Frequently Asked Questions

I see puppies listed that cost less. What's so special about your puppies?

Our litters have 3 wonderful things going for them; size, temperament, and appearance.

Getting a 70 lb Standard-Size Goldendoodle is can be fun but it's a lot of dog to deal with when you're trying to get him into the tub for a bath. Getting an F1B may be a better fit for your family. We have been told by several people that they love the size of our full-grown pups. The smaller size is more manageble for older couples and families with very young children, not to mention, less food, less mess, etc... Willow's, and Millie's F1B puppies are even smaller at 12-27 lbs. Along with size, a dog's temperament is another important trait.

Several years ago, we adopted a rescue dog from a shelter. Sadly, it was discovered later that our new pet had an undisclosed mental disorder that caused situational agression. Keeping Lulu would have placed our children in danger. We have learned that an old adage also applies to pets - You usually get what you pay for. Our dames as well as the studs have wonderful, friendly temperaments. They are smart, easy to train, and don't have any agression issues. They have amazing personalities with good looks to match.

People rave about how cute our dogs are. Willow and Millie have great traits and produce healthy gorgeous puppies.

And lastly, there is value in dealing with a reputable breeder who is fair, honest, and takes pride in raising top-quality pups. We love working with our puppies to be the best they can be before they go to your home. Our buyers recognize and appreciate this. We would be happy to provide references. Here are just a few of their unsolicited comments.

How much training and socialization will the puppies get?

We are not a full-time breeder so, our puppies are born in our home and are exposed to all the aspects of normal family life. In addition to not starting life out in a kennel, our puppies get a lot of individual training and socialization.

We give the puppies Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) from day 3 to day 16. ENS is a series of exercises that kickstarts the puppie's neurological system into action earlier than would be normally expected.

5 Benefits of ENS

  • Improved cardio vascular performance
  • Stronger heart beats
  • Stronger adrenal glands
  • More tolerance to stress
  • Greater resistance to disease

As the puppies get older, we follow the protocalls found in Jan Killion's Puppy Culture Program. The first 12 weeks of a puppies life have a powerful impact in shaping his future. We will do our part for the first 7-8 weeks of your puppy's life and we encourage you to learn of and continue following these training principals. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a well behaved and cherished pet.

In addition to following the Puppy Culture Program, we do sound therapy A few times a week. Playing a wide variety of recorded sounds desensitizes the puppies to sounds that could frighten or cause anxiety in the future. This will help prepare pups to remain calm as they encounter new things, such as vacuums, lawnmowers, alarms or fireworks.

Will my goldendoodle shed?

A First generation (F1) Goldendoodle is the product of a Poodle crossed with a Golden Retriever. Most first generation Goldendoodles either don't shed or shed very lightly, and are compatible for most families with mild allergies. A puppy from Hazel would be an F1.

The backcross (F1B) Goldendoodle is produced by crossing an F1 Goldendoodle with a Poodle. The poodle carries the non-shedding hypoallerginic traits. F1B goldendoodles will have stronger non-shedding traits and are recommended for families with moderate to severe allergies. The puppies from Willow's or Roxy's litters are F1B so, the shedding is normally very minimal if any.

No dog is truely 100% "non-shedding" and the fur isn't always the trigger for allergies. See the question below.

Are goldendoodles hypoallergenic?

For something to be considered hypoallergenic, it must be relatively unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction in someone. It's important to understand that it's rare that a person has an allergic reation to dog fur/hair. It is the dander from the skin that usually cause allergies to flare. Animals that are considered "hypoallergenic" generally have longer, finer hair that allows the dander (dead skin particles) to stay within the hair instead of being released into the air. For this reason, Goldendoodles are considered to be hypoallergenic.

Even if a dog is completely hairless, it’s still going to produce dander, and therefore, allergens. So, in technical terms, no – goldendoodles are not 100% hypoallergenic (no dogs are). How likely goldendoodles are to trigger an allergic reaction in someone really depends on how the dog was bred and how its genes are expressed. We know that’s not the definitive answer you may want to hear, but since poodles are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed while golden retrievers are not, theoretically, the more “poodle” a goldendoodle has in its blood, the less likely it will cause you an allergic reaction.

What are the differences in generations and sizes?

Doodlepups currently only offers the F1b generation but the types are described below for reference.

  • F1 - A puppy from a female Golden Retriever crossed with a male toy poodle
  • F1b - A puppy from a female F1 Mini Goldendoodle backcrossed to a male toy poodle
  • F1bb - A puppy from a female F1b Mini Goldendoodle backcrossed to a male toy poodle

When it comes to predicting the puppie's full grown weight, a general rule of thumb is to add both the parents weights together and divide by 2. The weight ranges for Doodlepups are as follows:

Will my dog require a lot of grooming?

With getting an F1B hybrid, your puppy will inherit fur that is more similar to that of a poodle than a golden retriever. Unclipped Goldendoodles will have hair about 2-4 inches long, shorter on the face and longer on the body, tail and legs. A longer coat will need brushing every few weeks depending on how often they are groomed.

