Puppy Pick Day: What to expect
One of the Most Meaningful Steps on Your Journey
Welcome to Puppy Pick Day — a defining moment in bringing home your Stokeshire puppy. This is where thoughtful preparation meets real connection. We’re honored to guide you through the selection process, combining our experience, observations, and temperament insights with your family’s goals to help ensure the best possible match.
What to Expect: How Puppy Pick Day Works
Pick Order (Including POL)
If you’ve secured a Pick of the Litter (POL) spot, your appointment and selection take place first, ahead of the standard list. After that, families choose in official waitlist order, based on when their deposit was received.
Virtual or In-Person Appointments
Your Puppy Pick Day appointment is scheduled according to your waitlist position. Most appointments are held via Google Meet, so please make sure the app is installed and working before your scheduled time.
To keep the day running smoothly, we may occasionally adjust the meeting schedule to accommodate travel or logistics. Even if appointment times shift, selection order never changes—choices are honored strictly in official waitlist order.
Choosing Your Puppy
Checkout Window (72 Hours)
During your appointment, we’ll help you narrow in on the best match and confirm which puppy you intend to select.
Once you’ve selected a puppy, your adoption is finalized when checkout is completed. You’ll have up to 72 hours after your appointment to complete payment and confirm placement.
During this checkout window, your selected puppy is held for you and is not available to other families.
If checkout is not completed within 72 hours, the puppy may be released to the next family in line to keep the process fair and on schedule.
Understanding Availability
Preferences Aren’t Guarantees
We know how easy it is to fall in love with one puppy through photos, videos, or a name you’ve been following. At the same time, availability depends on waitlist order and the selections made by families ahead of you.
If a puppy you hoped for is chosen before your turn, it’s completely normal to feel disappointed. But we’ve also seen this hundreds of times: many families end up saying the puppy they didn’t expect was the one that fit them best.
Thank you for your flexibility—it’s what allows us to place each puppy thoughtfully and fairly.
Matching Puppies to Families
How We Help You Decide
Before your appointment, we’ll ask for your top preferences—coat type, temperament goals, gender, and color—so we can guide you efficiently.
During your Puppy Pick Day meeting, we’ll walk through:
Temperament testing insights
Daily observations and social patterns
What we’re seeing in confidence, sensitivity, and trainability
Your questions and home lifestyle needs
Our goal is to help you choose with clarity and confidence—not just based on looks, but on the puppy who will truly thrive with your family.
Important Policies to Note
Protecting the Fairness of Our Process
Selections are honored in official waitlist order.
We can’t guarantee a specific puppy until checkout is complete.
No “skipping the line”—we do not move families ahead of others, even with additional payment offers.
Non-response policy: If we do not hear from you within 7 days of your Puppy Pick Day appointment, your deposit may be forfeited and your position may be reassigned, per our published policies.
Deposit clarification: Passing on an offered puppy does not create a refund or pause existing deposit terms. All deposits remain governed by the Reservation & Refund Policy already in effect at the time your deposit was placed.
Payment & Finalizing Your Adoption
Quick, Secure Checkout
After your appointment, we’ll email you a direct link to complete checkout on our website. We accept:
All major credit and debit cards
Afterpay & Klarna (pay-over-time, if eligible)
Payment must be completed within 72 hours to reserve your puppy and finalize placement. If you’d like to discuss installment options, please contact us before Puppy Pick Day so we can guide you appropriately.
What If My Preferred Puppy Isn’t Available?
Trust the Process — It Works
It can be hard when the puppy you’ve been watching gets chosen ahead of you. This is common—and it’s exactly why Puppy Pick Day includes our full matchmaking support.
We’ve placed hundreds of puppies, and time after time, families discover that the puppy meant for them often wasn’t the one they originally pictured… but ends up being even better.
About Doodle School
Early Training Sets Your Puppy Up for Success
Many families opt for our Doodle School program, which focuses on crate training, basic commands, and socialization. It’s an excellent way to help your puppy start life with confidence and good manners, making the transition into your home even smoother.
