What is an Australian Labradoodle?

We only breed multi-generational Australian Labradoodles. All of our lines originated in Australia from dogs that were specifically bred for therapy and companionship. Despite the name, the breed does not have any Australian Shepherd in its lineage. Several generations ago, other breeds—mainly spaniels—were introduced to enhance size, coat quality, health, and temperament. Since then, these dogs have been carefully bred together, forming the purebred, multi-generational Australian Labradoodle. While the name might seem a bit confusing, rest assured, all of our dogs trace their lineage back to the original Australian breeders.

How do we raise our puppies?

We follow the Puppy Culture program to ensure our puppies are well-rounded and confident. Starting at just 3 days old, we begin with Early Neurological Stimulation and continue with various training exercises for the entire 8 weeks they are with us. This includes crate training, clicker training, housebreaking basics, basic commands and noise and touch desensitization, all designed to boost their confidence.

Our goal is to send home happy, confident, and well-socialized puppies.

Should I expect a "perfect" puppy?

As much as we prepare our puppies for success, they’re still puppies! They’ll get into mischief, chew on things, and occasionally have accidents as they learn. We lay a strong foundation, but your commitment, training, and time are key to helping your puppy grow into the dog you want. We highly recommend group puppy classes and continued training. A positive reinforcement trainer will help you build on the progress we’ve already made.

What is the cost and reservation process?

Our puppies are priced at $3,000 with a spay/neuter (or vasectomy/ovary-sparing spay) agreement. To secure your spot in a litter, we require a $500 non-refundable reservation fee. We accept up to 5 deposits per litter before they’re born and start a waiting list for additional puppies once they’re here.

After your reservation is confirmed, a payment of $1,500 is due when the puppies are 1 week old, and the remaining $1,000 is due when the puppies are 5 weeks old. Our reservation lists fill up quickly, and we can only hold your space once the reservation fee is received.

Please note that Willowbea Australian Labradoodles retains the right to keep any puppy for our breeding program.

What’s the difference between the reservation list and the waiting list?

We only accept 5 reservations per litter before the puppies are born. Families beyond that join our waiting list. Since our litters tend to be larger (typically 7-10 puppies), we often move to the waiting list after the initial reservations.

How can I get my puppy if I live out of state?

We do not ship our puppies, as we put a lot of love and care into building their confidence, adaptability, and easygoing nature during their first 8 weeks. We believe keeping their transition as stress-free as possible is important. You’re welcome to pick up your puppy locally, meet us at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport (MSP), or choose our Willowbea Stork Delivery service. With Willowbea Stork, we can bring your puppy directly to you for a fee, and we’ll even help them get used to a soft-sided airline carrier beforehand to make the trip easier for everyone.

If you're unable to pick up your puppy on the designated go-home date, we can keep your puppy for $50 per day, up to 4 days, until you can arrange pickup.

How does the puppy selection process work?

We match puppies primarily based on temperament. While we consider your preferences for size, color, and gender, we focus on pairing each family with the puppy that best fits their lifestyle. For example, we wouldn’t place a highly active puppy with a family seeking a calm therapy dog or a more reserved puppy with a family looking for an adventure companion. If you feel that none of the puppies are a good match, we’ll happily transfer your deposit to a future litter.

What happens if there aren’t enough puppies for my reservation?

Unfortunately, this does happen occasionally. If we don’t have enough puppies for the reservation list, we’re happy to transfer your deposit to the next available litter, or, if preferred, offer a refund.

Contract and Health Warranty

Our contract has two main points:

1. If at any point you can no longer care for your dog, they must be returned to us.

2. All puppies are sold as companions and must be spayed/neutered by 12 months of age.

Click here to view the full contract and health warranty.