[CptChris]

The litter is due any day actually. We're hoping to get a poodle chocolate lab mix. Hope hope....

We were told once the litter is born we can come and choose our dog and then we're not allowed to pick it up until 8 weeks after that. I've asked to get the largest male of the litter. I've always liked large dogs. My girlfriend wanted something that didn't shed. Labradoodle was the compramise. However I think we were sold on the breed long ago when we met a couple that had one and heard/saw nothing but good things.

When we visited the farm it seemed very proffesional. However even prior to reading this I was suprised we were never asked about or housing situation and what our schedules were like and if we had enough time to accomodate a dog. At this point I think we just have to cross our fingures.

 

[CptChris]

Thanks for the confirmation on that....feeling much better.

Hope to see ya in the dog parks.

 

[Maureen]

Hi and welcome Chris,
I cannot give you info on this particular breeder; I would only have my opinions based on what I see on their website. BUT I do know OTHER breeders in so. Ontario, is that your target area to find a doodle?

I do not, at this time, put microchips in all our puppies before they leave my home. I guess I could but I don't. PERSONALLY I don't think that is a final or the most important factor in a quality, caring, professional breeder. Will they show you the OFA results on the specific parents of the puppies you are considering?

Please feel free to email me (See below) if you like. If you send an email please just reference this forum so I know ok? thanks!

 

[Jac]

Hi Chris, welcome! And congratulations! Sounds like you are expecting a lovely puppy...and I am sure you will be very pleased with a Labradoodle!

Don't be too concerned when a breeder is not listed on any particular organization. The one that you mention is a very fine organization, but the listing on that site depends on many factors, and being listed is not a promise of quality as not being listed is not an indicaiton of a bad breeder...it is one of many factors to consider...but not all-inclusive.

The most important factor, in my opinion, is whether your breeder tests the breeding stock, and will show you the results (not tell you...show you.) And whether or not you get a good health warranty...and if they stand behind their puppies. Will they be there with advice and help if you need it?

Extras like microchipping, spaying, etc. are personal choices made by the breeder. Many times what we do is in conflict with what our buyers want...for instance, I spay/neuter my dogs before they leave my home...many breeders don't (they sell with a contract to require the new owner to spay/neuter by a certain age.) I have had many people very pleased that I do this...however, I have had other buyers choose another breeder when I am firm on this decision.

Microchipping is not a necessary thing...sometimes breeders do it sometimes they don't. I personally do, but it is just something that I have decided to include...again, just one of many factors.

It is also important that the breeder takes proper care of the animals. You want a puppy that is not raised in a place where it doesn't get attention or love...it should not be in a dirty kennel, but keep in mind that puppies poop a lot...and even the best breeder will have some poop in the puppy area...but use your good judgment and common sense...you will know.

Also, it is good if you can get references to the breeder's vet, other buyers, etc. If they have the parents where you can meet them, that is another good thing.

We all do things differently...personally, I am very, very cautious about letting people in to see my puppies...I am so worried about them getting sick when people track in diseases...so I limit the visits and restrict the conditions. Other breeders have no problem with visitors. Again, it is a personal choice.

Most breeders will ask about you and your intentions for the puppies...I think it is pretty important...but sometimes a person can talk to you on the phone and get a good idea of what your plans are...without asking pointed questions...so, again, it is a personal style issue.

Don't worry...just be sure you take your pup to your vet within a day or two of you getting him...I'd make the appointment before you get the puppy...because if there is a health issue, you need to address it right away.

 

[Maureen]

WELL SAID Jacque!

 

[CptChris]

Thanks for that...very reconfirming.

Lookin forward to getttin our dog!

 

[jacksondoodle]

burkhart kennels

my fiancee and i bought a labradoodle puppy from this breeder in august 2007 and he is absolutely AMAZING!!! we couldn't have asked for a better dog!!!
the important thing is that the parents are on site, ALL the dogs have excellent temperaments, and all the puppies have a 2 yr health guarantee. our puppy (jackson) is almost 9 months now and we have had absolutely NO issues with him. he took to training VERY quickly, didn't ruin ANYTHING in the house (he shredded a kleenex ONCE, that was the worst), is excellent with other dogs, and is extremely calm with children and babies! i would not hestitate to purchase a dog from them again. my biggest advice would be select your puppy based on your needs; watch them play, observe which ones greet you first (these are going to be the more dominate ones, which will translate into adulthood). if you're a first time dog owner, you may want to select a more submissive puppy, just for the simple reason they will not challenge you as much. if you're experienced dog owner, you might be able to handle a less submissive dog. also remember, since labradoodles aren't an official breed (more breeders would see them as glorified "muts") there is still a lot of variation that can happen (ie. coat changes, size, ect). our doodle currently weighs 65lbs at almost 9 months. we're expecting him to push 100lbs when all is said and done. he was also twice the size of the other puppies in his litter so we were prepared for him to be a little larger. just keep these things in mind.
just remember, you can get a good dog anywhere. it's more about educating yourself and picking a dog that best suits you and your lifestyle.

