““What Happens if My Puppy Is Still at Smeraglia After 12 Weeks of Age?””

One of the questions we occasionally hear from families is:

“What happens if my puppy is still at Smeraglia after 12 weeks of age?”

It’s a great question, and one we love answering.

At Smeraglia, we believe a puppy’s development doesn’t stop while it waits for its forever family. In fact, as puppies mature, they are ready for even more experiences, more socialization, and more opportunities to build confidence.

That’s why we created our Puppy Enrichment Program.

Once a puppy reaches approximately 12 weeks of age and is fully vaccinated, it becomes eligible for additional enrichment experiences designed to support its growth and development.

Rather than simply waiting for a family to choose them, these puppies continue enjoying daily activities that help them mature into confident, well-rounded companions.

Depending on the puppy, enrichment experiences may include outdoor play, exercise, socialization, exposure to new sights and sounds, crate experience, walks around the property, and opportunities to explore new environments.

Every experience is designed with one goal in mind: helping puppies develop confidence, adaptability, and the skills needed to transition successfully into their future homes.

We often tell families that puppies are learning every day, whether formal training is taking place or not. Every interaction, every new environment, every positive experience helps shape the dog they are becoming.

One of the things families appreciate most about our Puppy Enrichment Program is that there is no additional tuition or enrichment fee added to the puppy’s adoption price. We simply believe that puppies who remain with us beyond 12 weeks deserve continued opportunities to learn, grow, and enjoy life.

Occasionally, a puppy participating in enrichment may also receive additional foundational training experiences. When this happens, families are not automatically charged Doodle Prep School tuition.

In fact, one of our core principles is simple:

Families are never charged for practice.

The only time Doodle Prep School tuition is added to a puppy is when that puppy has officially completed a Doodle Prep School training block.

To be considered complete, the puppy must successfully demonstrate the required skills, be formally evaluated, and meet all of the standards established for that training block.

Completion is based on achievement—not simply the amount of time that has passed.

Until then, any additional handling, socialization, exposure, or foundational learning the puppy receives is simply an added benefit to both the puppy and the future family.

At Smeraglia, we believe every day matters in a puppy’s development. Whether a puppy goes home at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, or later, our commitment remains the same: providing exceptional care, meaningful enrichment, and positive experiences that help prepare each puppy for a successful life with its forever family.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Puppy Enrichment?

Puppy Enrichment is a program designed for puppies approximately 12 weeks of age and older. It provides additional socialization, exercise, environmental exposure, crate experience, and confidence-building activities while puppies wait for their forever families.

Is there an additional fee for Puppy Enrichment?

No. There is no Puppy Enrichment tuition and no Puppy Enrichment fee added to the puppy’s adoption price.

Why do you offer Puppy Enrichment?

Because we believe puppies continue learning and developing every day. The program allows older puppies to enjoy a richer, more engaging environment while they remain part of the Smeraglia family.

Is Puppy Enrichment the same as Doodle Prep School?

No. Puppy Enrichment and Doodle Prep School are two completely different programs.

Puppy Enrichment focuses on socialization, exercise, environmental exposure, crate experience, and confidence-building activities.

Doodle Prep School is a structured training program with specific goals, evaluations, and achievement markers.

Can a puppy in Puppy Enrichment receive some training?

Yes. Occasionally, puppies may receive additional foundational training experiences while participating in Puppy Enrichment.

If my puppy receives some training, will I be charged Doodle Prep School tuition?

No. Families are never charged simply because a puppy has practiced training skills or spent time learning.

When is Doodle Prep School officially added to a puppy?

Doodle Prep School is only added after a puppy has successfully completed a training block, demonstrated all required skills, and been formally evaluated.

Is completion based on how many weeks the puppy has trained?

No. Completion is based on performance, not time.

A puppy completes a Doodle Prep School block when it has learned the required skills and successfully met all evaluation standards—not simply because a certain number of weeks have passed.

What is the biggest benefit of Puppy Enrichment?

Puppy Enrichment helps puppies continue growing, exploring, socializing, and gaining valuable life experiences while they wait for their forever families. Those experiences help create confident, adaptable, and successful companions for the families who welcome them home.