Waitlist application
A conversation and a written application so we can learn about your home before a deposit is discussed.
Breeding Labradors since 2004
Two litters a year, raised in the house
Every parent has OFA hip and elbow clearances, annual eye exams and full DNA panels. Puppies are whelped in our kitchen and go home at eight weeks, socialized and vet checked.
22 yrsbreeding Labradors
2litters per year, maximum
8 wkswhen puppies go home
100%of parents health tested
Placement and pricing
What a puppy from us includes
One price, nothing added later. We do not charge more for a color, a sex, or pick of litter.
Reservation deposit
Holds your place in a specific litter and is applied to the purchase price, transferable if timing changes.
Puppy placement
Includes vet exam, first vaccinations, deworming, microchip, AKC limited registration and a starter kit.
Health guarantee
Two year written guarantee against disqualifying hereditary hip, elbow and eye conditions.
Puppy transport
Ground transport with a licensed courier for families outside comfortable driving distance.
Lifetime take back
If you ever cannot keep your dog, at any age, it comes back here. No questions and no fee.
About our program
A small program on a Vermont hill farm
Alderbrook is run by Ellen and Ray Sutcliffe on forty acres outside Middlebury. We keep five adult dogs, all of whom live in the house, and we breed at most two litters a year so every puppy gets real attention from day one. Puppies are whelped in the kitchen, raised underfoot through household noise, and begin crate and potty routines before they leave.
•OFA hips and elbows, CAER eye exams and full DNA panels on every parent
•Puppies raised in the house, not in a kennel building
•Early neurological stimulation and Puppy Culture socialization protocol
•AKC limited registration, spay and neuter contract on pet placements
Reviews
From our puppy families
“Ellen turned us down for the spring litter because our travel schedule was wrong, then called us a year later. That told me everything.”
Peter H., Burlington, puppy 2024
“Our girl slept through the first night in her crate. Whatever they do before eight weeks, it works.”
Michelle A., Concord, New Hampshire
“Three years on and they still answer texts about training questions.”
Dev R., Saratoga Springs, New York
FAQ
Questions from families
How long is the waitlist?
Typically eight to fourteen months, since we only whelp two litters a year. We would rather be honest about that than rush a breeding to meet demand. Families on the list get first notice of any planned pairing.
What health testing do you do?
Every parent has OFA certified hips and elbows, an annual CAER eye exam, and a full breed DNA panel covering EIC, PRA, CNM and DM. Results are registered publicly with OFA and we hand you copies before you pay anything.
Can we visit before we commit?
Yes, and we ask that you do. Visits happen Thursday through Sunday by appointment, after the puppies have had their first vaccinations. You will meet the mother, and the father when he lives here.
What if our situation changes?
Your dog comes back to us at any age, for any reason, at no cost. That is written into the contract and it is not a formality. We would far rather take a dog back at four years old than have it end up in a shelter.
Contact
Start with a conversation
Fill in the application and we will call you. Expect us to ask a lot of questions, that is how good placements happen.
Phone(802) 555-0117
Address1880 Painter Rd, Middlebury, VT 05753, Middlebury, Vermont
HoursVisits by appointment, Thu to Sun
AreaPlacing across New England and New York, transport arranged further