Studding Your Goldendoodle

Posted on July 20, 2018March 4, 2019 by Timberidge

Getting Started Using Your Goldendoodle As A Stud

You love your boy’s personality. Making some cash on the side without having to deal with the work of raising puppies seems like a great idea. What are the steps to getting started studding out your goldendoodle?

1. Genetic Health Testing

Since DNA remains the same throughout a dog’s life, genetic testing can be done at anytime. This means genetic testing can be the perfect place to start! Two popular canine genetic labs are Paw Print Genetics & Embark. Read our article comparing the two to help decide which to use. It may be wise to do at least one test through Paw Print Genetics so that your dog is listed in the Paw Print Pedigree.

Poodles should be tested for:

Degenerative Myelopathy
GM2 Gangliosidosis
Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures
Osteochondrodysplasia
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (aka prcd-PRA)
Von Willebrand Disease I (aka vWD type 1)

Goldendoodles should be tested for:

All of the tests listed above
Degenerative Myelopathy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration (aka prcd-PRA)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Golden Retriever Type 1 (aka GR-PRA1)*
Progressive Retinal Atrophy: Golden Retriever Type 2 (aka GR-PRA2)
Ichthyosis
Merle

Because dogs with double merle are at an increased risk for blindness, deafness, and other health issues, two dogs carrying merle should not be bred. If your dog is found to carry merle, you may wish to test for MDR1 as well.

2. Personality Evaluation

Your goldendoodle has the perfect personality… And earning his Canine Good Citizen is a great way to showcase it! Your dog does not have to be registered with AKC to earn a Canine Good Citizen. Alternatively, you can hire an experience trainer or animal behaviorist to evaluate your dog’s temperament. The goal is to assure breeder’s that your goldendoodle’s personality is papa material and to make sure that a non-bias evaluator doesn’t uncover something in his temperament that you’ve somehow overlooked. Like genetic testing, personality evaluation can be done at any age, so it’s a good step to work on achieving even before your dog is of breeding age.

Earning other titles on your boy will make him more appealing to goldendoodle breeders and help him stand out from among the myriad of goldendoodle studs.

3. Coat Testing

Coat testing shows breeders which of their girls might be a good match for your stud. Again, coat testing helps your stud stand out from everyone else’s “perfect boy”:

IC locus (Improper coat/Furnishings) – unless your boy is an F1
SD locus (high shed/low shed)
Parti

Coat testing is simply checking your dog’s DNA for two copies of certain traits. Furnishing/improper coat is an essential genetic coat test for breeding a goldendoodle to a goldendoodle. The shed locus test is also recommended. Paw Print Genetics & Embark offer both tests. Read Paw Print’s article about the role of improper coat and shedding locus in producing low shedding goldendoodle for more information.

Breeders inquiring about using your dog for a stud will want to know as much as possible about what puppies to expect if they breed their girl with your boy. Embark may be your best choice for DNA testing. For one fee, you will learn what genes your dog carries for color, improper coat, curl, and shedding. Embark does not offer a test for parti at this time, but that can be done through Paw Print Genetics.

4. OFA Testing

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) offers several health tests relevant to goldendoodles. Your normal vet can complete the cardiac and patella luxation screenings during a routine visit and fill out the appropriate forms (linked below). You then submit these forms to OFA along with a fee for entry in the database. The cardiac and patella luxation screenings can be done anytime after your dog’s first birthday. It is financially wise to do those prior to paying for hip and elbow x-rays.

Hip & elbow dysplasia require x-rays, for which you will want to find a vet experienced with OFA films. If the x-rays will be submitted digitally, the vet must be registered with OFA. Sedation may be required. You will mail the x-ray films accompanied by the application (linked below) to OFA for a panel of orthopedic veterinarians to review and grade. While OFA does not consider results final until after a dog’s second birthday, films can be submitted once a dog is one year of age with results being given a “preliminary” designation. Alternatively, the PennHip evaluation can be done when a dog is 16 weeks or older. PennHip films require heavy sedation or general anesthesia and cost more than OFA’s hip dysplasia evaluation.

If your dog’s parents received OFA testing, be sure to list their AKC registration or OFA numbers on the forms. This is especially important for a dog being studded out and for breeders who wish to sell puppies to other breeders.

To locate a vet experienced in OFA or PennHip films, search your zip code on PennHip’s website. The majority of vets who are experienced with PennHip are also registered with OFA.