F1 goldendoodles are 50% Golden Retriever so they are less curly and have a lower chance of developing mats in the fur.

You can leave the fur long, however, clipping your goldendoodle shorter in the summer makes for a cool, low-maintenance dog. Your dog will thank you.

What is the life expectancy?

About 15 years. As a hybrid cross they grow healthier and live longer than either parent line.

Do you offer a health guarantee?

Yes. We offer a 2-year health gurarantee. It's all spelled out in the Puppy Purchase Agreement. We can also provide you with copies of the health records and certifications of the parents.

Will my puppy be crate trained?

First, let’s define what crate training is. Crate Training is simply the process of training your puppy to be comfortable and relaxed in a crate. Crating a puppy is needed when:

  • You are unable to watch your puppy every second.
  • You need to leave your puppy alone for a while.
  • Your puppy is too wild and needs a little "time out."
  • When you are sleeping.

Crate training is an important tool in house training your puppy. House training is the process of training your puppy to not relieve himself in your home and to let you know when he needs to go out. House training requires a lot of vigilance, planning and attention to detail. During house training, a puppy should be in one of 3 stations at ALL times.

  • Outside, while you actively watch for and praise him for peeing or pooping in the proper place.
  • Inside, with your constant supervision.
  • In a crate or gated off in a small, puppy-proofed area.

Both types of training are step-by-step processes that can take days or weeks and are dependent your puppy’s abilities at that time. To answer the question - Will my puppy be crate trained? We can answer “Yes” but, only in the ways a young puppy is capable of being crate trained from 4-8 weeks. We introduce open crates early and make being in a crate a positive experience by setting up our puppies to find treats and new toys in the crates. Soon the pups enjoy playing and sleeping in an open crate. The next step is to close the crate door for short periods of time.

Having a puppy well crate-trained plays and important role in house training. Because one type of training is part of the other, the two are often conflated. We see some breeders who mislead buyers by claiming that their puppies are “fully crate trained” knowing that the buyer is thinking they are getting a puppy that is “house trained.” Unfortunately, That's probably not the case. The breeder may have locked their puppies in crates for a while and called it “crate training”, however, locking a stressed young pup in a crate can do more harm than good. Puppies under 8 weeks can't control their bladders and bowels for very long. If the puppy has an accident in the crate, it can ruin his natural instinct to keep his sleeping area clean.

The last steps of crate training and house training are usually done in the puppy’s new home at 8 weeks of age when the puppy gains more physical control. Sometimes a few puppies stay with us past 8 weeks. During that time we continue crate training and begin the first steps of house training.

When can I see the puppies?

The handling of puppies should be limited before 3 weeks old but we welcome your in-person visits after that. Buyers are encouraged to visit the puppies for good socialization. Beware of breeders who discourage you from seeing puppies and the environment in which the're raised.

Picking takes place after the puppy's 6-week vet examination. If you can't select your puppy in person, we try help by posting lots of photos and videos. A FaceTime call is also a great way to narrow down your puppy choices and ask questions.

How can I get one of the first picks of the litter?

This takes some planning in advance and a lot of patience. Most of our early picks got on a wait list several months before the litter was due. Placing a deposit as early as possible secures your place in line. Prior to the birth, 50% of the $1000 deposit is required to secure your pick.

With your pick number established, we will contact you soon after the puppies are born to collect the remainder of the deposit ($500).

What if I get the last pick?

Pick order is very important for buyers of show dogs when other buyers may be looking for the exact same traits that are prized in a specific breed. Buying a goldendoodle to be a family pet is completely different. Getting the last pick certainly doesn't mean you're getting an inferior puppy. Everyone has different tastes. The first pick may want the biggest, light-colored, puppy that is super active. You may find other traits more appealing. We are amazed at how it usually works out in the end and everyone is thrilled with the puppy they get.

What if I change my mind?

We only offer refunds for the following reasons:

  • The expected litter isn't born
  • The chosen gender isn't available
  • A genetic health issue is discovered
We do not offer refunds for other reasons. The terms are spelled out in the Deposit Receipt

Can you ship a puppy to me?

Yes, but we will not ship puppies unattended in the cargo area. The puppy must fly with someone in the cabin. If you would like to pick up your own puppy, learn what the fees and regulations are for your chosen airline.

We highly reccomend sending your puppy to you with a flight nanny. A flight nanny is an off-duty flight attendant who escorts your puppy the entire way. The flight nanny flys stand-by so it may require some flexibility as they work with you directly to schedule a day and time for delivery at your airport. This service usually costs $600-$700.

Don't worry, we have shipped puppies all over the United States with no issues. If you would rather save money and live in a nearby state, consider planning a fun drive to Utah and see some of our amazing national parks along the way. Or when possible, we can meet you part way.

Can I breed my dog?

Not unless breeding rights are purchased which are an adittional $500.