What to look for in a breeder?

[Judy]

We have never owned a Labradoodle and only seen a few.  There are lots of negative stories from unhappy buyers.  What do you look for when looking at a website that can help you decide if the breeder is a puppy mill, or a good breeder?

What exactly is multigenerational mean?

[Carol and Banjo]

Judy,   I'd suggest spending a lot of time looking through the many discussions on DK regarding this very question.   The time you put in before selecting a breeder and puppy is time well spent.  A search will bring up plenty of info to pour over.   You can begin here - 

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

[Judy]

You are 100% correct.  We lost our most beloved Golden Retrieve about 18 month's ago.  Like so many, the

pain was so great we said never again.  Well we miss the companionship of a dog.  While on a trip in Canada this year, a standard Labradoodle full of fun and life waltzed down a sidewalk on lead, but happily said HI.

You know the rest of our story, we have been reading up on Doodles and sense the concerns others express about the puppy mills, etc.  So now are desperately trying to find a great breeder.  Multigenerational is a new term for us.  We fell in love with the look, and temperament (smile) of this breed.  Shedding is not an issue.

[Judy]

Can you tell me where you Banjo?  His size?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I second this advice. Read the What to Look For in a Breeder article that Carol linked above, and use it as a checklist for any breeder you consider.

First and foremost, I would look at the breeding dogs. Temperament and health (and be sure you see those genetic health testing clearances) should be your priorities. These are mixed breed dogs and they do not all have the same temperaments. The temperaments of the parents along with the environment in which the puppies are raised before they come to you are what is going to make all the difference.

All doodles do not have "personalities of the retriever with the non-shedding coat of the poodle". The are not just like Goldens or labs with non-shedding hypoallergenic coats. Genetics don't work that way. Just like humans, most mixed breed dogs get traits from all of the breeds in their pedigrees, and how much each pup gets of what traits is completely up for grabs. Lots of doodles have poodle personalities, which are great, but they are not like retrievers, so if you love retrievers, that would not be your best bet. Not all doodles have the kinds of personalities that would make good therapy dogs.

If size is factor, know that a large percentage of doodle puppies grow up to be much larger (and occasionally much smaller) than the breeder's prediction.

There are also lots and lots of doodles of all generations who shed and are not allergy friendly, so if those qualities are the main reason for your interest in doodles, you need to know that nobody can guarantee that any particular doodle puppy will not shed, or will not bother someone's allergies, regardless of what generation they are.

If any breeder you consider doesn't have photos and lots of information about the parents available for anyone who asks, go elsewhere.

Stay away from websites like "Puppy Find", "Next Day Pets", etc, that have ads for all kinds of puppies from all kinds of breeders. Anyone advertising puppies for sale on that type of site is almost guaranteed to be a puppy mill or BYB. Stay away from anybody who is breeding things like Cavapoos and Doxiepoos, which nobody who knew anything about dogs or breeding would do. Once you have a breeder's name and phone number, google them, as well as the kennel name; you will be amazed at what might come up. Some disreputable breeders are breeding 10 different kinds of mixes under 10 different names, but the phone numbers usually match.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If someone is charging much less for a doodle puppy than most other breeders, stay away.

If at all possible, visit the breeder's property, and see the breeding dogs and where they live.

And be aware that all doodles look different, there is no one certain "look", as you will see just by watching any of the DK slideshows on the main page.

 

 

[Adina P]

Since you haven't seen many and aren't sure what multigenerational means, it gives me the impression that you are fairly new to the idea of labradoodles.  What is it about the labradoodle that attracts you?  Is it cuteness (totally my reason)?  Is it the hope of non-shedding?  What have you heard? 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

BTW.... Some common terms: F1 means first generation; F1b means the first generation doodle parent was bred back to the pure breed  - you usually want that to be a poodle rather than a retriever genetically or you are quite likely to get a very retrieverish pup ; multigenerational means doodle bred to doodle for multiple generations.