Goldendoodle Breeder Recommendations

[GraceLikeRain]

I can barely suppress my eye roll but I do need help. A friend is asking for my feedback on a specific breeder. Based off the number of litters produced (17+ a year), questionable OFA (OFAs listed that aren’t in the registry), and age that they release the puppies (7 weeks) will hopefully be sufficient support for looking elsewhere.

I am trying to steer them towards an active, wavy/curly coated retriever type that is a recognized AKC breed. Fingers crossed that I will be successful.

However, I know she has been dead set for almost 10 years on getting a goldendoodle. This is a valued friendship and I would rather preserve our relationship than go on a designer breed rampage (even though my gut wants to say HECK NO DO NOT GET A DOODLE).

Are there acceptable breeders in the southeast (preferably within a 6 hour drive of Atlanta, GA)? If she is going that route I would like to steer her in the best direction. Given the sheer volume of breeders I am hoping at least one genuinely does health testing, early socialization, etc.

[Alagirl]

Good Luck!

yeah, with 17+ litters, that’s a puppymill.

[PhoenixFarm]

I was going to post until I saw the location. My sister got a golden doodle last year, and despite similar misgivings, it’s a lovely dog. The breeder is on their fifth generation, 1 litter a year.

However, my sister wanted more golden than doodle, and she picked up puppy who thus far has straight hair. He looks like a small golden, honestly. But he’s bright, friendly, and very trainable.

If you want the breeders number I can offer it, but I’m in CA.

[Manni01]

http://www.curlycoatedpuppies.com/

All of these are very honest breeders. And I think Skywatchers in Alabama is worth checking out as they are expecting a litter

[Perfect10]

The vet I work for does a lot of business with Mill Creek Labradoodles. All the dogs I have interacted with are lovely dogs and very well taken care of.

[snowrider]

Only in CA, perhaps the same breeder as PhoenixFarm.

Having said that maybe you can talk her out of a golden-doodle by educating her on how high energythey are? When I spent the winter in Canada one year the ONLY people out walking their dogs at -30 had huskys or goldendoodles. That tells you something.

[GraceLikeRain]

Thank you for the leads. My hope is that they will look into a different breed but I’m not holding my breath.

This is a (very) active couple who is in the process of purchasing a decently sized property. They are both runners who hike, camp, etc. so I have no doubt they will be great owners. I’m less worried about energy needs and more concerned that they’ll end up with something structurally unsound that breaks down at an early age.

Their current top pick uses the “guardian”/co-ownership model to diffuse their breeding stock but I still feel that it is hard for any breeder to properly research and oversee the planning of 17+ litters a year.

[arapaloosa_lady]

This post made me cringe - I had this exact same conversation with a close friend recently. For her first dog, I kept telling her to either adopt or find a good breeder (they wanted small Bichon-type). Well, they bought a genetic mess from the pet store!

Now, she has a house & is looking for a larger dog. And she’s decided that I’m right & she should avoid pet stores… so she keeps asking me for Goldendoodle recommendations! And the conversation goes in a circle because I keep telling her just to buy a darn Poodle! She is a clean person and she only wants a haired dog. But she doesn’t understand that a mix is a GAMBLE.

#rantover

ETA: She’s actually a fantastic pet owner who exercises with her dog, swims with him, takes him to the vet as needed, etc. We just have very different philosophies on choosing a dog!

[Anne_FS]

Just tell her flat out you can’t recommend any “Goldendoodle” breeders. You either have standards about these overpriced mutts or you don’t. Recommending GD breeders is just the same flawed logic as people who pay $800 for a pet-shop puppy or an Amish puppy because they feel they have to get them out of there. The more you buy, the more you recommend, the more it continues.

I’ve been asked the same question. I always say, “I know of no reputable dog breeder breeding them and I don’t recommend them to anyone.” Of course people will do what they want but they’ll get no help from me.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8532748]
Thank you for the leads. My hope is that they will look into a different breed but I’m not holding my breath.

This is a (very) active couple who is in the process of purchasing a decently sized property. They are both runners who hike, camp, etc. so I have no doubt they will be great owners. I’m less worried about energy needs and more concerned that they’ll end up with something structurally unsound that breaks down at an early age.

Their current top pick uses the “guardian”/co-ownership model to diffuse their breeding stock but I still feel that it is hard for any breeder to properly research and oversee the planning of 17+ litters a year.[/QUOTE]

“Guardian” model? RUN AWAY, PO, RUN AWAY!!!

I think my SIL came close to 17 litters a year: she had about 6-8 dogs, not sure the male/female ratio, breeding the bitches every cycle…
But then even the hosing the pens down every day became too much work, and they skipped the Christmas business, eventually got rid of all the dogs.

I don’t think the pups can be properly socialized in that volume…I would have not given a red cent for any of my SIL’s dogs…

[shadedingray]

You had me at 17+ litters. That’s never a breeder of any breed that I would want to recommend.

Why are they so set on a Goldendoodle? If they want an active dog that won’t break, I would think steering them towards a purebred retriever breed would be a better idea.

[khall]

Are you sure it is a golden doodle breeder or a labradoodle breeder? Because I do know of a labradoodle breeder with similar breedings, i.e. 17 litters a year and 6 or 7 th generation breeder, also with the guardian model, south of ATL. Not that I would recommend them! But a friend has bought 2 from this (cough) breeder to the tune of $5,000 for two!! She never asked my opinion, though I did gently tell her about designer dogs and the high litters=not good, she does not get it though.

