We’ve already learned a lot about goldendoodle growth… But there’s still so much more to know! We’re on a mission to learn as much as we can about goldendoodle growth, and YOU can help!
Please take a few moments to complete our survey. Don’t know all the answers? That’s okay! You can fill out as much or as little as you like. Please share this survey with all your doodle friends! The more goldendoodle lovers who complete it, the better. Thanks everyone!
Many puppy owners rightfully wonder: how much can my puppy exercise? While there are no easy answers and every puppy is different, this article by AKC provides some helpful insight and suggestions. Puppy Culture’s exercise chart, which breaks down puppies’ abilities based on activity and age, is an incredibly helpful resource. Avidog’s puppy exercise guidelines provide helpful examples of activities in which puppies should participate at different ages.
Socialization
This article by AKC explains the importance of socialization by comparing two dogs from the same breeder that were socialized differently.
Taking your puppy with you to a variety of places helps expose her to different places, sights, sounds, smells, people, etc. Did you know some stores are pet-friendly? Find out where you can take your pup so she never misses out!
Puppy Books
Pick up a copy of The Art of Raising A Puppy by the Monks of New Skete. You’ll be glad you did. The combined knowledge of numerous monks raising countless litters of German shepherd puppies provides a great resource, guide, and reference for all puppy owners.
Baxter & Bella Free Podcast
Baxter & Bella is a super affordable online puppy school that provides puppy owners with a lifetime of resources, videos, online classes, and so much more. The Baxter & Bella Podcast is free, so be sure to listen in. Also, consider joining Baxter & Bella. Use the code TIMBERIDGE to save 25% off your lifetime membership.
Bonding Exercise
Bonding exercise. Do this every night with your puppy just before putting her in her crate for bed. Puppies benefit from a routine plus everyone benefits from a puppy learning that you’re the leader and that you are allowed to touch her anywhere and everywhere. The first video shows bonding exercises being done with a new puppy. Yes, your puppy will resist and squirm at first. The second video shows bonding exercises being done with an older puppy. Your puppy will come to LOVE and EXPECT you doing bonding exercises with her. Take 30 seconds each night and do it. You’ll be thankful that you did (and so will your vet and groomer!).
It is a known fact that spending money is an important part of keeping your dog happy and healthy. From the visits to the veterinary, to the food supplies, to the trip to the professional groomers, you will most certainly go through financial strains (read our post about budgeting for a goldendoodle). Why don’t you learn how to use and buy the right dog grooming clippers from Hair Clippers Club? You will save on costs and use the money to meet other needs. This article is written for you. Read on for the details:
Types of Dog Grooming Clippers
There are a variety of dog grooming hair clippers designed for home use. They can be classified based on the:
Speed and power
Size and weight
Ergonomic designs
Blade type and sharpness
With an array of options available, you should go for the product that works for your dog’s breed and preferred hair cut. A dog with thick and heavy coat will need a different type of hair clipper from other dogs. Specifically, the speed and power of the clipper must be higher for precision and efficiency purposes. Different types of speeds are featured in the right products, so that you can make the adjustments whenever necessary.
Different sizes and weights of hair clippers are offered to consumers. You are at liberty to opt for the product that can give you a firm grip during the tricky grooming procedures. The smaller sizes are likely to offer better results. The weight of the clipper depends on the material of the clipper and the type of motor used. The plastic material is obviously lighter than the metallic types. Rotary motors make the products heavier when compared to magnetic and pivot motors.
Some hair clippers may have cords to connect them to the power source while others use rechargeable batteries and are hence cordless. Further, while some are noisy, others are designed to have less noise and vibrations during their operation. Choose the product depending on your need for dog’s comfort and cooperation. The clipper’s blade may either be ceramic or metallic. Some are easily corroded while others maintain the level of sharpness for a long time. The ergonomic design featured will determine whether you will have a good grip when cutting the sensitive parts of your dog’s hair.
How to Use the Dog Clippers
Once you have purchased the right dog clippers, move ahead and start grooming your pet. The following tips will help you to achieve positive outcomes:
Always Cut On Wet Hair: Start by cleaning your dog so that the blade can glide perfectly on the hair. Dry hair is a recipe for cuts and pulling of the hair.
Be Aware Of Your Most Comfortable Grip: Even before you start cutting the hair, hold the clippers in different positions until you get a good grip. The grooming process will be faster henceforth.
Do Away With The Tangles And Mats On The Dog’s Coat: The hair clippers tend to pull your dog’s hair in the matted areas. Eliminate them before cutting the hair.
Choose The Ideal Length Of The Hair Cut: The hair clippers come with different attachments or comb guides. Find the length that suits your dog’s natural look and style of your choice.
Vary The Speeds For Different Areas: Ensure that the speed is lower when cutting the hair on the sensitive areas such as the face and paws. A higher speed can be chosen for other areas.
Change The Blades Or Lubricate Them When They Overheat: The blades tend to get overheated after numerous strokes. The dog will become restless if you do not lubricate them for cooling. Changing the blade is also an option
Maintaining the Hair Clippers
Quality hair clippers will serve you for a long time if you clean them regularly. Use disinfectants and a lot of water after use. Oiling them is also important. You must further use a blade cap to avoid corrosion and infections. Find an ideal packaging material for storage.
With the different types of hair clippers available, you will never be limited. Being clear on what you are looking for will make the purchasing process easier. Professionals will also help you to find updated information on grooming your pet.