Health & Peace of Mind
Fully Licensed, Guaranteed Health
All Stokeshire puppies come with our comprehensive Health Guarantee and up-to-date vet records. We stand by the lifelong health of your pup—learn more on our Health Guarantee page. We’re proud to be fully licensed in Wisconsin and hold an A+ rating with the BBB, so you can adopt with confidence
Thank You for Trusting Us
We truly appreciate your trust and understanding of this process. It’s designed to be fair, transparent, and ultimately in the best interest of both our puppies and your family. Our passion is not only raising exceptional puppies but ensuring they’re matched thoughtfully to forever homes where they will thrive.
⚠ Important Notes About Puppy Pick Day
During your scheduled Puppy Pick Day appointment, our team will guide you through the selection process using your stated preferences alongside our professional observations and temperament assessments.
Please note that a puppy is not officially reserved until checkout is completed in proper waitlist order. Until that time, availability may change as other families finalize placements or as breeder, health, or temperament considerations arise.
We appreciate your flexibility and trust in this process—it allows us to make thoughtful, responsible matches that serve both families and puppies well.
Questions or Need Support?
We’re always happy to help.
If you’re feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or simply want clarity on any part of Puppy Pick Day, please reach out. We’re honored to walk alongside you and look forward to helping you welcome your new companion home with confidence.
Staying Informed: Your Responsibility
We’re committed to keeping the Stokeshire process transparent and easy to follow. All important dates and updates—such as selection appointments, training timelines, and go-home windows—are published directly on your litter page and across our website well in advance.
We also send courtesy emails from several Stokeshire email addresses related to scheduling, training, transport, and support. While we make every effort to communicate clearly, email delivery cannot be guaranteed due to spam filters, inbox rules, or email provider settings.
For this reason, staying informed is an essential part of the adoption process.
Please note:
All key selection, training, and pickup timelines are always published on your litter’s page
Not seeing or receiving an email does not change deadlines, policies, or financial obligations
Please add all @wisconsindesignerdoodles.com email addresses to your contacts
Check spam, promotions, or filtered folders regularly
Failure to respond within published timelines—including the 72-hour checkout window and the 7-day non-response policy—may result in your puppy being offered to the next family and, in some cases, forfeiture of your deposit, in accordance with our Reservation & Refund Policy.
Our goal is for this experience to feel smooth, exciting, and well-supported. Staying proactive and connected helps ensure the best experience for everyone involved.
Puppy Pick Day FAQ
-
No worries! We’ll guide you through the puppies that best fit your preferences and lifestyle. If you need a little extra time, we’ll work with you — just be mindful that final payment is still due within 72 hours to secure your puppy.
-
Yes! While most families choose Google Meet, we do offer limited in-person appointments for Pick of the Litter families. Let us know in advance if you’d like to come to Stokeshire.
-
Your Puppy Pick Day appointment is a dedicated time we block off just for you. Because we work through our families in order, missing your scheduled slot may cause you to lose your place in line. If you miss your appointment and don’t communicate with us within 24 hours, we will move on to the next family, and your puppy selection may be delayed or forfeited.
-
To officially hold your puppy, final payment (including any training or transport fees) is due within 72 hours of your Pick Day. Otherwise, your chosen puppy may be offered to the next family on the list.
-
We’re glad you asked! During your Pick Day, we’ll go over options like Doodle School and transportation. We’ll make sure you have a plan in place before take-home.
-
That’s okay — it’s so important to find the right match. If there isn’t a good fit, your deposit can remain on our waitlist for a future litter.
-
Yes! If eligible, you can use Afterpay or Klarna right on our site.
-
Once your puppy is 8 weeks old:
Pickup or Delivery – Depending on your arrangement, bring your pup home or have them flown to you.
Doodle School & Ongoing Support – If you opted in, your puppy will attend our 4‑week training program. You'll also receive a welcome packet with feeding guides, training tips, vet check recommendations, and 24/7 support from our team.
Join the Community – New puppy families are invited to our exclusive Facebook group for support, resources, and lifelong connection.
-
We do our best to give you very close estimates for both Pick Day and Take-Home Day well in advance so you can plan ahead. We strongly encourage families to set aside time on both days early on.
