First, read this section! Your question will likely be here. If not, you can go to the contact us page and send a message. Also fill out a Puppy Application. I look at those first! There are no absolute right or wrong answers to the application. A puppy is a big commitment. I want to ensure you are serious about owning a puppy and are ready!
Puppies range from $2400 - $2900.
Now this is a tricky question. First off, I can not guarantee size. Usually, it will depend on the size of the parents, but every now and then, they might take on the size of their grandparents. I weigh puppies every day and sometimes twice a day. This can somewhat help project what size they'll be full grown. Again, I DO NOT GUARANTEE SIZE.
At Sassy Doodles of Georgia, we only offer F1b puppies at this time. Thanks to genetic testing, all our puppies will have furnishings (fuzzy face around the muzzle and eyebrows), long hair, and curly/wavy coats. I can not 100% guarantee they are hypoallergenic, and if someone does, I'd run! But they will be ultra low to NO shedding.
Yes, we offer a 2 year from the birth date to be free from any life threatening, inherited disease which impairs a long life. If you would like to look over the health guarantee and contract, please go to the contact us page and I'll send it on over.
WON'T MY PUPPY HAVE ALREADY SEEN A VETERINARIAN?
YES! Your puppy will be up top date on vaccinations, dewormed, microchipped and have a certificate of health. Is your puppy healthy? YES! But you will need to bring your puppy to a licensed veterinarian for a checkup within 3 days in order for the health guarantee to be valid.
ARE THESE PUPPIES REGISTERED?
In a short answer, no. The reason being is purebred dogs are typically AKC registered. Goldendoodles are a mix and often referred to as a designer breed. If you so choose to do so, you may register your puppy with CKC and it will not require any additional paperwork from me.
Puppies will be able to go to their new homes when they reach 8-9 weeks of age. Ideally on a Friday or Saturday so that you and your new puppy can spend the weekend bonding. We know that isn't always possible and will make accommodations as needed. Puppy Pick Up days will be scheduled to give you 4-6 weeks notice at minimum to plan.
I have done SO MUCH research. Not only do we look for healthy dogs to breed, but structure and temperament are equally important. We make sure our dams and sires do not carry common diseases. We want to give your family a long living pet. We want to prevent uneducated & accidental litters from happening. Also the coloring and coat features are a whole different chapter. This is why some breeders will have a litter of unfurnished (not doodle like) puppies and colors they weren’t expecting. Lastly, Merle can hide in red/cream color dogs. It’s of the utmost importance that a hidden Merle dog, not be bred to a Merle dog. Otherwise the puppies can/will be deaf and blind because of a human error that could have been prevented.
Unfortunately, no. Puppies have little to no immune system. As humans, we innocently carry germs on our shoes and clothing. Some of these germs, such as parvo, are a fatal threat to puppies and I can not risk their health. I will, however, post lots of videos and pictures and can Facetime with you.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
1. FILL OUT A PUPPY APPLICATION - This is the quickest way to get on our waiting list. Once I receive your application, I'll send you an email explaining how to proceed. This is based on your application received.
2. SEND DEPOSIT - I will let you know about sending the deposit after your approved application has been processed. A $400 nonrefundable deposit may be sent via Zelle, Paypal (friends & family option only), cash, Cashiers Check, or Money Order sent Certified Mail. This puts you officially on the waitlist and must be received within 3 days after I contact you. Your $400 will go towards the total payment due.
3. HOMEWORK & PREP - Homework?! Yes! Now is the time to start prepping for your new furry friend! There are several necessities you will need. Check out my Puppy Shopping List page. It's also a great idea to choose a veterinarian and schedule you initial visit within 3 days of pick up day, check into puppy classes, puppy daycare, familiarize yourself with crate training, bell training, etc.. Remember that we e found an amazing online training program for all of our puppy families, especially considering how busy life can be - it's called BAXTER & Bella!
