Frequently Asked Questions

You might have some questions that need answering, especially about buying a puppy from Canada and bringing it back to the States. Windsor Doodle is here to help!

I live in USA and I want to buy a puppy from Windsor Doodle, what are the logistics about crossing the border with a puppy?

As of August 1st, 2024, no puppy under the age of 6 months will be allowed to enter the USA by land, air or sea. This will include puppies that were originally born into the USA. 

Puppies older than 6 months of age will need to have been Microchipped and have been administered a rabies vaccination FOLLOWING being microchipped. You will not be allowed to cross until 30 days after said vaccination has been administered. 

In addition, a CDC Dog Import form receipt will be required that was issued within 6 months of crossing into the USA. The dog must also appear to be in good health at the time of crossing to avoid quarantine measures. For more information, visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/dogtravel.

Previous to 2019, the law was that every puppy needed a rabies vaccination to cross the border and it had to be administered 30 days before crossing, which didn't allow puppies to cross the border into the USA until 4 months old (See here). In 2020, things changed a bit for bringing a dog to the USA FROM CANADA specifically. Canada is not amongst those countries in the list for high risk of rabies (See list here); a list made by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), who work closely with the CBP (Customs and Border Protection) in deciding the animals that may or may not cross the border. From 2019 to 2024 August, it was allowed for puppies that had been born and brought up in Canada to cross into USA without a Rabies Vaccine. 
Beginning August 1st, 2024, this will no longer be the procedure. Please see the above point entitled "NEW RULES BEGINNING AUGUST 1ST, 2024". 
Please be aware that returning to Canada with the same puppy is a completely different story and coming into the USA from any country other than Canada has it's own set of rules. If you would like to confirm all this with CBP, please do so by calling them at +1 313-226-3141.

All this being said, Windsor Doodle strongly recommends that you do have a vet administer the rabies vaccine to your pet after 3 months old so that this low risk rabies situation remains the same. It is both for your family's safety and the safety of those around you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

When crossing the border from Canada to the USA with any dog, no duties and taxes apply at the USA border for the importation of dogs as personal pets. However, when crossing the border from USA to Canada with a dog purchased in the USA, duties and taxes do apply, so please take that into account when crossing. 

Being in a border city, we completely understand the hardship of exchanging money and we are completely willing to accept US Dollars as payment. How do we do that? Windsor Doodle would take the Google Exchange Rate for the total price the day you pay, including taxes which will be 13% in Ontario, and that is the price you would pay in US dollars. You will receive a receipt for your purchase that portrays this exchange.
However, with the change in rules, when purchasing a puppy from Windsor Doodle that is below 6 months of age, you will have to be responsible for fees related to food, veterinary medicine and care for your puppy from the point at which you put a deposit on a puppy over 8 weeks old until that puppy reaches the approved time to cross the border into the USA at 6 months of age.
If your puppy is over 6 months of age, you will be responsible for any fees related to gathering the necessary paperwork to prepare your puppy for crossing the border into the USA.  

How much is a Puppy and what comes with them?

Probably, the most common question we receive is "how much is a puppy?" This is outlined in other sections of our website, but there is nothing wrong with being repetitive. 

The price for each of our Australian Labradoodle puppies is $3000 Canadian +HST (tax).

Each of our Multi-Generational Australian Labradoodle puppies comes with their first Vet check, microchipping, deworming and their first set of vaccines. Each puppy also comes with it's own two year genetic health guarantee, which is outlined in our puppy contract. We also will be sending our puppies home with a one month, free trial for Trupanion pet health insurance.

They will also come with a starter puppy packet that includes coupons from Purina Pro Plan for a small bag of puppy food, three free cans of wet food and 30 day supply of Purina Pro Plan Probiotic chews, a puppy blanket with mother's scent, some starter treats, a toy, a dog bell for your door and some information about having a new puppy, as well as Vaccine Cards for the veterinarian they have already been seeing. Also included will be a copy of the puppy's pedigree and their registration papers with WALA, as well as your copy of the Puppy Contract. Last but not least, they will be coming home with a one month, free trial of Trupanion pet health insurance. 

As puppies grow older, we invest more time, energy and money into each puppy. We work with them on training, basic obedience and social skills. We keep their vaccines updated with at least two more vet visits during their first year. That being said, we do not lower the cost of puppies as they grow older. If anything, the cost should go up as you are getting a more advanced puppy. However, we keep our price the same throughout their lives at $3000 + 13% HST.

Can you tell me more About the Australian Labradoodle Breed Characteristics?

Australian Labradoodles are an intricate breed of dog and we encourage you to do as much of your own research as you can and ask all your questions before settling on this breed to ensure you are making the best decision for your home and lifestyle.

