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Frequently Asked Questions

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Buying Process

How reservations, deposits, puppy selection, and visits work from first inquiry through go-home day.

How does the adoption process work?
Once you have settled on a puppy or future litter, and are ready to move forward, fill out our reservation form and pay the $827.61 deposit. You will then receive access to our adopter portal, and receive photo, video and informational updates there. Puppies can go-home around 8 weeks old, and we begin coordinating puppy go-home after the puppy is 6 weeks old.
What breeds do you raise?
We raise multigenerational Goldendoodles, Cockapoos, and Bernedoodles.
How do I pick my puppy?
For specific available puppies, you can submit the reservation form and deposit for that specific puppy. For upcoming litters the reservation form will allow you to pick a choosing spot in one of our confirmed upcoming litters, or a future litter that has not been confirmed yet. Choosing spots in confirmed litters are available in deposit order, and the future unannounced option allows you to apply that to a choosing spot in any future litter.
Should I choose a male or a female?
Gender matters far less than people expect — most of the differences families worry about even out once a dog is spayed or neutered. What actually shapes the fit is temperament, and that's the part we pay attention to. Tell us about your household and we'll point you toward the puppies whose personalities suit it, rather than steering you by gender.
Is the deposit refundable?
The deposit is $827.61 and applies toward the balance. It is non-refundable, but it is transferable to another current or future available puppy from our program if your circumstances change.
Can I visit the puppies before go-home?
Yes — in-person visits are welcome Monday through Saturday by appointment, and we are also always happy to show a puppy on a video call.
What is included with my puppy?
Our go-home folder includes your puppy's clear vet check from our vet, their preventative treatments record — including vaccines and dewormings current for age — and your puppy's family tree and parents' Embark genetic health results. A small supply of their current food is also available upon request.
What's the total cost of a puppy?
Our puppy prices range from $3,500–$4,000, with the specific amount reflected on each puppy page. The deposit applies toward the balance, and delivery is free within Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, and North Carolina. Additional delivery rates apply beyond the free zone — shown on each puppy's page and on our delivery page. Within Virginia, a 5.3% VA sales tax applies on top of the total balance.
Do you offer puppies that come home already trained?
Yes. Our close friends at Much Ado About Doodles in Virginia offer a certified-trainer program — one or three months of professional obedience and socialization before hand-delivery. Training arrangements and payment are coordinated directly with Much Ado About Doodles. Full breakdown on our training page.

Health & Genetics

Our testing regimen, what's covered under the health guarantee, and what coat-panel verification actually guarantees.

What genetic testing do your parent dogs receive?
Both parents in every pairing carry a full Embark genetic panel — 200+ canine conditions — and are coat-panel verified to carry only non-shedding variants. We will not move forward with a pairing that does not clear both.
What does the Embark health panel cover?
200+ canine genetic conditions, across the full breed-specific panel for our Goldendoodle, Bernedoodle, and Cockapoo lines.
What is your health guarantee?
One-year base coverage, extendable to two years with NuVet (code 594016). Full terms are on our health-guarantee page.
Are your puppies hypoallergenic?
Yes. Both parents in every pairing are coat-panel verified for non-shedding. No dog is non-allergenic, so if allergies are a concern, spend time with a similar-coated doodle or poodle before reserving.
What does “non-shedding” actually mean day to day?
A non-shedding coat does not release hair around the house the way a shedding coat does. You may see loose strands during brushing, but you should not see hair collecting on furniture or floors.
What do F1, F1B, and “multigenerational” mean?
F1, F1B, and multigenerational describe a dog's ancestry. Generation alone does not tell us enough about the coat, so both parents are coat-tested before a pairing goes forward. Every parent is at least F1B; most are multigenerational. Our breed and coat guides walk through it in full.
What vaccines and deworming have puppies had before go-home?
Puppies stay current for age while with us. Before 8 weeks: multiple broad-spectrum deworming courses, age-appropriate Spectra 5-Way vaccines, and a clear vet check before go-home.

Training & Socialization

Early socialization, crate conditioning, when to start training, and what to expect in the first six months.

