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Labradoodle puppy buying guide
What you must know, before you
purchase!
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Labradoodles are such amazing companion animals, their ease
of training, temperament, devotion, loyalty and friendship
to their person and family is unmatched by any other breed I
have ever handled in my 17 years of showing and raising
dogs.
Everything that you have read about them is true, and they
are even smarter and more intuitive than you can even
comprehend, owning one is the only way to fully realize just
how amazing they are.
Owning a Labradoodle is not just a privilege-it's a
responsibility. If you are considering bringing a new puppy
into your life; you need to think seriously about the
long-term emotional and financial commitment of dog
ownership and consider all aspects of this breed.
You must carefully do your research and educate yourself.
The following information will help guide you to make a wise
choice of not only the chosen breeder but the best puppy for
you. |
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Is my home, my situation right for a
Puppy/dog?
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Can I afford the financial responsibility
of owning a dog/puppy?
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Do I have the time for training,
socialization, grooming exercising and house training?
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Is this the right breed for me?
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How to choose the right puppy?
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How to determine adult size?
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What Gender is best?
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What coat type to choose?
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Hypoallergenic Coats?
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How to choose the right breeder?
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Why are referrals important?
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Visiting the breeder
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Correct canine structure what is it? Why
is it important?
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Be prepared to wait for the right
breeder, right puppy
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Get it in writing
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Is my home, my situation right for a
puppy/dog?
It is important to provide a safe environment for a puppy as
well as a place for the puppy to sleep, play and eliminate.
Do you have fencing and a dog proof yard? Is your yard big
enough for the puppy to play and exercise, and if not are
you willing to walk the puppy and provide exercise.
Labradoodles need interaction with people and are not a good
choice if you plan to leave the puppy outside alone all day
while you are at work. Do you have a plan for your puppy
when you are gone for long periods of time? Is your home
puppy proof? |
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Can I afford the financial responsibility of
a puppy/dog?
In addition to the purchase price of a well bred puppy, you
will have additional expenses including food, toys, bedding,
crate, baby gates to limit access, grooming supplies or
professional grooming expense. Puppy class and training
expense, Veterinary expenses, including puppy vaccinations,
yearly check up and if your puppy has an accident or eats
something that it should not, you may incur possible
Veterinary emergency expenses. It is important to factor in
all the possible expenses before you bring your new puppy
home.
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Do I have the time for training,
socialization, grooming exercising and house training for a
puppy?
Socialization and Training:
The number one thing a puppy needs other than food and
shelter to develop into the best dog possible is
SOCIALIZATION and training, beginning the same day that you
bring your puppy home. This should involve daily outings to
introduce your puppy to new places, new situations, and new
people, A puppy class is highly recommended.
Grooming:
Can be learned or you can use a professional groomer, but
plan on brushing your puppy at least 3-4 times per week for
10-20 minutes each time to keep the coat mat free.
House training:
Will require consistent effort, plan on taking the puppy out
at minimum every 3-4 hours assuming the puppy is 8-10 weeks
of age. If the breeder has already started house training,
by taking the puppy out every few hours, the house training
task will be far easier as the imprinting on a young puppy
makes for a lasting impression. Ask the breeder what house
training method they use. |
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Is this the right breed for you?
We are assuming that this is your chosen breed; we
understand that the volumes of information about the breed
available can be quite confusing. Most All purebred
breeds have a breed history that is somewhat murky, but one
thing is clear all purebred dogs were a mix, meaning more
than one breed of dog being bred together before the breed
became recognized as a purebred breed. They cannot be
recreated using the same or similar breeds and be considered
the same breed.
Most, will agree that the
Australian Labradoodle
consists of a lineage with the founders being Rutland Manor
and Tegan Park these names will appear in the history or
pedigree of the dogs that are of true Australian lineage.
The known breeds that
make up the Australian Labradoodle are:
The Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Irish Water Spaniel,
American or English Cocker spaniel, and some lines have the
Soft Coated Irish Wheaten Terrier infusion. |
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How to choose the right puppy?
Start by Evaluating Your Lifestyle, your
puppy will become part of your life.
You need to make sure that the puppy you select will be
suited for your lifestyle. For example, if you are athletic,
you will probably not be happy with a dog that has a low
energy level. All aspects of your family's life - hobbies,
activities, personalities, schedules - should be evaluated
and considered.
Make a list of important qualities that you want in a dog.
Consider size, energy level, and temperament. Do you want a
guard dog or a lap dog? A running mate or a couch potato?
What activities do you want your dog to participate in? Is
it important that your dog interact with and enjoy children?
An experienced breeder will have the best understanding of
the individual puppies and will help you select one that
will be a good match. The more detailed your list the
better. Respect your breeder's input about which puppy is
right for you. |
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What Coat type to
choose?
Coat type and look is More than just a pretty face:
Coat type
is the most misunderstood aspect of the breed:
There are three types of coat TEXTURE’S wool fleece and
hair.
Within each coat type there are different degrees of curl,
straight some use the term ‘Open” spiral type curl, large
curls, and tight small curls.
Coat changes:
The photos that you see on the websites are often times not
the adult coats. The coat will most always change from
puppyhood to adulthood.
When you see a dog that you love the look of:
Further investigation is needed, you need to know how old
the dog is in the photos and how it was groomed. The look
that you decide you love could be a dog photographed after
having a bath and a blow dry with a brush out, or a dog that
had a bath and left to dry naturally in the air no brushing.
