Contact Verified Goldendoodle Breeders

The Goldendoodle wins people over as a loving, polite and sensitive family dog with high intelligence and an easygoing way with others. Because these dogs were created by crossing the Golden Retriever and the Poodle to produce a friendly companion with a low-shedding coat, they combine the genetic heritage of both original breeds. That's exactly why finding a competent Goldendoodle breeder is the most important step before you buy. A hybrid isn't automatically healthier than its parent breeds: without deliberate selection, the parent dogs pass on breed-typical risks for the joints, eyes, skin and blood clotting to the puppies unchecked. With a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, the breeder has a major say in how trouble-free your life together will be.

A fully grown Goldendoodle male reaches a shoulder height of 55 to 63 cm and a weight of 25 to 35 kg. With dogs of this size, a lot of weight rests on the musculoskeletal system in everyday life and in dog sports. At the same time, the medium-length, curly to wavy coat with its undercoat makes specific demands on skin health and grooming. A health-focused Goldendoodle breeder doesn't simply pair two good-looking dogs, but chooses the parents according to strict orthopedic, clinical and genetic criteria. Only this kind of thorough testing before breeding can deliberately lower the risk of hereditary problems in the line.

When you visit a breeder, never rely on verbal assurances that the parents have been "examined by a vet and are healthy". A general checkup at the vet's practice isn't enough to approve a dog for breeding. A reputable breeder follows demanding requirements such as those set out by the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), and will show you these written results for the parent dogs without being asked:

• Joint exams (X-ray and clinical): Ask to see the official X-ray evaluations for hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED). In addition, patellar luxation (a dislocating kneecap) is checked by clinical palpation. These exams of the parent dogs significantly lower the risk of painful joint malformations in the puppies.
• Eye exams: A current ophthalmological eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist picks up clinical eye problems and signs of genetic progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a progressive degeneration of the retina.
• Genetic tests for blood and skin: For von Willebrand disease (a bleeding disorder) and genetic skin diseases such as ichthyosis, responsible breeders use targeted tests. These tests show whether a parent dog is clear, a carrier or affected. A reputable breeder pairs carriers only with partners proven to be clear.

The Goldendoodle also has other breed-typical health issues such as degenerative myelopathy (a disease of the spinal cord) and neonatal encephalopathy with seizures. Ask the breeder specifically how they factor these risks into their breeding plans and whether there have been any known cases in the lines.

With the right questions, you'll quickly see whether the person in front of you has deep expertise and works transparently. Use this checklist for your first conversation:

• Can you show me the parents' written evaluations for HD, ED, patellar luxation and their current ophthalmological eye results?
• What is the parents' status for von Willebrand disease and ichthyosis?
• Have there been any cases of degenerative myelopathy or neonatal encephalopathy with seizures in the lines?
• How do you get the puppies used to regular care of their curly coat and undercoat, and to having their eyes and skin checked?
• How do you rear the puppies in a joint-friendly way, so the bones of these large-framed puppies aren't overloaded too early?
• How do you nurture the dogs' sensitive, polite nature in everyday life without overwhelming the puppies?