Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Do you ship? What is the cost? Do you have any other flight or delivery options?
A: We are usually able to ship to certain areas of the United States in compliance with USDA guidelines but we have new restrictions due to COVID-19 that prevent us from shipping at this time. Please check here for updates on our ability to ship. The cost usually starts at $450 in the US for puppies to fly alone. We offer an exclusive option for a Blue Ridge Labradoodles flight companion to personally accompany your puppy on a flight in the cabin for $850+, depending on flight cost. Please ask for details about this flight companion option. Note that puppies cannot fly to certain areas during certain times of the year due to weather restrictions. We welcome you to fly to us and would be happy to bring your puppy to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport. Additionally, we have in-person vehicle delivery. Inquire for pricing and details for your situation/location.
Q: Can you tell me if a particular puppy is available BEFORE the litter’s Choosing Day?
A: Every litter’s webpage lists a birth date, Choosing Day and Go Home Day. If the Choosing Day has not passed then we do not know yet which puppies are available. Choosing is done when the puppies are 6 weeks old in the order in which reservation fees were received so we only know which specific puppies are available after the families on the litter’s waitlist make their selections. After the choosing process, we specifically list which puppies have been sold and which are available on our website. Before that point, the webpage just lists the number of puppies we have available. Placing a reservation will secure a spot for one of the available puppies.
Q: What do you feed your dogs/puppies?
A: This is a very important question and we are very convinced of a grain-free, allergy-friendly diet. You can read all about the food we use and highly recommend here.
Q: Do Australian Labradoodles shed?
A: Most Australian Labradoodles have little to no shedding. The main factor in raising puppies that have non-shedding coats is having breeding stock that does not carry the improper coat gene (IC). Our dogs have been tested and do not pass on this shedding gene.
Q: How big do your dogs get?
A: Our dogs range in size from 15 lb to 35 lb and depending on the parents of the litters, your puppy should not grow larger than this.
Q: Where do your breeding dogs live?
A: We believe that owning dogs is a privilege and not something to be overdone to raise money. Therefore we only have two, sometimes three, dogs living in our home. The other dogs that you see on our parents' pages are in our breeding program but live full time in a Guardian Family. This ensures that our dogs always receive plenty of individualized attention and are never neglected and that we do NOT run a kennel. All our Labradoodles are beloved indoor family pets.
Q: Where are your puppies raised and how many litters do you have at a time?
A: All our puppies are raised in a warm and loving home setting. We have a room devoted only to our puppies that is right off of the main room of our house. They are with us 24/7 and when they go outside it is right under our watchful eye in our backyard. We only keep a maximum of 3 litters at a time. If we have more than that on our website then we have the others at with hired Puppy Raiser Families to care for them while they grow. All of our litters are raised according to the same high standards.
Q: What age do you allow your puppies to go home?
A: At 8 to 9 weeks your puppy is ready to go home. We offer a puppy kindergarten program that starts at this time, and we have many delivery options for your convenience.
Q: Do you have a spay/neuter requirement?
A: Yes, your puppy must be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age in order to receive registration and have papers for your puppy. When your puppy is spayed or neutered, all you have to do is email us proof from your vet and we will email you your paperwork.
Q: What are the prices, colors and sizes of your puppies?
A: This is described in full detail on our Prices/Sizes/Colors page of our website.
Q: What is your waiting list policy?
A: A $500 non-refundable reservation fee holds your place on a particular litter's waiting list (one litter). When the puppies are 6-7 weeks of age, we allow people to choose their puppy in the order the reservations were received. It is at this age that we can tell much more about temperament, coat, and future size, so it is the optimal time to choose which puppy will be forever yours. The reservation is non-refundable and the balance of the puppy price is due at choosing time. If you do not select a puppy, we will move your reservation to another litter that has an open spot. Reservations are good for one year from date of submission unless particular exceptions have been granted for your situation. Communication is important in staying on the wait list and not losing your spot.
Q: How does Choosing Day work?
A: Whether you are choosing in person or remotely, families choose puppies when they are 6 weeks old in the order in which reservation fees are received. The approximate Choosing Day is established at birth & will be listed in your litter’s birth announcement as well as on our website. Choosing is done in the order in which reservation fees are received, starting with the first family. After the first family chooses, we move to the next family on the list & so on. All decisions, whether made in person or remotely, should take approximately one hour and it is at this time that the balance of the puppy price is due. If you find that there is not a match for you in the litter, we move your reservation fee to a future litter. Please note that if you decide to move your reservation to a future litter, you will move into the next available spot, not jump ahead of any families that have already committed to that litter.
Q: If I decide to choose my puppy remotely, how will that work?
A: Choosing remotely is becoming more and more common. We still offer in-person choosings whenever possible, however, the majority of our choosings are done remotely. When choosing remotely, you will receive a Google album (just like the buyers’ albums of photos) at your choosing time. Inside the album will be a video of each puppy available to you. The puppy raiser will talk about the puppy and include details such as color, coat, temperament and any fun details that may pertain to the puppy. After reviewing the video(s), we recommend you save the video of your puppy, since we delete it before moving on to the next family. Each family ONLY sees videos of puppies available to them. You will email Lauren with your selection to “lock in your choice.” Again, all families, whether choosing in person or remotely, will be given approximately one hour to select a puppy.
Q: Can we come and meet your adult dogs and the puppies?
A: Please check in with us before expecting to meet any dogs as we have had to make special changes due to the COVID-19 virus. You can meet the parents of your litter of puppies if you have arranged so with us beforehand. Sometimes one or both of the parents will be unavailable if he/she resides in a Guardian Home. We are happy to show off our happy, healthy parents whenever we can! Visits are reserved only for families who have placed a reservation fee coming to choose their puppy.
Q: Male vs. female; what are the differences?
A: The answer is—the ONLY time gender truly matters is if you plan to breed your dog. Choosing the best puppy for your family does not have to do with gender; it has to do with the puppy’s individual personality and temperament. Males and females both can be independent, stubborn, and territorial. They can both develop unwanted behaviors if not trained properly. We do our best to assure that our puppies have been trained not to be overly aggressive or territorial. We do not allow the puppies to bite us, even in play. The main influence, however, will be what takes place when the puppy joins your family. The first year is absolutely essential for proper training. I would advise you to take your new puppy to an obedience training class. Be consistent with your new puppy, and do not allow any bad behavior to develop, even if it seems “cute” at the time. If a dog is trained properly, he or she should be affectionate, attentive, and eager to please. Some are more playful, and some are cuddlier—this depends on personality and temperament. There are low energy dogs and high energy dogs, and everything in between. These personalities start to show around 4-6 weeks of age. We play with our puppies, so we are able to tell what type of personality each puppy has. We will do our best to match up the puppy that is best for you based on personality and temperament. -Jeana Bigelow
Q: What forms of payment do you take?
A: 1-PayPal – via our website (You will cover the 3% + $0.30 processing fee.) - Please let us know and we will create a custom purchase for you in our shop. 2-Personal Check (No fee -- You must send or bring payment in full at least 2 weeks before your pick up date.) 3-Money Order (This must be received before your pick-up date.)