If you run into scheduling conflicts, please reach out — we’ll do everything we can to accommodate, though flexibility is limited once the schedule is set. The more advance notice you give us, the better we can help!
-
At Stokeshire, we deeply value your preferences and the vision you have for your new puppy. We also know each puppy’s unique temperament, coat, energy, and developmental profile because we live it with them daily. This allows us, along with our trainers and staff, to thoughtfully guide the final placement decisions to best match each puppy’s needs with your family’s lifestyle and goals.
While we absolutely welcome your input on traits and preferences, our process is designed to ensure the long-term success and wellbeing of both your family and our puppies. This means final placement decisions rest with us, drawing on over a decade of experience breeding, raising, and placing therapy-grade dogs.
-
They’re helpful tools — but just one part of the bigger picture. We watch our puppies grow, play, and learn every day, which tells us far more than any single test. You don’t need to worry about interpreting numbers or what a “3” vs. a “4” means — that’s our job. We’ll guide you through what’s most relevant for your family.
-
We understand life happens. We allow one courtesy reschedule if notified at least 24 hours in advance. Last-minute rescheduling or multiple changes may result in your appointment being moved to the end of the current selection order.
-
You can absolutely share your top choices and preferences, and we’ll consider them carefully. However, we make the final decision on placements. This ensures your puppy’s personality, energy level, and social needs are the best possible fit for your lifestyle — which is why our families trust us to help make this important choice.
-
Because real life doesn’t always follow a perfect list! While appointments generally follow the order of deposits received, sometimes we adjust meeting times to accommodate schedules, travel plans, or to keep the process moving efficiently. Selections aren’t official until checkout, so you won’t lose your spot.
-
Your puppy is officially yours once you’ve completed checkout and paid in full. You’ll have 72 hours after your selection meeting to finalize payment. If not paid within that window, the puppy becomes available to other families.
-
That’s perfectly normal. This is what we do every day — you’re not expected to become an expert overnight. Trust us to guide you through the process with clear, simple recommendations. Our goal is for you to feel excited and at peace, not stressed or pressured.
-
Selections are made in official waitlist order, so it’s always possible that a puppy you were hoping for may be chosen by a family ahead of you. We know that can be disappointing. Our team will help you explore the remaining puppies to find the best fit for your family’s needs and lifestyle — and many families tell us they’re surprised by how perfectly it all works out.
-
No — to be fair to every family, we strictly follow our waitlist order based on when your deposit was received. We don’t allow anyone to skip ahead. This ensures transparency and trust for all.
-
To keep the process moving fairly for everyone, we allow up to 72 hours after your appointment to finalize your decision and complete payment. After that time, the puppy will become available to other families.
-
Because each family ahead of you has the right to choose first, we can’t promise any particular puppy in advance. However, we take great care to understand your preferences so that when it’s your turn, we can help you make the best choice from the puppies available.
-
We understand color and markings are important, but we encourage families to also consider temperament, which often matters more for a happy lifelong match. If the exact look you hoped for isn’t available by your selection time, we’ll guide you through the options to find the best overall fit.
-
Yes! Even if the puppy you had your heart set on is chosen by another family, most of our clients say they ended up with the puppy who was truly meant for them. Our process is designed to support that outcome with expert insight, daily observations, and your input combined.
Real Pick Day Stories
“Wonderful experience from start to finish—professional, informative, and we’re so in love with our mini Bernedoodle, Zara.”
““I could not be more impressed—quick to respond, helpful, honest, and clearly passionate about dogs. You can be confident you’re purchasing the highest quality pups!””
Transportation
Testing
Puppy Temperament Testing: A Guide for Your Stokeshire Selection Day
At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, our goal isn’t just to raise wonderful puppies—it’s to help you find the right puppy for your family. That’s where our temperament testing process comes in.
We combine methods from Stokeshire Doodle School, Empowered Breeder, and Puppy Culture to give your puppy the best start possible—and to give you peace of mind on selection day.
What’s the Purpose of Temperament Testing?