5. Investigate Your Dog’s Pedigree

Research your dog’s pedigree to learn information about his ancestry. For health reasons, it’s essential to examine the vertical pedigree (parents, grandparents, etc.) as well as the horizontal pedigree (siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.). This post explains how to glean information from a pedigree and why it is an vital step for quality breeding. Be prepared to share your stud dog’s pedigree and also be prepared to show health testing for your stud’s parents and grandparents. If you list their AKC registration or OFA numbers on the forms when submitting your dog’s health testing to OFA, it will make it easier for other breeders to see the health testing in your stud’s ancestry when they search for him in OFA’s database.

6. A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words

The old adage is true: a picture is worth a thousand words. Practice stacking your dog and snapping some photos! If you plan to offer your dog for stud service, pictures of him stacked are a must. So exchange your camera phone for a quality camera and maybe a prime lens. Or consider investing in a photo shoot with an experienced canine photographer.

7. Pricing

What is the going rate for a goldendoodle stud? Quality determines price. The cost of a stud ranges from about $400-$2,000. A proven stud with good structure, health testing, titles (prone of accomplishments), and a solid pedigree is worth more because the puppies are worth more. Certain color studs are also worth more (i.e. a stud carrying parti will be in higher demand and a stud throwing black puppies will be in low demand). And some sizes are in higher demand than others. Last but certainly not least, a knowledgeable stud owner is worth volumes! Be prepared to do artificial inseminnation in the event that natural breeding doesn’t work or the dam is too big for your boy. It may be beneficial to form a relationship with a canine reproductive veterinarian so semen can be collected and shipped. If the bitch does not take for any reason, be ready to breed your stud to her again at no additional cost or refund the stud fee.

8. Advertising

Facebook – While Facebook has become more strict about advertising your stud via your own business page, can still post in goldendoodle specific groups and/or local pet groups.
Paw Print Pedigree – If you do at least one genetic test through Paw Print Genetics, your dog is able to be listed on the Paw Print Pedigree site. This enables breeders to find your dog via searching his breed. You can also use the free text space on your dog’s own page to indicate his availability as a stud.
Website – If you want to really highlight your stud and draw in lots of potential breeders, consider making a website. A website costs around $100 each year but you will reach a larger number of people. The free Weebly makes website creation easy, even for someone with no prior website experience.
Goldendoodle & Labradoodle Premium Breeders List – This website charges $100 per year to list your kennel (website, email, phone number). You must submit health testing results and an application to be approved to join. This is an easy way to get traffic to your website.
Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) – This group costs $100 per year to list your kennel plus a one time fee of $15 per breeding dog. You must submit health testing results to be approved to join. A stud who is registered with GANA may be more enticing to some breeders.
Stud Advertising Site –K9stud.com and Hoobly are two of the many places where you can pay to advertise your stud online.

9. Brucellosis Testing

Check with your vet to ensure that the office can perform brucellosis tests. Brucellosis is a canine STI that can actually be transmitted to humans. Breeders will want to see documentation that your stud tested negative for brucellosis within 1 month of the planned breeding date. This means that brucellosis is likely a test your dog will receive numerous times throughout his carer as a stud dog. You’ll need to have him tested within a month of each breeding.

10. Natural Breeding & Artificial Insemination

In most cases, the girl comes to the stud’s home. Some studs won’t perform if they’re in an unfamiliar setting. Dogs similar in size can usually breed naturally on their own. Usually. If both dogs are inexperienced, they may have trouble achieving a tie. As stud dog owner, it’s your responsibility to make sure things happen. If your dog is unable to naturally breed for whatever reason, be prepared to do artificial insemination. It’s wise to have an AI kit on hand just to be safe. Most girls are ready to breed between day 10-14 of the heat cycle. Many owners will do progesterone testing to know precisely when their girl is ready (an experienced stud will also know when she’s ready!). AKC recommends mating every other day for a total of 2-3 matings.

For artificial insemination, fresh or frozen semen can be used. If you plan to ship frozen semen, it is wise to seek out a reproductive veterinarian for assistance.

Happy Birthday!

Posted on June 21, 2018September 20, 2018 by Timberidge

Mixed Breed Dog Shows & Events

Posted on May 13, 2018September 24, 2018 by Timberidge

Training and competing develops a tremendous bond between a dog and handler. And canine performance events aren’t limited solely to pure bred dogs. Just because the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize goldendoodles as an official dog “breed” doesn’t mean that there aren’t a variety of options for competing with your furry best friend. From scent training to obedience to agility, every dog is able to compete and proudly add a champion title to its name! It’s not about looking pretty- it’s about getting your game on!

