How Allocations Work

Puppy Allocations at Shelpin Cocker Spaniels

At Shelpin, our puppy allocation process is designed to ensure the best possible match between each puppy and their new family. This process is guided by our knowledge of the puppies' personalities, temperaments, and individual development throughout their early weeks.

Why We Do Puppy Allocations

As a breeder, I carefully monitor my litters from birth through their first eight weeks of life. During this time, I observe each puppy’s behaviour, how they interact with their littermates, their reactions to new experiences, and how they respond to people visiting our home.

Once the puppies have received their first vaccination, I arrange a ‘Meet and Greet’ with each prospective family. This visit allows you to meet the puppies, spend time with them, and get to know me as your breeder. It's also a valuable opportunity for the puppies to be exposed to different people, which aids in their early socialisation.

Puppy allocations are based on a combination of:

  • Observations from the litter’s development,

  • Interactions during the meet and greet,

  • The information you provide about your home, lifestyle, and preferences.

What to Look for During Your Visit

When visiting the litter, observe how each puppy behaves:

  • How do they react to being handled—are they relaxed or hesitant?

  • Are they sleepy (possibly just fed) or playful and active (just woken from a nap)?

  • Watch their interactions with toys and littermates—some may be bold and adventurous, others more reserved or submissive.

These subtle behaviours provide insight into each puppy’s developing personality and help you understand which temperament may suit your household best. We encourage you to keep an open mind and consider more than one puppy, as personalities can continue to evolve right up to their rehoming.

Preference Puppy from the Litter

Depending on the size of the litter, you may have the opportunity to express a preference for a particular puppy and explain why you feel that puppy would suit your family. This helps us understand your expectations and lifestyle, which we take into account during the allocation process.

It’s a common belief that “the puppy who comes to you first” is the right one—but often, that puppy is simply the most confident or dominant in the group. While confidence is not a negative trait, it may not be the best match for every family. Conversely, a more cautious puppy who takes a little longer to approach may, in fact, be a better long-term fit. A single visit may not reveal everything about a puppy’s future personality, which is why our experience observing them daily is so important.

Each puppy has a unique personality, shaped by a combination of behaviour, emotional response, temperament, and cognitive traits. Our allocation process is built around identifying those traits and ensuring each puppy goes to the most suitable home.

Breeder’s Pick of the Litter

As a breeder committed to preserving and improving the English Cocker Spaniel breed, I always reserve the right to retain one or more puppies from a litter. These puppies are chosen based on their potential to meet the breed standard, as well as their suitability for conformation showing and future breeding.

I may choose to keep several puppies from a litter and make a final decision as they mature. My pick puppy will be the one who exhibits the best structure, temperament, and overall type aligned with our long-term breeding goals. This may mean the puppy you've fallen in love with is retained for our program and not available for purchase.

These decisions are generally not finalised until around 7 weeks of age, so we strongly encourage you to keep an open mind and consider multiple puppies in the litter to avoid disappointment.

Choosing Gender: Dog or Bitch?

One of the first decisions to make is whether you'd prefer a male or female puppy. While we can help guide you, please understand that gender preferences may not always be possible to accommodate—especially if the litter is all boys or all girls.

In our experience, personality should be the primary factor when selecting a puppy, not gender.

If you already have a dog at home, we generally recommend selecting a puppy of the opposite sex to reduce the risk of conflict. While same-sex pairs can live harmoniously, success often depends on the individual personalities of both dogs.

Some general guidance:

  • Opposite personalities often pair best (e.g. a calm pup with a lively dog).

  • Two dominant dogs, especially of the same sex and age, may be more prone to conflict.

  • If introducing a same-sex puppy, a significant age gap between the new and existing dog usually helps ensure a smoother transition.

At Shelpin Cocker Spaniels, our goal is to match each puppy with the right home—where they can thrive, bond with their new family, and live a happy, fulfilled life. We appreciate your trust in our process and look forward to working with you to find your perfect companion.


Contact Details

Shellie Galpin
Delaneys Creek, QLD, Australia
Phone : 0404887457
Email : [email protected]