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…love me tender
All Heart Labradoodles is a small breeding concern, owned and run by Donna Hobbs Keyworth and John Keyworth. In 2022, we relocated from Castlemaine to the vibrant regional town of Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges, about an hour’s drive north of Melbourne.
All Heart Labradoodles was established in 2020 with the acquisition of La Maison Thandi, our foundation breeding girl. The name “Thandi” is from a Zulu word meaning “sweet one” or “beloved”. It couldn’t be more apt.
La Maison Thandi was our first Labradoodle. She was chosen with great care because we wanted to ensure that our foundation girl had a sweet temperament and an excellent bill of health. The importance of ensuring that a puppy’s parents are clear of inherited diseases cannot be over-emphasised. This is what drew me to the Australian Labradoodle Association (ALA), of which I am a provisional member.
The ALA has a strict Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations by which accredited breeders must abide. Above all else, the ALA is committed to protecting the Australian Labradoodle through ethical, responsible breeding practices including the compulsory health screening of all breeding stock; limiting the number and frequency of litters per female; stringent record keeping; and acting with integrity in our dealings with others.
At All Heart Labradoodles, the wellbeing of our dogs and puppies is paramount. Labradoodles love human interaction and make wonderful companions. Our dogs are an integral part of our family and we want our puppies to go to homes where this philosophy is shared.
All Heart Labradoodle puppies will spend their first eight to nine weeks of life in our home where they will be handled, monitored and socialised on a daily basis. We will ensure puppies are well nourished, safe, cuddled and socialised, which entails exposing the pups to a variety of experiences, sounds, smells and people within a safe and controlled environment. The litter’s mum will remain with her puppies as long as it is in their mutual best interests for her to do so.
Our aim is quite simply to breed the best puppies we can. This relies on using carefully selected breeding stock, but also on a total commitment to giving our puppies the best possible start. Dogs have enhanced our lives immeasurably and we are 100% committed to their wellbeing.
When you purchase an All Heart puppy, you will be provided with detailed information on puppy care, feeding, training and health. You will be encouraged to keep in touch and questions are genuinely welcome. What I don’t know, I will endeavour to find out. Working with animals is a constantly evolving process in terms of both knowledge and experience. I am fortunate in having great support from my fellow breeders within the Australian Labradoodle Association and will in turn provide advice and guidance to purchasers of our All Heart puppies.
For your convenience, here are answers to the most frequently asked questions. If you can’t find the answer you are looking for, please feel free to get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer any question you may have.
When we have a confirmed pregnancy, we will advertise an upcoming litter on our website and via the Australian Labradoodle Association (ALA) website. Anyone on our waitlist will be contacted first and applications will be invited at that point. Once the puppies are born, we will contact successful applicants and request a non-refundable $1,000 deposit to hold a puppy.
The price of an All Heart Labradoodle puppy is $4,000 (current as at August 2022).
The price includes fortnightly worming, first vaccination, microchipping, desexing and an Australian Labradoodle Association registration certificate. Desexing is compulsory.
The puppy price does not include transportation of the puppy. We can arrange this on your behalf for an additional charge.
You will be welcome to meet the litter’s mother, but the stud dog will most likely be owned by another breeder. As such, the litter’s father will not be available to meet. The dam and sire will be carefully selected based on temperament, health screen results, size, coat type and colour. Photographs of both parents will be available.
Generally, no. The application form asks you to outline your preferences in terms of gender, colour, temperament and size. In most instances, we will allocate puppies based on their emerging characteristics and our own observations. However, where two or three puppies appear very similar, you may have an opportunity to choose from a series of photos.
We follow strict protocols when it comes to protecting the health of the litter and their mother. At such a young age, puppies have poorly developed immune systems and are highly susceptible to picking up diseases. You will be welcome to visit us and observe the litter a few days after they have had their first vaccination at 6 weeks. Note that you will be asked to remove or disinfect your shoes and sanitise your hands before handling your puppy.
Generally, yes. However, current COVID restrictions, sudden border closures and reduced flight numbers have made this more challenging as the puppy may have to endure longer than ideal wait times. All Heart Labradoodles will not fly puppies interstate for the foreseeable future. Road transport can be arranged, or you can collect your puppy from us. Please enquire via allheartlabradoodles@gmail.com to discuss the best option for your circumstances.