Hello I'm new! And I need some opinions on breeder

[Shannon]

I just signed up and look forward to browsing the forums and photos. I love my doodle a LOT! 

I do have a specific question right now. My sister is looking for a doodle and came across a breeder here in the Cincinnati area that I don't really know about...

I won't mention any names or anything but basically my qualms are - they do not give the puppies their first round of shots because their vet recommends waiting until 8 weeks or older to give any??  Also the "limited health guarantee" that's mentioned. 

I haven't been able to find much information about the breeder online, but they do have a "testimonials" section and a Facebook page. I contacted them and we would get to meet the parents as well as the puppies should we be interested. My sister doesn't have a LOT of money and their puppies are priced lower than most. 

Any thoughts on this situation would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to PM for any additional information.

[Amy and Annabelle]

My thought would be to keep looking. That bargain puppy may not end up being such a bargain if it comes with health issues because it didn't have its puppy shots early enough or inferior breeding practices. Sounds like the breeder just doesn't want to pay for the shots. That's my 2¢, I could be wrong, but I see some red flags with just what you have said. Does she have a reputable vet? I have never heard of waiting until 8 weeks, but who knows.

[Ginny Nightingale]

All health guarantees are limited to some extent--after all, no breeder can cover everything--but the pups I raise get some vaccinations at 7.5 weeks just before they go home. If the pups are F1s they might be a bit less expensive since the coats may be shedding coats, but other than that, you do get what you pay for in terms of the quality of the pups and they care with which the breeders choose the parents.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Please read the DK article on what to look for in a breeder, and take it to heart. RUN from any breeder who cannot measure up. Genetic health testing of the parents is very important, as is a decent health warranty. Paying less up front often means that you will pay more later on. And nobody should be supporting a breeder who is cutting corners. 

Doodles are expensive dogs to own. Often, if someone can't afford the purchase price, they may not be able to afford to feed, groom, train, insure, or care for the dog throughout his life, either. 

What to Look for in a Breeder

[Shannon]

Thanks for the replies. I told my sister this was likely too good to be true regarding the prices. She's picking a time to try to get a puppy when we're also trying to save money to buy a house. I told her she better start figuring out her budget. She sees that I do not let Malcolm lack from anything. When I was off work Malcolm still went to the spa every 6 weeks but i couldn't afford to get my hair done lol! 

She would certainly want to provide the same level of care for her puppy that I do for Malcolm. I'm trying to convince her to wait a while longer until we find a house. In the mean time she could be saving more money. She needs to take the puppy to training classes, get insurance, etc. She's not thinking it through enough. I'm trying to slow her down. We would of course find a way to give a puppy everything it needed, but why put ourselves in a possibly tough spot. She needs to pump the brakes.

[BG and Gavin]

Also if she has a tight budget right now, health insurance is a must.  A big vet bill may level her.

[Julie and Charlie]

On the money issue, the price of a puppy pales in comparison to the vet and other costs. People always asked me how much I paid for Charlie-- instead of answering that question, I respond with about what it costs per year to have a relatively healthy dog. It isn't cheap! 

[charlotte bednarsh]

I agree with what others have said, in that you are taking a huge gamble when getting a puppy from a "backyard" breeder; even though the cost may be initially less, you may be taking a huge chance relevant to temperament or future health issues.  There are so many reputable breeders, that perhaps it would be best to wait getting a puppy until your sister can afford to go to a reputable breeder.

[charlotte bednarsh]

I also meant to add that taking care of a puppy/adult dog if done properly, requires a long term commitment, both financially and emotionally; therefore, as you well know, the initial financial cost is often just a fraction of the long term costs of bringing a four legged family member into your life.