Although the deposit holds your puppy, we allow the 1st pick family to wait until the pups are 3 weeks old to choose their pup. We have learned that by waiting until the 6th or even 8 th week, is too long, as many families (that have children especially) wish to claim a particular puppy much sooner than that in order to establish a connection with them, and to begin thinking of names. And picking before 3 weeks is too early, as it’s so difficult to tell much about them so early on. So when they turn 3 weeks, the family in the first position spot will have a couple of days to decide, then the family in the 2nd pick position will select their puppy, and so on down the line. It’s really not as long of a process as it sounds, as most people are pretty quick. More often than not, all the puppies have been selected by the end of that third week. It’s an exciting week!