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How to Get a Van Dalen PuppyFoundation Program
The 2-Week Easy Transition
Additional investment: $1,000 — Puppy goes home at 10 weeks
For families who prefer an easier start into puppy ownership, a limited number of puppies may remain at van Dalen until they are 10 weeks of age. That is two additional weeks beyond our standard placement age of 8 weeks — and in those two weeks, the difference is remarkable.
During this time, puppies continue their structured daily routine while beginning foundational work that many families find makes an enormous difference in those first days and weeks at home. This is not training in the traditional sense — it is early conditioning, structure, and exposure that helps a young puppy feel more settled and confident when they arrive in their new environment.
What your puppy works on during this time:
- Crate conditioning
- Structured potty routine introduction
- Continued grooming and handling exercises
- Nail trimming
- Confidence-building household exposure
- Any vaccinations and preventative treatments appropriate for the puppy's age will be administered during this period
- Boarding is included for the full duration of the program
O'Malley, crate training mastered.
While no young puppy can be considered fully trained at this age, many families find that the additional maturity, structure, and routine make the transition into the new home significantly smoother and less stressful — for everyone, puppy included.
Availability for this program is limited. We keep enrollment small intentionally — each puppy in the program receives individualized attention, and we will never take on more than we can do well.
The program fee is due at the time of pickup — once your puppy is in your arms and everything we promised has been delivered.
Advanced Program
The 4-Week Easy Transition
Additional investment: $2,000 — Puppy goes home at 12 weeks
O'Malley, ready for the world.
For families seeking the most confident, well-adjusted start possible, availability for this program is limited. Puppies enrolled go home at 12 weeks of age — and the difference between an 8-week puppy and a 12-week puppy is difficult to overstate. Four additional weeks of structure, socialization, and guided development produce a dog that is simply more ready for the world.
This program builds on everything introduced in the 2-Week Transition and goes further, beginning work that helps puppies navigate everyday life with confidence and ease. The goal is not advanced obedience — it is a well-adjusted, emotionally settled puppy with a stronger foundation for family life.
In addition to the 2-Week program, puppies may also begin:
- Leash and collar introduction
- Beginning leash walking
- Bite inhibition foundation
- Exposure to common household sounds such as vacuums and storms
- Additional confidence-building and environmental desensitization
- Continued grooming and handling exercises
- Any vaccinations and preventative treatments appropriate for the puppy's age will be administered during this period
- Boarding is included for the full duration of the program
Because of the additional time, structure, and individualized attention involved, this program requires a deeper commitment on our part — and availability is extremely limited.
The program fee is due at the time of pickup — once your puppy is in your arms and everything we promised has been delivered.