My husband and I had an amazing experience with Above and Beyond Standards! We brought home our sweet standard poodle puppy in July (Penny and Sebastian's May Litter), and have only positive things to say about working with the Harringtons.

We found Above and Beyond Standards through an internet search, and were initially drawn to them by the excellent bloodlines and health clearances that their dams and sires have. We reached out in October 2020 to complete a puppy application for a standard poodle. The form that we submitted was very thorough, asking about our family, our living situation, and our experience with dogs. I could tell from this initial interaction that Above and Beyond Standards cared about their puppies well-being and would ensure they are all placed in good homes.

In December 2020, Lauren reached out letting me know that they had planned their 2021 litter. We quickly paid the application fee and were officially on the list for Penny and Sebastian's planned litter. While we waited over the next few months, Lauren gave us consistent updates and answered all questions we sent her way.

Our girl was born on 5/21/21. In the 8 weeks while she remained with her mom and littermates, we were provided consistent photo updates, training information, general puppy advice, a recommended supply list, and even had a Zoom call to meet the pups! Rosie was so well taken care of in these weeks - loved by the Harrington family, cuddled by their kiddos, and given the proper veterinarian care that a puppy requires. Her mom, Penny, had such a great temperament and was proud to show off her pups too.

At 8-weeks old, our Rosie Cotton was ready to come home! We drove 3 hours to get her from where they are located in Western NC. Rosie was absolutely perfect from the start. One thing that helped her a lot in her transition from her mom and littermates was the Snuggle Puppy and blanket that were given to us when we took her home. These items had the scent of her dog family on them, and the fact that the Harrington's thought of this was just another indication of how much they care about their puppies' wellbeing.

Now at 13-weeks old, Rosie is a beautiful girl, has such a sweet temperament and a very inquisitive mind. She is able to solve all of the dog puzzles we get her, is a great car companion, doesn't know a stranger, and was described as one of the "sweetest puppies we've ever had" by our veterinarian. I imagine one day we might look into getting another poodle to add to our family, and i have no doubts in my mind that we will be looking to Above and Beyond Standards Again.

~Madison Couch @madicarolcouch

A note to tell you how in love we are with our girl! She’s just perfect, is currently just over 30lbs, and is the sweetest, smartest, most cuddly dog we’ve ever met. She’s at her happiest when she’s laying on our laps or doing one of her puzzles. And she loves everyone! Dogs, cats, people, babies - no strangers in Rosie’s mind! Just can’t thank you enough ❤️

A Rosie Cotton update for you! She’s just the best little poodle! We are working on growing out her topknot now so we put her hair up every day - she is truly a little lady. And her snuggle puppy is still her favorite toy, she sleeps with it each night!

After some extensive research, we found Lauren's website through GANA's registered breeder program.

Communication 5 out 5
Lauren's communication throughout the process was exceptional. We always received prompt response from Lauren to all of our questions (big or small). Even after we had brought Drax home, she was just as quick to respond to our emails and offer advice on ensuring he would have a smooth transition.

Facilities 5 out 5
Lauren and her family welcomed us to their property to visit with the litter. Their facility shows how much they care about all the dogs and puppies as everything seems to be carefully set up to accommodate the dogs and ensure their safety and convenience. Our visit to their place in Jefferson confirmed we had made the right choice.

Our puppy 500 out 5
Drax has exceeded all of our expectations! He has the friendliest temperament and is very affectionate and playful. He has never met a stranger, and he loves playing with other dogs. He is a sharp little guy as well and he was house broken within his first week with us and was quick to learn sit, come and down commands. Lauren asked us what we were looking for in a dog and what our activities look like and Drax is the perfect match as she predicted.

~Dele+Karina+Drax

I absolutely LOVE our puppy we got from Above and Beyond Standards back in September. Bowie is the best puppy and super trainable. Working with Lauren was so easy and she was super helpful and communicated with us quickly when we had questions. The puppies are beautiful and loveable and I’m so grateful. ❤️ — with Bowie Zizzo-Gifford

~The Zizzo-Gifford Family

Bennett has molded herself into the family nicely. She’s fun, sweet, playful and extremely smart. She’s taken to training amazingly and we can’t get over how intelligent she is. We love seeing her little face all over the house. Her temperament is amazing. She tolerates anything and everyone. That’s what’s so amazing about her. We wouldn’t trade her for anything.

~The Gluck Family

Update: Bennett is beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most incredible dog I’ve ever met. Her temperament and personality is amazing. It doesn’t matter what situation she is in, she is comfortable and happy. Smart, trained, everything. She has surpassed every single expectation.

Update: Hey there...

Hope all is well and that your family is happy and healthy. I thought I’d share some photos of Bennett.

She is still the GREATEST dog on earth. She’s incredible. Whether it’s being Covid-Lazy on the Sofa or hiking for 8 Miles, shes always up for it.

She’s so easy going that we’ve even taken her with us on multiple vacations. There is no situation, no crowd, no person that makes her uncomfortable. She is the best addition to our family.

Hi Lauren,

We wanted to give you an update on how Charlie is doing. He has been fantastic! He's really smart and learning quickly. He is essentially housebroken at this point, still gets up once a night to use the restroom, but can otherwise sleep through the night. He has learned sit, down and come and is starting to get the hang of walking on a leash. He does like to chew so we have given him plenty of toys to fill the need. Also, he is growing quickly!

We are so happy with Charlie. He is a wonderful dog and we love him so much.

~Nick and Alex

4 Month Update:

Charlie is doing amazing! He is the sweetest little boy. He is so smart and has been so easy to train. He is very eager to learn. He is finally getting down walking on a leash. We also discovered that he LOVES the snow (we took him up to the mountains in Utah a few weeks ago). He is growing fast and already 22 lbs! Thank you again for all your help. We love him so much! 

Hi Lauren & Jonathon, 

Hope you and family are doing well and surviving bitter cold of this year! Cianna (aka Adeline's Purple Girl) is doing very well - she's 36lbs now. I've also included a picture of her after grooming on Jan 25, 2019. Wish she'd stay still long enough so I could include more pics, but will send as I can. She loves her toys, and to play fetch, so glad our yard is big and fenced. She's a happy little girl and has added so much joy to our lives! 