 

[Tink]

As to the microchipping... I wouldn't be concerned that a breeder doesn't do that with pups. I don't do it with any of mine because there is research out now that says microchipping may be causing cancers. I am holding off until they have a definitive answer on it.

 

[Jac]

Jacksondoodle, welcome to the forum...I am very pleased that you are so happy with the puppy you purchased and I want to say that breeders don't need to belong to any organization in order to be quality breeders. They DO, however, have to meet certain standards and this is what many of us are trying to point out in this post.
While I agree that temperament, having parents on site and warranties are extremely imortant, I don't want to discount the importance of the care given to the dogs (or lack of care) based on profit margin.
It is so important that a breeder not cut corners on things like microchipping (or other type of permanent, tracable identification), vet care and testing their breeding stock. Extremely important.
So, while I agree that doing your homework, research and making informed decisions goes a long way toward selecting a good dog, it can not replace the value of a breeder who is willing to go the extra mile to ensure the continued health and well being of the breed as a whole. This is what a good breeder does. In fact, the type of breeder who makes sales based on "cute puppies" or even "good puppies" is what reputable breeders are continually fighting against. There is much more to the equasion.
As you mentioned, many people think that by mixing breeds we are placing ourselves in the "back yard breeder" or "puppy mill" categories, so it is all that much more important that ALL doodle breeders rise above what is convenient and less expensive, in order to lift the public perception of the breed.
I am posting a good article that explains this and I am rather certain that this article will hit upon breeders of mixed breed dogs as being questionable regarding reputation...which only proves my opinion that it matters...it really matters...what breeders do when selecting breeding stock and selling puppies: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1448

 

[jacksondoodle]

thanks for the welcome!
i can see from your profile that you are a doodle breeder. by no means did i mean to offend you or any doodle breeder with my "glorified mut" comment. all i was trying to point out was that doodles are not an AKC registered breed and that an association like that usually sees things like doodles or any mixes as "glorified muts" or i've also heard them be referred to as designer dogs. anyone who is breeding any dog should definately be making sure the dogs they are breeding are of good quality and temperment. i am not discrediting that at all. there are definately standards that need to upheld with any breeder. i was more interested in pointing out that doodles are still new to north america and you can still come across many variations because of it (interms of coat, colour, size, energy level ect.). ultimately it's your decision when you pick a puppy (although if purchased from a breeder, they should most definately be assisting you) and if you have not properly educated yourself on the breed you are selecting and your specific needs, you have no one to blame but yourself if the dog does not fit your life.
as for my breeder where i purchased my puppy, the care given to the dogs is excellent (the kennels were clean, parents on site ect.) my puppy actually knew his name when i brought him home. personally, i don't think not microchipping should be a major deturant from purchasing a puppy. if it is important to you as a breeder, that's great! they do not charge extra for "cute" or "good" puppies. our puppy was definately not cheap, nor was he overpriced. we payed good money for a good quality dog. we were asked MANY questions about our home and lifestyle (house? fenced yard? plan on having children? when? ect.) the puppies are all vet checked, have their shots and are dewormed when you pick them up. you also get a bag of food so you can continue feeding them the food they have been on or change it without upsetting their little tummies. in fact, there is a service dog training facility in our area (i live about 20mins from burkhart) that trains dogs to became service dogs for autistic children and on several occasions, burkhart puppies have gone threw the program and graduated! if an association like that, who has extremely high standards, is accepting puppies from my breeder, i think the quality of their dogs speaks for itself. once again, i decided to post something because i had actually been to the breeder and purchased a puppy. i just felt that purhaps my knowledge of them would helpful, opposed to just reading their website

PS Please Pm me for the name of my breeder, thanks

 

[MaxandMe]

