​​Our puppies are raised in our home as part of the family—surrounded by everyday life, other dogs, and plenty of cuddles. Because of this, we place pups only into homes that have been thoughtfully pre-approved. It's not about being exclusive; it's about making sure each puppy lands exactly where they’re meant to be.
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What to Expect
If you're interested in welcoming one of our Elkhound puppies into your life, here's a little about what to expect:
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1. First Contact
Send us a message! Email us at: sanucuelkhounds@gmail.com. Tell us a bit about yourself, your home, routines, your experience with dogs (Norwegian Elkhounds or otherwise), and what you’re looking for in a companion. We love getting to know potential puppy families.
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2. We’ll Have Some Questions
We don’t expect you to be Norwegian Elkhound experts—but we do want to make sure the breed is a great fit for your life. We’ll ask about things like:
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Your living situation (house, apartment, fenced yard, etc.)
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Who lives in your household (kids, other pets)
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What a typical day looks like for you
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How much time the dog will have with you vs alone
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Why you’re drawn to the breed
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Your plans for training and exercise
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Your plans for your new puppy's diet - we do encourage raw and fresh feeding
This is also a great time for you to ask questions! We're happy to chat honestly about the joys (and quirks!) of the breed.
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3. Approval & Deposit
Once we’ve gotten to know each other and agree this is a good match, we’ll place you on our waitlist for a future litter. A non-refundable deposit will be required to hold your place once pregnancy is confirmed. This helps us plan responsibly and ensures we’re working with committed families.
Please note: if we don’t feel an Elkhound is the right breed for your situation, we’ll say so kindly and honestly—and may suggest other options or refer you to another breeder if appropriate.
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4. Puppy Updates & Allocation
From birth onwards, we’ll keep you updated with puppy news and photos—yes, the cute overload is real!
We don’t allow people to "pick" puppies in the traditional sense. Instead, we spend time with each pup and try to match them with the most suitable home based on personality, energy levels, and the lifestyle of the families waiting. Depending on availability at time of litter, we also have a Dog trainer who is specialised in Puppy personality testing which we like to utilise. Our goal is the best lifelong fit—for the puppy and for you and we put great effort into the placement.
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5. Going Home
Puppies typically go home at 8–10 weeks of age. They’ll be:
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Health checked by a vet
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Microchipped
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Vaccinated and wormed
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Sent with a detailed puppy pack including info, food (location dependent), a blanket or toy that smells like mum, and lifetime support from us.
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Since we are experienced in travelling our own Norwegian Elkhounds, we are happy to help you arrange travel for puppies (at new owner's cost) domestically within Australia, or to New Zealand.
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​We believe how a puppy is raised in their critical first few weeks has a lasting impact on who they become, so in the short time they are with us we will already have started early sociliasation and gently introducing your new puppy to a wide range of positive experiences from sounds to moving objects, to different surfaces - refer our "Raising Confident Puppies" blog.
Ongoing Support
We don’t say goodbye—we say welcome to the family! We’re always here for advice, updates, and to cheer you on through the wild and wonderful puppy stage (and beyond). We also love staying in touch and seeing how your pup grows—photos and updates are always welcome!