She's been to basic training and received her "graduation" certificate. We hope to start next training again soon. She absolutely loves people and greets so many whenever we take her into stores where pets are allowed. Many have asked where we got her, so we've passed on your website, face book info, and how wonderfully informative and accommodating you both are. 

~Linda & Lowell

Update: Hi Lauren,

Hope you and your family are doing well! Just a quick note to let you know Adeline & Alakay's little purple girl Cianna is doing very good. Not so little anymore - 43lbs and about 22" at shoulder. Training is going pretty well. We have a trainer that comes to our house, or, we meet her at stores where Cianna can go in. She absolutely loves and wants to greet everyone! Tried to get her in the pool - she decided "no" for now. We visited many doggie daycares in the area, and chose a great (and clean!!) one that she loves going to every week or two. Wanted to make sure she would be socialized, and that she got to play with other dogs. She keeps us very busy, and she has brought us so much joy. We love her so much - can't imagine life without her!! God bless you and yours! Lowell & Linda

Update: Hi Lauren,

Can't believe our Cianna Bella is 2 yrs old - seems like yesterday when we brought this little baby girl home with us. She has lost most of her puppy habits although she still likes stealing shoes! She is full of energy, loves running around the yard and playing ball, taking long walks, going for rides, and going into stores where pets are allowed. She goes most everywhere with us - love her so much and she is great company for us. Hope you and your family are doing well - God Bless! Lowell & LInda

Hi Lauren, 

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Hank (Cupid). He had his 16-week vet appointment yesterday and he was 31 pounds!! Our vet thinks he's going to be closer to 70 pounds full grown. He's been potty trained for over a month now. He rings a bell on our door when he needs to go out. He can sit, stay, wait for his dinner, and give his paw. He is SO smart! He loves fetch and laying in the sun. He also doesn't know a stranger. He wants to be friends with all people and dogs. We don't get far on walks. LOL. Hope you and your family are doing well! 

Best,

Jennifer

Update: Hi Lauren! I hope you and your family have been well. My husband and I took Cupid, now Hank, home in January 2019. He’s been the most wonderful dog. We couldn’t imagine our lives without him. We’re interested in adding a 2nd goldendoodle to our family. Hank is a 63 lb ball of fluff! I can't believe he will be 3 this month. He is such a handsome, goofy guy. He gets compliments everywhere we go. He is very friendly with all dogs and people. He has finally started to calm down a bit. He's pretty high energy and is happiest when he's had enough exercise. We take him to daycare once a week and that helps tremendously. Despite that, he is a love bug who also enjoys a good couch cuddle. I wanted to see what you’re expecting. Look forward to hearing from you. 

Update: Hi Lauren. Wanted to let you know Molly is doing great! She’s gotten adjusted to her crate and goes in fine now. Her eating schedule has been a little off but I think that’s starting to return to normal now too. She’s the biggest cuddle bug. She loves to sit in our laps. Haha. She’s been an excellent addition to our family. Thanks again.

Update: Hey Lauren! I wanted to let you know that Molly is doing great in her new home. We absolutely ADORE her! She’s such a happy go lucky little dog. I don’t know how we ever lived without her. ❤️

Lauren,

We are so happy we found Above and Beyond Standards!! You were fantastic to work with and so helpful from day one. Murphy is everything we hoped for, he is smart and has been so easy to train. He is so sweet, and we are amazed at how calm he is and adapts to different situations. Lawn mowers, hairdryers, the vacuum they did not faze him. He is so handsome, and I think he knows it! We will continue to send you lots of pictures. Thank you again, for a very special puppy. We absolutely adore him!! I will recommend you to all my friends and family!

 We appreciate all you did for Murphy and us!

 ~Diane and Jody

We are just in love! Doyle is so sweet, and is sleeping in his crate right now cuddled up with the toy you mailed. Thank you for all of the things you sent :) He ate his food right up and we quickly learned he needs to go outside right after! Just the sweetest! I have never fallen in love so quickly - he went in his crate on his own a few times today so thinking this is going to go well!

Update: Hi- just a note to let you know that Doyle is absolutely the sweetest and best addition to our family. He was trained so quickly, loves his pen and brings us so much joy. I work a couple of days and have a dog walker come in while I’m gone. She called me last week to see if I minded if she could come see Doyle on her day off :) He’s just the best - even as we fight through this nippiness stage!

Thanks again - we just love him!
~Liz & Family

Update:

Hi Lauren,
I know you are always predicting how big the puppies will be so I wanted to let you know for reference that Doyle is growing very nicely! At his appointment last week he weighed in at 27 lbs, at about 4.5 months old.
He is SO precious and sweet. We walk him regularly but we are training with the bells on the door to teach him how to let us know he needs to go out:) Hopefully it will go well!
Thanks again and hope all is well!
Liz

“Our family is SO excited to bring home a new puppy. Being first time dog parents, we have had SO many questions and have really appreciated Lauren’s willingness to help us every step of the way. She has been so awesome to work with in the last 6 months as we prepared for this spring’s litters. We also have been very impressed by how she takes every step to be sure she is breeding the healthiest possible puppies performing all recommended AKC and GANA recommended testing. She really goes above and beyond. We can’t wait to meet our puppy!”

Hi Lauren,

I just wanted to check in and let you know we are loving our sweet boy. He is so happy to see us in the morning and is the #1 reason my kids won’t sleep in anymore! He is a LOVE, weighing in at 18.5 lbs at 12 weeks, he still thinks he should be lap size and will grab his puppy and try to curl up in your lap when he greets you in the morning. The kids cannot wait to greet and love on their “sweet teddy bear!” 

He has slept for 9 hours in his crate at night without any anxiety, crying or accidents after a short two weeks potty training phase. He might have gone longer sooner but we were too nervous to ever wait for him to wake us up to go potty - I don’t know if it’s because of the set up at your house, but we had zero issues with whining or crying in his crate from day 1! During the day we can stand at the door and tell him to go potty and he will run out to his spot (off leash), go pee and come right back in. He is so smart and has been fun to train as he picks stuff up so well.

