If you read through our website and resonate with our mission of bringing science to the art of dog breeding to benefit you and our pups, please start the process early so we can make sure you get a pup!

Filling out an application is not binding and does not entitle you to a puppy. To be considered for a puppy, you will need to:
1. Fill out the Puppy Information Request form. This will get you on an email list full of useful information about us, our dogs, and our puppies.

2. When you decide you are sure that you want an Apex puppy, reach out to Natalie at hello@apexanatolians.com to request an application. Our application is pretty detailed! This helps us make the best match for each puppy to their ideal home.

3. At the bottom of your application, you’ll schedule a phone call with Natalie to go over your app together, go over any questions, and address expectations.

4. Once you chat with Natalie, if you both feel like this is a good fit, you can place your $1000 Reservation Fee* and fill out your contract. This locks in your puppy price for 24 months and commits you to an Apex puppy!

5. You’ll get access to the Apex Puppy Preparation online course. Please go through these lessons and ask Natalie any questions that pop up!

6. Puppies are evaluated for Temperament and Work Aptitude in week 7. When we have a puppy that fits your needs, Natalie will reach out to you. You’ll have 72 hours to confirm that you want this puppy and pay the rest of the puppy price or pass on this puppy.

*The $1000 Reservation Fee is half-refundable ($500 goes to our admin expenses, $500 is returned if you cancel your reservation within 24 months.)

This process is for people who plan to add a puppy to their family/farm within the next 24 months.

Each litter at Apex Anatolians is planned out sometimes for years before they are whelped. Raising, evaluating, and selecting the parents for each litter involves pedigree analysis, health testing, temperament evaluation, work aptitude evaluation, and a conformation breakdown. 

It’s important to match complimentary parents, and we take that job seriously. 

Once we decide on an pairing, we wait! Mother Nature can’t be rushed, and we have to make sure we catch and time the heat cycle of the prospective mother. Vet visit, Progesterone testing for dam and Brucellosis testing for both potential parents, collection and analysis of the male, artificial insemination or natural tie, then it’s a waiting game to do an ultrasound four weeks later. 

The ultrasound machine can both confirm pregnancy and give a puppy count, depending on the skill of the scanner. 

Once we know puppies are on the way, we get the whelping suite ready! We use an EZ Whelp brand whelping box and always whelp indoors to monitor mom and pups closely for the first few weeks. 

When the time comes, we attend our moms during whelping.

Birth

Birthweights are recorded for each pup, and every 12 hours after for the first few days, until regular gains are noted. 

Each pup gets a colored collar assigned to them to better track their weight, development and any hiccups along the way. They are handled gently and safely by adults and children from day 1.

Day 3 to 17

We take the puppies through Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction to build up resilience to stressors and note scent reactions. 

Week 3

We start puppy curriculum according to the Empowered Breeder program. New sounds, textures, obstacles, objects and more- pups are exposed to new experiences to build confidence. 

Week 4

Pups begin spending time with goats, pigs and chickens.

Week 6

Puppies are fed in crates to train them that confinement is safe and rewarding. We recommend that all Apex pups are crated at least once a week as they grow to reinforce positive association with the crate in case a need arises for them to be confined, transported, evacuated, etc. This is much easier to train as a pup than as an adult who has never seen a crate!

Week 7

We evaluate each puppy individually for temperament with the BAB Puppy Evaluation protocol, and our own livestock and family guardian evaluation which will tell us which homes the pup is best suited for. 

Week 8

We give recommendations to each home on the Waitlist, in order of Reservation Fees received, so long as there is a pup who matches the home’s needs. 

If a home receives a pup recommendation but decides to pass on the current litter/pup, they will retain their place on the Waitlist for the next litter. Should they pass once more, a conversation with Apex will determine Waitlist placement going forward.

Once all pups are matched to their future homes, they will go home according to their ultimate purpose:

Working Livestock Guardian pups will be sent home at 12 weeks of age, unless the home has an adult working LGD to mentor and train the pup. In that case, placement age will be discussed with the home directly. 

Family Guardian pups will be available to go home to bond with their families sooner than working livestock puppies. This will be scheduled once the home confirms their puppy selection.

Once all pups are matched to their future homes, they will go home according to their ultimate purpose:

Working Livestock Guardian pups will be sent home at 12 weeks of age, unless the home has an adult working LGD to mentor and train the pup. In that case, placement age will be discussed with the home directly. 

Family Guardian pups will be available to go home to bond with their families sooner than working livestock puppies. This will be scheduled once the home confirms their puppy selection and completes payment in week 8.

Before Going Home, each puppy will have:

1. Vet Wellness Visit to rule out any discernible health concerns.
2. Health Record
   1. Microchip
   2. Up-to-date 5-Way vaccine protocol.
   3. Current on deworming protocol.
3. AKC Registration is paid and submitted by Apex to save you the paperwork.
4. 30 days of Pet Insurance included with your puppy you activate on go-home day.
5. Health Testing Verification for both of your puppy’s parents printed and in your puppy folder.
6. Puppy Contract, your digital copy emailed to you.
7. Genetic Health Guarantee in Contract.
8. Training Guide for livestock work.
9. Lifetime breeder support for breed/line-related questions. 

Sire & Dam

Due August 20XX

Dam

Here’s what we expect with this litter! Discuss size, color, coat texture, and pattern.

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.

Dog Name – $1,000 – AVAILABLE FOR SHOW HOME

Ready to go home 31 July 20xx

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.