AKC’s Canine Partners Program allows dogs not of an AKC recognized breed to compete in AKC performance trials (excludes conformation events). The catch is that non-recognized breeds can only compete until 2 years of age unless spayed/neutered. Note: a dog does not have to be registered with AKC in form to earn a Canine Good Citizen title.
Cynosport offers rally obedience and agility for dogs of all breeds. World Cynosport’s rally obedience is more of a laid-back atmosphere than AKC’s obedience, making it a great option for junior handlers.
Barn Hunt is a relatively new canine sport that is quickly gaining popularity. Barn Hunt trials utilize your dog’s strongest asset: its nose! If you’re looking for a fun game of scent discrimination, give Barn Hunt a try!
Canine Performance Events (CPE) gives goldendoodles the opportunity to participate in a variety of agility games. If your goldendoodleloves to run and jump, you both may love participating in these fun athletic events.
Flyball and Disc Dog competitions can be a blast for athletic goldendoodles with some solid mouth-eye coordination!
DockDogs offers three fun events for goldendoodles with a passion for retrieving and jumping in the water.

Hybrid and mixed breed dogs of all kinds have the opportunity to show off their talents and skills through these mixed breed canine performance events. It’s your goldendoodle’s time to shine! Which event will you try first?

Abria poses after earning her Barn Hunt RATI title

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Abria’s 2018 Mini English Goldendoodle Puppies

Posted on March 3, 2018January 23, 2022 by Timberidge

happy birthday

Abria welcomed a beautiful litter of 6 mini English golndedoodle puppies on Tuesday, February 27th! There are five boys and one girl. Three of the babies appear to have curly coats. We will be able to tell more about their coats in the upcoming weeks. Puppies are born with their eyes and ears closed, but they still know how to make noise! They grunt and squeal as they feel their way to Abria, looking for a meal. Right now, the puppies spend all their time eating, sleeping, and growing.

so much growing

Puppies spend their first few weeks eating, sleeping, and growing. Exactly how much growing does a newborn puppy do? Here’s a picture of two puppies that both had the same birth weight. The bigger one is just 9 days older than the smaller.

1 week

At one week old, the puppies continue to spend their days eating, sleeping, and growing – and snuggling with their mama of course! Their weights are all hovering right around 1lb, so they’ve done a lot of growing in just seven days. The pigment on their noses and the pads of their feet has filled in, changing from pink to black. The puppies’ eyes and ears remain closed, but they still know how to find their mama when their bellies start longing for a tasty meal.

2 weeks

Everyone’s eyes are opened, although their vision still isn’t clear yet. The puppies are beginning to attempt toddling around a little, and their legs will continue to gain strength throughout the upcoming week. Their days continue to be filled with eating, sleeping, and growing.

9 days old

16 days old

3 weeks

At three weeks old, these little ones have moved out of our bedroom and downstairs to the puppy pen where they will spend the remainder of their time with us. Here in our family room they are exposed to everyday household activity. They have also started listening to a habituation soundtrack to help them become accustomed to sounds such as fireworks, vacuuming, etc. The puppies already enjoy snuggling on your lap!

4 weeks

The puppies are walking about, exploring the world around them. They enjoy playing with each other, too. In between their short bursts of energy, they still spend most of their time sleeping. Whether piling together, finding a snuggly friend or cuddling with mama, these pups know how to find a good napping spot.

5 weeks

6 weeks

7 weeks

Zino

getting ready for your puppy

We’ve created a puppy shopping list to help guide you as you prepare to bring your new pup home!

meet the parents

Learn more about Abria & Moses by visiting our parent dog page. Want to see pictures of Abria’s past litters? You can find those on Abria’s personal page. There’s also are videos of her past puppies if you’re curious what this litter will look like in a few weeks. Don’t forget to check out Instagram for more pictures of the parents, past puppies, and this current litter.

Abria & Moses

All of these puppies have found loving homes. We do not plan to have another litter of mini puppies until sometime in 2019.