We started walking him through the neighborhood two weeks ago after his 3rd set of shots, and he sits calmly to meet ANY stranger - people always comment on how good his temperament seems! He really isn’t so sure about most other dogs he can see or hear but we are working through this and he starts puppy kindergarten next week so he can get more doggie interaction. He really wishes our cat would play with him- he keeps trying to prance around head down in submission to get him to engage, but Myko just looks at him in that “what’s your deal” way... but they are co-existing very well. 

We look forward to a less chompy pup, he is definitely teething. I have been impressed with his gentle mouth/bite inhibition for the most part when it comes to little human arms and legs, just hoping he gets through the mouthy stage with us as quickly as can be expected. We will keep in touch for sure and thank you guys for helping us bring home this sweet sweet boy!

~Kate and Family

Update: I don’t have many great pics of him right now except when he is passed out after walks on the kitchen floor because he never stops moving! He has discovered how fun the sprinklers are, when we weren’t watching the other week after they turned off he dug himself a muddy hole looking for it after it popped back down! Thanks again for helping us bring home our sweet crazy pup.

He weighs 46.4 pounds today at 6 months!! :-)

Kate

Augie is the best! His color is amazing. He is my husbands new best friend. He loves to play and take long walks. He sleeps in our bed every night and never barks. He is such a good boy. Our family is complete with our Augie the Doggie! He is now 14 weeks and 21 pounds. Augie is filled with love and joy. He is almost 100% potty trained, plays fetch and knows his name. He is so gentle with my two daughters and is just a big love bug. We couldn’t be happier!

~The Godek Family

Update: Augie The Doggie is almost 1!!!

Thank you so much for the best dog ever. He is my baby. I can’t imagine life without him. 
~Heather Godek

We picked up our sweet puppy Clara 4 weeks ago from Above and Beyond Standards and we fell in love right away! We can't say enough good things about the entire experience. Lauren was so communicative and helpful throughout the entire process. She prepared us so well for our new puppy and even followed through when we got home with her. Lauren cares so much about the health of her puppies and we know she'll be there for us if we needed anything for Clara again. Clara was housebroken almost right away and is just the sweetest, smartest and most perfect little puppy we could have asked for. During her routine healthy puppy visits to the vet, the vet said she's in perfect health. Everyone comments about how beautiful of a puppy she is. She's brought so much joy to our lives and we can't thank Lauren and her family enough for what they've done for us. We have recommended Above & Beyond to our friends that asked us for a breeder and would definitely get another puppy from Above & Beyond if and when we're ready to again. Thank you to Lauren and her wonderful family!

~Brandon and Christie

Update: Hi Lauren,

Been a while and hope all is going well with you and your family. Clara (who we renamed 'Bark Lee') is now four months old and doing great. She's an amazing puppy. Christie and I wanted to thank you for such a wonderful dog. (I attached some recent pics)

Christie left a review for Above and Beyond on your Facebook page - please let us know if you received it. If you'd like us to leave a review anyplace else, please let us know.

She loves to swim and explore... and she's incredibly intelligent (so she's quite sly at times, as well). All of the health check-ups have gone great and we followed your advice to space out the immunizations, thank you!

If you're ever in Los Angeles, please let us know!

Thank you,
Brandon, Christie and Bark Lee

Update: Hi Lauren,

We hope this email finds you and your family well. We want to thank you again for bringing Bark Lee into our lives. She is now 16 months and has grown to be the sweetest, most beautiful, intelligent dog - with the cutest personality. She’s brought so much joy and laughter into our lives and we’re so grateful to have her, especially during these trying and unusual times. Here are some of our favorite recent pics of Bark Lee. She’s such a happy, sweet dog! Thank you again and hope you and your family are well, safe and healthy! ~Christie and Brandon

"We couldn't be happier with the experience we had with Above and Beyond Standards. Months before the puppies were even born, Lauren continually made herself available to answer any questions we had via email and over the phone. In the weeks leading up to pick-up day, Lauren continued to provide excellent guidance as we prepared to welcome home our new family member. Pick-up day was flawless and we now have the healthy, well mannered puppy that we had always wanted. Strongly recommend Above and Beyond Standards to anyone considering a puppy given the excellent communication and the diligent care that Lauren and her husband put into each litter."

~Will & Mirrah

Hi Lauren,

Tito is doing great! He is learning so fast and sleeping longer and longer in his crate over night. Potty training is coming along with accidents here or there. He is starting to teeth. Overall, everyone he meets says he has an amazing calm personality.

The vet’s office was obsessed with how cute he was. He was 16.2 pounds.

We took him to the Sarah P Duke gardens this morning to sit outside in the shade for a little and he loved all the smells.

He starts his formal private puppy training when he hits 5 months and until then we are slowly doing the basics.

Here are some pictures!

We are in love!

Jamie and Matthew

Hi Lauren! Pic of Bailey at our Vet yesterday. She has gained over 4 pounds and is close to 19 pounds now—- getting so big! We are all really loving her and she’s doing so well. After one rougher day, she has gone 8 days now without a single accident in the crate or our house. ( we’ve been really consistent on getting her out but she also has large open space In our house where she is routinely. ) She walks on a leash like a champ now and loves our morning and evening walks—-mid day not so much with this heat! We just had trainer in and are starting to work on truly getting her to heal on walks and putting her on her elevated bed you recommended we get and having her stay there. Bailey immediately got sit within a day of being here ( imagine you all had worked with her on that) and understands sit gets you lots of petting and affection. Working on come and having a fair amount of success. We also have her run to our back door after a walk with “ go home” command at top of our driveway. This is an easy one though as she is eager to get in the air conditioning at that point! Her favorite spot is in the mudroom bathroom lying on the tile over the a/c vent! Have taken her to my best friends house several times to play with her dogs which Bailey loves. We’ve also had friends with younger kids come over and she is really good with them. We think Bailey is wicked smart and so fun/ funny! Brings us all lots of joy.

Of course there are still things to work on—- we have her much better on the play biting and nipping and have strategies to stop when she goes into one of those mouthy phases but still have to work on that at times as she has little periods where she really wants to be mouthy still. Very much a puppy and just trying to make her understand we aren’t available for that type of play!

Everyone who meets her raves over how incredibly cute and sweet she is.

