There are many small, ethical, and responsible breeders who are not members of any regulatory organizations. However, this leaves you without proof that the necessary genetic testing has not only been done, but that the parents passed all the testing as well.
An example of a quality regulatory organization is the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), www.GoldendoodleAssociation.com. GANA gives different levels of “ribbons” for member breeders who health test all their breeding dogs for specific diseases and genetic defects, with a blue ribbon indicating the breeder completed all recommended health testing. Breeders are required to register all administered tests and test results with GANA. If a GANA member has a parent dog that carries a genetic defect, GANA requires proof the dog chosen as the mate is tested and clear of the defective gene so no genetic linkup of the gene is passed onto the puppies. Additionally, all members are required to offer a minimum 2 year warranty for life-inhibiting genetic defects, and pledge to honor the GANA Breeder Code of Ethics.
If a breeder isn’t with an organization, he/she should still be testing for all Golden Retriever genetic diseases and defects (and that list is quite long) and all Poodle genetic diseases and defects. Just be cautious if test results are not registered with a neutral third party. Be aware there are unscrupulous breeders who use photo editing technology to change health scores and to create false “certificates” of health results. If you cannot look at the test results online, from either an independent testing organization such as OFA or a regulatory body such as GANA, walk away.
Health Guarantees and Testing
A health guarantee can be used to evaluate a breeder. Having all health tests done (see “Health and Wellness,” pages 44–46) can mitigate the need for a health guarantee—to a point. Mistakes happen. A health guarantee gives the puppy buyer some recourse if his/her puppy’s health is less than optimal. Read the breeder’s health guarantee and contract before you send a deposit. Many breeders and websites claim they guarantee their puppies but fail to follow through with any guarantee or provide you with a written/printable copy, which leaves you not knowing what is or isn’t covered. Reputable breeders who are confident in their puppies are more than happy to provide this information before you send them any money. Read the health guarantee and contract very carefully, and make sure you are comfortable with all of the terms. For example, if a legitimate genetic defect is found, are you required to return your puppy to the breeder? Will the breeder refund a portion of your purchase price to help defray veterinary costs? What are you required to do while raising your puppy to stay in compliance with the terms of the health guarantee?
A Word About Puppy Mills
Unfortunately, puppy mills (large, commercial dog breeding facilities) are big business. Dogs are poorly treated, live in filthy, confined conditions, and receive little or no veterinary care. They don’t get exercise, playtime, or companionship.
They often endure mistreatment and malnutrition. When these dogs reproduce with each other, it results in a litter with severe genetic defects; the puppies are seldom healthy.
Puppy mills typically sell their dogs in one of three ways; on websites, in pet stores, or through brokers—who in turn sell the puppies to pet stores. While not all puppies sold in pet stores come from puppy mills, a disturbing number of them do; so before you purchase a Goldendoodle puppy from a pet store, ask for the name and address of the breeder or the breeding facility (not the broker who may be the go-between), and then go home and do some research. A quick Internet search will let you know if there are any complaints against the store.
Warning: Don’t believe everything you see on breeder websites. Puppy mills are very savvy and know exactly how to present themselves online. They often steal photos from other websites or from social media accounts of Goldendoodle owners. They create a fictitious “home” in which the puppies supposedly live, claim the puppies are being raised with children, and say all the right things to lure you in.
For more information about puppy mills and how to avoid purchasing a puppy mill puppy (and thereby supporting this awful business), go to the Humane Society of the United States’ site www.stoppuppy-mills.org or the America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) site www.aspca.org and search “puppy mills.” Both sites give excellent information about how puppy mills operate and their sophisticated efforts to defraud consumers.
Warning! All puppies are cute, even cleaned up sick puppies from a puppy mill.
Also, does the health guarantee dictate when the puppy is desexed? When to spay or neuter your Goldendoodle is something you want to give some serious thought. Spaying and neutering is discussed in more detail in “Health and Wellness,” page 49.
Understanding the breeder’s health guarantee is critical. There are breeders whose health guarantees are for fatal genetic flaws only. Given that, it can be assumed hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, and a variety of eye issues, none of which are fatal genetic flaws, are not covered in the guarantee. This is not acceptable. As the owner of the puppy, ensure your interests are covered, not just the interests of the breeder.
There are also unscrupulous breeders who charge extra for a health guarantee or for regular veterinary checks. Again, this is not something reputable breeders do, and you, the consumer, need to exercise caution.
Questions to Ask the Breeder
Make sure to be well prepared with a list of questions when visiting or talking to Goldendoodle breeders. Here is a list of questions the breeder should be happy to answer for you. If he/she is not cooperative or acts annoyed, this is not the breeder for you.
A good breeder wants you to ask questions and delights in sharing his/her knowledge and enthusiasm for Goldendoodles.
Why are you selling the puppies?
The breeder’s response will give you a, good idea if he/she is breeding for the love of Goldendoodles or just trying to get rich off a high-demand dog.
Are Tested Puppies Always Perfect?
Will a puppy coming from fully tested, registered parents cost more than a puppy coming from untested parents? Probably, and reasonably so. Testing is expensive. Comprehensive genetic health testing can cost thousands of dollars per breeding dog. Add to that the cost for genetic testing for coat, color, and furnishings, and the breeder has a significant investment in his/her breeding dogs. It comes down to the critical difference between price and cost, The monetary price of a puppy from untested parents may be cheaper; however, the long-term cost, both financial and emotional, of living with a chronically ill, disabled, or ill-tempered Goldendoodle is far higher than the price difference between the puppies of tested and untested parents. Think long and hard before you decide on your breeder and puppy.
How many breeding dogs do you own? How many litters per year do the females have and at what ages do they begin and end breeding?
Note: Breeding dogs should not be bred before two years of age because their hips cannot be accurately scored until that, time. Females should not be bred past the age of seven.