How many dogs do you own?

We share a home with 4 standard poodles. Edgar, Oliver, Pirouette and CoCo. Edgar and Oliver are both neutered, and our girls make up our breeding program. All of our dogs live in our home as members of the family. You can learn more about Coco and Pirouette here.

Do you perform any health testing? Can I see the certificates?

Yes, and yes! We complete health testing recommended for Standard Poodles by the Poodle Club of America and have obtained CHIC certificates on all breeding dogs. The CHIC program requires extensive health testing for completion. You can view links to our health testing records here. Additionally, test results are always available upon request.

Do you offer any health guarantees?

Yes. No matter how much care is taken to complete thorough health testing, health issues can arise in any program. Cedar Cove offers a 2 year health guarantee against debilitating or life-threatening hereditary/congenital diseases. You can read the full health guarantee here in our puppy contract.

What sports or activities are you involved in with your dogs?

We enjoy a variety of sports and activities with our dogs, both for titles or competitions and just for fun. We have done Agility, Barn hunt, Conformation, Scent Work, trick training, FastCAT, and multiple obedience titles, such as Canine Good Citizen, CGCA, CGCU and Virtual Home Manners through the AKC. We also enjoy hikes, swimming and paddle boarding with our dogs, and occasionally compete in a disc dog league a few hours away.

Do you expose puppies to early grooming and handling?

Yes! This is important not only for neurological development, but is also a vital part of having a puppy who is comfortable being bathed, handled, and groomed. Puppies are introduced to handling, nail trimming and dremeling, clippers, scissoring, a handheld dryer, a stand dryer, and a high velocity dryer before leaving our home. We also begin preliminary table training, and a professional groomer visits our home at least weekly for the last 6 weeks they are with us.

Will I be able to meet the parents of the litter?

Our females live in our home, so you will be able to meet the mother of the litter. We choose our studs based on health and temperament and sometimes travel a great distance to produce the best puppies possible. Because of this, the sire may not be available for you to meet. However, we will always provide photos and detailed descriptions of both parents for your reference.

How early should I contact you about a future puppy? 

You are welcome to reach out to us with questions or to express interest at any time. However, A lot can change over time, both in your personal life, and in a breeding program. Because of this, if an application has not been submitted within the 12 months prior to your preferred litter, I may ask you to update or resubmit an earlier application.

What does the application process look like?

1. Join our Email List! A link is provided at the bottom of every page. Before breeding any litter, I will send an email out to everyone on our email list to gauge interest. If you are ready for a puppy, and interested in that specific pairing, respond to the email to let me know.

2. APPLY! Once you express interest in a litter, I will send an application for you to fill out. This application is thorough, and your responses should be equally thorough. Detailed responses help to determine whether or not a Cedar Cove puppy is right for you.

3. INTERVIEW! If your application is approved, we will schedule an interview via zoom. These interviews are approximately 45 minutes long, and give us time to share information. I will clarify any questions I may have after reading your application, give you additional information on the pairing, and allow you to “meet” the mom of the litter.

4. REFERENCES! If we both would like to move forward after our interview, I will contact references to learn more about your home, and about the sort of puppy that would best fit your needs.

4. JOIN THE WAITLIST! Provided references are satisfactory, I’ll invite you to join our Cedar Cove Family group on Facebook, accept a $750 holding fee, and add you to our master waitlist.

Do you require a deposit?

A $750 non-refundable holding fee is required to join our waitlist. This holding fee lets me know you are committed, and tells me how many homes we have before breeding a litter. I do not breed any dogs if I do not have an adequate number of homes on my list. This ensures that all puppies produced have homes.

Once detailed temperament testing is complete, we match puppies to their homes. If there is not a puppy that meets your needs, your holding fee will be transferred to our next litter where you will be given first priority for matching. If for some reason, that litter does not produce a puppy that meets your needs, you can choose to have your holding fee transferred to a later litter, or refunded. If, at any time, I determine I don’t have a puppy that will meet your needs, your holding fee will be returned to you.

How much do puppies cost?

Our puppies are $3,250. This price reflects all that goes into raising a well-bred puppy, both before and after they are on the ground. When you buy a puppy, you are buying the generations of intentional breeding behind them, the work that went into raising their parents up correctly, performing health testing and titling, and the years of education that good breeders put into their puppies. (Not to mention the weeks without sleep, and the inevitable heartbreak that comes with raising living beings.) You are also purchasing intangibles such as decreased risk of health and temperament concerns, and lifelong breeder support. Occasionally, at breeder’s discretion, puppies may be sold with full AKC registration under a co-own contract as a show or breeding prospect.

What does the price of my puppy include?

Our puppies come with limited AKC registration, and are from titled, health-tested parents. They are raised with daily handling, thousands of hours of individual and group enrichment, regular bathing and grooming, and safe exposure to medical equipment, animals of all sizes, leashed and off-leash outdoor enrichment walks and more. We perform multiple temperament and structural evaluations and offer lifelong support to our homes. We start puppies on “place” and crate training, and lay the foundations for litter box and outdoor training. 

Our puppy packets include a microchip and collar tag with prepaid lifelong registration, prepaid limited AKC registration, 30 days of free insurance coverage through Trupanion, a 2 year health guarantee, a health certificate signed by our vet, a 5 lb bag of their current food, a snuggle pup and heat pack to help puppies transition to their new home, a toy from West Paw, treats, a blanket that smells like home, a “place” mat, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and so much more. 

Because we want committed and dedicated owners, we also purchase Suzanne Clothier’s Really Real Relaxation protocol for each home and a year-long subscription to the Whole Dog Journal. All of these decisions contribute to our goal to set each puppy and home up for success.

How can I pay for my puppy?

Our preferred payment method is through Gooddog.com They offer secure and free p2p payment with optional buyer protection (for an additional fee). Cashier’s check is also acceptable, however funds must be received and deposited before physical and legal ownership of the puppy will be transferred. We do not accept cash, credit cards, or personal checks.

How will I choose which puppy I take home?

Through the 10 weeks we spend with the puppies, we will be assessing energy levels, work drive, stress levels, confidence, and many more factors in our puppies. We will provide regular photos as well as live updates of puppies’ growth and development. During this time, we will also be in contact with each potential owner to learn about their lifestyle, wants and needs. Our puppy raising program includes Volhard testing and the detailed APET temperament evaluation through Avidog. As a trainer and evaluator, I also spend individual time with each puppy learning how they respond to the world around them. We use this information as a guide in selecting the puppies that will best suit each family. Placing puppies through science-based protocol and open communication gives our puppies and our families the best chance of success in what will be a long and fulfilling relationship. Learn more about the process here.

What support do you offer after I bring my puppy home?

Puppy-raising is a long, but rewarding, endeavor. We offer lifelong support for both you and your puppy. As the saying goes, “it takes a village”. Even before you bring your puppy home, we encourage you to start building your village by finding a trusted veterinarian, groomer, trainer, and a friend or two in the poodle or puppy community that you can bond and learn with. Once you have been approved for a puppy, and have placed a deposit, you will be added to our Cedar Cove Family Group on Facebook. We hope this will be a valuable resource to you on your journey. We want to be part of your village, and this is a place where you can interact with others who are going through the same struggles and triumphs. I am also available for any questions you may have.

At what age will I be able to take my puppy home?

Idaho state law requires that puppies are at least 8 weeks old when they are separated from their mother and sent to their new homes. However, we prefer to keep puppies past this minimum in order to help them develop crucial social skills they will need throughout their life. We have found that 10 weeks provides a solid foundation for our puppies, while still allowing time for them to meet and bond with their new families during their critical socialization period.