Thank you thank you for this sweet sweet puppy. She is perfect for us. We all adore her already! ( she’s doing very well at night too—- no more accidents since that first night in her crate. We typically get up with her one time during the night which works well with her going down a little earlier than we think she went down with you all. Bailey also stays in her crate for the most part happily during the day when we have to go out and put her there. )

So blessed to have this newest member to our family—- thank you again. Hope all is well in North Carolina!

Laura and family

Update: Hi Lauren. Wanted to send you a pic of our sweet Bailey. She is with the trainer right now. This is the photo she sent of her lying calmly in the middle of a Cabelas ignoring all the distractions. Thought you’d like seeing her coloring at just past the 5 month mark. We love love love her. Had a hard time letting the trainer take her for a few weeks but I know this lady is an expert and has been doing this 30 years so will give us a jump start on obedience/ commands. Our parish priest highly recommended this trainer so I took it as divine inspiration!

On Baileys personality—— she is really sweet.....but not a complete pushover. She is very calm when meeting people and not hyper at all. Even before sending to trainer we had taken her to farmers markets where she behaved beautifully with all the chaos and kids and other dogs etc. She can be energetic when playing with other dogs but comes inside and is quite mellow. Of course she is not perfect and does some counter surfing or getting up on furniture we’ve forbidden but all in all she is really a wonderful puppy.....We adore her!

Hope all is well for you and your family. Thank you thank you for this sweet dog! We all love her dearly!

Warm regards,
Laura and family

Update: Hi Lauren. Bailey just turned 2years old. Time flies! I thought I’d send you a photo so you could see her coloring. Front chest is mainly that cafe AU lait cream color cross. She is the best dog ever. And my baby!! thank you for this sweet sweet member of our family. We all love her dearly! Such a source of joy and laughter!!

Warmly,
Laura

Update: Hi Lauren! Wanted to share a recent pic of Bailey who turns 3 years old next month. As you can see, her coloring and wavy soft coat are just beautiful. She turned a cafe au lait color as you predicted…. even though I couldn’t imagine it when we got her as she had a lot of gold coloring as a puppy. People often remark on her coloring…. Almost as many as remark on her temperament. She is very gentle and sweet as can be, but also playful if outside with other dogs. She even is gentle enough to help socialize our neighbors teacup puppy who is all of 2 pounds!

Thank you thank you for this sweet member of our family. We love her! Hope all is well for you and your family!

Laura

Hi, Just thought I would send a quick note letting you know we are all totally in LOVE with Rory! He is just an amazing puppy and has been just a wonderful addition to our family.
He has transitioned easily and is sleeping, eating and playing well. So far house potty training has been going very well. He seems very easily trainable and smart. We also appreciate how chill and calm he has been in his crate. Will send more updates soon! Thanks, Leah

Update: Hi! Just wanted to share our super cute pictures we had done with Rory. He has just been an absolutely delight and we are so in love with him! ️

He is continuing to grow healthy and happy! Thanks again, Take care
~Leah & Family

Update: Just wanted to share some adorable pictures of Rory! He has been such an amazing puppy and has brought so much joy to our family. He is so smart, energetic, affectionate and playful. We are so in love with him and his breed. Thank you again,
The Smith Family

Rory turned 1 yesterday! He enjoyed his birthday cake and presents!

This little nugget is so amazing and such a great fit for our family. My golden retriever and Zuzu are inseparable! She weighed 19 pounds at 13 weeks which is 4 pounds heavier than my golden was at the same age. She also may be one of the smartest dogs I’ve ever owned. Not only does she learn a new trick almost daily, she has figured out how to open the gate to the kitchen. My golden stood behind an accordion trifold 18 inch gate that was not connected to anything for 2 years before she nudged it open. At 11 weeks Zuzu figured out that she could put her paw through a new installed gate, pull the gate toward her and sneak through before it swung closed. She keeps us on our toes, she is always one step ahead of us. 🤣.

Thanks again for everything, we are madly in love with our girl!

~Judy & Family

Hi Lauren,

Btw, Buddy is doing great! I posted a message on Facebook a few days ago and mentioned your business. He’s loving our backyard although it’s been pretty hot and humid the last few days. He loves taking walks with us and has been a big hit with the neighbors. My parents come this weekend to meet their grandpuppy. This far he learned to go up and down steps his first day, he’s learned sit and we’re working on stay and most of the time he can make it out to the backyard before he pees and he’s only pooed once in the house on his first night. He’s very smart, funny and loves to be pet and played with. We have him using a maze bowl for his food because he was eating it too quickly. He’s started play biting but not rough stuff yet so we’re doing our best to curb that behavior.

Also we went to the vet on Monday and he’s a very healthy pup with no worms or parasites. We have follow up appointments scheduled in early August.

Thank you!!! We love our Buddy so much!

~Amy & Family

Facebook Mention:

“The past few days have been a blur as we welcomed the latest addition to our family. Say hello to Buddy our 9 week old English Teddy bear Golden Doodle. He is smart, loving, gentle and often hilarious. He learned to go up and down stairs in less than a day and is learning sit and stay now. Potty training, however, is very much a work in progress. 🤦‍♀️ We’re so excited he finally joined us and can’t wait to share him with our family and friends.

BTW, the breeders we got Buddy from are in Jefferson, NC (not far from Boone for any of my Appstate or NC friends). They are by far the most professional, high-standard breeders of Doodle dogs we found and we did a ton of research. If you’re looking for a healthy doodle puppy definitely check them out: Above and Beyond Standards”

When we first became interested in Goldendoodles (thanks to a neighbor), I contacted the G.A.N.A. organization and in turn got in touch with Lauren Harrington of ABOVE AND BEYOND STANDARDS.

I knew immediately we had chosen the right breeder. She is very knowledgeable about the breed and always returned my phone calls or e-mails.

She patiently explained the meaning of F1B (several times to me, haha).

She and her husband are both very dedicated dog lovers which is very evident when you first meet them.

We picked up TEDDYBEAR last week and drove 11 hours to his new home in Florida. During the long drive he never whined, whimpered, cried, barked or jumped around. My wife and I took turns driving so one of us always had him sitting on our lap. He was a real champ!

My career had involved large and aggressive working dogs so I was a little apprehensive acquiring this gentle breed but after our first meeting with Teddybear I knew we had made the right decision. We are both amazed at his intelligence and calm demeanor.

