Puppy Care and Evaluation

At CALAGOTTO, we prioritize early puppy development by implementing Puppy Culture and Badass Breeder protocols, creating a nurturing environment that sets the foundation for lifelong success. These structured methodologies focus on socialization, positive experiences, and exposure to various stimuli, all designed to enhance the puppies' temperaments. By engaging in a series of developmental exercises, our puppies become well-adjusted and confident, ready to integrate seamlessly into their new families. We believe that a solid start in their formative weeks not only prepares each puppy for the challenges ahead but also fosters traits that will help them thrive in their future homes. Thus, our commitment to these proven protocols ensures that our puppies are not just pets, but well-rounded companions ready to embark on their journeys with loving families.

The Puppy Culture program is designed to ensure that puppies grow into well-adjusted and loving family members by emphasizing key areas such as early socialization and mental stimulation. Early socialization is crucial, as it helps puppies interact positively with various people, dogs, and environments, reducing the likelihood of behavior issues in the future. Additionally, the program incorporates mental stimulation activities, which engage puppies' minds and promote healthy development. By introducing puppies to diverse experiences during their critical developmental stages, Puppy Culture prepares them to navigate the complexities of family life, ultimately fostering a strong bond with their human companions. The structured approach of this program not only enhances a puppy’s learning but also nurtures their emotional well-being, creating a foundation for a happy household.

Puppy Culture

Empowered Badass Breeder

The Empowered Badass Breeder Program is designed to collaborate with breeders to develop thriving breeding programs that produce healthy, independent, and affectionate puppies. This innovative program places a strong emphasis on socialization, sensitization, and mental stimulation, ensuring that puppies are well-prepared to face new experiences, challenges, and sensations as they grow. By implementing the Badass Breeder Protocol, breeders gain valuable tools for evaluating the temperament of each puppy, allowing for more thoughtful placement in homes that match the family’s needs, environment, lifestyle, and desired dog temperament. Ultimately, this program not only enhances the well-being of the puppies but also ensures that they seamlessly integrate into loving families, fostering stronger bonds and fulfilling lives for both the dogs and their new owners.

Adoption Process

1. Fill out the Puppy Application.

Please let us know if you are interested in adopting one of our Lagotto puppies. All you need to do is go to the Puppy Application page, fill in your info and click to send it to us. The purpose of this initial application is to get your name on our waitlist and to tell us more about yourself. From this initial application, we want to find out about your perfect dog temperament, family dynamics, lifestyle, interests, and home environment.

2. Schedule and have a Phone Interview.

We want to get to know you and your needs! This is not some scary interview, it's simple how we build our bonds with you our buyers. We want to meet the people that will potentially be the forever homes for our puppies. We want to learn more about you and get a better sense of who you are or want to be as a dog owner. This is critical to match the correct puppy with the right family. Also, this gives you the chance to ask questions and get to know us, your breeder of Lagotto Romagnolo.

4. Reservation Fee

If you accept us as your future Lagotto breeder, this is the time to pay your reservation fee to hold your spot on our waitlist for one of our puppies.

Reservation fee is $500/Nonrefundable.

We like to accept them around Week 5-6.

3. The Wait

Waiting for your new addition to your family can be unbearable, but patience is a virtue. We as breeders can try to plan the best we can, but not everything works as planned. The goal is to match you with the right puppy that matches your needs, lifestyle, and temperament. Sometimes life gets in the way and you cannot take home one of our amazing puppies. Other times, you may want to wait for a different dame and sire mating pair. We don't forget about you; we will hold your spot until you are ready and have the best puppy for you.

Keep your eye out for when we have puppies and respond when we send out our updates with our upcoming litters.

5. The Contact

When you are next on the waitlist and we have an upcoming litter we will reach out and contact you prior to the litters whelping/birth. We will check in with you to see if you are ready at this time to be added to our active buyers list and become one of our future puppies forever homes/families.

6. The Contract

Once we have a litter on the ground and you are ready, we will send you a draft of our contract. In this contract, we will present your puppy's information, talk about breeder expectations for the owner, talk about owner expectations for the breeder, stipulate the method of delivery, and discuss reservation fees & final costs for the puppy.

7. Bringing Your Puppy Home

At 8-10 weeks old, it's the perfect time to bring your new puppy home. Before the little one leaves for their new family, logistics will be arranged to ensure a smooth transition. Either prior or at the time of pick-up, the new owner will settle the remaining expenses and sign the breeder's contract agreement. Each puppy will come with a variety of essential items to ensure a healthy start in their new life. This includes:

• a health check-up from our Reproductive Vet. Dr Christensen

• the first DHPP booster vaccination/possible 2nd booster if traveling

• deworming protocols (if necessary)

• AKC microchip for identification

• AKC limited registration form to complete the adoption process

• the puppy will receive a comforting blanket with the scents of its mother and littermates

• a fun puppy toy to play with

With these preparations completed, you will be well on your way to welcoming your new happy, healthy Lagotto puppy into your home.

No puppies will be released until final FULL PAYMENT is SETTLED & COMPLETED!

Puppy Pick-Up, Delivery & Travel Options

Destination Delivery

Drop-Off

Pick-Up

If you're unable to pick up your new puppy, we offer convenient delivery options to ensure your puppy be delivered safely and accompanied by one of our trusted travel guardians directly to your home. For those living within a two- three hour radius of our location, we are happy to deliver your puppy directly to your doorstep. Alternatively, we can arrange to meet you at a convenient halfway point to make the process easier for you. Our goal is to find the best and most accommodating way to deliver your new Lagotto puppy, so you can start creating wonderful memories together right away. Rest assured, we will work with you to determine the most suitable delivery method for your needs. An additional delivery fee may be apply and be added to the cost of the puppy, for additional transportation fees. Which will be discussed prior to your puppies delivery.

If you find yourself longing for a puppy but live far away, we have a few options to make your dream of owning one of our Lagotto puppies come true.

One of the best ways is you fly to our Sacramento International Airport and for you to accompany your puppy onboard the plane home with you. It's cheaper and immediately starts to bond right away with you and your new puppy! We can make all the arrangements to meet you for pick up at SMF International Airport terminal. Sacramento International Airport is a very easy airport to navigate!

Or we can arrange for the delivery of your future Lagotto puppy using the services of a sky nanny. Please note that the delivery fees can range from $400 to $1000, depending on airfare costs; and will be additional costs added to the final purchase price of the puppy. These delivery costs cover essential expenses, including a veterinary travel health certificate, a travel crate, and transportation to and from the airport, all ensuring your new Lagotto puppy arrives safely and comfortably. Our commitment is to make the transition as smooth as possible for you and especially for our beloved puppies.

If you are excited to welcome your new puppy into your home, we are delighted to inform you that you can pick up your puppy directly from our location. We are committed to ensuring a positive experience as you meet your new companion. We encourage you to schedule a visit, where you can interact with your puppy and receive any necessary guidance on care and training. We understand how important this moment is, and we are here to support you every step of the way. No person(s) will be allowed on site who has not paid for a puppy reservation fee or is not on the waitlist.