Australian Labradoodles from Windsor Doodle are expected to reach an average weight between 25lbs to 40lbs. Males do tend to be heavier and females, a bit leaner.

Other than the diet recommended for all other dogs in the world, no, doodles do not have a special diet. Some doodles have been found to possess a chicken allergy and this can be exhibited through chronic ear infections and chewing at itchy feet. It's easily solved by moving them from a chicken diet to a beef or salmon or lamb diet. Dogs, in general, do have a list of foods they should not eat due to major medical issues. These include: chocolate (white, milk and especially dark), grapes and raisins, garlic, onions, dairy (I do recommend this one on a case by case basis dependent on lactose tolerance of the individual dog), animal fat, many forms of candy and gum (specifically those containing substitute sugars such as xylitol), as well as many types of nuts and leaves (tomato leaves, pepper leaves, etc.) What I will always recommend in this case is when in doubt, "Ask Google."

The best thing we have found about this breed is their adaptability. When we want to chill in front of the TV and binge watch a series, these dogs are right there with us sleeping on the couch cuddling with all four paws in the air. If we want to go for a walk, at any given time, this dog is right up there to go with us. They tend to assimilate themselves to your energy. They do nip and bite when they are puppies and one of their faults is digging, but they are very intelligent and trainable dogs that strive to make you happy, and you can use that trait to bring about the behavior you want if you are willing to put in the time. These dogs are loyal to a fault, meaning you will sometimes turn around and not see them because they are that close to your behind when you walk. They tend to imprint on the person that takes the most responsibility for them and follow them everywhere. That being said, you will need to work on separation anxiety with this breed as they do become quite attached.

Do Australian Labradoodles shed? No, we have not experienced any shedding in our home from these dogs. Are they hypoallergenic, meaning, if you have an allergy to pets, would you be less prone to have an allergy to this type of dog? The answer is not a simple one. They are hypoallergenic dogs when referring to their hair, but if your allergy is from saliva or bodily fluids or from some other trigger, you may still have reaction to this type of dog. The only way to know for sure is to be around them and find out. Without knowing you, we would not be able to say for sure if you will have an allergic reaction to an Australian Labradoodle. 

When we first brought home our daughter in 2018 October, Chumu was for sure jealous and it took some getting used to for her to acclimate to not being the center of attention, but now she and our 3-year-old son and our 4-year-old daughter get along splendidly. They share food, they play ball, they both share the love. My sister had a cousin of Chumu's from the same breeder. Her puppy arrived when her daughter was just four years old and those two were inseparable. When their new daughter came along two years ago, he was her protector; always hypersensitive to her feelings and moods. Vincenzo came to live with us in 2020 and he has been amazing with both of our kids from day one. When Windsor Doodle says these make great family dogs, we speak from experience.

This is a great question and something every doodle owner should know. Most doodles, because they don't shed, will experience a higher tendency to matt their fur. To avoid this as best as possible, using a slicker brush at least every other day is mandatory and using a metal comb when encountering a matt is a good practice to use. Beyond that, being seen by a groomer for a cut should happen at least every two months. A bath and blow dry with some line brushing should take place every 4 weeks. Matting in dogs like doodles can result in extreme pain if not tended to on a regular basis. The matting is the result of the undercoat tangling on itself and pulling on the dogs skin. The more severe the matting, the more pain your dog may be in. Getting wet while matted will make the tangles tighter and the pain will become worse, so brushing before bathing or going in the water is a priceless practice for your time and efforts.

Australian Labradoodles Vs Aussie Doodles?

We are constantly asked about our "Aussie Doodles" and would like to take this opportunity to clarify what exactly is an Aussie Doodle. 

Australian Labradoodle - A dog bred, originally in Australia, to be a hypoallergenic, non-shedding service dog with a blend of Cocker Spaniel, Poodle and Labrador Retreiver. 

Aussie Doodle - A newer type of dog that is another spin-off from the original Labradoodle idea; Aussie Doodles are a cross between a Poodle and an Australian Shepherd. 

These are not the same dog and have received their names under entirely different circumstances. 

Questions related to Windsor Doodle, our practices and recommendations

We would never want you to buy a puppy without first vetting your breeder to ensure their best interest lies with the puppy and the breed in question. Ensure that you are purchasing from a reputable breeder who follows best practices and health guidelines and gives you the information you need to start off right. 

Windsor Doodle is a registered breeder with the World Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA). We follow their standards and guidelines, we are in contact with multiple other breeders for best practices and up-to-date puppy raising guidelines.

At Windsor Doodle, our first priority is the safety and security of the puppy. We want to take all steps to ensure they are being received to a good home that is capable of taking care of them. This includes the ability to take your pet to a vet when necessary. We want everyone to be safe and happy, including your new puppy.  

