I will tell you a bit about us and in the process I will share our experiences with working with Jan and Jim Rice. My husband and I have two boys ages 8 and 10. They of course wanted a dog for quite some time. We wanted to make sure we were doing the right thing before we purchased a dog. I did my research and fell in love with the Australian Labradoodle. I was on Rutland Manor's website and that is where I first learned of Jim and Jan Rice. I had a few questions so I emailed them almost a year ago. I had contacted other breeders but Jan was always willing to help us. She seemed interested in us and providing the right home for the puppy and not just selling a puppy. Jan was always the first to answer all of my questions. But at that time we had to wait on a puppy due to financial reasons.

Over the next several months my husband questioned of an Australian Labradoodle was worth the money. He had grown up on a small hobby farm with dogs but none were this expensive. We wanted a bigger dog but had allergies and I wanted an Australian Labradoodle because of all the wonderful things I had read and heard about them.

After several months of more research my husband and I decided the boys were ready and were at the perfect age for a puppy and my husband decided to give in. (Santa contacted Jim and Jan and a puppy would be available in a few months). Now we just had to wait.

Well, our puppy was born in February and we got to pick him up the end of April. It was a total surprise to the boys up to the hour before picking up the puppy. We live an hour from Rockford so we went to pick up our Tucker on a Friday night and told the boys we had some place to go. When we got in town we pulled over and told them the great news. I had made them a scrapbook of all the information about a Labradoodle and about Tucker's parents (Nalani and Macho Man) and pictures of the litter from the beginning until 10 weeks of age. It was the BEST moment ever! There were tears of joy. It was so nice to finally meet Jan after a lot of emailing before and a lot during the pregnancy. I think I sent her over 100 emails of questions. She was so nice and always replied by saying I was not bothering her. When we met it was like we already knew each other.  

The boys want you to know Tucker is perfect! He has been a very good puppy. He was potty trained in a few days. We trained him to go ring jingle bells by the door when he needed to go outside and he does this very well today. He slept in his kennel at night and pretty much slept through the night right away. Within weeks we were training him and he learned his name, to come, to sit. We started puppy classes and since learned a few more things. He knows down, off, roll over, speak, wait, and the boys love that he knows how to give a high five. He will tap his paw on your hand if you ask for a high five. He is very smart. He loves to make you smile and laugh. This summer I had surgery and it is so true how a dog can sense something is wrong. He wanted to be near me a lot.    

I can honestly say he is so much like a description of a Labradoodle. If you ask my husband now he will say Tucker was worth it! He has never been around a dog quite like him. He is the color we wanted, his fur is what we wanted and they really do a great job testing the puppies to find the perfect one for you.

Since our adoption we still keep in touch with the Rice's. I try to update them on Tucker's growth and still email them with questions. I can only say wonderful things about them. I know if we ever consider adding another to our family that we will contact them right away!

We have met so many new people because of him and have enjoyed sharing our experiences. I can honestly say we are so happy we got him. He makes us laugh every day and makes us smile.  Tracy - Wisconsin

I just wanted to give you a little update on Finnigan. Last weekend we went to a family picnic at my husband's sister's place and everyone there was so enthralled with Finnigan. With the exception of my sister, no one had ever met him before (a lot of them had never heard of an Australian Labradoodle) and just couldn't get over his size (for six months), his coat (so soft and curly) and his nature (calm but comical character who listened well and never left the yard). My brother in law just kept saying "I really like that Finnigan!". My nephew (who was home for a visit with his girlfriend) was to pick up a new puppy when they got back home...made a statement that they should have chosen a Labradoodle. Finnigan just lapped up all the attention.

They have a pond which he just loved playing in. He would go to the water's edge to get a drink and each time he would go a bit further in and then would jump as high as he could back out of the water and run as fast as he could run! It was so funny, he had everybody laughing!