If the look of the adult
dog is important to you:
Discuss coat type and the differences at length with your
chosen breeder. Ask for examples including photos it is
helpful to see puppy photos and adult photos of the same dog
to understand how the coat changes. An experienced breeder
will be able to share with you good examples and know what
their puppies will most likely look like as adults. |
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Hypoallergenic coats?
Labradoodles have often been promoted as hypoallergenic
(which means less allergic, not free of allergens)
However, no canine is known to be completely nonallergenic.
Often the problem is with the dog's saliva or dander, not
the coat. The reaction that an individual person has to an
individual dog may vary greatly. In treating dog related
allergies, it has been found that "Factors related to
individual dogs seem to influence the allergenicity.
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What Gender is best?
I
find that most people have a personal preference for one
reason or other but I have found with this breed that there
is little if any difference in personality or temperament
between males and females. |
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How to Determine adult
size?
The
adult size is a personal preference taking into
consideration your lifestyle, space, skill and time.
There is no way to determine the exact size that a puppy
will grow up to be as an adult, size is an estimate at best.
Within the history of each dog’s ancestry there are
different sizes, In some pedigrees you will see miniature,
mediums and standards all in one pedigree. Most breeders
will keep weight charts and records of previous litter’s
size and have a record of their adult size. We also consider
each puppy’s individual bone, substance and rate of growth
to determine an estimated adult size. |
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How to Choose the right
breeder?
There are many different
kinds of breeders:
We believe that breeding programs should be undertaken
responsibly for the purpose of advancing the breed,
preserving breed characteristics, producing structurally
sound and healthy, well-socialized puppies. Responsible
breeders are expected to give careful consideration to
health issues, temperament, basic canine structure, genetic
screening, as well as to the individual care and placement
of puppies in responsible homes. Most reputable breeders
comply with all county and state animal services
requirements.
IMPORTANT questions to ask the prospective breeder:
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What are
the breeder’s goals, purpose for breeding dogs?
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Where are
the puppies raised?
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Does the
breeder have permits with animal services?
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References?
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What
training does the puppy have while with the breeder?
(early socialization)
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What
experience does the breeder have with raising/training
dogs?
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What
experience does the breeder have in producing
structurally sound puppies? Why this is important? read
more…….
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Expected
size of this puppy?
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Best
training methods for this puppy?
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What are
the health problems in the breed, and what can be done
to prevent or control them?
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What
health tests have been completed on the parents? Ask for
proof and results of health testing.
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What
health tests will be done on the prospective puppy, and
when?
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What kinds
of activities, including competition, the breeder's dogs
participate in and enjoy?
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Your breeder should be willing to answer all of your
questions, no matter how silly or serious of questions you
ask. Expect that the breeder will also ask questions about
you, your lifestyle, and your family to determine what kind
of home you have to offer one of their puppies. Based on
their experience in the breed, they know what issues are
important in placing one of their puppies.
If
the breeder doesn't respond to your inquiries, or doesn't
show any interest in the life the puppy will lead with you,
choose another breeder. A responsible breeder is committed
to making a good match, this is the kind of person you will
want in your corner for continued support once you and your
new puppy begin your new life together.
A
puppy with a good health history including siblings is your
best guarantee that you are starting off with a healthy
puppy for the long term.
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Correct canine structure, What is it? Why is
it important?
We encourage you to do your research and educate yourself on
the basics that make up a correct structurally sound dog.
Correct structure is critically important to the long term
soundness and health of your puppy.
Be aware of the breeders reasoning for infusing other breeds
or why they have bred a specific pair. The answer you do not
want to hear is that it was because they are pretty, they
have both parents, and it was convenient just to name a few.
The following is a great
book that will help you to understand why correct structure
is so important
K-9 STRUCTURE & TERMINOLOGY
Edward Gilbert, Jr. & Thelma
Brown
Learn not only what correct structure is; understand why it
is essential to function and health. |
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Why are Referrals Important?
You have a much better chance of being satisfied if you get
your dog from a responsible, ethical breeder whose primary
concern is to produce dogs of high quality, good health and
stable temperament. Make contact with several people who
have purchased puppies from this breeder, if possible ask to
speak to someone that has a half or full sibling to the
puppy you are considering. Ask your Vet to contact the
breeders Vet. |
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Make and appointment to Visit:
When you find a breeder you're comfortable with, ask to
visit the kennel and view the dogs on the breeder's
premises. If you are not local, ask for a referral from a
puppy owner who has visited the breeder’s premises. Ask the
breeder any questions you can think of about the breed. The
breeder's dogs are a preview of what your dog will be.
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Be prepared to Wait:
When you have found a breeder that you are comfortable with
be prepared to wait, good breeders are highly sought after.
Be aware that a puppy with the specific characteristics
you've decided on may not be easy to find. Availability
varies and many times the puppies of a planned breeding are
already spoken for. Just remember that finding a good
breeder and a good puppy is worth waiting for. |
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Get It in Writing:
Information about the sale or adoption should be in writing.
The contract should include, for example, details regarding
any fees, spay-neuter agreements, health guarantees, terms
of co-ownership, restrictions on breeding, and living
arrangements. It should also include instructions on what to
do if the dog, despite your best efforts, simply doesn't
work out for you or your family. Most responsible breeders
will insist that the dog be returned to them for a full or
partial refund. |
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Copyright © 2011
Country Labradoodles
No unauthorized use is permitted.
Only express, written permission is considered authorization
or more information contact
liz@australian-labradoodle.com |
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click here
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Reservation Application Form click here
 
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