The only time I have ever used a kennel for my dog is when she was a puppy and we were potty training and house training. This ceased after 4 months of age when we started confining her to a small room, in our case the bathroom, while we weren't at home and eventually we were comfortable letting her have free roam of the house. Since then, the only time we use the kennel is to take the cats to the vet. all the photos seen of Australian Labradoodles on this site are of our dogs that we have bred or own. As you can plainly see, they are very spoiled and we love them very much.

We cannot tell you the number of times we get this question and we appreciate the blunt honesty of those who ask it, as they are just trying to do their best not to contribute to the problem. Windsor Doodle is not a puppy mill. We have one male and one female that we breed. They are family pets that we treat as such. We take them on our vacations if possible, they sleep in our bed with us and lay on our couch with us to watch television. Our dogs play with our kids and and each other. We raise their puppies in our home alongside our family and they are given the best care we can provide and homes are vetted and interviewed before any puppy is placed. 

Windsor Doodle does keep a master waiting list that carries over from litter to litter. We don't take deposits for our waiting list - we only ask that you fill out our puppy application in order to be considered. We confirm our waiting list at the beginning of each heat and we take deposits once we have determined the top five on our waiting list for each litter. 

As a matter of fact, no we do not. We are exclusively breeders of the Australian Labradoodle in the medium size. We also do not breed mini or standard sizes of the Australian Labradoodle or any other type of doodle. 

What to expect when purchasing a puppy from Windsor Doodle?

We do have a page specifically related to these questions called Our Adoption Process, but some of the most common questions we receive are listed here as well. 

YES! We are taking deposits. We will always encourage you to fill out our puppy application as we draw only from our puppy applications to find our puppies suitable homes. To find out more about our how our waiting list works, please visit our page on adoption process.

In the event that Windsor Doodle takes 5 deposits for a litter and we are only able to produce 4 puppies for adoption, the non-refundable deposit becomes refundable at that point. If you would like your deposit back, we are more than happy to refund it in the event we cannot provide you with a puppy. If you wish, we can also hold your deposit and you will have first pick, or close to it, in the next litter.

A Breeder reserve is a puppy that has been reserved by the Breeder to use in their breeding program. This puppy is not listed as "for sale" and is kept by the breeder or hosted in a Guardian home located within an hour's drive of the Breeder's location. Breeder reserve could also mean we are holding back the puppy for another breeder. 

The puppies will be eligible for their new homes when they turn 8 weeks of age.

Windsor Doodle will be taking the puppies to receive their first shots at 6 weeks of age, as well as deworming and microchipping. At 8 weeks of age, you will pick up your puppy and we will deworm them again. At 10 weeks of age, you will take your puppy to the veterinarian of your choice and get their second set of vaccinations and their third and final deworming. At 14 weeks of age, you will take your puppy to get their third set of vaccinations. At 3 months of age is when they can receive their rabies vaccination. Finally, at 6 months of age, your puppy will need to be Spayed/Neutered per our contract agreement. Anything beyond these layed out requirements is between you and your veterinarian.

Owning a puppy is a lot of work, from potty training to learning how to walk on a leash to learning how to follow simple instructions. All these things take time and are usually the result of the owner putting in a lot of their personal time. Many people do use obedience schools, but here at Windsor Doodle, we believe the best teacher is the one who spends the most time with the puppy. Patience is definitely key and resources are abundant for doing these things at home. A good recommendation we can make is Zak George's Dog Training found on Youtube.com and another great resource is the Baxter and Bella Online Puppy Training school.

We Recommend
Baxter and Bella

We understand that everyone is having a hard time getting into training programs and maybe not getting the training they need for their puppy, so we are recommending the online puppy school that comes into your home virtually. 

Online Puppy Training School

Baxter and Bella has resources for all your puppy training needs and even provides one-on-one 20 minute training sessions over video chat, so that you can get the personal attention your dog requires. Use the code: WINDSOR to get 25% off on your lifetime subscription (one time fee).

Learn More

How Can An Australian Labradoodle have a Pedigree?

Australian Labradoodles, while a new line of dogs, has been in existence for the last 30 years or so and is highly sought after. Those with a dog that can predict coat features, demeanor, training reaction tendencies, potential health issues.... these breeders have been working on bettering this line of Australian Labradoodles and we have multiple kennel clubs, such as the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA), the World Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA) and the Australian Labradoodle Club of America (ALCA), all dedicated to preserve the integrity of the Australian Labradoodle breed through rigorous health testing, pedigree tracking, breeder quality and trait qualities. With their help, we have been able to track these dogs with a line of Australian Labradoodles parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on. Which is why we can call her a Multi-Generational Australian Labradoodle.  

Address

Normandy Street
Windsor, ON, N9J 1X9

Contacts

Phone: 248-982-2908
puppies@windsordoodle.com

Waiting List

Puppy Application
Puppy Adoption Process