FAQ

Full grown, we estimate our pups to be 15-22 lbs. We find this to be a wonderful size - small enough to travel and large enough to keep up with you on daily adventures (walks, hikes, swimming, you name it!).

Tails are kept natural. We do not dock (crop) tails. Tail docking is a completely cosmetic and unnecessary procedure done when pups are 2-3 days of age. Dogs use their tails to communicate with the world, and we want to make sure our pups and dogs are heard. We do not remove dew claws.

All of our pups are placed on a spay/neuter contract (pet home only). Females are to be spayed between 6 months and 1 year. Males are to be neutered by 1 1/2 years (we do recommend consulting with your vet for their age recommendation).

The short answer, YES!

At Chesley Hill Cockapoos, we pride ourselves on an inclusive, transparent experience rooted in 13 years of breeding expertise. Whether you are local to our new Florida home or connecting with us from New England and beyond, we ensure you are part of every milestone in your puppy’s development.

Phase 1: Puppy Selection (6 Weeks)

Selection appointments are typically held the Saturday following the puppies’ six-week milestone. We offer two ways to choose the newest member of your family:

• Virtual Selection: Connect via a live "face-to-face" video consultation. This allows you to observe the litter in their natural environment, evaluate temperaments in real-time, and ask questions as you watch their personalities shine—all from the comfort of your home.

• In-Person Selection: Once families are matched with a litter, you are welcome to visit our Florida residence to meet the puppies in person.
  

Phase 2: Homecoming (8 Weeks)

Puppies are ready for their forever homes at eight weeks of age.

For all families, near and far, we provide enhanced virtual coordination and week-by-week "pup-dates". This ensures that your bond is fully established well before your puppy arrives home via one of the following options:

• Florida Pickup: Families are invited to join us for an in-person "Gotcha Day" at our Florida location.

• New England Pickup: We remain deeply committed to our roots. For families within driving distance of New Hampshire or Maine, we welcome meeting you in person. We will travel North with the litter and stay with family in the area; these pickups are typically scheduled for the Saturday following our arrival.

• Nationwide Coordination: For families throughout the rest of the country, we may be available to hand-deliver your pup to you (if you are unable to pick up your puppy in person in either Florida or New Hampshire/Maine). This will need to be coordinated in advance to ensure our availability.

We do not have a "facility" - our pups and mommas live in our family home - and so, for the safety of our puppies and dogs, we do not accept visitors.

For reference: AKC Online Article - What Dog Breeders Can Teach Us About Preventing the Spread of Disease.

Once a prospective family has completed our adoption application we will review to ensure the family is a good fit for one of our Cockapoo puppies. If the applicaton is approved, a family will then be notified of the great news and be asked to place a non-refundable deposit to be added to our waiting list.

A non-refundable deposit helps us:

1. To rule out those people who may be just adding their name to our waiting list and other breeders' wait lists - those who are looking for "sooner" - and not committed to working with us based on our qualifications and breeding standards.

2. To keep our waitlist accurate.

a. When families place deposits and our waiting list grows - our estimated wait time lengthens. Another family who may be looking to adopt from CHC, and who would place a deposit with us may feel our wait is too long may not place a deposit.

b. For peace of mind for us! Knowing that our upcoming and planned litters (and our sweet Cockapoo pups) have great homes and families all ready and waiting (and properly vetted) is of utmost importance to us here at CHC. We do not want to be in the position where our puppies are "looking" for homes. Our puppies deserve committed - future planning - stable families.

At present our moms produce buff, cream, light apricot, apricot, dark apricot, red, black, black & white, and the occasional parti Cockapoo puppies. See examples of these color descriptions on our "Pups We've Placed" page.

We health test all of our parents prior to their joining our breeding program. As for puppy health testing, our pups receive a full health check with our veterinarian prior to being placed. At this visit, our vet will check eyes, ears, joints, mouth, skin, coat, overall physical development, and administer the first set of vaccinations. Definitive evaluations of structural / orthopedic conditions (OFA) usually require a dog to be at least one year of age.

While we understand families with interest in adopting from us don't always live locally, we do not offer "shipping" services. We value relationship, and therefore require meeting all potential adoptive families in person prior to placement.

There are two opportunities to meet. We offer a visit around 6 weeks of age (Puppy Selection) and another at 8 weeks (Puppy Pickup).

If a family is unable to attend Puppy Selection due to distance, we can offer a virtual visit (FaceTime).

Occasionally, we are available to personally fly with your puppy, providing dedicated companionship and care throughout their journey. This option is available for an additional fee and is subject to our schedule and approval.

Chesley Hill Cockapoos is moving! We will be based in sunny Florida.

While our home has shifted to the Sunshine State, we bring with us a celebrated 13-year legacy of breeding excellence established in New Hampshire. Our roots are firmly planted in New England, and we love staying connected to the families in NH, MA, CT, and NY who have trusted us for over a decade.

To make sure your puppy’s homecoming is as easy as possible, we offer three heart-centered ways to get your new best friend home:

• Florida Pickup: We would love to welcome you to our new Florida home! Approved families are invited to join us here in person for an exciting and memorable "Gotcha Day."

• New England Pickup: We haven’t forgotten our roots! We frequently travel back North with our litters to visit family in the New Hampshire and Maine area. We coordinate local pickups on the Saturday following our arrival so we can meet our Northeast families in person.

• Nationwide & International Delivery: If you’re further away, don't worry! We may be able to offer professional hand-delivery services across the United States, ensuring your puppy has a safe, snug, and seamless journey right to your arms. This will need to be coordinated in advance, to ensure we have the availabilty.