I would be hard pressed to recommend any breeder breeding a designer breed.

[MsM]

I would find a good standard poodle breeder with litter soon to be ready. Then you can take her to see the pups and it is much harder to say no to an actual puppy!

[Joziegirl]

Belladoodles in Hartwell, GA is fantastic. I have two of her doodles and they are amazing dogs. They are terrific with my 6 kids, totally laid back and have the classic doodle look. The owner is fantastic and really cares for those puppies like kids. They get the best possible care and are whelped and raised in her home. She health tests all her moms and dads. Can’t say enough good about her. In fact my groomer is always amazed by my boy sweet temperaments and when customers ask her for breeder recommendations she points them to Belladoodles.

[Joziegirl]

Also, they do use the guardian home method. Moms live with their families but whelp at the breeder. I think it is a fantastic way to do it, these are loved dogs who don’t sit in concrete runs outside all day like many breeders. She also knows everything about the dogs temperament because these dogs socialize like any well loved dog does. I don’t understand why the guardian method would make anyone want to “run”.

I do love a purebred dog but I also love not vacuuming my floors daily or keeping my kid on Allegra everyday because I have one child who is allergic to dogs.

They are smart, fun, active and loyal. What’s not to love?

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=Joziegirl;8533569]
Also, they do use the guardian home method. Moms live with their families but whelp at the breeder. I think it is a fantastic way to do it, these are loved dogs who don’t sit in concrete runs outside all day like many breeders. She also knows everything about the dogs temperament because these dogs socialize like any well loved dog does. I don’t understand why the guardian method would make anyone want to “run”.

They are smart, fun, active and loyal. What’s not to love?[/QUOTE]

Do you have any earthly idea how most breeders do things??? Every single one I know has the dogs living in the house with them. That is the norm, not kennel runs. The guardian method is a commonly used method to maximize profits while expecting someone to give up a beloved pet to the risks of pregnancy and delivery.

It sounds as though you have gotten lucky. Every groomer I know despises grooming them. I have yet to meet one who wasn’t hyper. The dog trainers I know are also not fans. And the allergies. Few of them are actually hypoallergenic to people. Most are allergic messes themselves. Almost all of the ones I encounter have recurrent ear infections.

[Marshfield]

[QUOTE=MsM;8533544]
I would find a good standard poodle breeder with litter soon to be ready. Then you can take her to see the pups and it is much harder to say no to an actual puppy![/QUOTE]

It would be unlikely that there would be any puppies available in a litter already on the ground. If you’re talking a puppy from health tested and titled parents, the puppies are likely spoken for long before even being born. I bred a bitch today. If all goes well and she has a healthy litter, there are no puppies who don’t have a home already waiting for them.

[Sannois]

It’s a Mutt, Anyone who calls themselves a “Breeder” Of A “Golden Doodle” and charging insane amounts of money for them is a Crook.
Get a Standard Poodle they are great dogs, or get a Golden retriever, also fantastic. I hate these designer mutt breeds. Agh. okay rant over.

[Hilary]

I don’t know where the OP is, but in NH I know of 2 small breeders of Goldens who occasionally do a cross with a poodle and the resulting dogs are really really nice animals. They are friendly, trainable, don’t shed - the best of both breeds. Are they “mutts”? Maybe, but so are so many dogs in rescues which people think are the best things ever.

And with a small home breeder, you can see the parents and know how they are raised.

I am not a dog person and I really like my friend’s dog. As with any dog, the well trained ones are nicest, and my friend says training her guy was really easy. He wants to please, he is gentle with children, he’s good around the horses.

[GraceLikeRain]

Sigh guys I’m right there with you. I don’t need to be convinced it is undesirable (heck I’ve got a retired show dog passed out next to me right now).

In theory a dog that is cute, cuddly, active, non-shedding, great with people, and has double intelligence from two trainable breeds is a phenomenal idea. I completely understand why the idea of a doodle is desirable. My hope is to help her see that there is a disparity between the theory and reality of most doodles. My friend is intelligent and well-educated but hasn’t even done much research about dogs.

I sent her an overview with the following points

1. structure matters for long-term soundness
2. a good breeder is breeding to the standard and reproduces the same traits from generation to generation.
3. a list of 5-6 retrievers that also have a curl or wave to the coat
4. OFA inconsistencies with the breeder in question (missing data, prelim results only, etc.)
5. how the number of puppies is inversely related to the resources available for each dog (and how guardian owners likely do not have the training to recognize early physical or behavioral problems)
6. doodles in breeding programs are often represented with photos taken during adolescences and the coat type is rarely representative of the coat at 3+ years.

She was very receptive to feedback. I don’t know if they will go a different direction but I am hoping the information gives them pause.

Respectfully, Joziegirl your breeder of choice is the type I am actively discouraging for my friend. Belladoodle does not give any information on parameters for breeding stock beyond color, coat, and convenience. I am glad that you had a positive experience and I wish you all of the best with your two companions.

I believe that prior to breeding a bitch or dog they should be evaluated for (a) disposition (b) structural sounds © genetic health (d) screened for any diseases or disorders prevalent in the breed (e) proven in the ring or field with associated titles.

To date I have not encountered a doodle breeder who takes all of these steps. If there is a doodle breeder in the southeast who is breeding tested and proven stock with an emphasis on the above parameters I’d like to have that information on hand. If they decide to go that direction I’d prefer to steer them towards the best option available.

I am still hopeful that they will consider other breeds but it is not my decision nor will I ruin a good relationship over a dog.