Junie’s 2018 Medium English Goldendoodle Puppies

Posted on February 24, 2018January 23, 2022 by Timberidge

7 weeks

Millie

Cooper

Moses

Oaklee

Dublin

Rooney

6 weeks

5 weeks

The puppies are sure growing up fast! They love bounding around our family room and kitchen, exploring every inch. They play hard and then find a safe place to crawl under for a rejuvenating siesta. While they continue to nurse some, the puppies are now eating meals each day. We fed them in crates for the first time, a skill on which we will continue to work. The puppies are also beginning to go outside more regularly (crazy Ohio weather permitting!). They are a lively, curious, and friendly bunch!

4 weeks

The puppy’s individual personalities are beginning to show through! They enjoy exploring the world around them and playing with the different toys in their pen. They also enjoy playing with each other. While the puppies still spend much time sleeping, they now have longer playful/awake periods. If you sit on the floor, you’re sure to have a lap full of puppies! They continue to nurse but have now started eating food as well.

The puppies continue listening to their habituation soundtrack, and we continue to introduce them to new objects. They have also gotten to explore the great outdoors for the first time!

3 weeks old

The change between two and three weeks is amazing! While still wobbly and unsteady, the puppies use walking rather than crawling as their primary means of getting around. They have started playing with each other. Their playful interactions look like slow motion! The puppies have moved out of our bedroom into the puppy pen, where they will stay the remainder of their time with us. Here, in the center of household activity, they will be exposed to everyday sounds and events. We also give them a new object or toy each day. Our goal is to expose the puppies to as much as we can during their time with us, so we provide them with toys made from a variety of materials and toys that make different sounds. We also provide them with different textures on which to walk. The puppies already amble over to you and climb onto your lap when you sit in the puppy pen!

The puppies have started listening to a habituation soundtrack to familiarize them with a variety of sounds, such as a cat’s meowing, a hair dryer, and knocking. Since our son’s favorite is the airplane track, the puppies get to listen to that one twice every day! Don’t worry, they are exposed to plenty of toddler sounds and the accompanying toy noises as well 🙂

2 weeks old

The second week of life is a week of many firsts! The puppies’ eyes have opened, so they can begin to look at the world around them for the first time. Their vision will continue to sharpen over the next few weeks. The puppies are also beginning to take their first wobbly steps. They still continue to spend the majority of their time eating, sleeping, and growing, but they are now able to make their way around their puppy area at a slightly higher rate of speed. The puppies have also had their nails clipped for the first time.

11 days old

This is a big week for Junie’s babies: in the next few days, their eyes will start to open!

1 week old

Junie’s babies are now 1 week old! They’ve crossed the 1lb mark, almost doubling their birth weight already. They continue concentrating on eating, sleeping, and growing.

Junie’s puppies at 1 week old

happy birthday!

Junie’s puppies at 3 days old Junie welcomed a beautiful litter of 6 English golndedoodle puppies on Sunday, February 18th! There are four boys and two girls. Pink Girl and Green Boy appear to have curly coats. We will be able to tell more about their coats in the upcoming weeks. Puppies are born with their eyes and ears closed, but they still know how to make noise! They grunt and squeal as they feel their way to Junie, looking for a meal. Right now, the puppies spend all their time eating, sleeping, and growing.

The Parents:

Learn more about Junie & Moses by visiting our parent dog page. Want to see pictures of Junie’s 2017 litter? You’ll find those posted in our blog as well as on Junie’s personal page. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for additional pictures of Moses, Junie, past puppies, and this current litter!

Taking your doodle for professional grooming

Getting Ready For Your Puppy

We’ve created a puppy shopping list to help guide you as you prepare to bring your new pup home!

Paw Print Vs Embark

Posted on January 18, 2018March 29, 2019 by Timberidge

Paw Print Genetics

Founded in 2012, Paw Print Genetics rocked the world of canine genetics by offering OFA-accepted, breed-specific disease panels at reasonable prices. Paw Print developed it’s own processes for DNA testing and uses two molecular methods to check each mutation to ensure accuracy. A third method is used if the first two don’t agree and/or a new sample requested. All testing in done in Paw Print’s own lab, and both PhD geneticists and veterinarians oversee testing, review results, and sign reports. What’s more, Paw Print promises results just two weeks from the arrival of your dog’s sample. Since samples are stored at the lab after completion of testing, additional tests can be added on at anytime. Paw Print invested in several lawsuits, working tirelessly to fight patents and ensure dog-owners access to canine DNA testing at an affordable price from a lab of their choice. Founder & CEO Lisa Shaffer is a board certified geneticist in canine genetic testing. Shaffer previously co-founded Signature Genomics, a diagnostic laboratory for people.

