Feeling overwhelmed choosing a breeder.....

[Km]

Hi all, I read that I am allowed to ask for thoughts about choosing a breeder or advice and that if necessary, people can respond privately. I am located in Pennsylvania (hour north of phila).  We want to add a GoldenDoodle to our family but I have completely overwhelmed myself with researching breeders.  I am feeling very leary of just window shopping, believing what is on a website etc (even if all the testing is claimed to be done).  How will I know this is all legit?

We are also a bit stumped because what we seem to have found that is customary is:  breeders pick your dog for you.  It seems you might be able to specify color, gender, coat type and temperament.... but ultimately there is a lot of trust when someone is picking out a pup for your family.  

How do you ultimately choose a breeder?  Where can I get good feedback on which breeders have good reputations vs. which have great websites (and not much to back it up)?  It feels so much like all of this is done online, not seeing parents, not seeing places until you get to go pick them up etc.  So, I would feel more comfortable knowing other people's experiences with breeders.   

Thanks in advance... as I'm feeling sort of paralyzed in our search here!  

Kim

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you have not read What to look for in a Breeder read it now, and then do not even consider any breeder that doesn't match up. This is the most important basic info you can have in a search for a doodle breeder.

I would try to find a breeder close enough that you can visit and meet the parent dogs, or at least the mother, as the stud may not always be there. If you can see the place and the dogs with your own eyes, you will know exactly what the situation is.

Also check the Recommended Breeders Group, the link is in the article.

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

We just purchased a puppy.  I spoke with owners from the local doodle romp to find out where their doodles were from & got a feel for the better breeders in this area.  "Doodle people" are anxious to talk about their dogs & the same breeder names kept coming up.  Then I went to the premium breeders list 

http://www.goldendoodle-labradoodle.org

& started contacting them.  We live in WA...I contacted breeders in WA, OR & ID.  The breeder we ultimately bought from was in ID & was on the premium breeders list.  Pick of the litter was in the order she received deposits.  She was good about posting pictures weekly & made herself available to talk about the personalities of the puppies.  We wanted a male (there were just 3 in a litter of 9)...we were #4 on the list & had the choice between 2 males.  We live in the Seattle area & ID was just too far to drive to look at a litter so we trusted her.  We met him for the first time at the airport.  He is just what we wanted & we are not disappointed ;)  

Good luck :)

[Adina P]

Once you have about 3-5 breeders you are considering you can list them here and ask for private feedback.

I think it is totally FINE to allow a breeder to choose your puppy -- this happens in most all breeds.  Good breeders should KNOW dogs quite well and be able to help you, guide you or choose your pup. Because, honestly, your impression based on a brief meeting of the pups won't necessarily be better unless you wholeheartedly believe in 'love at first sight' in dog choosing.  I don't.  I think just about everyone has fallen in love with their puppy regardless of how it was chosen and even in a couple of cases where they got the 'wrong' pup.  Unless you wind up with a complete terror, he or she will win you over because how many doodles aren't just adorable??? 

I agree with seeing with your own eyes, meeting the breeder, meeting her dogs, etc.  It helps a lot to ease (or not) your comfort level. 

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Allowing a good breeder ie one that lives up to the standards in What to Look for in a Breeder should be just fine.  Good breeders get to know the puppies and are able to read puppy body language.  They are well placed to place the right dog with the right family.  All puppies are cute and especially doodle puppies.  Riley was picked for me by the breeder and she was absolutely right in her choice, he is just as she said he would be.  I am choosing another puppy very soon but this time as the breeder is nearer it will be a joint decision as the breeder says she will guide me.  Again I have spent a long time nurturing a good relationship with the breeder as I think it's hard to diddle someone who becomes a friend!

[Km]

Thank you to all!  That list of premium breeders has greatly helped! I had not yet seen that list.  I am very much okay with a breeder helping to choose the puppy... as I figure they have spent so much time with them as opposed to me and would know them much better (in addition to their experience).  I am just trying to figure out who to trust!  

I am going to be checking out the premium list and then try to narrow based on that!  I have many more questions... but am thinking that I should post it as a new thread? Not sure how it works here.  

my questions are all misc.  For example, do most/all lighter doodles get tear stained or beard stained marks?  Is that something that we should expect?  Do lighter colors always look dirty?  Do they require a lot more grooming attention bc of this?  

Did most people have a certain color type in mind before they purchased a doodle? Or did you just want a doodle?

Lastly, it seems there are more labradoodle breeders out there than goldendoodle breeders.  So, I've been looking at the labrodoodles.... and am getting myself confused.  They look so simliar but seem to be available in more colors (less of the classic light cream colors).  Are there differences b/t the two that i am missing?  

Should all these questions be posted in a  seperate thread?  Thanks ladies!  I am all over the place!!!

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

Color should be less important than personality/temperament.

If you look at my pictures of Baker, you will see he is cream/nearly white.  He doesn't get tear stains, but anywhere saliva touches turns reddish (chin, parts of the body they lick or chew).  I don't know if there is something to remove the reddening, it seems to stay and/or grow out.

He starts looking light grayish after a few days of laying around outside.  We have him groomed about every 5-6 weeks & bathe him every 2 weeks in between.  He does not have a doggy odor...I think that's true of doodles in general.  We bathe him that often because his chin starts getting kind of 'gunky' :)

[Yana Shulman]

Kim-

I am not sure we can post breeder names publicly but we just got a goldendoodle about a month ago and we could not be happier with our breeder. We wanted someone close by but our research led us to someone out in Kansas and it was well worth it. Louis is a well adjusted, lovable pup and it seems all pups from this breeder are the same way. Please feel free to message me and I am happy to provide more information as we know how daunting of a project this can be.

Yana

[April Cliber]

A couple more things to consider.....

There is the ALAA (Australian Labradoodle Association of North America) and GANA (Goldendoodle Association of North America.)  Both are non-profit organizations that require their member breeders to submit testing on all their parent dogs.  They also require a code of ethics to be followed.  Having said that, you still need to be vigilant.  JUST because someone is an association member doesn't mean they are the best breeder for you.  Also, just because they are not a member doesn't mean they aren't a wonderful breeder. :)   

Feel free to ask a breeder to email you copies of the parents health testing.  If they truly do the testing, they will be proud to show it to you.  If they are defensive or don't want to show you, move on.

If possible, visit the breeder in person.  Ask to see where the puppies live and play and where the parents live.  That will tell you volumes.  Don't be afraid of a long drive.  You are getting a pup that will be in your family for 13-15+ years.  Take a weekend road trip.  A breeder will give you info on local hotels. 

If you can't visit the breeder, look closely at the pictures and videos on their website.  Do dogs look well groomed and healthy?  Pay attention to the background of the pictures.  Do you see a home environment and/or clean yard, or a dirty kennel? 

Hopefully some of this is helpful. :)  Good luck!

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

You have been given good advise.  One thing to remember is that the "premium breeders list" is PAID advertising as are many other "lists" of breeders you will find on the internet,   This doesn't mean that there are not reputable breeders listed but they have paid for these listing.

 

Good luck with your search! 

[Adina P]

In the "What To Look for In a Breeder" article we do link to GANA, ALAA, the premium breeder list, and the goldendoodles.com list of breeders in addition to the list of member recommended breeders on our site.  I'm always surprised nobody notices those lists at the bottom of the article. None of the lists are definitive and Andy's right that the premium breeder list is list of breeders who have paid to be included.  However, they do have minimum testing standards and I appreciate that so it's as good a place as any to start one's search.  I consider all of those lists idea generators so you know what breeders are around, which ones say they test, and you can start to research them further.