Reserving a Puppy

Puppies are AVAILABLE—Accepting deposits for our Reservation List !

Thank you for your interest! 

  Bella litter 6 weeks 

(Bella x Viktor 2016)

How to Reserve a Puppy 101

spirithillspringers@outlook.com

At Spirit Hill Springers, we strive daily to produce the best puppies for our customers.  Because of the high demand, we have put into place a policy that we follow very closely to be sure that everyone gets what they want, but are treated fairly and equally. 
1)  THE “PICKING” ORDER IS BASED ON THE POST MARK WHEN A DEPOSIT IT SENT.  As deposits are received, they are added to the Reservation List in chronological order (ie: the sooner Spirit Hill Springers gets a deposit, the higher that family is when the time come for picking out their new puppy.  

2)  Deposit is $300 (100% refundable) and is applied towards the final cost of the puppy at pickup.  Total cost of our family pet puppies is $1,500. 

3) Checks should be made out to “Jennifer Bierhuizen” and mailed to 17552 Kibler Road, Culpeper, VA 22701.  Please include all relative information within this envelope, even if you have discussed it with me earlier. 
Information to include are: 1) Name 2) Address  3) Email address  4) Phone numbers  5)Preferences   6) Time Frame
Preferences available are:
                  A.  Sex (male/female/”no preference”) and/or,
                  B. Color (colors available: liver/white, liver/tri, black/white, black/tri, or “no preference”) or,
                   C. NO Preference (on sex or color)
 Time Frame means the approximate time frame you wish to get a puppy.  (Please tell me a specific season/year or “I’ll take one anytime”)
                 To continue in my goal of allowing a customer to get the puppy that they truly “want” both in color and/or sex, if you list a preference, please be considerate enough to abide by that preference.  For instance, if you specify that you want a specific color(s) (ex: liver/white), then if that specific color(s) is available and no one in front of you has first rights, then you will be expected to get that pup.  It is better to list “NO Preference” than to choose a particular sex or color (or both) and then assume that you can change your mind when the time comes to pick out your pup.  This is totally unfair to my other clients.  So, if you want a male, then you will be obligated for a male and vice versa for females.  Only if I provide you the option of other choices will you be allowed to stray from your original preference(s).  Thank you for your understanding when it comes to this point. 
4) Please email us when you have sent a check so I can keep an eye out for it.  I will notify you when it arrives. I look at the postmarks when I list you on my reservation list.
5) I dock all tails and remove all dewclaws at birth.  No exceptions. 
6) Spirit Hill reserves the right to first pick(s) at any time.
7) As puppies arrive, I look over the reservation list and notify those on the list that I have puppies for.  If you have indicated a particular color, sex, and/or color and sex, and I don’t have a pup that fits your specifications, then I will move down the list to those individuals that I can fulfill. Sometimes this may appear that others are getting in front of you, but I do my very best to never stray from the order on my reservation list. 
8) If a litter comes and the customer is not satisfied with what is available, then s/he has the option to move onto the next litter or get their deposit back (in full).  If the customer decides to move forward, s/he may or may not automatically have a higher picking order in the next litter, since there is no guarantee what others are doing in front of s/he as well. 
9) Gone are the days when a person can see a pup and get it the same day.  Most of our pups are sold before they are even born!  The best thing one can do to assure getting a puppy in a timely fashion is to GET YOUR DEPOSIT IN EARLY!  Not only does it guarantee you a pup with your preferences (if any), but it places you higher on the picking order when a litter does arrive.  
10) Depending on how specific you are on your preferences, expect to get a pup 2-8 months after sending in a deposit.  If you have specific preferences it could equal to a longer wait, depending on which dogs are having pups and what they produce.  I encourage everyone to come to the farm and meet the parents, puppies, and me!  

IN ADDITION:

When a litter arrives and you have been notified that you are eligible for a puppy, then the process is as follows:
I take puppy pictures at 1-2 weeks of age and 4-5 weeks of age.  You shouldn’t ask to come and see the pups until they are a minimum of 5 weeks of age. I get a lot of customers that want to come immediately after birth or are asking me questions like, “what is ‘so and so’s’ personality, which one has the biggest feet, etc?”, and truthfully you cannot tell anything from a newborn pup.  They will change so much from birth to 5-6 weeks that it is foolish for me to even try to isolate a personality or size.  So please do not ask.
A date for puppy pick OUT and puppy pick UP will be given at the time of a litter’s announcement. Then an email with full instructions and suggestions will be sent out as soon as I know the order of picks for puppy pick OUT.  Another email will be sent for puppy pick UP soon after puppy pick OUT is over.
Puppy pick OUT is a day where each of those eligible will be given a specific time slot in which to come and pick out their puppy.  It is usually 30 minutes in length.  You must come on this day in your time slot or make arrangements prior with the breeder beforehand.  If you are too far away and wish to pick from the pictures, that is perfectly fine, but a listing and order preference must be given before the puppy pick OUT day, so that the process can proceed without hindrance.
Puppy pick UP is a period of days, usually from Friday to Sunday, when you come to pick up your puppy.  There is no specified time, but I prefer to not have more than 2 families in any one time slot, so if you have a specific time/date I suggest you get your requests in early.  Times are usually on the hour.  For instance, Sunday at 1 p.m.; Friday at 10 a.m., etc.
We would love to be the breeder of your next family pet and will happily answer any of your questions, provide you references, and allow you to come and visit our operation!  We love showing off our farm and doggies to anyone who wishes to see how we raise our amazing Springers! 

Phoenix litter minus Jester 5-20(Maggie x Viktor 2015)