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Frequently Asked Questions

We want to provide you with the best experience possible when purchasing your puppy from us. The Q&A below should help you in your decision to purchase a puppy from us. We want to ensure our puppies find the best homes to offer you the best companionship.

Please contact us with any additional questions.

What is the cost of a puppy?

$2000 per AKC Golden Retriever

$1800 per AKC Labrador Retriever or "Doodle"

We require a $400 deposit through PayPal to be applied to the final puppy cost.​​ We cover PayPal fees and taxes. If PayPal is not an option, please contact us to make other arrangements.

Please see the Application Process for more information about the Deposit Guidelines. ​​

What is the deposit for?

Please review our Application Process page for further details about your deposit and payment.

We require a non-refundable* $400 deposit (applied to your puppy cost) for your "Pick-Order" privilege.

The remaining balance can be made in person (cash) or online (PayPal) before picking up your puppy.

What is a "pick-order" privilege?

With an approved application and received deposit, you will be provided with the next available pick for your next puppy from the litter. Your name and gender pick will be added to the publicly posted picklist.

*If a Buyer's puppy gender preference is unavailable for their "Pick Order" placement from the selected litter, the Buyer may receive a full deposit refund or choose the other gender.

What is the application process?

Click the Application Process link explaining the FREE application submission process:

  1. Deposit guidelines & Puppy Deposit Contract

  2. Announcements & Communications

  3. Puppy Sales Contract

  4. Online Application

What dogs do you breed?

The dogs we own and breed are female AKC Retrievers. A fox-red Labrador Retriever (Kopper), a black Labrador Retriever (Kipper) & a Golden Retriever (Koffee). See Retriever Females.

 

We do not overbreed our females and keep our subscribers and applicants updated on our breeding program. We only breed our female retrievers with AKC purebred males. We strive for strong genetics and bloodlines to offer our buyers quality retrievers & doodles.

See our Puppy Litters page for upcoming litters and more information.

What sizes and styles may be anticipated?

Weight can be estimated based on the parents, but a puppy's final size is determined at adulthood and cannot be guaranteed. AKC retrievers will be standard size (55+ pounds). Doodles will fall into the weight range of Mini (<24 lbs.), Moyen (24-55 lbs.), or Standard (55+ lbs.).

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New breeding trends and terminology are constantly changing. The term ‘moyen’ refers to a breed size falling between a large miniature and a small standard breed, making it perfectly medium-sized.

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Coat colors and patterns pictured may change leading into adulthood (6 to 12 months) and cannot be guaranteed.

Can you send my puppy to me?

Note: We do not crate ship our puppies; we can contract with a travel companion service for an additional charge.

AIR DELIVERY:  Offered at an additional cost based on flight/travel costs. Domestic air delivery is offered to U.S. destinations through a Travel Puppy Companion who is with the puppy the whole time. This service provides hand-delivery of our puppies from our home to their new owner at their closest airport. 

We never crate-ship our puppies. You also are welcome to fly to our local airport (Harrisburg-MDT) to pick up your puppy and fly them to your home yourself.

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CAR DELIVERY:  Located in Lebanon, PA, we are central to the northeastern states and a reasonable car drive for new puppy owners. If needed, we can coordinate a Travel Puppy Companion to ensure save travel of your puppy from our home to you for an additional traveling cost based on distance.

How do you raise your puppies?

Every puppy is unique and receives daily family (children and adults) interaction and bio-sensory training based on three phases of training:

  1. Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS)

  2. Socialization

  3. Enrichment

 

The benefits of this training observed in dogs are:

  1. Improved cardiovascular performance

  2. Stronger heartbeats

  3. More efficient adrenal glands

  4. Greater resistance to stress

  5. Greater resistance to disease

 

We follow Baxter & Bella's online puppy school's breeder program, introducing potty training and socialization. Regular involvement with every puppy sets a foundation for your puppy to thrive in its new home. We recommend continuing the Baxter & Bella program after finalizing your purchase, and through our partnership, we offer a 25% discount with the code: ROBERTSON.  See our Training page.

What health guarantee do you offer?

We offer a health guarantee on all our puppies, including hip dysplasia that would require surgical intervention. You can read our Puppy Health Guarantee on the Application Process page. In addition to our 'Health Guarantee', we partnered with Trupanion! Because of this, your pet is eligible to have a Trupanion policy providing immediate medical coverage. This offer gives you 90% coverage with no payout limits, so you know your pet will be protected if any unforeseen accidents or injuries occur after activation.

· 30 days of coverage with no upfront payments

· Immediate coverage, waiting periods waived

· $250 deductible, 90% coverage, no payout limits

· Covers new, unexpected injuries or illnesses

*Terms and conditions apply. See the policy at Trupanion.com/pet-insurance

Is health testing done on the puppies/mothers?

Our AKC retrievers have received genetic health testing through Embark to ensure strong genetic health. See the Retriever Females tab.

 

Each of our retrievers has an AKC Certified Pedigree with four generations of family history, including OFA and/or PennHIP testing. Our retriever females completed their official clear OFA hip and elbow certifications at age two. Results are available by request.

 

​We do not conduct health testing (i.e., OFA, DNA, etc.) on our puppies. The buyer can make those decisions for their puppy. We follow a strict deworming schedule starting at two weeks of age. At six weeks, the puppies get a thorough vet check and their first round of shots. At eight weeks, the puppies are happy, healthy, and ready for you to welcome them into your home!

Is grooming essential for doodles?

We have preferred local groomers we can refer if you want to use their services.

 

We recommend you identify a respected groomer that you can take your puppy to for future grooming needs. Every person has a personal preference for grooming styles and timing. We recommend daily brushing between grooms, potentially scheduled every 4-8 weeks.

What is a hypoallergenic dog?

No dog is entirely hypoallergenic. However, labradoodles and goldendoodles have reduced shedding due to the purebred poodle, which offers a more hypoallergenic alternative that people can tolerate with allergies.

What should I feed my puppy?

We provide you with your puppy's current food to take home. You may continue using the same brand or slowly transition to a different brand. As with all new transitions, please consult with your vet. The key to a good diet transition is monitoring your puppy's response. We recommend following the gradual process outlined by the American Kennel Club (AKC), How to Transition Dog Food.

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