Embark

With just over one year of selling DNA tests to the public, Embark is the newest canine genetics company on the block. Embark partners with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where one of two founding Boyko brothers is an assistant professor in biomedical science. With the former director of National Geographic’s Geographic Project also on the team, Embark promises big dreams as the company markets towards appealing to the average dog-owner. This Texas-based company partners with Illumina Lab in California where the same testing procedures used on human samples is conducted on doggie saliva. Results are double checked using a single method to ensure accuracy. While a veterinarian does not oversee testing or sign off on results, Dr. Kate Robinson, a veterinarian who completed a residency in genetics, is available to answer questions and review results if there is a concern. Embark offers an amazing number of tests at an incredibly low price.

Embark promo code: save $20 on your Embark DNA kit with the code winter20 (expires 4/30/19)

What’s the difference?

So what are the differences between Paw Print Genetics & Embark and which is the best choice for testing your breeding dogs? The chart below highlights some of the major differences (the following information was obtained through Paw Print Genetics and Embark’s websites as well as through communication with both companies’ team):

Now let’s compare the tests each company offers that are relevant to goldendoodles (notice that for $179 Embark includes disease, color, coat, and diversity tests all in one package):

* Note: Paw Print Genetics offers a panel of 150 diseases for $135 through Canine HealthCheck. Click here to learn more about the differences between Canine HealthCheck and the Paw Print Genetics breed-specific disease panel for breeders.

Which canine genetics company is best for breeding dogs?

Whether Paw Print Genetics or Embark is the right choice depends on the situation. Embark‘s significantly cheaper price tag certainly makes it an appealing option for breeders. If knowing whether your breeding dogs carry parti or merle is important, you may want to order those tests through Paw Print even if you use Embark for the majority of your testing. If you are relying on genetic testing results to choose a puppy from a litter (i.e. matching an F/F puppy with a family with pet allergies), Paw Print’s 2 week turnaround time will definitely be appreciated over Embark’s lengthy 4-6 week process, but Embark’s time frame is still manageable. For those selling breeding puppies, Paw Print’s $20 “cleared by parentage” designation may appeal to other breeders, as they can have their new pup’s disease carriage verified at a fraction of the cost of ordering a disease panel. On the other hand, if you are considering multiple traits, Paw Print’s $56+ per individual test can add up quickly for a litter of puppies and may quickly surpass Embark’s $179, making Embark the more economical choice. If you are new to breeding and anticipate having questions about genetic testing or test results, Paw Print may be the best choice. Paw Print repeatedly receives excellent reviews for customer service.

Best customer service

Paw Print Genetics continually receives raving reviews about their excellent customer service. Paw Print has received 4.9/5 stars on Facebook, and a quick scroll through reviews shows repeated compliments to their staff support, availability to answer questions, and customer service. Similarly Embark boasts a 4.7/5 star rating on Facebook. Reviews frequently reference satisfaction with discovering a dog’s heritage.

When researching for this post, I contacted both Paw Print and Embark via email. Paw Print promptly responded, answering all of my questions in great detail through email. While Embark responded quickly, the representative refused to answer a number of my questions over email. Instead she instructed me to schedule a 30 minute time slot for her to discuss my questions over the phone. Anyone busy raising puppies knows that scheduling a 30 minute appointment for asking questions is less than ideal. If you are new to canine genetic testing and anticipate having questions, consider choosing Paw Print.

Where do I buy canine genetic testing kits?

Paw Print Genetic’s testing kits can be purchased through their website. Be sure to check “current discounts” under the “pricing tab,” as Paw Print is nearly always offering a sale (anywhere from 30%-50% off). For Paw Print Genetics Canine HealthCheck, kits can be purchased on Amazon as well as on Canine HealthCheck’s own website. Check both to determine which has the best deal of the day.

Embark’s testing kits can be purchased either through their own website or on Amazon. Signing up as a breeder may afford you additional discounts.

Are there other canine genetics companies?

