Are doodles hypoallergenic?
Doodles are usually hypoallergenic, but that’s not the same as non-allergenic. Hypoallergenic means having a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic response. There are NO non-allergenic dogs (meaning a dog that does not produce an allergic response). There are so many different causes for allergies, that it would be impossible to breed a totally hypo-allergenic dog. People who are allergic to dog saliva will be allergic to all dogs. People with other types of dog allergy, however, have found a high level of tolerance with certain breeds, such as the Poodle. This has traditionally been linked with the lack of coat shedding of these breeds. Recent thinking, however, suggests that the ‘dander’ free skin of these dogs is more responsible for the high tolerance level. Dander is the term for skin flakes found in animal hair and fur coats. In our experience people with mild allergies haven’t been affected by our puppies. If you have questions we would suggest doing a t-shirt test, prior to adopting one.
Do doodles shed?
All dogs will shed, but where doodles have one parent at least who carries the non-shedding genes it will be greatly reduced. Doodles have hair instead of fur, which gives then that wonderful teddybear look, this means it’s usually just stray hairs here and there, that you will see, much like human hair shedding, rather than fur shedding that you would see in a Labrador, Cavalier, Bernese, Golden Retriever, Great Pyrenees etc.
What is 'hybrid vigor'
Hybrid vigor is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as, “increased vigor or superior qualities arising from the crossbreeding of genetically different plants or animals”. In regard to hybrid vigor as it applies specifically to dog breeding, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association recently released the results of a study conducted at UC Davis. The study involved analyzing the medical records for more than 90,000 dogs, tracking the instances of 24 genetic conditions among purebred and crossbreed dogs. Interestingly, the study revealed that 13 of these conditions showed no difference in prevalence among purebred versus crossbred dogs. Ten of the conditions, however, were more prevalent in purebreds and one condition was more common in crossbreed dogs. An example of this would be the typical lifespan of a Bernese Mountain Dog is 6-10 years, whereas a Bernedoodle is 12-18 years.
How do I get on your waitlist?
Each litter has its waitlist, so you can find the fit that is best for you. Each 'Litter' listing will have details on if its open, full, or accepting applications. Visit the CURRENT LITTERS page and UPCOMING LITTERS pages to view availability.
Is a deposit required to go on your waitlist?
If we have a spot open on a litter waitlist, you will need to pay a $500 deposit to secure your spot. This will hold your spot on the waitlist for a specific litter, spots are not held without a deposit. This deposit goes toward your final balance due. There is no fee to go on the 'interest list'.
Are deposits refundable?
Deposits are non refundable as they go towards my time, correspondence, and show your intent. However, in the instance that a litter doesn't materialize, i.e. a dam doesn’t become pregnant, has a smaller litter than expected, or you specify you want a boy/girl and there isn’t one available on pick date, or we change who the stud is, then you will be able to get a refund. You can at any point transfer your deposit to another litter within our program.
When will the balance be due?
Your final payment will due when you select your puppy on Pick Day, at typically between 6-7 weeks of age.
When can I pick my puppy?
We don't do puppy picks until weeks 6-7. The reason we wait is because a puppy's personality doesn't start to be displayed until then. If you are selecting your puppy sooner, you will be choosing solely off looks or gender. When you choose your puppy because of the temperament it will make a better home situation for you and your puppy.
How much are your puppies?
Current pricing can be found on our ‘LITTERS’ page for each litter. Every puppy is priced the same, regardless of color, gender, size etc. Our puppies are raised for health & temperament and one is not better than the other.
Am I ready for a puppy?
You’re probably never fully ready truthfully, however, the problems you encounter will be far outweighed by the love and affection your puppy will give you. You should prepare to have a few sleepless nights and you will need to understand that your puppy is 100% dependent on you, and you will of course need to consider this when going about your daily routine. It is much like having a newborn for a while, it will turn your world upside down, but in the best way:)
Can we come to the farm and visit before we decide to adopt from you?
Our puppies are raised on our farm and we don’t have an open door policy as it’s our home. We do allow visits on Pick Day to those on our waitlist, and Go Home day. This also reduces the chance of our puppies being exposed to viruses and germs, and on those days we follow certain hygiene protocols to keep our puppies safe. We are happy to FaceTime with you to view the puppies beforehand.
At what age can the puppies go home?
Puppies need to be 8 weeks to go home, and will typically go home between 8-9 weeks old.
What do puppies go home with?
Some items they will go home with are: Two-year health guarantee, up-to-date on vaccines and microchipped (which will be pre-registered to you). Vet checked, and dewormed, a Snuggle Puppy, sample bag of food, collar, and some little extras.
How do you socialize your puppies?
We have a socialization program that we go through with our puppies. This starts at 3 days old with Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction. After that finishes when they are about three weeks old, and the puppies start exploring. They are exposed to different textures, sounds, and activities over the remaining time they are with us. They are handled daily by us and our children and are used to the sounds of the home and other dogs.
Do I need to groom my puppy?
Yes! This is the trade you need to make for a low to non-shedding dog. You can learn to do it yourself or pay a groomer to do it. Depending on the size of your dogs and region you live in, you can expect to you $60-100, every 6-8 weeks. Doodle dogs MUST be brushed regularly, daily if their coats are any type of length. Pay special attention to joints; elbows, knees, hips, shoulder blades, also under the ears, these areas tend to mat first. If when you are brushing and you cannot see the skin, then you have a mat. There are many YouTube videos that can show you how to groom your dog, I say give it a go, it does grow back quickly.
How can I get my puppy if I don't live locally?
You can either fly into SAT airport to pick up your puppy, and I can meet you there or you can hire a flight nanny, I like Southwest for in-cabin flights for puppies. I have some that I recommend. Flight nanny costs are typically $700-1000 all in, and paid directly to the flight nanny.
