puppy gate
• Exercise pen (x-pen)
• NuVet vitamins
• Small, soft puppy training treats
• Food and water bowls
• Collar
• Name tag
• Leash
• Small harness
• Martingale collar for later leash training
• Steel comb and brush
• Puppy blankets and towels
• Potty-training bells
• Nail clippers and styptic powder
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner
• Floor protection for your puppy’s initial training area
• Waste scooper
• Pet insurance

We also strongly recommend finding a trusted veterinarian and an experienced Doodle groomer before bringing your puppy home.

And, of course, don’t forget plenty of love and patience!

Recommended Reading

We encourage new puppy families to continue learning about canine behavior, communication, and training.

• The Other End of the Leash — Patricia McConnell
• Cesar’s Way — Cesar Millan
• How to Raise the Perfect Dog — Cesar Millan
  
  

Visitor Policy

Protecting the health of our puppies, mothers, and breeding dogs is extremely important to us.

Young puppies are particularly vulnerable to contagious illnesses such as parvovirus and other viruses before they have completed their vaccinations. These illnesses can be carried into an environment without a visitor realizing they’ve been exposed.

For this reason, we do not offer general public visits or casual puppy visits.

Visitation is reserved for approved families with a vested interest in a litter and is typically provided on Gotcha Day, once the puppies have reached the appropriate age and received their required health care.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to provide every Sterling Brook Doodles puppy with a healthy and protected start.

Our Commitment to Every Puppy

The health, safety, and long-term well-being of our puppies always come first. Sterling Brook Doodles reserves the right to retain puppies for our breeding program and to decline a puppy placement when we believe doing so is in the puppy’s best interest.

If you have questions about pricing, deposits, puppy selection, Gotcha Day, or preparing for your new puppy, please contact us. We’re happy to help you through the process.