Puppy Information

What makes our puppies different?

First, we have the extensive health and genetic testing, to assure our puppies are the healthiest and best they can be.

Next comes our puppy development. This prepares the puppies to be absolutely amazing for you. These puppies will be raised with love and extensive socialization, habituation, and training, using:

• Early Neurological Stimulation, which introduces mild stresses to very young puppies in a controlled way to help stimulate the neurological system which improves the growth and development of the pup’s immune system, cardiovascular system, and stress tolerance.

• Early Scent Introduction, which improves adult scenting ability (a must for service dogs).

• Extensive Socialization & Habituation, to take advantage of this early socialization window, when they are so eager and ready to learn.

• Environmental Exposure, because it’s not just socialization, but exposure to different environments, that helps the puppy to become a self-assured, confident dog.

• Avidog & Puppy Culture, which includes early neurological stimulation, emotional resiliency exercises, safe early socialization, the enrichment effect, development and fear periods, puppy parties, puzzles, games, and problem solving, anti-aggression protocols, potty training, crate training, socialization sessions, vaccination vs socialization, problem prevention for resource guarding, separation anxiety, biting, and jumping.

• Play time, we introduce the pups to the power of play. We build on this language to teach results and consequences in a fun way.

• Crate training, you want your puppy to love the crate, it not only makes house training easier and keeps your puppy safe, but is something you never know when you will need it (medical emergency, groomer visit, weather evacuation).

• Clicker training, we load the clicker so you can start training immediately.

• Potty training, we use potty pads and pellet trays, along with taking the puppies out frequently, to make house training easier for you.

• Online Course, each puppy will go home with one of Victoria’s online courses.

We evaluate the puppies from delivery onwards, to ensure they are matched with the right family. Our temperament test includes:

• Social Attraction - degree of social attraction to people.

• Following - willingness to follow a person.

• Restraint - degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.

• Social Dominance - degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.

• Elevation - degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or groomer.

• Retrieving - degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.

• Touch Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.

• Sound Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms.

• Sight Sensitivity - degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels.

• Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.

• Trainability

• Play

Puppies may go to their new homes as early as 8 weeks old, microchipped and with a health certificate. Or your puppy may stay with us for additional training, setting them up to be the best they can be. There are limited spots available for our Puppy Programs.

Not only do we breed for our own program, but we offer the extra puppies available for sale. Some as service dog prospects, or companion (pet) dogs, or therapy dog prospects.

Your puppy purchase helps to provide service dogs to assist people with disabilities. These highly trained dogs will perform a variety of tasks that allow greater freedom, independence, and hope. 

Ready to proceed?

1. Fill in the application below.

2. Then schedule a phone call to answer any questions you may have.

3. If approved, your next step is the $500 non-refundable holding fee/donation to reserve your spot. We accept: 

   1. Good Dog (credit card) *preferred payment and can be $0 fees - see bottom of page

   2. Zelle (add the 1% Zelle fee, the total is $505, to victoria@hopeservicedogs.org)

   3. Check (payable to Hope Service Dogs, Inc, 1990 S US 301, Sumterville, FL 33585)

4. You will be added to our puppy wait list.

5. Request to join our Puppy Family Facebook group (after application is approved and holding fee is received).

6. Volunteer with Hope Service Dogs, Inc, in person or remotely. This could be as easy as sharing our social media posts, ordering a HSD t-shirt, and telling your friends and family about HSD.

7. When your name comes up on our Puppy Wait List, you will be contacted to see if you are ready for your HSD Puppy. If you are ready, a $1000 payment towards your balance is due at this time.

8. You will be matched based on your needs and the puppy best suited for you when the puppies are 7-8 weeks old.

9. Once matched, your Puppy Contract will be emailed to you and needs to be completed and returned ASAP. Full payment is due at this time via Good Dog, Zelle (with the 1% fee added on), or Cashiers Check.

10. Train your puppy, using our online course, which is provided to every puppy who goes home.

    
    

Training

You can set your puppy up for a lifetime of success with our Puppy Training Program, remember we have limited spots available for our Puppy Training Program.

Your dog may be able to return to one of our trainers for continued training with our Adult Training Program.

What questions do you have for us? Contact us or email us.