Doodle FAQ

The "F" stands for "Filial", so the 1, 2 etc. indicates the number of generations of descent from an original parent generation.

An F1 Goldendoodle would be the first generation result of a cross between a Poodle and a Golden Retriever. An F1b would be the result of an F1 Goldendoodle bred to either a Poodle or a Golden Retriever. An F2 would be that F1 Goldendoodle bred to another F1 Goldendoodle.

Multigenerational is the term that Doodle breeders use to describe dogs from later generations. These later generations tend to have more consistent outcomes in size and other traits.

Three testable factors contribute to Doodle Coat types: Length, Curl, and Furnishings.

Length - Long hair is recessive in dogs, which means that breeding a long haired dog to another long haired dog will always give you only long haired puppies.

Curl - Doodle coats are either curly (tight curls), wavy (loose curls), or straight (almost no curls).

Genetically, a curly Doodle is known as C/C, a wavy Doodle is known as C/-, and a straight coated Doodle is known as -/-.

Furnishings - A Doodle with two furnishing genes or "fully furnished" will be almost non-shedding like Poodles, which can be very helpful for people with mild allergies to dog dander; a Doodle with one furnishing gene will be low shedding; a Doodle with no furnishing genes will shed like the non-poodle breeds in their ancestry.

Furnishings are also responsible for the classic, adorable Doodle face with eyebrows and mustache/beard.

Our Ideal Coat - We primarily breed for straight or wavy coats with full furnishings. This coat makes a Doodle almost non-shedding and easier to groom, with eyebrows, mustache, and beard, and offers maximum benefit to those with allergies.

We sometimes have curly coated puppies for those who, like us, find them adorable. Our curly Doodles have all the benefits of our wavy and straight Doodles, except that they will require more frequent brushing and combing.

All Doodles need regular brushing and combing, bathing and trimming, and care of their ears, eyes, and nails.

If you prefer your Doodle with a longer coat, you'll need to brush and comb them more often to prevent matting - just like people who have long hair versus short hair.

The good news is you always have a choice on coat length and how much brushing and combing you'll need to do to keep that coat in great shape. Long coat or short clip - Doodles are adorable either way!

The most important thing to remember is never let your Doodle suffer with a matted coat. It is unhealthy as well as uncomfortable, and can cause skin issues, infections, and even behavior problems due to pain.

Any tiny mats that develop (and we all see a few occasionally) can be gently brushed out with the help of a detangling spray, or snipped out with a pair of grooming scissors.

However, if your Doodle becomes significantly matted, please shave them down completely to about a 1/4 inch coat length rather than trying to brush out the mats. This shave if needed will prevent a lot of pain for your dog, give you a "reset" on coat maintenance, and it will always grow back.

We have curated some great grooming videos that provide a lot more information!

Part of the fun in breeding Doodles is that the Poodle background offers so many different coat patterns and colors. We enjoy working with a variety, so this answer may be updated pretty frequently!

At this time, we expect our litters to have black, chocolate, cream, apricot, gold, or red, with solid, parti, or other patterning.

Doodles are generally recognized in four sizes.

Petite - Under 25 pounds

Miniature - 26 - 35 pounds

Medium - 36 - 50 pounds

Standard - 51 pounds and up

We focus on Petite Doodles with a goal size of 10 to 20 pounds.

We follow the guidance of these dog welfare, health, and breeding organizations:

ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

CDP (The Companion Dog Project)

FDC (The Functional Dog Collaborative)

OFA (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and Canine Health Center)

We follow best practices in responsible breeding:

Enrichment and our dogs' health and happiness are our top priorities.

We will always accept the return of one of our Doodles at any time for any reason.

We keep up to date and follow recommended health disorder testing.

We raise our puppies with a comprehensive curriculum.

Long story short - it is not possible to responsibly breed healthy, happy, and high quality dogs on the cheap. 

Check out our blog post on the subject: The Cost of Breeding.

When you're searching for a Doodle puppy (or really any dog), you're likely to find a pretty wide range of prices. Sometimes those low prices are very tempting - who doesn't love a bargain?

But it's usually not a bargain at all.

Always look into what you're NOT getting for a lower price (and also make sure that if you're paying a higher price, you are getting everything you should!)