How do you socialize your puppies before go-home?
Daily handling and gentle crate introduction are the parts we focus on most. Puppies stay with their dam and littermates through the full eight weeks. The real training rhythm picks up at go-home with you; what we're after before that is steady temperament.
When should formal training start?
Start house rules and routines on the first day home. The 8–16-week window is especially useful for building good habits because puppies are highly receptive to new experiences.
How long does house training typically take?
This will be different for every family, but with great consistency and puppy-proofing of the home, a puppy should be doing well after the first month home, and should be capable of being trusted for short unsupervised periods by three months home.
How do you recommend handling puppy biting and mouthing?
Redirect mouthing to a toy and pause attention if it continues. If mouthing earns petting or play, the puppy learns to repeat it. The phase usually eases after the adult teeth come in, around six months.
When is the best window for socialization?
Between 8 and 16 weeks. During this window the puppy's brain is uniquely malleable around novel experiences.
Do you recommend a specific training method?
Positive-reinforcement, marker-based training — clicker or verbal 'yes' — with high-value food rewards. Our three breeds are all soft-tempered and bring out their best with patient, reward-based training. If your last dog trained with correction-based methods, plan to lean more on rewards with a doodle.
Do you work with a professional trainer?
Yes. Our close friends at Much Ado About Doodles in Virginia offer a certified-trainer program — one or three months of professional obedience and socialization before hand-delivery, useful for early obedience, crate routine, leash foundations, and house training. Training arrangements and payment are coordinated directly with Much Ado About Doodles; full breakdown on our training page.
Could my puppy become a therapy, service, or emotional-support dog?
It can start with the right foundation. We breed for steady, people-oriented temperament and will help match you with a puppy whose disposition leans that way. What we can't do is promise a title — at eight weeks a puppy has the potential, not the credential. Service and therapy work depend on the training that happens after go-home. If you want a head start, the trained program through Much Ado About Doodles builds early obedience and socialization before delivery — see our training page.

Daily Care

Feeding, exercise, grooming, crating, and the practical logistics of raising a doodle.

What should I feed my puppy?
Puppies leave on a high-quality, age-appropriate puppy kibble. Our weekly updates tell you the exact food they're on, so you can have it ready for them when they go home. If switching food, transition to a new food gradually over 7–10 days by mixing increasing portions of the new into the old. Switching food abruptly is the most common cause of soft stool.
How much exercise does a puppy need?
Rule of thumb: 5 minutes of structured exercise per month of age, twice a day, until 12 months. A 3-month-old needs about 15 minutes per session; a 6-month-old about 30. Beyond that, free play in a yard and short walks round out the day. Plan to avoid particularly strenuous physical exertion, such as long runs, until growth plates close (12–14 months).
How often should I groom my doodle?
Brush with a straight-tooth comb at least once per week, and ensure the comb slides through their coat smoothly before you're done. Plan for a full professional groom every 2–3 months.
Do doodles need a crate?
The crate is a helpful training tool for the first few weeks home. It gives your puppy a safe place to rest and covers the gaps when you can't supervise. First-time dog families do best with one; experienced families can decide for themselves.
At what age should I spay or neuter?
Our pet-only contract calls for spay/neuter between 7 and 12 months. If your vet recommends a different timing for medical or developmental reasons, let us know and we'll be happy to work with you on that.
How often do doodles need their ears cleaned?
Typically it is best to apply gentle ear flush and wipe ears every two weeks. Drop ears can trap moisture, and doodles also grow ear-canal hair which amplifies that. A five-minute home clean every two weeks, and asking your groomer to assess ear hair (and pluck as needed) each visit can avoid ear infections.

Delivery & Virginia

How pickup, hand-delivery, and out-of-state logistics work from our Appomattox farm.

Do you deliver puppies out of state?
Yes, delivery is free within Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, and North Carolina. Outside that zone we offer delivery at state-specific delivery rates, viewable on our delivery page.
Can I pick the puppy up in Appomattox?
Yes — in-person pickups are welcome and always available to any adopting family.
Can out-of-state buyers meet you halfway?
Yes. Meetups in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, or DC are free. A meetup elsewhere is charged at that state's delivery rate.
Do you deliver to Northern Virginia and the DC metro?
Yes — both are inside the free-delivery zone.
What's the go-home day schedule from Appomattox?
Puppies go home at 8 weeks at the earliest — your exact go-home date is set with you based on your availability. Pickup at the farm runs Monday through Saturday by appointment; Sundays are always off. Long-haul hand-deliveries (4+ hours one-way) run Monday through Friday so our delivery drivers get Sundays off.
Do you offer video updates before pickup?
Yes. After deposit, the portal opens with weekly photo and video updates through go-home day. Personalized video calls are available before and after the deposit too — book through our video-call page whenever the timing fits.

Still have questions?

Email us anytime — or book a video call to meet face-to-face before reserving.

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