Temperament testing helps us:
Understand Each Puppy’s Personality – Energy, sensitivity, confidence, and curiosity all matter!
Match Puppies to Families – Based on your lifestyle, we help guide you toward the right temperament for your home.
Every Family Is Different. So Are Our Puppies.
We consider your needs when evaluating and matching puppies:
Energy Level – Need a hiking buddy? Or a movie-night companion? We match accordingly.
Kid Compatibility – Gentle, patient pups are ideal for households with younger children.
Multi-Pet Homes – We evaluate how each puppy interacts with other animals too.
What Makes Our Process Special
Stokeshire Doodle School
Our puppies begin basic training and socialization before ever coming home. This builds confidence, resilience, and a smoother transition.
Empowered Breeding & Puppy Culture
We introduce our pups to new environments, problem-solving exercises, and gentle handling from an early age to help shape emotionally healthy dogs.
Extended Time with Mom & Aunties
Longer time with mom and our other nurturing “auntie” dogs gives pups social grounding and better bite inhibition.
Our Puppy Evaluation Process
We use professional temperament testing, which looks at key personality traits such as:
Confidence – How they approach the unknown
Motivation – Willingness to engage and learn
Nerve Strength – How they handle stress
Touch & Sound Sensitivity – Reactions to handling and noise
Prey Drive – Instinct to chase or focus
Human Focus – Attention span and desire to be with people
Tenderheartedness – Emotional awareness and empathy
Dog Friendliness – Social skills with other canines
Each of these plays a role in finding a match that suits your family dynamics, whether you're looking for a future service dog or a sweet companion.
Trust the Process
Our testing is a tool—but it’s not the whole story.
We’ll share score interpretations, insights, and real-life observations with you. But the best matches often come from what we see every day: personalities, bonds forming, and unexpected connections.
So while this testing will guide you, we encourage you to also trust your heart, and our team.
We’ve done this hundreds of times, and each match is something we take personally.
| Score Range | Best Fit Home Type | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly 1s | Working or experienced handler | High drive, confident, dominant. Needs a firm, consistent handler. May challenge authority if not guided. |
| Mostly 2s | Active family or structured home | Outgoing and trainable, but needs guidance. Can do well with children and socialization. |
| Mostly 3s | Average family or first-time owners | Adaptable, easy-going temperament. Moderate energy and social needs. Great for most homes. |
| Mostly 4s | Quiet, calm, gentle homes | Submissive and sensitive. Thrives in calm environments. Not suited to loud or chaotic households. |
| Mostly 5s | Experienced handlers only | Very shy or fearful. Likely needs special training or therapy work to overcome trauma or low confidence. |
| Mixed | Needs individual analysis | Mixed scores require looking at specific categories. Could be adaptable or show inconsistencies needing further evaluation. |
| Test Category | Purpose | Score 1–6 Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Social Attraction | Measures sociability and confidence in approaching people | 1 = Bold; 6 = Independent or aloof |
| Following | Willingness to follow a person, trust in handler | 1 = Confident follower; 6 = No interest |
| Restraint | Tests acceptance of human control in awkward situations | 1 = Relaxed quickly; 6 = Struggled constantly |
| Social Dominance | Degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person | 1 = Jumped up, licked; 6 = Avoided or hid |
| Elevation Dominance | Acceptance of dominance while in a position of no control (e.g., vet exam) | 1 = Relaxed; 6 = Resisted hard or struggled |
| Retrieving | Willingness to do something for a person (trainability) | 1 = Retrieved eagerly; 6 = No interest |
| Touch Sensitivity | Measures pain threshold and sensitivity | 1 = 8–10 sec before response; 6 = 1–2 sec |
| Sound Sensitivity | Tests reaction to sudden noise or sound (startle, curiosity) | 1 = Approached barking; 6 = No response |
| Sight Sensitivity | Reaction to a moving object; visual alertness | 1 = Attacked/bit; 6 = Hid |
| Stability | Startle recovery from a sudden object (umbrella test) | 1 = Bit or pawed object; 6 = Ran away |
Updated: 12.20.25