We have an older and larger dog at our home, but Teddybear is not the least bit nervous around him.

What I was not expecting is how we have been inundated by numerous neighbors who want to meet him. We cannot walk to the end of the street without someone wanting to hold him!

He has already been exposed to a variety of sight and sounds and nothing upsets or scares him. Once all his shots are complete we have quite a few places he is going to visit with us. We plan on taking him to the beach next month before winter sets in.

To potential buyers out there be careful and do your research. We highly recommend ABOVE AND BEYOND STANDARDS.

~Mike & Dianne

We are over the moon in love with Rigsby! Lauren and her family truly went above and beyond in every way. They helped surprise Myles making his dream of having a puppy a reality down to the last detail of a wrapped box and bow. We can’t thank you enough! Rigsby is so calm and cuddly! He goes everywhere with us. Our family is complete!

~Natalie & Family

Update:

Rigsby is doing so well!  We started obedience school a few weeks ago!  Quite the model student 🤣.  He can sit, high five, lie down, ring a bell to go out, finish & walk on a leash.  We did the portable shock collar and he figured it out with one beep.  He’s so smart!  He loves to race Myles on his bike!  One of our favorite activities.  Man he is fast!  Like a rocket 🚀!  We can go wide open down a hill and he can beat us home.  

Everywhere we take him... he acquires quite the audience!  He goes daily to Myles’ school, work with me.  Enjoys shopping at TJ Max, Hobby Lobby, anthropology, pottery barn Gap & Costco 🤣.  He loves to go!  I had no idea so many stores love dogs.  I’ll send a picture from the vets office on Monday.  They even brought in antlers and put him on their Facebook page!

Update: Hello hello! I cannot begin to explain how wonderful Rigsby is!!  So precious to so many!!  Our neighbors have an Autistic son that is absolutely in love with him. We let him spend time with him when he has hard days. Here’s a photo of them on Halloween. We love him so much! Such a blessing!

Hey Lauren,

Lani (lah-nee) is doing amazingly well. She has already mastered the following commands: sit, lay, shake, roll over, and high five. She even plays dead on command! She is one of the smartest dogs we have ever been around and continues to wow us everyday. At her 16 week vet appointment she was 25 lbs. She is also doing very well on a leash. Sometimes she likes to bite her leash, but we are using praise techniques to circumvent this. She was essentially house broken within the first week of being home with us. She does have an occasional accident, but it is always our fault and never hers. In the near future we are planning on starting her with some more advanced puppy training. We have no doubts she will excel. Lani has been a wonderful addition to our family and we can’t imagine life without her.

Chris, Christy, Caroline, and Collin

Hi Lauren,

I hope you and your family had a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Wanted to thank you, again, for breeding such a sweet and lovable puppy. Wrigley is settling in nicely into our family.

She is already over 16 pounds and loves bully sticks, playing outside and chasing balls (guess she got plenty of retriever!)

Medically, she has already had two vet appointments and everything looks great! No concerns of any kind and her fecal samples came back “100% clean.”

Wrigley was also a big hit at our New Year’s Eve party and some of our neighbors expressed some strong interest in getting a little pup of their own.

I’ve attached some photos so you can see how Wrigley is growing and adapting. Take note that our daughter was originally not the most excited about getting a dog and now they are impossible to separate!

~Chris & Family

Hi Lauren, Just thought you might be wondering how your "green" puppy, Buddy, is doing. We're in love with him! He's such a pleasure! He adapted to our home pretty quickly too! Just wanted to say that the collie in the photos is my good friend's very sweet dog. They love each other already! The collie is 3 years old and very well mannered. They enjoy playing together in my yard. Thanks again for everything! All my best, Malki

Update: Hi, I thought I'd send u some pics of Buddy. He's grown a lot since the last pictures I sent. 2 weeks ago he was 25.8lbs. We love him! He's really smart and great with all our grandchildren and just about anyone we meet on the street! Everyone asks where we got such a beautiful and friendly puppy and of course we tell them "from the best breeder ever!" Anyway thanks for everything! All the best! Malki and Samuel

Update: Hi Lauren, Just sending some updated pictures of Buddy. Everyone is enjoying him! He loves going for walks, playing fetch, playing with our grandchildren and of course playing with his doggie friends. We're very impressed with how patient he is with our grandchildren. Our 2 year old grandson will feed him treats and he'll wait patiently until he actually gets the treat... sometimes our grandson accidentally drops it... picks it back up.. and Buddy just waits patiently for it. Our 2 year old grandson and sometimes our 2 year old granddaughter will play ball with Buddy by rolling it to him and then Buddy will roll it back to them. The game continues for a while. It's really a pleasure to watch. Thanks for everything! All the best, Malki

Update: Dear Lauren, Just sending you a picture of Buddy at 11 months, before his haircut tomorrow. Buddy is an awesome dog/puppy! We're all in love with him! People always comment on what a beautiful dog he is and what an amazing temperament he has :) . We feel so blessed to have found "Above and Beyond Standards"! Thanks again for all your hard work!! Malki

Hey Lauren, Well, Grigsby did it. He got in the pool on his own and stayed in. He’s not ready for the deep end yet (3’ deep) but he’s getting his confidence and maybe realizes it’s cool. We’ve had 90 degree temps. I’ve been taking them twice a week for an hour to swim with them and then they go one day a week for daycare. I have to tell you he had his first big boy haircut and the groomer said we were so lucky to get him, he had the perfect personality. And, she’s had Payton for years and never said anything close to that nice about her. He was able to hang out at the shop and visit all day, which they said they loved having him. He really has been such an easy pup. He has to be weighed next week for his heart work pill so we’ll see how much he weighs. I’m guessing around 40. Hope you’re doing well. Audra

Update: He’s doing so well and he’s such a good dog. Last weigh in mid May was 48.4 lbs. He loves going to daycare and playing with his friends. He’s not a swimmer but he likes to wade. Hope all is well. Audra

Update: Our little man was boarding last week while we were on vacation. He got the gold medal in soccer (photo op!) and he is finally swimming. Like not just wading but swimming. He did decide when we got back that he no longer wants to sleep in his kennel so Paul has let him stay out at night. Grigsby wants up on the bed so bad but he can’t figure out how to get his big butt up! Such a good boy!!! Hope all is well. Audra