Yes! There actually are a lot of companies that test doggie DNA. Here are a few other popular ones:

Animal Genetics

3-5 day turn around
Goldendoodle disease panel: DM, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, NEwS, PRA-prcd, vWD1 ($200)
Offers curl & furnishing
Clear by parentage if both parents checked through Animal genetics
$45-$55 for individual tests
$40-$50 for coat traits; $130 for color profile

DDC Lab

5 day turnaround
Goldendoodle diseases: DM, vWDI
Offers curl & furnishings
$58 for the first test, $20 for additional

University of Missouri partnering with OFA

Goldendoodle diseases: DM, NEwS
$65 per test (price includes automatic registration of the results in the OFA database)
Tests can also be ordered directly through OFA

While the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) partners with the University of Missouri’s , OFA maintains a list of laboratories throughout the country that run canine genetic testing. View OFA’s list to see other options for where you can have your dog’s health testing completed.

References:

Embarkvet.com

pawprintgenetics.com/

www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/dec/30/genetic-pawprints/

Note: much of the information contained in this post was obtained through email and phone conversations with persons representing both Paw Print Genetics & Embark

Timberidge Goldendoodles is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees via affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

10 Perfect Christmas Gifts For Doodle Lovers

Posted on November 24, 2017November 19, 2018 by Timberidge

Not sure what to buy for the crazy doodle lover on your Christmas list? Here are 10 handmade, personalized gifts that will delight any doodle and doodle pawrent!

A custom doodle portrait

Certain to become the focal point of any room, a hand designed portrait of a beloved fur baby will bring tears to the eyes of any doodle lover. Be sure to select a picture that captures the doodle personality and playfulness (Facebook and Instagram might be great places to snag a picture of a certain doodle relative while still keeping the gift a secret from her pawrants). Stylized yet personalized doodle artwork is sure be a Christmas sensation as well.

A personalized doodle ornament

Nothing says Merry Christmas like having a special ornament for that special furry family member. Crafted wooden ornaments personalized with the year and doodle’s name are sure to be a treasure for any doodle lover.

Doodle parent attire

From a cute “Wine More, Bark Less” tank top to an ugly doodle Christmas sweater to a trendy doodle tee, every doodle parent will be excited to add some new doodle attire to the wardrobe.

A festive collar or necktie

You won’t be able to keep this gift wrapped until Christmas! Doodles need a collar for every occasion, so dazzle your favorite doodle lover with a festive snowflake Christmas collar or reversible holiday bandana. A doodle must be dressed to impress for the annual family Christmas photo!

Dog leash & treat holder

Practical, personalized, and Pottery Barn cute, handmade dog leash & treat holders can be completely customized, making them the perfect gift. Not only do they feature the fur baby’s names, but you can even select the color and size to best match decor.

Doodle doormat

Every doodle lover will be delighted to wipe their paws on a welcoming hand-painted doodle doormat. Pick out the perfect color and surprise your favorite doodle lover with this practical, decorative, personalized gift.

A doodle coffee mug

Doodles & coffee are two things that make this world a better place. A personalized doodle coffee mug combines both into one creative gift!

Doodle car decal

Every doodle pawrant needs a doodle car decal. Pair with a customized doodle key chain for a delightful, inexpensive Christmas gift.

Doggie Christmas cookies

You will undoubtedly be the favorite aunt or uncle as soon as that doodle nose detects a treat jar filled to the brim with delicious doggie Christmas cookies! Chances are, no human will need to assist in the unwrapping of this gift!

A healthy, yummy dog chew

Doodles love a good chew toy. And doodle owners appreciate a quality dog chew that will keep their favorite dood occupied during all of the holiday prep. RidgeRunner antlers are hand-collected off of the forest floor each year after the elk naturally shed them. The antlers are then cut and sized by this small family-owned business to make delicious, lasting dog chews. Read more about elk antlers and other dog chews in our power chewer post.

Don’t forget a doodle stocking stuffer

Who doesn’t need a little stress relief during the busy holiday hustle & bustle? Goldendoodle lovers will enjoy the beautifully designed pages of this newly released doodle coloring book, making it the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas.

Q&A With A Goldendoodle Groomer

Posted on October 15, 2017April 16, 2019 by Timberidge

Have you ever wished you could sit down with a professional dog groomer and pour out your copious questions about goldendoodle coat maintenance and grooming? Your dream has come true! We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Allison Camp from You Dirty Dog grooming salon in New Town, Ohio to get the inside scoop about what groomers recommend for goldendoodles. Here’s your chance to glean from her years of experience!

How often do you recommend that goldendoodles go to the groomer?

