Breeder Recommendations in Virginia?!

[Zackary Wilkins]

My fiance and I are looking for a goldendoodle in Virginia.  There are quite a few breeders around here, but the choices can be overwhelming and we would welcome advice from anyone that has favorable experiences with any specific one.

We are visiting Old Mill Doodles in Staunton this weekend.  The breeder has been very nice and responsive, my only concern is the number of females she breeds and that they seem to be kept in a kennel and not home raised.  Maybe these are not real issues to be concerned with?

Any advice would be welcome!  Feel free to PM me if some things should not be posted on the board.

Thanks!

Zackary

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Without  saying what I truly think...because I like my DK and respect the rules...  GO WITH YOUR GUT!

Go with your gut  concerns and hips and keep on going.  Thanks

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sound about right to me : )

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Another thing that concerns me is you say you are going to visit these two breeders.  My opinion, visiting is dangerous in the sense of if someone hands you a doodle puppy, it is really hard to hand it back and go home and then do your homework.  Do you homework, narrow down your best options and then go visit.  Much safer IMO.

[Zackary Wilkins]

Thanks so much, I will follow my gut.

My fiance and I are getting married in July so we will definitely not be getting a puppy until after that.  We just wanted to begin our due diligence, and we are already planning a hiking trip out that way so thought we would stop by.

I have PM'd a few people from the GRAD group hoping for recommendations in the area, if anyone knows of any don't be shy!

Thanks again!!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

You are like the 3rd person I think this week looking in Virginia.   You might also look in the latest discussions and see if you can find the others and see what PM's they received.

[Zackary Wilkins]

Thanks, I am on it!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You can ask people to friend you to give you information privately or to post on your page.  In general there are some good breeders in Virginia but there are lots of 'bad' ones also.    Here are links: 

Considering a doodle:

/http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/considering-a-doodle-crowd...

Guide to what to look for:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

There are also groups here of labradoodle and goldendoodle breeders who adhere to the guide's recommendations. They post doodles for sale in that group.  There is also an Owner Recommended group that is more informally owners who have physically visited a breeder when they got their own dog and recommend that breeder.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Zachary,  I just sent you a private message, which you can find waiting in your inbox, if you look in the upper right-hand corner of this page.  Laurie