Your goldendoodle is perfect in every way, and you wish you could clone her. You’re interest in breeding, but you aren’t sure where to start. Here are 12 initial steps to guide you as you begin preparing to breed goldendoodles or offering your goldendoodle as a stud:
1. Genetic 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.
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)
Golden Retrievers should be tested for:
- 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
Since they have both poodles and golden retriever ancestors, goldendoodles should be tested for all of the above listed tests.
If your dog (or her parent or grandparents) are merle in color, your dog should also be tested to see whether she carries merle, as should any potential studs. A dog carrying merle should not be bred to anther dog who also carries merle. Dogs with double merle are at an increased risk for blindness and deafness, among other health issues. Breeders of merle doodles may also wish to test their dogs for MDR1.
2. Personality Evaluation
Your goldendoodle has the perfect personality… And earning her 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 future puppy owners that your goldendoodle’s personality is mama material and to make sure that a non-bias evaluator doesn’t uncover something in her 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.
3. Consider The Generation
Determining which generation of goldendoodle to produce is an essential initial step. If breeding a golden retriever or goldendoodle to a poodle, coat testing is not required. If breeding a goldendoodle to a goldendoodle, coat testing is vital!
- Golden Retriever X Poodle = F1 Goldendoodle (no coat testing needed)
- F1 Goldendoodle X Poodle = F1b (no coat testing needed)
- F1 Goldendoodle X F1 Goldendoodle… don’t do it! Some of the resulting puppies will be flat coated goldendoodles who shed significantly.
- F1 Goldendoodle X F1b Goldendoodle = F2 Goldendoodle (coat testing for the F1b parent strongly recommended)
What is coat testing?
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. Learn more about what genes impact goldendoodle shedding in the guest post by breeder Ashton Kent.
Should I do coat testing for my stud dog?
Yes! 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 if desired.
4. Find A Knowledgeable Vet
Most vets are familiar with caring for pets. When it comes to taking care of pregnant, whelping, and nursing bitches, many vets are a bit out of their comfort zone. Health checking, micro-chipping, and vaccinating an entire litter of puppies may even be a bit overwhelming. It is important to find a vet who can knowledgeably answer questions you encounter during the breeding and whelping process. Start by searching for a reproductive veterinarian to see if there are any in your area. A reproductive vet may also be able to make recommendations on where to take your goldendoodle when it comes time for OFA x-rays.
5. 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. For female dogs, do not schedule hip x-rays near when you expect your girl to come into heat. The hormone changes from being in heat can impact joint laxity.
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.
6. A Picture’s Worth A Thousand Words
Whether you plan to breed your own bitch or offer your boy as a stud, pictures are essential. The old adage is true: a picture is worth a thousand words. 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. When those babies arrives, you’ll want crisp, quality pictures once again. In a day where families search for the perfect future pet online, pictures sell puppies.
Want to try your hand at taking pictures but aren’t sure where to start? 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.
7. Investigate Your Dog’s Pedigree
Research your dog’s pedigree to learn information about her 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 dog’s pedigree if offering him as a stud dog. Also be prepared to show health testing for your stud’s parents and grandparents.
8. Buy A Good Book
When it comes to breeding & whelping, it’s great to have a knowledgeable vet on speed-dial. But it’s also helpful to have a good book or two at your fingertips. Here are two resources you’ll be thankful you have in your library:Successful Dog Breeding: The Complete Handbook of Canine Midwifery by Walkowicz & Wilcox
Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook by Eldredge & Carlson
Canine Reproduction and Whelping: A Dog Breeder’s Guide by Myra Savant-Harris
9. Gather Supplies
So you’ve completed all of the above listed steps and you’re ready to get serious about having puppies in your home? Awesome! Here’s a puppy whelping checklist created to help you prepare.
If you plan to offer your dog as a stud dog, it may be wise to have a few artificial insemination kits on hand in case your dog is unable to achieve a tie. It isn’t uncommon for an inexperienced boy to have a bit of difficulty the first time, especially if the female is also inexperienced.
10. Advertising
Everyone who breeds goldendoodles loves puppies… but no one wants a houseful of unsold puppies! There are a number of ways to advertise your cute bundles of fur:
- Facebook – While Facebook has become more strict about advertising puppies via your own business page, breeders can still post in goldendoodle specific groups and/or local pet groups.
- Website – If you plan to have multiple litters per year, consider creating 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.
- 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.
- Puppy Advertising Site –Puppyfind and Hoobly are two of the many places where you can pay to advertise your litter online.
11. Follow The Rules
Last but certainly not least, it’s vital to ensure that you’re following all of the rules! Investigate the rules and regulations governing your area of residency. In many places, rules and regulations surrounding dog breeding are specific to the county and township/city more so than the state, although some states, such as Florida, have specific rules about puppies receiving certain vaccinations and health checks. Be aware that dog breeding may not fall under the category of “animal husbandry.” Depending on the number of dogs you plan to keep, you may need to apply for a kennel license or breeders license. If you are unable to find information online, check with your local humane society to learn whether there are specific laws regarding dog breeding in your county. Some counties require that you notify that Chief Animal Control Officer whenever you have a litter, some require annual inspections, and some may have rules about the frequency of which a dog can be bred. Some states may have laws about hold old a puppy must be prior to going to a new home. Know your county and state policies & guidelines!
Also be sure to obtain permission to breed from your goldendoodle’s breeder. Many breeders price dogs differently based on whether they are going to be pets or breeding dogs, and many breeders have hired lawyers to review their contracts to ensure that they are enforceable in court. Breeding a dog sold as a pet could result in an expensive legal fiasco.
12. $$$$$$
While breeding goldendoodles may sound like a great way to earn some extra cash, remember that quality breeding can also be expensive. You will need to have a large sum of money available to invest several years before any litters are born. Expect to pay $3500-$4500 for a goldendoodle with breeding rights, $200+ for genetics testing, $450+ for OFA xrays, and so forth. If you choose to breed dogs, you owe it both to the puppies you produce and the families purchasing your puppies to conduct the appropriate health testing.
It’s also a good idea to have money set aside in case an emergency arises, such as the need for an emergent cesarean section or a puppy is born with health problems. Have funds available for advertising puppies as well as for having the litter checked by a veterinarian, microchipped, and vaccinated. Stud fees (or health testing for a stud you own), an xray for a puppy count, a brucellosis test (if using a stud), and progesterone testing are other possible expenses.
In addition to dog-related expenses, you will need to schedule vacation if you are employed. At the very minimum, plan to take a few days of vacation around the due date as well as several weeks of partial days once the puppies are older. Proper socialization of the puppies is essential.
While this isn’t an exhaustive list of expenses, it will hopefully help you put together a basic budget as you save up for breeding.
Bonus Step!
Want to learn even more about breeding goldendoodles? We have lots more info ready for you on our Breeder Resources page such as breeder programs, preparing your puppy play yard, discount codes for things breeders need, and lots more.