HI everyone ...just a reminder to read rules.

putting "PM me for my breeder's name "is acceptable.
thanks

YES we can say" does anyone know of or have gotten a puppy from such and such breeder in Anywhere, Montana?"in order to help each other out.

but further SPECIFICS like a breeder's personal name and/or kennel name, website should then be via pm's with links , names etc in private for both advertising and in rare cases of slander when differing opinions or experience may crop up.

so when discussing what breeder you have used please discuss it more generically and leave names to pms. (PM=private message or emails)

Thanks so much

 

[Jax]

I would consider what the breeder does with the pup to determine if it is worth it to pay more. We just got our second dog (an F1 labradoodle) ($1250) and paid more than double what we paid for our purebred beagle ($550). BUT I notice a huge difference in training the pups and their handling. My labradoodle breeder worked alot with the pups from day 3 doing some stimulation exercises and then after 16 days practiced alot of handling exercises from the Art of Raising A Puppy by the Monks of New Skete. For the more timid pups she works with them more to help bring them out. All her work and efforts is definitely worth the money and produces more sound happy companions.

From the first day I picked up my pup you can tell that he really loves and trusts humans, he is a good follower and sits right by your feet most of the time (except when playing with our beagle) and has good recall already, housetrained like a dream, I can touch and handle his paws or ears or anything without objection whereas my beagle was completely opposite - and I had to bring him to professional groomers to cut his nails and it took two of them to keep him still!

So I was really impressed with my pup that I paid lots of money for.... and he has a health guarantee for 3 years for hips etc.

The only thing my pup does not like is his crate - he whines and cries when he is in there - but today is only day 6 with us and I am sure that he will come around.

 

[Cinsmom]

I'm just going to interject here and say that we didn't pay that much for Cinnamon - $300. We didn't meet both parents, but we did see the mother. Our breeder was (still is?) breeding Labs and has a beautiful chocolate female (Cin's mom). However, her sister's silver Poodle had a rendezvous with their female, and can we say OOPSS!! She didn't want LD's, she wanted pure Labs. So we got a deal. So I'd say do your homework, but sometimes things work out that you get a good deal! Cin's Dad was tested, he was a stud for a Poodle breeder. Oh and we got asked all sorts of questions, like how big is your back yard etc. So yeah, good deals are out there with good breeders, just do the homework.

 

[Guest]

Wow, Cinnamon is so gorgeous! I cannot imagine not wanting to repeat the litter!!!

 

[Maureen]

I just saw today that Oprah this Friday April 4th:
Puppy Mill Show

HEY THANKS MEGAN!
I just heard about this upcoming show from other breeders and should have brought this news to this forum myself!

I don't usually watch Oprah but I'm going to be looking for this show, or taping it.

 

[Jac]

I don't have a television...or at least not regular programming (only hooked up for DVDs) so please keep me posted about the story! Wish I could watch!

 

[MerNor]

Hi Reddoodle-7,

It should be pretty easy when looking at a potential breeder to figure out whether their dogs have been properly tested. I am getting a pup from a litter this summer and my breeder has all the specific information about her dogs testing results posted on her website with links to the organizations that do the testing. They should be able to give you proof of the testing.

My breeder also had all the information about her health guarantee and the medical care of the pups prior to purchase on her website and she required potential puppy owners to answer a detailed questionnaire before considering them as potential puppy owners.

If you are worried about getting a puppy from a young mother or about testing not being thoroughly done, look for a mother that is a little older and has had a litter or two already. She should definitely had all her testing, plus she should have produced sound pups.

Even with all this information, the very best way you will be able to tell how responsible a breeder is is by talking with that breeder. They should be forthcoming with answers to all your questions... and think it's a very good thing that you are asking the right questions!

Good luck in your puppy hunt! We are very excited about ours

 

[LuBer]