Allison: It depends on the look you want. Goldendoodles kept in clips with a longer hair length need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks. If you keep your goldendoodle in a shorter clip, you can take her for grooming every 8-10 weeks.

Do you prefer goldendoodle owners to show you a picture or give you a description of how they want their dog clipped?

Allison: I much prefer a picture over a description! I find that often times the description someone gives me doesn’t quite match the picture in their head. A picture is much better for showing me what you actually want.

How much does it cost to groom a goldendoodle?

Allison: In the Cincinnati area, grooming usually costs $50-$80 depending on the size of dog and whether the coat is matted. Goldendoodles often love to swim but chlorine really mats up the coat. If your dog will be swimming regularly in a chlorine pool, keep her in a short clip.

What brushes do you recommend for goldendoodles?

Allison: My two brushes of choice are a slicker brush with a curve at the end and a metal comb. I use these for all goldendoodles, no matter the coat type.

How often do goldendoodles need to be brushed?

Allison: Honestly, it depends on the hair length. A really short clip may not require any brushing until it starts to grow out while a longer clip may require daily brushing. More frequent brushing is needed for a curlier coat. Also be sure to brush the burs out of your dog’s coat after hikes and definitely brush your dog before and after baths.

How frequently should a goldendoodle be bathed?

Allison: You actually don’t need to bathe your goldendoodle between grooming appointments unless she is smelly or dirty. Try to bathe your goldendoodle maybe once a month at most. Bathing too frequently can dry out your dog’s skin, which may cause itching. If you notice that your goldendoodle has a continuous bad smell, check for a yeast infection. If you have cut back on the frequency of bathing and your goldendoodle still seems to be itching, try switching to a chicken-free, corn-free dog food like Fromm.

What shampoo do you recommend for goldendoodles?

Allison: I really like Fresh & Clean because it is an oatmeal based shampoo with a built-in conditioner, which means no additional rinsing. I also like Show Season shampoo.

Besides regular brushing and occasional baths, what other grooming should I be doing with my goldendoodle at home between appointments?

Allison: Check your goldendoodle’s ears regularly, plucking hair out of the ear canal as needed and making sure the ears don’t have a foul smell.

I want to give my goldendoodle a sanitary clip between grooming appointments. What clippers do you recommend?

Allison: Any Andis clippers would be a good choice. If you are just doing a sanitary clip, one or two speed clippers will suffice. If you plan on doing a total groom, consider purchasing more expensive Andis five-speed clippers.

Goldendoodle Puppy Time Lapse

Posted on October 4, 2017May 9, 2020 by Timberidge

What will my goldendoodle puppy look like as an adult? That’s a question on every puppy owner’s mind as they pick up their new furry friend. Watch a goldendoodle puppy grow up! Here’s a time lapse for a puppy with a beautiful coat of loose, wavy curls. Notice that he has curls on his ears by the six week photo. Be sure to compare his time lapse to that of these other goldendoodle puppies with different coat types.

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Goldendoodle with full cheeks — **Goldendoodle Haircuts & Clips**

Goldendoodle On A Boat

Posted on September 6, 2017September 7, 2017 by Timberidge

Sometimes people ask me what types of activities goldendoodles enjoy doing. A better question is: what activities don’t goldendoodles enjoy doing? That would be a much shorter list! Truly, goldendoodles love participating in whatever activities their people are doing. Abria had the chance to go to Michigan with our family a few weeks ago. Needless to say, she loved every minute of the trip!

We’ve taken our dogs on canoe trips, but this was Abria’s first time out on a boat with a motor. A casual onlooker would never have guessed it was her first trip though! Abria hopped right on board, never hesitating for even a second. She loved feeling the wind in her face, inhaling in the wonderful scents of the Glen Lakes and Lake Michigan. Additionally, since our toddler is slightly obsessed with work vehicles, Abria had the chance to ride on a John Deere Gator utility vehicle numerous times. She thought it was great fun to ride on our laps as well as in the bed. If someone started driving away without her, Abria would run and jump into the back. Abria also hiked Alligator Hill, joined us for lunch at Cherry Republic, and enjoyed various other activities with our family. Abria may be a mini goldendoodle, but she’s not limited to mini adventures. It’s great to have a dog that is so adaptable and versatile. Goldendoodles are wonderful companions for every life adventure. If you ever find yourself heading to Glen Arbor, I’m confident Abria can fill you in on all the fun places to go and sights worth seeing.