Our Story
Who We Are
Some families pass down recipes. Mine passes down animals, and we’re on our third generation.
It started with my great-grandfather, who never met a creature he didn’t want to bring home. He passed that love to my mom, and she passed it to me. Our family bred other breeds of dogs, as well as horses, and my parents raised Labs, so puppies were simply part of the furniture when I was growing up.
Every Christmas I checked the window for the pony I had asked Santa for. Santa never came through, but Dapple, a small Shetland, finally arrived on April Fools’ Day when I was about 5. Proof that the best gifts don’t always arrive on schedule.
Today my husband (who loves all things furry as much as I do, lucky me), our daughter and I live on a historic 10-acre property in the heart of Unionville. In the fall and winter the famed Cheshire Hunt gallops across the open fields, and all year long our yard belongs to horses, dogs and cats. Our home was one of the first in the area, and we’ve spent years restoring its historic charm while sneaking in a few modern comforts.
Why Australian Labradoodles?
In 2012 I set out to find the perfect family dog. My wish list was short but demanding: great with kids, no shedding, no drooling, and not so energetic or stubborn that training became a second job. After months of searching, a friend suggested the Australian Labradoodle. One look at those living teddy bears and my search was over.
The more I learned about the breed, the more it felt like a calling. Building on three generations of breeding in my family, I chose to create my own brand focused purely on Australian Labradoodles. And that is how Spring Valley Labradoodles went from a dream to a dream maker.
Life at Spring Valley
Our only resident doodle is Cherry, now happily retired and very much in charge here on the farm. All of our other dogs live with their own guardian families, where they get the one-on-one love every dog deserves. It also means that when a litter arrives, we have all the time in the world for the puppies.
They grow up meeting our cats and other dogs, and my daughter can usually be found snuggling a sleeping puppy at the end of her day.