In short, their system is as much about teaching your dog how to act, as it is about coaching you on how to train and teaching you how to successfully integrate a canine companion into your life, family and home! What's more, they are offering our families an instant 25% savings on their lifetime membership, which includes more than 75 lessons, over 100 how-to videos, printable charts and checklists, unlimited one-on-one professional help, online classes and courses, training games and activities, in addition to so much more... all for less money than what many people will pay to participate in typical puppy courses - IT'S A GAME-CHANGER!
USE OUR UNIQUE DISCOUNT CODE: SASSYDOODLES25
You can learn more about who they are, what they offer and how to get started by visiting: https://www.baxterandbella.com/learn-more
4. PUPPY PICK DAY - Puppy picks go in order of deposits received and are done after puppy evaluations, between 6-7 weeks.
5. GOTCHA DAY - This is a bittersweet day but I am excited to give you a new furry friend! Your puppy will be around 8-9 weeks old. Your balance should be paid in full via cash, PayPal (friends and family option only), Zelle, or Money Order. On this day, you will sign a contract and be shown any vital information to continue with your puppy. If you are not local, we will need to make arrangements that work for both of us. The following will be sent home with your puppy in their very own puppy pack:
Tote bag
Vaccination & Deworming Record
Microchip Record & Info
Toy and blanket (or stuffed animal) with litter mates' scent
Starter Bag of Food
Trupanion 30 days (FREE) Insurance coverage
Various other goodies
Belle and Bailey reside with us full time in our home. We typically choose outside studs from reputable breeders from across the USA. These studs are carefully chosen and have completed their health testing, and are the right color, size, structure, and temperament. We will never choose a stud who doesn't compliment our dams in a positive way. We also hope to be able to grow our program in the future, utilizing guardian homes, so that all of our dogs live a full, loving and happy life in a family unit.
Yes! They will be listed on the Future Litters page.
As people who absolutely adore their dogs, and take great pride in the relatively small number of puppies we produce from our breeding program, we take our extensive research in their long term health very seriously. One of the most serious topics for discussion is canine hip dysplasia or “HD.” Many people have become convinced that getting a puppy from OFA certified parents makes that puppy immune to developing HD later in life. Sadly, even some veterinarians even subscribe to this rhetoric. This could not be farther from the truth. Genetics do play a role, but there are also MANY other environmental factors involved, which often go totally ignored. To us, that is a shame because people end up putting their faith into a piece of paper that essentially means very little.
We have several reasons why we choose not to do OFA certifications. Whether a breeder decides to OFA certify their dogs or not, it is an opinion based decision at best. It certainly is not something that only “good” breeders do for their dogs, despite what some websites, associations, or other breeders claim. OFA certification in itself is extremely difficult on a dog. They are often sedated (not always, but most often) and placed in very unnatural positions, which can result in injury and even mask results. Furthermore, if the technician performing the radiograph is inexperienced or otherwise lacks “skill,” it can also provide inaccurate results. The test itself is meant to identify laxity in the joints, which is then assigned a rating based on a panel of veterinarians. However, these “ratings” have been proven to be inaccurate according to AVMA studies. Dogs are often diagnosed as being “clear” when they are not, and even produce false positive results, damaging a dog’s reputation unnecessarily and without just cause.
Furthermore, these tests generate A LOT of money, and where there is money, there is usually a significant amount of misinformation and propaganda. We do not condemn anyone who prefers to purchase their puppy from OFA certified parents, or breeders who OFA certify their dogs. Nor do we condemn anyone who feels better about getting these certifications done. However, we do have a problem when we see individuals stating that these certifications are necessary and provide a guarantee that your puppy won’t develop HD. It’s an unfounded and scientifically unsupported claim. You cannot OFA test until a dog is at least 2 years of age, at which point in most cases, if there IS genetic HD present, it will have manifested physical symptoms. Even then, an OFA certification cannot, will not and does not provide any guarantee that the dog in question will not develop HD later in life, or produce offspring with or without it.
