Labradoodle Questions

Our puppies are raised in loving family homes—either in our home or in the home of one of our carefully selected guardian families. We believe this gives our puppies the opportunity to experience family life from the very beginning.

We remain personally involved with every litter. Whenever possible, we are present for the birth of the puppies and stay closely involved with mom and her puppies during that important first week and throughout the weeks that follow.

Our puppies are raised in loving family homes where socialization happens naturally as part of everyday life. From an early age, they experience normal household activity and sounds and receive plenty of gentle handling and interaction. They may be exposed to children, other dogs, and other animals within the safety of their home environment.

Because young puppies are especially vulnerable to illness before they have completed their vaccinations, we do not take them into public places simply for the purpose of socialization. Instead, we focus on providing a variety of safe, positive experiences within their home environment.

Our goal is for each puppy to leave Agape having experienced the sights, sounds, people, and everyday activities of family life, giving them a strong foundation as they transition into their new home.

At Agape Labradoodles, we believe finding the right puppy is about more than simply choosing a puppy from a photograph.

Once the puppies are six weeks old and have received their age-appropriate vaccinations, families who have placed deposits are invited to visit and spend time with the litter. Visits are generally scheduled according to the date the family’s original deposit was received.

Over our 14 years of raising Labradoodles, we’ve seen something wonderful happen again and again: sometimes the puppy seems to choose the family. A puppy may climb into someone’s lap and refuse to leave, follow a family around, or suddenly show a playful side just for them. That same puppy may have very little interest in the next visitors. We pay attention to those interactions because they can tell us a great deal.

At seven weeks, our puppies also receive temperament testing performed by a trainer. The testing provides another helpful piece of information about each puppy’s individual personality and temperament.

Temperament testing, however, is only one part of the picture. We have lived with and cared for these puppies from birth, watching their personalities develop every day. We combine those observations, the trainer’s temperament assessment, and the connection we see between the puppy and prospective family to help guide each family toward a puppy that may be a good fit.

The temperament information also helps us advise families as they bring their puppy home and begin life together.

At Agape Labradoodles, the health of our dogs and the puppies we produce is extremely important to us. Our breeding dogs are health tested in accordance with the standards established by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA).

Health testing helps us make thoughtful, informed breeding decisions and is an important part of our commitment to the long-term health and well-being of the Australian Labradoodle.

Because health-testing standards and recommendations can change as new information becomes available, we encourage families who would like additional information to visit the Australian Labradoodle Association of America website for current health-testing requirements.

Please make “Australian Labradoodle Association of America” a clickable link to the appropriate ALAA health-testing information.

Agape Labradoodles breeds all three sizes of Australian Labradoodles, giving families the opportunity to find a size that fits their home and lifestyle.

Miniature: approximately 13–22 pounds
Medium: approximately 25–35 pounds
Standard: approximately 42–60 pounds

Because every puppy is an individual, adult size cannot be guaranteed. We use the size and history of the parents, along with our experience with their bloodlines, to provide families with our best estimate of a puppy’s expected adult size.

Regular grooming is very important for keeping your Australian Labradoodle’s coat healthy and free of mats.

Families who use a professional groomer should generally plan on grooming appointments approximately every six to eight weeks, along with regular brushing and coat care at home.

For families interested in grooming their own dogs, the Australian Labradoodle Association of America offers helpful grooming information and videos. We encourage our families to use these resources to learn proper coat care.

Australian Labradoodles are often a good option for families concerned about allergies because their breeding and coat characteristics can help minimize shedding and allergen exposure.

However, no dog can be guaranteed to be completely hypoallergenic, and individual reactions can vary. If allergies are a concern for someone in your family, we encourage you to discuss that with us before selecting a puppy.

Agape puppies generally go home to their new families between eight and nine weeks of age.

We understand that occasionally a family’s schedule may prevent them from taking their puppy home during the normal go-home period. When arrangements are made for a puppy to remain in our care beyond that time, there is a $35 per day extended-care fee.

The first step toward welcoming an Agape puppy into your family is to complete the puppy application on our website. This gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you, your family, and what you are looking for in an Australian Labradoodle.

Our website also provides a convenient way to submit your puppy deposit. Once your application and deposit have been received, we can begin working with you toward finding the right Agape puppy for your family.

Yes. Their friendly nature, intelligence, and desire to connect with people can make Australian Labradoodles excellent therapy-dog candidates when they have the right temperament and training. Boomer, an Agape Labradoodle, serves through Denver Pet Partners, bringing comfort and companionship to people in hospitals, senior communities, and libraries throughout the Castle Rock area.

Every dog is an individual, so therapy-dog suitability cannot be guaranteed.