Update: Lauren, Just had to update you on Grigsby. He’ll be 10 months next week and weighed 68 lbs last night. Only up a pound from when we weighed him about 6 weeks ago so we’re thinking he’s slowing down on growing. You and the vet predicted 65 lbs. He’s doing well. He learned to jump on the bed about a month ago and goes up to see if Payton has left any crumbs from her nighttime snack. He was so proud of himself when he did it. He’s funny that he will only sleep on the floor next to Paul throughout the night. He’ll cry when he’s ready to get up but he doesn’t leave during the night. That’s where his kennel was when he was a baby but he decided in July that he wasn’t sleeping in his kennel anymore. He’s been fine out of it. He’s just such a good and happy boy. Hope all is well. Audra

Update: Hey Lauren, Just a few pics of Grigsby and Payton of course. They had their first road trip to Charleston after Xmas. We walked all over, went to outside restaurants and they even went on a carriage tour. They had a blast and were exhausted. Grigsby got so much attention...

Update: Hey Lauren, Just a few pics of Grigsby. He turned 18 months last Saturday so he is going to be neutered tomorrow. We hadn’t been in a hurry since he hasn’t had any issues. At his annual vet visit in March he weighed 73 lbs. the vet thought he was “fluffy” and wanted to see him in the high 60s. Now this dog is lazy and he’s not a big eater so I’m wondering how I’m going to get him to lose weight. Paul and I decided to take him on morning and evening walks, which we found out he loves. Like jumps when he sees us get the leash and cries when he’s ready to go. He is down to 68.4 lbs. yay! The walks are working. When we’re in the backyard he usually just lays down so he wasn’t getting his exercise. Now, you’ll notice the other dogs in the pics. Those are neighbors and he and the tiny black one, an 8 lb 8 month old havadoodle have quite the love affair going. She tries to run in our backyard on her walks and he waits looking out front for her. Anyway, he’s doing well. He and Payton are a great match. He has realized his size and doesn’t back down as much but she too has realized his size and isn’t quite so bossy. Hope all is well. Audra

Update: Lauren, Just had to show you an exceptionally cute pic of Grigsby. I say exceptional because we have so many of them. But, his eyes get him whatever he wants and he knows how to work them! Hope all is well. We love love love our little man! Audra and Paul and Payton too!

Update: Today is happy gotcha day for Grigsby. It’s been 2 years and he is the best dog. This was on our New Years trip to Savannah this year. He stopped at every window and wanted to play with the dog in the window. He and Payton get along great. Hope all is well. Audra and Paul

Hey!! Everything is going great! Rookie got to go to the beach for the first time this weekend and had a blast! He also got to go in a kayak with his bro and my sis and I! He’s getting big! Already 40 lbs!!!

He’s getting comfy already!! Thank you so so much!! —> We are home and Rufus settled in well! He’s enamored by his sister he won’t leave her side lol. —> Hope you guys are well!! Rufus is such a great puppy he is so smart he hasn’t had one accident since we brought him home and already has learned sit stay and come! He is fascinated by the baby still lol. Thank you so much!!

~Allyson

Hi Lauren!

Maggie is such a sweetie! I can’t even begin to tell you how much we love her already. A perfect Valentine’s Day present. She had a great check up at the vet today. 11 pounds! Potty training is going well. She is very food motivated, so we’ve been using small bits of the treats from the Life Abundance pack. I have to chuckle, we keep our house at 68 to 70 degrees. She seems comfortable, but she spends time at the back door sprawled out on her belly. There’s tile there, so I think she likes the coolness of it. I think she may be a snow dog! We of course will be very watchful over how much time she spends outside when the temperature is low. Her personality is playful, but you were right, she likes to be by herself at times. I sent a video my husband took, so hopefully you got it. We’ll keep you posted on her. She is a loved member of our family. Thanks!

Stephanie

Hi Lauren!

Hope you're doing well!

We've had so much fun the last six weeks with Nola! She's doing really well. She picked up potty training in about 2-3 weeks. We just started seeing if she'd sleep through the night and she has been :)

She has lots of personality, although it took her a few days to warm up to us. The first few days we had her she kept hiding/napping under our couch. She still likes to go under there to nap but I don't think she'll fit much longer haha. She's about 22 lbs now.

She loves to chew so we try to give her plenty of safe options. We take her on about three walks per day. She likes to snuggle but also likes her alone time. She loves meeting new people and other dogs. She always wants to play with dogs/puppies and is still learning how to interact appropriately. 

We're so happy and just love her! Here are some pictures :)

Megan & James

Hi Lauren-
I hope all is well with you guys and the storms last night didn’t hit you guys too bad. We were completely spared here. Hawk is doing GREAT! He’s growing soooo fast. He’s 30.5lbs now! We had a dog trainer over yesterday to help with how to break some habits (nipping, jumping up at people mainly). He said that the bernedoodle is the best of the doodle breeds and we got a good one. He said that Hawk a quick learner and a great puppy. He also tested him with our chickens. Apparently Hawk has a low prey drive because he couldn’t have cared less about the chickens, which is great for us! Hawk is pretty much house broken at this point. I think the last time he peed inside was maybe 2 weeks ago. He’s getting a lot better in the car too. I bring him to school dropoff once a week and to pickup once a week too. The girls love it when he comes with me. He has yet to meet a stranger! He absolutely loves everyone he meets. Here’s a few recent pictures as well as a growth progression collage!
Katie Salcedo

Update: Hawk got his first fur cut today! I found a great groomer that comes to the house! She said he did GREAT and that he has great fur. Now he’s wiped and ready for a nap.