Unfortunately, there are many factors that can contribute to HD, but just as fortunate, there are many things that breeders and owners can do to help greatly diminish the risk - proving far more proactive that OFA certification alone. Please know that before we get into to help prevent this disease, I have spent many hours, days, weeks, months, and years studying and researching HD, in an effort to make the best decisions for MY dogs. I have spoken with veterinarians and reputable breeders and have not based my decisions on “opinion” nor personal merit or biases. There is never a guarantee that a puppy won’t develop HD, and that’s just the cold, hard truth. However, being proactive and not just blissfully dependent on a piece of paper appears to be the more logical and real solution.
Studies are now showing that early spay and neutering or “gonadectomy” can greatly impact the onset of HD. Sex hormones play a crucial role in the orthopedic development of dogs. This is why we do not require proof of spay or neutering before two years of age in our agreement. We do strictly prohibit breeding during that time unless breeding rights are granted and paid for specifically. This is specifically so that owners can make an unpressured decision as to when to spay and neuter their puppy. We suggest waiting at least until 17 months of age so that the dog can go through puberty completely before disrupting those precious hormones and the fantastic and natural job they do in protecting against disease later in life.
So what do WE do to be proactive breeders? Obviously, it’s not in the best interest of any breeder, whether hobbyist or large scale, to damage their reputation by breeding dogs that have HD, or produce genetic HD in their offspring. It makes no sense, however, that there are many breeders who simply don't care, only caring about making the one time sale, never seeing or hearing from their puppies nor the people they have sold them to ever again. We are NOT “those” kinds of people. This is not just a business for us - it is part of our life - and the puppies our pack produces are family, forever. We do not want to see our precious babies going through that, nor the families that have opened up their hearts and homes to them. Getting updates from our extended puppy families is something we will always look forward to and cherish, and we want those updates to be positive and full of joy and happiness. We do not fill people up with a bunch of gimmicky guarantees or flash papers in front of people to gain their trust. We are open and honest about ALL things, including the fact that there is never a guarantee that a puppy can’t end up with some sort of health issue at some point in their lives. There are many factors involved, many that are outside of our control once a puppy leaves our care. It would be negligent and irresponsible to not “keep it real” with people, even though our dogs are very healthy, genetically health tested and genetic disease not prevalent in our lines.
From a breeding perspective, we will never breed a dog that is known to genetically produce puppies who produce HD, nor any other conditions, genetic or not. However, we still include this as being covered in our agreement if it is a grade 4 or worse, with OFA documentation, proving that is IS genetic, because unfortunately there will always be a risk factor. Please keep in mind, this would be the same guarantee with or without an OFA certification, and there is no breeder in the world who should ever guarantee against HD, OFA or not.
Surprisingly, owners have an ever greater influence on whether their dogs might develop HD. Keeping your dogs healthy, well exercised, and “leaner” in the first couple years of life is greatly influential. Do not over feed, and only feed high quality, nutritionally balanced foods. Stay away from high fat diets and keep them active. Spay and neuter after they're fully matured and be responsible during that time to avoid accidental breeding or hormonal confrontations with other dogs.
We hope this information has helped anyone who is interested to truly understand and appreciate our perspective and decision as to why we do not OFA certify our dogs. We feel that due to the documented lack of accuracy and inability these certifications have in terms of “guaranteeing” anything, it is simply not something that we feel is necessary. Our agreement covers HD in the rare case that such a genetic disorder is diagnosed in our puppies, up until age 2, and it would be the same with or without OFA certification. It is important for us to be proactive in preventing HD in preventing HD from occurring with ethical and responsible breeding practices, as well as properly educating prospective new puppy owners as to the other influencing factors which contribute to this disease.
If you would like to read further, I would be happy to share articles with you from trusted and reputable sources, that can and will provide you with even more in -depth details you might need in order to understand our position on OFA certification and canine hip dysplasia.