Goldendoodle Breeders in Surrounding States??

[Sam&Bella]

Hello!

You might know that we are looking to add another goldendoodle to the family!!! I tried to look for a good breeder near me, but some I liked, then there was something I didn't like..... I would love to go to the breeder we got Bella, but they are in fl (we used to live there). We want to see all the options near us before we go to fl.

We are looking for a multi-gen (goldendoodle x goldendoodle, preferably not an f1b multi-gen) We live in Maryland, and willing to drive 5-7 hours (each way).

Thank you!!!

PRIVATE MESSAGE ME THE BREEDERS THAT YOU LIKE:^)

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

I don't know any breeders in Maryland but make sure you get a breeder that does OFA or PenHipp testing. You want to do OFA for hips, heart, eyes, knee, and maybe the elbow. This would prevent a lot of health care bills and heartaches down the road. 

[Sam&Bella]

 Yes Definitely! Champion Lines and Testing is my 1# thing that I look for. I don't really care that they are "champion lines". The only reason that I look for it, is because it means that they had to be disease free and healthy to win.

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

Ha me too. Ofa makes it kinda expensive :-( wish doodles were free. We have a free retired show at that is the healthiest, smartest pet we've ever had. Both her parents were grand champions in the cfa. I didn't really care at the time but now they are getting older she is the one pet I don't worry health wise

[Sam&Bella]

Me too! Free doodles would make doodle hunting a lot easier! I have found a great breeder, but then after you are looking at every single page on the website, about to say "I have found the Breeder!" But then when you finally find the price page after reading all the good things about them, then you have to start all over again!! I can not tell you how many times I have searched "goldendoodle breeders" on google!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It is worth it to save longer for your newest family member because of the health testing of the parents.  If I were ever to get another Springer Spaniel, that is exactly what I would do.  Our poor backyard bred, Gordie, had lots of physical and anxiety problems.  If I had only known the difference between puppy mills, back yard breeders, and reputable breeders who health tested and bred for temperament and health, I could have saved a little longer to purchase and ended up with  a healthy 'Gordie' for a lot more years.

[Sam&Bella]

Yes I totally agree! But the prices that I am seeing are extremely overpriced and then there is another breeder who does the same thing, but more realistic prices. But they are all the way across the country:)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Do we see a road trip in your future???  :-}

[Sam&Bella]

Haha! ;)

[33bn7f8evnuyd]

I also wanted to mention that genetic diseases don't usually pop up until around 2 years old when their bones are finished developing.  I had called for Pennhip Test on my Goldendoodle just to make sure he is gonna pass as a service dog.  You really don't want your service dog to have hip dysplasia. It cost $500 for the full Pennhip test because they have to be sedated and the results are sent out.  Typically a Goldendoodle breeder charges $2800 for a standard Goldendoodle with proper testing. Also PennHipp is way more accurate than OFA hip test because they do 3 angle radiographs instead of 1 and it is sent off to 3 different radiology veterinary specialist in UPenn to get evaluated. Some people who do PennHip say OFA hip certification can be highly inaccurate because a lot of vets just don't have the experience.   PennHip is also graded on a scale to 100 and OFA have only a few grading categories.  Sorry.. I'm getting off to esoteric health nut territory.  I just did a lot of research on this because my dog's hydrotherapist made me paranoid. She said Lucky had bad conformation and needed to have his hocks checked and hip replacement cost ~$5k 

[Sam&Bella]

I didn't know that it was that complicated! Thank you for letting me know!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I agree with Nancy.  Save up and go with a trusted breeder.  When I was looking for a pup, I noticed that golden doodle prices varied widely.  For some, "health testing" meant a certificate from their "friendly" vet stating that the pup was examined and healthy.  That's not enough!  See http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder 

I would steer clear of Pennsylvania.  I can't mention names here but there are a number of breeders who advertise as if they breed great golden doodles and they are very clever at hiding the real conditions of their breeding dogs. I visited one who claimed they had been a breeder of "champion" golden retrievers.  I put a deposit on an adorable pup, but something bothered me because although they claimed the dogs lived in their home, they were not! A little more research uncovered that their dogs were kept in sad conditions and the kennel had been cited repeatedly for some serious violations.  I was crushed but after an unpleasant confrontation, I got my deposit back. Just want others to avoid that.

With OFA testing, a panel of radiologists examines a dog's x-rays and then a review by a panel orthopedic specialists gives a final determination using one of seven categories. OFA is good but PennHip has been shown to be a better predictor and gives a final percentage: The dog's hips are better than, say, 90% of dogs.  But be aware that neither is a guarantee because genetic HD can skip several generations so a health guarantee is important.  While a final determination for breeding dogs can't be made until the dog is two, both organizations will give a preliminary reading on pups less than 2 years old.  One thing I consider really important, in addition to complete health testing, is a breeder that breeds for temperament; one who socializes, and evaluates pups for a good fit into their prospective homes and offers ongoing support because they love their pups.     

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree. I personally would be very suspicious of anyone who is selling Goldendoodle puppies for less than $1800, especially minis or multigens. Of course, a high price doesn't guarantee anything, but a low price is a sign that the breeder is cutting corners somewhere.

Another thing you don't usually see on the breeder's websites are the ages of the parents. You don't want a pup from parents less than 2 years old, and in fact, GANA will evoke a breeder's membership if they do breed dogs under 2. 

Read the health warranties carefully, too. 

And if a breeder lists pups for sale on Next Day Pets or PuppyFind, or any ad site with multiple breeder listings, run the other way.