Ginger has been really great! She was really good the whole drive home even though the weather was terrible and the drive was much longer than it should’ve been. She’s been sleeping through the night without any issues. She whimpered once, I said no, and that was that. Even in the morning when I let her out of the crate she just continues to lay there. She’s only had one accident in the apt so far and that was the first morning when I was taking her out to go potty. She’s been really good about going on command outside. She’s only been a little standoffish with things like the elevator and large double doors to the building. I think all the driving on Friday helped condition her for life of driving around in the back of my car! Yesterday was a full day of people and city socialization. She met loads of people and was a head turner all day! She went to my spin studio to meet people, grabbed coffee with friends, did brunch in the city with other friends, and ended with a backyard BBQ with other friends and their new puppy. The sounds of the city, cars, buses, honking, people, motorcycles, bicycles, skateboards, etc didn’t seem to phase her too much. Granted, she was in a bag being carried but she was looking around and being very curious. She seemed more interested in being held or chewing on her beef tendon. I’m going to enroll her in her baby puppy classes next week and get her started on puppy socialization. My friends 18 week old shiba inu is much more hyper and intense than Ginger and it took her a few minutes to understand what was going on. Ginger doesn’t seem to mind her new kitty siblings. One is indifferent and the other is annoyed although actually not as annoyed as I thought he’d be. Today my sister is in town and we are meeting friends for brunch again. Working on just exposing her to as many people and environments as possible until she’s fully vaccinated and can do things like parks, bridges, and long walks through the city. She’s had a few little walks down the quiet streets just to let her get a little walking in. I got her a slow puzzle feeder and it’s pretty funny to watch her eat. It takes her a while to actually eat all her food but I’m sure in time she’ll get it down to a science. I’ve attached a few photos of her for you!

Hi Lauren!

Kimi is doing great! Started puppy class today and is really warming up, she’s been great around both people and dogs. We wanted to ask you (if they’re interested / you’re able to tell us) if there’s any litter mates or previous litters around her age in the Greensboro or Winston-Salem area? We’d love to have her meet some other Bernedoodles (or any of your other doodles) if there’s any around.

Hope you’re well!

Adam & Rose

@kimithebernedoodle

Hi Lauren,

Boy brown (now Ridger) is such a dream! He’s loving his crate, and is so playful and spunky. He’s fitting in so well! Loves all the toys.

Here is his Instagram - https://instagram.com/ridger_bernedoodle. Feel free to follow and share with future puppy parents. Thank you again for everything! Lindsay

Update: Hey Lauren, We had our playdate today with Ridger (boy brown) and Airlie (girl blue)!! Videos and pictures attached. I think Ridger remembered he liked to sit on his siblings haha! 

Lindsay

@ridger_bernedoodle

We had a successful trip home with a good puppy introductions, home introduction, and dinner time! Thanks again for everything along the way!

Jarred & Beverly

@airliebdoodle

Hello World, My name is Rylo! Follow me on Instagram!!

@rylo_thebernedoodle

And the last will be first.

It’s been two years since we brought Tino – a standard poodle – home from Above and Beyond Standards. And so while this testimonial is long overdue, I believe it is better because of it. I mean who doesn’t love their new puppy? A testimonial written shortly after bringing a puppy home goes something like this: “We love him! He’s wonderful! We love him!” But after two years, it can be a little different. But we can say that we absolutely love the dog our puppy has grown into – possibly even more than we loved the little puppy.

When we contacted Above and Beyond, only one puppy choice remained in their upcoming litter. So we quickly claimed the last pick, which really meant we had no “pick” at all, we would get the last one – the puppy no one else wanted. Surely though, all healthy puppies are destined to be great, right? The only variable is the new owner and the love they give their new little friend. This was quietly concerning for me because although I’m a great dog lover, at the time (this is Ed), I was going through quite a troubling season in my life, and I wasn’t sure if a puppy would be too much for me, or if it would be exactly what I needed.

Still, we were excited, even me. Lauren sent us the pics of all the puppies in various stages of growth and in our hearts, we fell in love with the little guy wearing the black ribbon – Burton Boy Black. He was our first pick, that is if we had one. We simply had to hope it would all work out.

About a week before “pick day,” we received a hilarious video from Lauren showing all the crazy little puppies playing together. Through all the craziness, our little Burton Boy Black just sat stoically in the middle of the mayhem, staring at Lauren’s camera as if saying, “Pay no attention to them; pick me.” He didn’t know, apparently, that we didn’t have a choice. But … guess who was saved for us? I’m not sure why he was passed over so many times, but we got our Burton Boy Black! My son named him Santino (Tino, for short) after his JuiJitsu instructor. And he was from the beginning, and still is, magnificent.

In the two years that we have had Tino, he has brought our family much joy, laughter, love, and companionship. Outside he runs like like a thoroughbred, jumps like a gazelle, and is alert as an owl – inside he is calm and constant. For me in particular though, Tino has been a Godsend. He’s played a big part in bringing me back from the shadows that had to begun to disrupt the stability of my professional, personal, and spiritual life.

Since Covid, Tino and I have walked together over 1,500 miles through woods and streams, on and off the beaten path and we’re both the better for it. He has made friends with countless dogs (and I with countless owners), and he brings a smile and a hearty “hello” out of everyone who sees him – dog owner or not. He has played a big part in restoring my soul. I’m not sure if that is a poodle thing or just Tino, but I’ve had dogs all my life and Tino is, well, special. To me, personally, his love and loyalty is unmeasurable and beyond words.

It’s funny, today Tino still sits erect and alert just like he did as that puppy in the video. It’s like he’s telling us, “I knew you couldn’t pick me, so I picked you.” We have the best dog for our family without question. And we received him from the best breeder we have ever dealt with without question. The Harrington’s have been there whenever we needed answers to questions or to address any fears or concerns we had when dealing with our vet. They demonstrate their name: Above and Beyond Standards. That’s what it takes, and that’s what, and who, they are.

Thank you Above and Beyond Standards!

peace,

~ed & cathi

Lauren's service was A1. My wife and I had never had a dog before and we had A LOT of questions. She was extremely responsive and put all our worries at ease. She also communicated effectively about all of the vaccines and procedures we would need to schedule, etc. She made the process extremely painless and clear. 

Lainey just turned 1 last week. In her first year of life, Lainey quickly took to house breaking, learned some tricks, became an older sister and has learned how to live under quarantine. Lainey learns quickly, is curious, but well behaved. Despite her sometimes puppy-like, rambunctious playfulness, she is always calm around our new son. We feel confident leaving him (4 months old) on the floor with her in the living room while we are in the kitchen or dining room of our home. 

