Deposits & Puppy Placement Process

At Forest City Standards, our puppy placement process is designed to support healthy development, thoughtful matching, and successful lifelong homes. This page walks you through each step of our process so you know exactly what to expect—from application to bringing your puppy home.

 

Step 1: Application & Approval

We begin with an application process that helps us build a waitlist. This allows us to get to know you, your lifestyle, and what you’re looking for in a Standard Poodle before accepting any deposits.

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Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your application is approved, you’ll be invited to move forward with a waitlist deposit for a specific planned litter.

 

Step 2: Waitlist Deposit ($100)

• Once approved, a $100 deposit is required to be placed on the waitlist for a specific litter.

• This deposit reserves your place on the waitlist

• The waitlist will be publicly posted on our Puppies page for transparency

• The $100 is applied toward the total deposit and final purchase price

At this stage, placement on the waitlist does not guarantee a puppy, as litter size, health, and suitability must still be determined.

 

Step 3: Pregnancy Confirmation & Remaining Deposit ($400)

Once pregnancy is confirmed (usually 3-4 weeks after mating), we will notify families on the waitlist.

 

At that time:

• The remaining $400 deposit is due, bringing the total deposit to $500

• Families who do not submit the remaining deposit may be removed from the active waitlist

• The full $500 deposit is applied toward the purchase price of the puppy.

 

Step 4: Pregnancy, Birth & Early Updates

We'll provide continuous updates throughout the pregnancy. After puppies are born, we provide general updates regarding:

• Litter size

• Sex and Colors (as they become clear)

• Growth milestones

 

At this stage, puppies are not selected or assigned. Early development is rapid, and we wait until personalities begin to emerge before making placement decisions., but that doesn't mean you aren't invited to watch them grow! We provide a puppy-cam when available and post regular updates and Livestreams on both Facebook and YouTube.

 

Step 5: Puppy Matching (Around 7–8 Weeks)

Puppies are matched to homes, not chosen by order or appearance.

Around 7–8 weeks of age, once puppies have developed enough for meaningful temperament evaluation, we assess:

• Confidence and resilience

• Energy level and drive

• Social engagement

• Structure and movement

• Suitability for your stated goals (companion, show, performance, service prospects, etc.)

 

Using this information—along with preferences stated in your application and ongoing communication—we thoughtfully match each puppy with the home that best fits them. This approach helps ensure that both puppies and families are set up for long-term success. For more information about puppy matching, see How We Match Puppies to Their Homes

 

Step 6: Final Balance & Go-Home Day (8-9 Weeks)

Once you are matched with a puppy:

• The remaining balance of the purchase price is due between puppy match and pick-up day

• Puppies go home at around 8-9 weeks of age, allowing for additional socialization, confidence-building, and developmental maturity

 

Pickup is arranged directly with each family. We are happy to coordinate local pickup or discuss transportation options as needed.

 

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

If a suitable puppy is not available for your household or goals, you may choose to transfer your deposit to a future litter or receive a refund, as outlined in our contract. Our goal is to be fair, transparent, and respectful of everyone’s time and commitment.

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We stay in regular contact with our prospective buyers and appreciate prompt communication if your plans change. Letting us know early allows us to place the puppy appropriately and does not affect future conversations or inquiries. Life happens—we simply ask that you keep us informed.

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We assume that anyone placing a deposit has carefully considered their decision and intends to bring a puppy home. If you have paid a deposit but find that you are unable to complete the purchase, please notify us as soon as possible and before the puppy reaches 8 weeks of age. We will make every reasonable effort to place the puppy in another suitable home and will refund your deposit once that placement is made.

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If you cancel after the puppy is 8 weeks old and have not made final payment, you will not be responsible for the remaining balance; however, any deposit paid will be forfeited.

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If full payment has been made but you are unexpectedly unable to take the puppy on pickup day, we will refund your payment less an amount equal to the deposit after the puppy is placed in a new home. Refunds are issued using the same method by which payment was received.

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General refund policy:

If you cancel before the puppy is 8 weeks old and you have...

• Paid a Deposit but have a balance due - You will receive a Full refund of amount paid AFTER we find puppy another home

• Paid the full balance  - You will receive a Full Refund of amount AFTER we find puppy another home

If you cancel when or after the puppy is 8 weeks old OR if you do not pick up puppy as scheduled, and you have ... 

• Paid a Deposit but have a balance due - You will Forfeit the deposit amount and the puppy with no further balance due

• Paid the full balance - You will forfeit the deposit amount. We will refund of price paid less deposit amount  AFTER we find puppy another home.

*Please note that any refunds for payments made via PAYPAL will be less the 3.3% service charge PAYPAL charged for the original payment.​

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How We Match Puppies to Their Homes

At Forest City Standards, puppies are not placed on a first-come, first-served or “pick by color” basis. Instead, each puppy is thoughtfully matched to their future home based on temperament, structure, and lifestyle compatibility.

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During the first eight weeks of life, we raise and observe each puppy daily—watching how they respond to people, new environments, handling, play, rest, and challenge. Around 7–8 weeks of age, once personalities have emerged and temperament evaluations are complete, we match each puppy with the home that best suits them.

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Prospective owners complete a detailed questionnaire that helps us understand their lifestyle, experience level, activity goals (companion, performance, sport, therapy, etc.), household composition, and preferences. Those preferences matter—but temperament and long-term success always come first.

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This approach allows us to place confident, stable puppies into homes where they are most likely to thrive for life. While families do not select their puppy based on appearance alone, they do receive a puppy chosen specifically with them in mind.

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If a suitable match is not available from a given litter, families may choose to transfer to a future litter or receive a refund of their deposit. Our goal is never to place a puppy quickly—it is to place a puppy correctly.

 

Quick Overview

• Apply → approval required before deposits

• $100 deposit places you on a published waitlist

• Remaining $400 deposit due once pregnancy is confirmed

• Puppies are matched at ~7–8 weeks

• Puppies go home at 9 weeks

• Refund and cancellation policy as stated above