Do you remove dew claws?
We do NOT remove the dew claws from our puppies, research shows that removing them greatly increases their chances for developing arthritis down the road, amongst other difficulties. This is a great concise article on it, go HERE: https://bit.ly/38bD79R
Will I need to train my puppy?
Training is highly recommended. For your puppy to have a happy successful life they will need to be trained. We love Baxter & Bella for an at home (online) training course (‘CARIADDOODLES’ gets you 25% off), and they offer you personal lifetime support. There is also great value in a group puppy training course. Please note: SOCIALIZATION is so important, and the window for that is most effective if done between the weeks 8-16 weeks. It is important that they receive consistent, structured training. We cannot stress enough how very important it is that this is done right from the start. During those first few weeks with you, they are at their optimum learning stage, and whilst this demands commitment and a lot of time from the owner initially, this is amply repaid later on. Cavapoos, Bernedoodles & Goldendoodles are so eager to please and quick to learn, they are very rewarding to train, but without this structure will use their cleverness and playfulness in more negative activities, particularly if this is the only way they get the attention they crave. We strongly recommend that you join local puppy socialisation and training classes. Your veterinary surgeon will have details of these – indeed they may be organised by the surgery. Also ask for recommendations from local dog Facebook groups. Once basic training is completed it would be entirely up to you how far you go. Given their temperament, intelligence, and agility, going on to more advanced Obedience and Agility training should be an extremely enjoyable and rewarding experience for both you and the dog. We would expect our dogs to excel at this kind of activity. Visit BAXTER & Bella HERE: https://bit.ly/3MTWYt0
Can we choose our own puppy?
Puppies are chosen from the litter according to your position on the waiting list, For example, 1st pick chooses their puppy 1st, then 2nd pick, 2nd, and so forth. You are added to the waiting list on a "first come, first served" basis, once approved and deposit is received that is. That's not to say that if you are not one of the first people on the list the puppy you receive will be any less precious than the first chosen. There are several factors which generally influence the choice of puppy. 1. Male or female -- 2. The size of the puppy -- 3. The type of coat -- 4. The color of the coat. We will never insist you choose a puppy unless you are 100% happy with your choice, that is just not beneficial for our puppy.
Will the puppy be potty-trained?
No. Wouldn’t that be lovely:) However, they will be doggy-door trained, and I do routinely hear that our puppies potty train very fast. If you intend to use potty pads, most will be potty trained to that going home. All puppies will be used to going potty going on grass going home too as we have daily outdoor play time with them, but will need adjustment to your home and you, and this potty training is just part of puppy hood, hopefully the steps we take here will make it as easy as possible for you at home.
What do the terms 'parti' and 'abstract' mean in a dog's coloring?
Parti is when more than 50% of the coat color is white. Abstract is when there is less than 50% of white.
How much exercise will my puppy need?
Puppies sleep around 18 hours a day, which is a lot, The rule of thumb is 5 minutes per month of age, twice a day, so at three months, 15 minutes twice a day, so a couple of short walks. Also remember there are things like tug of war game, mental stimulation games too, all of these are good for your puppy.
How big will they grow?
This will vary from litter to litter. See each litter’s details for an estimation HERE: https://bit.ly/3MSoEOY
We’re out at work all day, is it be okay to leave them alone for long periods?
All dogs dislike being left on their own for long periods and doodles are no exception. We have chosen breeds that specifically love being around their people for the love that they give. They are also intelligent dogs and love that people connection. If they are deprived of these things long-term, their frustration and unhappiness could lead to behaviour problems. If your lifestyle would mean frequently leaving a dog on its own for lengthy periods, it is unlikely that our dogs would be a good fit for you. The maximum time they should be left would be around 4 hours. You could consider a dog walker, a puppy day care, or something similar. This isn’t to say you need to be in front of your puppy 24 hours a day either, that’s not healthy either, as you want them to be able to be by self-soothe and not have separation anxiety. But these are things to consider.
Are your dogs good with children?
We have chosen breeds that are specifically ‘family dogs’, and mama dogs with great temperaments. Very occasionally we will have a puppy who is a little more nippy than the others in the pack, in those instances I veer those with very young children away from them, as the puppy biting phase is hard when you have little children who don’t know how to redirect a puppy’s attention, this nippy phase usually comes to an end though after the adult teeth come in.
Should I get a boy or a girl?
The non-aggressive, affectionate nature generally found with Cavapoos, Bernedoodles, and Goldendoodles is not gender related. Animal behaviorists will say a male is best with an existing female dog in the home, and that the hardest combo is two females, males will do well with any mix. That aside, having owned both and seen puppies of both genders in multiple homes, both are as equally loving, smart, and eager to please. The absolute MOST IMPORTANT factor when selecting your puppy should be to select one that has the temperament you want. For example, if you are an active family you will not want a puppy who is more ‘Netflix and chill’, and vice versa. That will create for a stressful home life and that’s not good for our puppies, or for you.
Do you recommend crates / indoor kennels?
Yes we do. There are a variety of Internet sites that can give you more information. Our experience is that crates provide a ‘safe’ place for dogs that makes them feel comfortable and unstressed. For this reason they should never be used as a punishment, but always be associated with being a good dog. They relieve you of any worry when you leave your dog for a while, keep puppies safe from visiting children, make transporting dogs safer and easier, and make you and your dog welcome visitors in the homes of other people. They will aid potty training of your puppy and make sure that you get a good night’s sleep! We begin exposing puppies to crates around 5 weeks of age, and they will listen to Mozart in there as they start taking naps in there with their Snuggle Puppy. This is something that if you continue at doing it would be beneficial.
What do the dog generations mean, i.e. F1, F1b etc?
See the below graphic for an explanation.
