We were ready to add a dog to the family and knew we wanted a Doodle (original, I know). We tracked a few rescue sites but nothing came up in our area that matched our family dynamic.
We finally made the decision to go through a breeder and began extensive research. We reviewed every breeder within a 4 hour driving distance of Charlotte. Temperament was most important, followed by size and cost.
We originally set a budget of $1,500 but quickly reaalized that kept us in the backyard breeder category. Don't get me wrong. We visited one of these breeders and her new puppies. Her home was gorgeous and her dogs were well cared for but she lacked the proven track record we were hoping for.
We spoke to a few more breeders but I wasn't happy with the inconsistency in litters. Many breeders were just breeding multiple dogs and they were coming out different sizes, with a variety of temperaments and coats. Again, I didn't want surprises. Long story short, we came upon Doosouth and although they were priced outside of our original budget we decided the extra cost was worth the quality.
The things I liked off the bat:
*Ed was very informative and happy to answer all of my questIons via phone. We spoke multiple times and he was always accommodating.
*They've been in operation for over 13 years and breed multigenerational Labradoodles - and JUST labradoodles.
*He was one of the few breeders who let us come out to meet both the mom and dad and get a peek of the pups. They hadn't had their first round of shots yet so we couldn't interact with them.
*The price ranges between $1,850- 2,150. Although it's not the lowest around, it's very fair and competitive.
*The kennel facility they have on their property was well organized and they seem to genuinely care about their dogs.
After our initial visit we were satisfied and put down a deposit. In 2 weeks we go back to pick out and take home our new pup.
Update to follow! read more