Finnigan is everything I hoped for and more. He is a real joy to have. I have heard a lot of comments about Labradoodles from groomers and vets and most of them have been negative. But then they meet Finnigan and they can't believe how different he is. I just tell them that's because he's not a Labradoodle as they know Labradoodles but an Australian Labradoodle and they are two very separate breeds.  Deanna - Pennsylvania

When I started to search for my present service dog (mobility assistance), I looked at Labradoodles. Did not know squat about them, nor the difference between local mixes and the Australians. I happened on a site in Oregon, and corresponded and talked with a lady from there (Aprina Labradoodles) for about a year. She had an excellent site with all kinds of information. Just as I was going to try to figure out how to make a trip out there to get a pup when the time came (fly with a service dog and bring a pup home at the same time????), that breeder quit breeding the large version. Since she knew that was what I wanted, she referred me to Jan Rice with a glowing recommendation. I was thrilled because Jan was only two hours from my home in Illinois (I also have a home in Tennessee). I corresponded and chatted with Jan for several months. Her litters for winter/spring of '07 were all spoken for, but the litters in the fall were the best timing for me anyway. I wrote note after note with questions as they popped up, and she was a darling about letting me learn more about the breed. She knew and watched for the best pup for my needs, and I really think she made an excellent choice. She wrote note after note as he developed - even though I did not know who "he" was nor whether it was he or she at that point (color and gender were not important factors for me). Dosto is a Macho Man offspring, Mama being BeeJay. He is charming, beautiful, smart as a whip, a typical crazy puppy when playing outside with his "big brother" Pyr (my present service helper), and calm as can be inside. We have also started going into places of business -- as a service trainee in Tennessee he has the same access rights (once housebroken) as a fully trained dog. Every time, he makes me proud and off goes another thank you note to Jan. He has no formal training yet -- that comes much later. But he walks quietly with me behind the shopping cart, loves to greet the adoring strangers (there are rules about that, also), and generally shows every indication of being the perfect service dog.

I think my present puppy class trainer put it best when she watches Dosto for a few minutes and commented "What a gentle soul!". I have had two vets (Illinois and Tennessee) comment on Dosto's dignified behavior, one when he was only 12 weeks old. He can act like a typical idiot puppy at play (to quote a trainer). and yet knows when company/indoor manners are called for. Even my husband is impressed -- and to him, a dog is a dog basically. But not this one.

I have always been a multi-dog owner, and I wish I were young enough to have another of Jan's just as a pet. I know I made the best choice I could have with Dosto.

Barb - Tennessee and Illinois

I cannot tell you how happy we are with Pepper. As I've said before, Pepper embodies all the virtues listed on your website. Wes and I simply cannot believe that it is possible for the same dog to have such a wonderful temperament that combines calm and trainability with an untiring desire to play and have fun. Pepper exceeds my dreams as a dog buddy for David and everyone else in the family, too.

Again Jan, this is a wonderful dog. I am constantly grateful to you for making her available to us.  Andrea - Illinois

I take Fred to work at least one day a week, he went last Friday and I thought you'd enjoy knowing the following regarding his visits, (the names have been changed).

One lady, "Liz" has gone from giving him a little pat on the head to really giving him a vigorous rub, they love each other.

"Dom" is a man with advanced Alzheimer's, he usually communicates with sounds and facial expressions that look like he is crying. When Fred came to visit, "Dom's" eyes lit up, he reached forward smiling and stroked him, cooed at him and said all kinds of loving words. The staff hesitated in their work and eventually looked up to see what was going on. Every one was so surprised to see such a reaction and interaction and such smiles from "Dom".

One more story. "Alice", another resident with Alzheimer's Disease usually holds her hands around her waist and paces up and down the corridor all day long. She doesn't like to talk to people or be touched and she mumbles along. Well, introduce Fred in to the picture........."Alice" smiles, her eyes dance. She comes over to me and gradually her mumble becomes words and then sentences, complete and clear. She not only holds my hand to guide me and Fred to visit folks but she laces her fingers in mine and we walk all over, and she tells me she likes Fred and she even gave him a treat!

I could go on but I think you get the picture. OK, one more. Our staff has been a little down and many asked me to bring Fred in, they needed a hug from him. One of the Physical Therapists kept taking Fred's photo every time he saw him.

MJ - Illinois