Take a look at our Puppy Curriculum and Health Disorder Testing. Ask yourself, and any breeder you're considering: do they meet this level of quality and support for a comparable price?

We are proud to provide the best possible care for our Doodles. We do not skimp on what they need and deserve, and that costs money and time.

This personal and financial commitment is reflected in our Doodles' health, happiness, and exceptional quality as delightful family pets and emotional support dogs.

Prices vary based on age and level of training.

Our price for an 8 week old puppy is $3200 and includes one truly Delightful Doodle AND your Doodle’s…

...Companion Dog Project registration certificate and pedigree

…your Doodle's and their parents' DNA test results

…your Doodle's parents' OFA results

...five year health warranty for congenital or hereditary disorders

…veterinary health exam and first vaccines

…microchip, pre-paid for your Doodle’s lifetime

…documents folder loaded with info for you and your veterinarian

…Gotcha Day tote bag with food, toys, chewies, treats, and more

We do - our Puppy Kindergarten training is offered at two levels.

Level I is for puppies from 8 to 10 weeks old.

Level II is for puppies from 10 to 12 weeks old.

We recommend you consider having your puppy stay with us for training if...

...you work outside the home and the puppy will be alone for more than four hours at a time.

...you have a particularly busy schedule right now, or you otherwise prefer to skip the labor intensive early training stages.

One of the magical things about the Doodle temperament is how quickly they adjust to a new home and love their new families - you will not have a lesser bond with your Doodle puppy if you take them home at ten or twelve weeks instead of eight weeks.

 We designed our health warranty to be good for our Doodle families, good for us, and most importantly good for the Doodles.

Our goal in breeding is to bring dogs into the world who have the maximum likelihood of intrinsic and functional health and exceptional companion behavior. 

We do everything in our power to reduce or eliminate the risks of congenital and hereditary disorders including careful selection of parent dogs, low COI, health disorder testing, keeping up to date with emerging science and best practices, working with a team of general practice and board certified veterinarians, and puppy-rearing protocols focused on lifetime health.

Our Doodles are covered by our health warranty for congenital or hereditary disorders until they are five years old, provided the Doodle family maintains uninterrupted veterinary health insurance coverage throughout the warranty period; we provide up to $1000.00 assistance toward treatment costs for such disorders, after insurance has been applied, during the warranty period.

Veterinary costs are high and will likely continue to rise. Many families have a hard time paying a big vet bill. Some families find themselves in the incredibly painful position of having to deny their pet care because they simply cannot afford it.

That’s what insurance is for.

Veterinary health insurance for dogs under five years old is very affordable. Like health insurance for people, veterinary health insurance is currently the best way to protect your Doodle, and the best way for our Doodle families to financially protect themselves - not just from hereditary or congenital disorders, but from other serious issues like injuries or illnesses.

Our breeding practices protect our Doodles’ health, and our warranty protects our Doodle families from unaffordable veterinary bills.

Companion Dogs

Our companion dogs are sold on a non-breeding agreement, and responsible pet ownership includes prevention of accidental litters. The most effective way to accomplish this is through spay or neuter.

We recommend working with your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your Doodle - we require spay or neuter by the time the dog is 18 months old.

We also recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about options including ovary-sparing hysterectomy or vasectomy, as well as the more traditional spay and neuter surgeries.

Breeding Dogs

We do not offer puppies or dogs for sale or trade to other breeders with the exception of those we know well and already have a relationship with.

If you are considering becoming a responsible breeder and would like mentorship and advice, we are happy to help with educational resources and recommendations for helpful dog breeder communities.

Raising two puppies is more than twice the work of raising one puppy. Each puppy will need individual training and socialization and also combined training and socialization. 

Individual training and social experiences are needed to prevent the puppies from becoming too dependent on each other. Dogs who can only cope when they are together are not behaviorally functional. They need their own sense of self and confidence.

Our recommendation for raising two puppies together is two males, neutered at maturity - this pairing eliminates the risk of an accidental breeding while they are young and intact, and two neutered males are very unlikely to ever show any serious same-sex aggression.

If you are interested in raising two of our puppies together, we're happy to help with any additional questions you might have.