our Puppy purchase Process
How do you get your perfect Miniature American Shepherd puppy from EverSummer Minis? Text CristineApply nowThe 3 pillars of finding the perfect pup:
A healthy start
Behind every EverSummer puppy is a great deal of intentional work. We dedicate ourselves to learning—through health testing, pedigree research, genetics, and participation in dog shows and breed organizations—so families can simply enjoy welcoming a healthy, well-bred puppy into their home with confidence and peace of mind.
This commitment allows us to focus on prevention, transparency, and long-term well-being—not shortcuts.
a confident companion
Early experiences matter—especially during a puppy’s critical developmental stages. Our puppies are raised in our home, where we work intentionally and individually with each one during this crucial time, building confidence, emotional balance, and positive coping skills. This early investment is our gift to our families, helping prevent common behavioral challenges and making life with a dog more joyful and fulfilling.
Whether a puppy’s future includes show trials, off-leash beach runs, mountain hikes, or cozy evenings at home, our goal is the same: a confident, adaptable companion ready to thrive in the real world.
a supported journey
Bringing home a puppy is more than a moment—it’s a journey. We take the time to understand each family’s lifestyle and goals, thoughtfully matching puppies by temperament and fit. Our support continues well beyond go-home day, guiding families through the first weeks at home, the teenage months, and throughout life.
We love celebrating milestones along the way—from birthdays to accomplishments—and building a connected community of EverSummer families. Through ongoing availability and shared updates in our newsletter, we stay connected and continue to support you as your puppy grows.
how Much Does a Puppy Cost?
Our Dogs are $2900. With a $500 non-refundable deposit that will lock your spot on the waiting list and the remaining balance of $2400 will be due at the time you pick up your puppy.
Our Breeding & Co-Ownership Philosophy
We welcome inquiries from both novice and experienced breeders, as well as families who are interested in participating in AKC conformation showing. Whether your goal is to introduce a child to Junior Handling, have extra fun with your pup, show with the support of a professional handler, or grow an established breeding program, we are happy to explore options together.
We offer select co-ownership opportunities for puppies with exceptional potential, with the shared goal of preserving and improving the quality of our dogs and the breed. All co-owned dogs placed as breeding prospects are expected to be shown toward a championship and to complete all required health testing prior to any breeding. This includes breed-specific genetic testing, OFA evaluations, and current eye examinations.
For experienced breeders, we expect the same standards to apply across your breeding program. All dogs involved must meet equivalent health, structural, and ethical criteria, ensuring consistency, transparency, and a shared commitment to responsible breeding.
How Does selection Work?
Our goal is to make puppy selection thoughtful, transparent, and focused on long-term success for both the puppy and the family.
Puppies are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis once both a signed contract and a deposit are received (whichever is completed last). Families open to a show-trial puppy and/or breeding rights may be given priority selection. When joining our waitlist, families are typically asked to indicate a preferred sex (male or female), which helps us organize availability in a fair and clear way. While we can often predict color, Mother Nature ultimately determines colors and sex within each litter.
Because our program also focuses on producing show-quality dogs, final decisions for show prospects are made around 7 weeks of age. For this reason, families on the waitlist are usually asked to rank 2–3 puppies they feel would be a good fit. We carefully consider each puppy’s individual personality—including confidence, people-drive, compatibility with other animals, and overall fit with your lifestyle—when guiding this process.
The final choice is always yours. We will never send a puppy home if it doesn’t feel right for you. If the right match is not available, your deposit and position may be rolled over to a future litter.
A Note on Safety and Transparency
To protect our puppies, our families, and our program, all reservations require direct communication, a signed contract, and a deposit through approved, secure payment methods. We do not accept checks, overpayments, or buyer-arranged third-party transport. Inquiries that do not align with these policies will be respectfully declined.
If you have questions at any stage, we are always happy to talk through the process and help you feel confident every step of the way.
What’s Included?
Our goal at EverSummer Minis is to give you the best start and keep things simple. We know that getting a new puppy is fun, but can also be a little overwhelming, this is why we have lots of emails and a puppy guide you can listen to help you get to the part where your puppy is enjoyable, and not just work. It should be fun, our goal is to make it a reality for you!
Registration
Our dogs all come with limited AKC Registration (no breeding rights) and included in our Puppy price. Our kennel name will appear as the first part of their registered name with AKC – this is to ensure that every puppy from our program carries our reputation for quality and care throughout their lifetime. AKC Dogs typically will have additional 3-4 names that you will get to choose! Full AKC breeding rights are available for an additional price that needs to be discussed individually.
Lifetime Support
At EverSummer Minis our commitment to you and your puppy doesn’t end when you take them home. We offer lifetime support to our puppy families, providing guidance and advice on training, health and care throughout your dog’s life. We are here for you every step of the way, ensuring a happy and successful relationship with your new companion.
Contract
We use a simple contract. Our goal with our contract is to help you understand what you can expect from us and what we hope you’ll follow through on with your pupppy. When you’re ready to move forward, we’ll ask you to review and sign before placing a deposit.
Puppy-Prep Email Series
We’ve written a series of emails, with links, to help you get started with you puppy, everything from figuring out dog food, where to get it, and what to feed, to deworming, to housetraining, and much more!
go home bag
When you pick up your new puppy, you’ll receive a carefully prepared puppy bag to help with the transition. This will include a small supply of their current food, a favorite toy, a blanket with the scent of their littermates and important paperwork such as health records and AKC registration. We want to make sure you and your puppy have everything you need for a smooth start at your home!
Tails Docked & Dewclaws Removed
We dock tails and remove dewclaws in accordance with breed standard. We’ve seen a lot of discussion over this and feel it is the right answer for our families, having a dog that is easier to manage and more likely to be taken everywhere with you!
Dewormer
Our puppies are dewormed with vet-recommended Pyrantel at 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age to help protect them from common intestinal parasites and support a healthy start.
Microchip
We microchip all of our puppies with an internationally recognized microchip. This is prepaid and good for life, no subscriptions for you! We will put the microchip in your name when you pick up the puppy, so you are covered from the start!
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are complete as are age-appropriate for the puppy. We have careful vaccination protocol that we developed with our vet. We even have a handout to help you understand the window of susceptibility and when your puppy is safe with vaccines.
Ready to Join the Family?
The best way to get the process started is by filling out our puppy application. This helps us better understand what you’re looking for in a pup.