When I reserched labradoodles,I had thought that I had done enough research,about temperment ,ect.However ,I should of reserched both the Lab and poodle breed temperments more closesly,not so much the agression but how active they are ,as an individual breed.
we love our Doodle now that hes neutered and getting older,hes calming down alot,Love the fun,comical and smart personality.however INitially,he was soooo hyper,and crazy,we had really thought we made a mistake and were regretting our decission.
If I read more on just the individual breeds and how hyper they can be, we may not of chosen the doodle.Be prepared that when getting a mixed breed,its never a 100% ,what end traits of which individual breed will end up in the doodle.Really think about your lifestyle and your activity levels.
Dogs need excersise,some more so than others,depending on how active they are.A good breeder ,will have questionaires about What tempermanent you want.BE VERY HONEST IN This RESPONSE,.and hopefully the breeder is good at picking the right pup for your family.
Secondly,visit the breeder and meet the parents and see how active and calm they are,any breeder that doesnt let you meet the parents, then question them as a breeder ,be wary.With any purchase..it's always BUYER BEWARE.
Do not let the breeder make you feel forced to get this dog now,or pressure of any kind,again Walk away .It should feel right.
Lastly,be realistic,PUPPIES are alot of work and require alot of patience ,make sure you and your family are prepared for some of the inconviniences of having a puppy.If a memeber of the family has any hesitation or refuse to help out, this can make having the puppy harder than it should be.
We had another dog at the time, we thought by having a second dog,it would benefit the family,however she passed away,and we had a puppy and a hubby that missed the dog that passed away,and had a hard time accepting the pup.Puppies feed on the emotions around them,so this did not help in his hyper levels.
We should of waitied to get him.
I guess,in the end ,my advice is make sure you do the research,know if its the right timing,be prepared,you dont want to regret you decision in the end.
Sadly,for some breeders its about the money,and once you bought the pup,and sign the transfer of ownership papers,they wash theyre hands and your stuck with a pup with health issues.
Once you make the decision and get a doodle,make sure you do dog training.They are very intelligent dogs ,and need mental stimulation,to keep them from getting bored.hahaha.
don't get the wrong impression,we just adore our doodle,hes so affectionate, a cuddle bug,great companion,ect.i would get another one again.But the more you work with the doodle and effort you put in to rearing them, the better the animal is the outcome.
Hopes this helps.

 

[MerNor]

I totally agree that you will need to be prepared to put in the training and socializing time with a doodle (or any dog for that matter) and that a doodle is an active dog which definitely needs mental as well as physical stimulation.

If you're worried about consistency though.. you might want to consider looking into an Australian Labradoodle from therapy dog lines. These dogs were originally bred in the late 80's for a blind woman who's husband has allergies. The Victoria therapy dog association crossed the best poodles with the best lines of assistance Labradors, so they started out with a fantastic combination. Since then they have been very carefully and thoughtfully bred by several knowledgeable breeders. They have added some infusions of other breeds to help hone in on qualities that they felt would contribute to making good therapy dogs and family pets.

I don't think they are inherently better than the pure poodle lab crosses that are found quite widely as well, but they have been carefully bred for thirty years now and as a result are more established as a breed and have more consistent traits. Instead of dealing with first generation pups, which are truly a cross breed, you are dealing with multigenerational pups (5th, 6th etc) from a careful breeding program. That said, there are of course still variations as even 30 years isn't so long a time for solidifying a dog breed... they've just got a bit of time on their side! Hopefully in 30 years American Labradoodles will also have the same kind of consistency!

Alright.. this email was a bit off the original topic of pricing.. but these were the thoughts that arose in my mind on reading the most recent post We are getting a pup of our own this summer, so I've been doing LOTS of research! We'll be picking up our multi gen Australian Labradoodle puppy at the end of July!

Oh! And you do not need to go to Australia to get an ALD! There are ALD breeders in the us too

 

[MaxandMe]

IN a way all these most recent replies are indirectly related to the topic , Prices of doodles.
HOW SO?

lots of good points were brought up about the origin of the doodle , why it was created : temperament, intelligence, health etc for service/therapy.

HOWEVER when choosing a doodle YES they have been mixed with other breeds to bring about the LD and GD's.
THUS a slight deviation from the parental heritage used for breeding.

So whether you pay $200, $700, $1200, or even $2500
I'd say if AFTER your reasearch, you still want a doodle
PICK OUT THE TEMPERAMENT 1st above all as this dog will live 10 to 15years with you. Coat, color, etc will all fall into place if you get the DOODLE for you.

do you hike? do you like to watch movies on the couch at night or do you like to take long walks daily?
do you work all day and not home til 9 or more hours later? do you also get up early to allow enough exercise before crating and then after getting home?

I feel the above is very related cause NO matter what you pay,
if you dont' consider you and your family;s personality, lifestyle and the type of dog's temperament/personality too
you take a chance then on getting the cute color and coat you wanted but maybe not the lifelong companion you imagined.