Lainey LOOOOVES to get off leash and run at the dog park, trail runs or on hikes. We don't have to worry about her running off as she always comes when called. She is incredibly athletic and awesome to watch as she runs through the trails near our home. 

My wife and I could not be happier and have already talked about using Above and Beyond Standards in the future. We could not imagine life without Lainey's love and companionship.

~Andrew & Family 

Hello Lauren,

So a moment or two of puppy whines (seriously, not bad), then Harper passed out with his Snuggle Puppy. Like a light. One potty trip outside at 1am was a success. Next one at 5am, another success. He is getting the idea (very) fast. Will start on some other training today, but don't want to overwhelm too much. He is relaxed, eating well, snaking well, and sleeping very, very well. Mr. Nap.

Again, we love him...and his foxy little face.

Best from Charles...to All

Update: Hello Lauren,

Wanted to send an earlier update on Young Master Harper, and his progress, but that did so not happen. Surprise.

First, love him more and more each day. He is a blessing, and we are so glad and grateful that we must have made the last opening on this litter. Woo hoo!

So, in no specific order. He knows "sit", "down" (this is where he lies down on the floor), "Give me paw", and "Up". I was teaching him "beg" but Stephen said that was politically incorrect in today's society. I will substitute with "roll over". He doesn't quite know his name yet, and "stay" and "come" are a foreign language to him, but there is progress. He sleeps through the night now with one walkie. He was playing us like a violin last week with so many "needed" wake ups for walkies, we were starting to wearing down the carpet in the bedroom. That is over.

He now goes to the gate when he needs to go out...most of the time.

As for "Love Bites"...Stephen and my arms look like we are both heroin addicts. We think the neighbours may be planning an intervention. Let them sit with him when he is in one of his"I love you guys so much, I could eat you alive" moods. But, seriously, even as he is breaking flesh, he is so friggin' cute.

His vet visits are all up to date. He has gained 5 lbs. and he is at the beginning of the "leggy" stage. While his face does not have the classic goldendoodle snout, Harper has this devious foxy like snout that combined with his calculated "orphan" look he puts on is striking, unusual, and just plain adorable. We believe he knows he's cute, but he is also learning that does not let him get away with murder. A felony or two perhaps, but not murder. And thank goodness he is not out protesting and vandalizing at night. He has a curfew, after all.

Best from Charles, Stephen, and Harper.

Update: Hello Lauren,

Harper again received top honors at the vet yesterday. Healthy as a horse, and just about the same size. The "little" guy has shot up quickly. On neighborhood walks, passerbuys comment on that frequently. Not his behavior, just his size. We consider this progress of some sort.

Speaking of behavior, training is going very well. He has us doing just about everything he wants every day. Our first training lesson is tonight. Hope springs eternal.

Exercise! We go on many "Adventure Walks" into (almost) unknown woods, and fields. We feel very safe on our walks because of Harper's keen sense of smell, and sharp eye sight, and incredible hearing. What we are not quite sure of, and trying to figure out, is why when we are on on these potentially dangerous walks, he feels that the best way to protect us is by sitting in the middle of a stream, and refusing to budge. This, we guess, is imprinted on him from thousands of years of evolution.

After we go on these "Adventure Walks", he sometimes gets a bath. Those are going well, amen. After drying him off with a towel, we spend the rest of the evening with what looks like a giant lint ball from the dryer. But at least we feel safe in our home.

Again, we love the not so little guy, and we will keep you informed about his, (and our), progress.

Best from Charles

Update: Harper goes to The Green Beagle (seriously, that's the name) who have a socialization class where puppies can meet other dogs during the pandemic. They see quite a lot of Goldendoodles, but they have never seen one with the markings of Harper. Needless to say, he is a Superstar there! We always tell everyone who asks that he is a "Above, and Beyond Standard" little guy. Bravo ABS!

More updates coming......

Best from us.

Update: Hello Lauren,

OK, Harper (with tears in our eyes) is no longer a "Puppy". He is officially a "Puppy Dog". He is also the best Puppy Dog on the planet who ever dug an unrequested hole in the front yard. (He could at least text us of his mission.)

We could not love him more. That is a good thing. It prevents us from shipping him off to a Swiss Boarding School when he is, well, a Puppy Dog that somehow ends up on the top of the FBI's "10 Most Wanted" list in America.

Moving on, however, we did enroll him into Beginning Puppy Training Lessons (The Green Beagle Lodge, and Academy....seriously.) We want not the best, but not the worst. (That title was held by a Peke called "Donut.".....Amen.)

Below is a photo of Harper at Graduation Day with his diploma. We believed he bribed the Dean.

Best from all Three of Us.

PS We promise never to put a hat on him again.

BTW. Everyone at The Green Beagle is very familiar with Goldendoodles. Many have worked all over The Triangle, raise show dogs, etc. They say Harper Is one best bred Doodles they have seen, and they say they have seen many, as the breed is VERY POPULAR in the Triangle. They have told of heartbreaking results when the dogs are not bred correctly, problem with temperament, behavior, and mental disorders. One little guy can only walk around in circles. (Tears.)

We tell them if anyone is looking for a Doodle raised with love, caring, compassion, and the skill to breed wonderful puppies, it is "Above and Beyond Standards". Take a bow.

Update: Hello Lauren,

Harper Update: Stephen and I are in that Pandemic Fog they talk about. We are awaiting it to lift, so we can resume Life as we somewhat remember it. (That memory is a bit foggy, too. It comes with age.) 

However Mr. Harper is in full bloom. We take him to The Green Beagle for socialization, and he has become the Life of the Party. Everyone knows Harper, as he makes sure by his daily Love Fest with the staff. He is also a good tipper. We don't know where he get's the cash from.

He is (was?) the Star Pupil in training classes. That went a bit south right before his "snipping". He was often found letting air out of his other classmates car tires, and smoking behind the shed with the "dogs from the other side of the tracks. We drew the line at a tattoo of Darth Vader.

Operation was last week, so we expect any day now for him to rejoin the Church Choir. Apparently, as he was coming out of anesthesia, he was yodeling, much to the amusement to his medical team. He is heading to Germany in the Spring to enter some competitions. He is full of confidence. We said it might be difficult yodeling through a mask. He just laughed.

Again, love our not so little guy more and more every day.

Best from The Three of Us!