Frequently Asked Questions

Start by filling out our puppy application. We read every application personally. Once yours is approved, a $500 non-refundable reservation fee holds your spot on our waiting list. The balance of $3,000 (plus tax) is due when the puppies are 4 weeks old.

Companion puppies go home at 8 weeks old. Pre-School Puppies go home at 12 weeks, after 4 weeks of training with us, and Kindergarten Puppies go home at 15 weeks, after 7 weeks of training. Need a little more time to get ready? Upon request and with our prior approval, we can hold your puppy a little longer and continue their training.

Pre-School Puppies spend 4 weeks training with us on loose-leash walking, sit, stay and come, crate and house training, no jumping or nipping, and mat training.

Kindergarten Puppies learn everything in Pre-School, then keep training in a real home environment for 7 weeks in all: crate training foundations, household manners, confidence in new places, and being comfortable around other dogs and people. See our Available Now page for details.

Our Available Now page always shows the latest, and our Upcoming Litters page shows what’s on the way.

We’re a small, in-home breeder, not a kennel or a storefront, so we’re not able to host visits. Parvovirus is a serious threat to young puppies and spreads easily on shoes, clothing and hands, so the health of our puppies comes first. You’ll meet your puppy on pick-up day, and we share pick-up details with our families ahead of time.

We never send puppies as cargo. Puppies always travel in the cabin with a person beside them. You’re welcome to fly in and pick up your puppy from us, or for $200 we’ll meet you at Philadelphia International Airport with your puppy in an airline-approved in-cabin carrier. For a small fee we can also deliver within a reasonable driving distance.

Every Spring Valley puppy comes home with ALAA registration, a 2-year health guarantee, a microchip, age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming, a baby blanket with the scent of mom and siblings, lots of socialization, a start on potty and crate training, and a lifetime of support from us.

Yes. Our warranty covers debilitating congenital defects for two years. Please take your puppy to your vet within three business days of going home to activate it. The full terms are on our Warranty and Contract page.

Yes. Our contract asks you to sign up for the 30 free days of Trupanion insurance before pick-up day. See our Warranty and Contract page for details.

Australian Labradoodles shed very little, which is one of the reasons families love them. Their coats do need regular brushing and trips to the groomer. Our Go Home Tips explain how to care for your puppy’s coat.

Each litter on our Upcoming Litters page lists the expected adult size. Sizes are estimated from the parents’ height and weight, so they’re a good guide but not a guarantee.

Guardian families who live within 35 miles of Kennett Square raise one of our very best puppies as their own beloved pet. Guardian puppies are free: we ask for a deposit, which we return in full when your dog retires from our breeding program. Learn more on our Guardian page.

Yes. Our contract asks that companion puppies be spayed or neutered before they turn 6 months old.

See our Food and Treats page for what we feed and recommend, and our Info for New Owners page for our favorite supplies.

We’re based in the Kennett Square area of Chester County, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia and close to I-95. Our puppies have gone home all over the East Coast and beyond.

The best way to reach us is by email. If you’d like to talk, please fill out an application and we’ll give you a call to answer your questions.