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.
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.
Families considering a new puppy often wonder how much to budget for adding a dog to their home. Here’s a breakdown of the annual costs associated with owning a goldendoodle:
(Keep in mind that a bigger goldendoodle costs more to own than a smaller goldendoodle.)
Basic Annual Costs of Owning a Goldendoodle:
Annual Vet Visit: Like all dogs, goldendoodles need to go to the vet once per year for a checkup. This visit will include a fecal check for intestinal worms, a blood check for heart worms and Lymes disease, and any vaccinations that your dog may need. Expect to pay around $200 for this routine visit. The first year of your puppy’s life will cost a bit more in vet bills though, as your puppy will need two trips to the vet for DHPP boosters and a rabies immunization, plus you’ll want to have your pup checked for intestinal worms. With this in mind, some vets offer special plans for puppies. Expect to pay around $375 for a plan that covers 4 office visits, rabies and DHPP x2 shots, several parasite examines, and wormer if needed. Most vets will trim toenails for free as part of your office call.
Grooming: Since goldendoodles don’t shed their coats, they require regular professional grooming. The frequency and cost can be impacted by the length you keep your dog’s coat and coat maintenance you do at home. Bigger goldendoodles are more expensive to groom than smaller goldendoodles. In general, expect to pay around $55-$100 every 8 weeks for grooming your mini goldendoodle if you live in the Cincinnati area. (Grooming prices can vary drastically by location. In Virginia expect to pay $150-$200 for a visit to the groomer. And it also costs more to groom a larger goldendoodle). Learn more about the cost of grooming a goldendoodle in our Q&A with a professional groomer. You can also learn to groom your own goldendoodle.
Parasite Prevention: Like all dogs, goldendoodles should be given monthly heart worm preventative. Expect to pay $100-$110 per year for Sentinel or Interceptor Plus for a 25lb dog if purchasing from an online pet pharmacy (heart worm medication costs slightly more for a bigger goldendoodle). Ordering online will definitely save you money, plus it’s easy! Learn how to order heart worm medication online. Depending on where you live, your dog may also need tick prevention. You can order Advantix II or other topical tick preventative from an online pet pharmacy or Amazon for about $125/year (slightly more for a goldendoodle over 55lbs).
Food: As you’ve probably noticed, ordering items for your goldendoodle online can save you a lot of $$$! Dog food is no exception. A 30lb bag of Royal Canin costs $41 on Amazon and will ship free right to your front door. If you feed your goldendoodle 2 cups of dry food per day, expect a 30lb bag to last a little more than 2 month. That comes to $250/year for Royal Canin dog food. If you choose to feed your dog a grain-free food like Fromm, expect to pay around $410/year. Again, larger goldendoodles cost more to feed than smaller goldendoodles simply because they have bigger appetites.
Totaling Up The Basic Costs:
If you total up the numbers, you’ll find that you should budget around $1000-$1100 per year for owning a 25lb goldendoodle. I assure you that the love, affection, and joy you receive from owning a goldendoodle will far outweigh any associated financial costs!
Other Expenses To Consider:
Initial Supply Cost: View our puppy shopping list for list of supplies needed for a new puppy. Some of those supplies, such as a crate, you may be able to purchase used while others will need to be purchased brand new. Many supplies will only need to be purchased once during your dog’s lifetime.
Exercise: If you work long hours, you may find it necessary to utilize a doggie daycare or dog walker a few days a week to help exercise your dog while you’re away. This may be particularly necessary when your dog is young. Expect to pay between $20-$30 per day for doggie daycare. In Cincinnati, Petsmart charges $24 for a full day of doggie day camp and Dogtown charges $27. Many individuals host doggie daycare out of their homes. Finding a local dog walker is another exercise option.
Training: Like all dogs, goldendoodle puppies should participate in at least one set of training classes. These are highly beneficial for bonding, manners, and socialization. Pups Unleashed Behavior charges $80 for five weeks of puppy pre-school and Pawlished charges $50 for three weeks. Select a training facility that utilizes positive reinforcement, as this happy, upbeat style of training tends to work best for goldendoodles. Baxter & Bella is an online puppy training school that offers a myriad of resources, virtual classes, and video training tips. With the discount code TIMBERIDGE, lifetime access to Baxter & Bella only costs $178, making it an amazing, affordable option for every puppy owner. Learn more about Baxter & Bella here.
Accidents & Injuries: Every pet owner needs to be prepared for unexpected expenses that could come up. Consider setting funds aside or investing in a pet insurance plan.
Boarding: When you travel for vacation, your goldendoodle will be more than thrilled to accompany you! But you may find that bringing her along isn’t also feasible or practical. Kennels charge $16+/day with additional fees for walks, grass time or playtime with other dogs. Prices may also vary based on your dog’s weight and whether you are traveling over a holiday. Many individuals are happy to host your dog in their home while you’re away. Expect to pay $20-$35 per day for your furry friend to join someone’s home. A third option for your pup is a luxurious stay in a local pet resort. Red Dog’s prices start at $36/night and Pet Nation Lodge charges $49/night.
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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 Dogcompetitions 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 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
Cooper
6 weeks
7 weeks
Cooper
Annie
Zino
Toby
Bernie
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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:
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.
Note: much of the information contained in this post was obtained through email and phone conversations with persons representing both Paw Print Genetics & Embark
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