Lakeshore Doodles FAQ
Goldendoodle Information
Lakeshore Doodles FAQ or “Frequently Asked Questions” about Goldendoodles and Goldendoodles Puppies. We have a large information section with over 50 pages of helpful information about Goldendoodles! Some of the topics include:
What is the difference between an F1 and an F1b?
Should I purchase a male or female?
What does DNA Genetic health testing mean?
How do we pick the best puppy from the litter?
Are Goldendoodles really hypo-allergenic?
What is an English Goldendoodle?
Which is better a Labradoodle or a Goldendoodle?
And much, much more!
We have a complete Video Information Library
Please visit the link below for information on everything from picking your puppy, to care, feeding, and professional training.
FAQ Section-1 Basic Goldendoodle Puppy Information
In this section, you will find informative links to Frequently Asked Questions and General Information.
Some links will take you to answers and information on this page and others will take you to pages with more in-depth information. We have all the answers you need to make a great choice when selecting and caring for your Lakeshore Doodle. If you have additional questions or concerns, please use the Contact-Us Button below.
Lakeshore Doodles FAQ has 3 sections in total
Basic Goldendoodle Puppy Information
Preparing To Take Your Puppy Home
General Medical Information
Section-1 Information – Click the topic heading inside each box for more information
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Litter box training
We litter box train every puppy we raise because it instills in them the knowledge that there are places that are are acceptable to go potty and others that are not. It also allows us to keep our babies perfectly clean!
We use long narrow plastic bins – similar to a rubber made tote that can fit under a bed for storage. We then put a thin layer of PINE PELLETS made for Horse Stalls – that is deep enough to cover the bottom of the pan. These pellets are purchased at Tractor Supply Stores or Country Max.
When the puppies urinate on the pellets they turn to powder which is easily scooped out as needed. The stool is simply picked up with a plastic bag, tied shut, and discarded.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CONTINUE USING THE LITTER BOX WHEN YOU BRING YOUR PUPPY HOME. They are ready to crate train and take directly outdoors at 8 weeks of age. You can use a box temporarily by the door you will be taking them outdoors with – as a transitionary step if you want to. You can also put a few pellets outside on your lawn in the area you want them to learn to use. This is something you would only do for the first week or so.
Litter box training is a great help to those who live in apartments in NYC as well!
How and when do we pick our puppy?
We do accept deposits on our puppies as soon as they are posted on our upcoming litter page, or when they have been born. But, we do not allow anyone to choose their puppy until they are about 8 weeks of age or until we feel that we know our puppies well enough to give you important information about their overall size, coat type and personality.
We like to avoid having you choose only by appearance because their are so many additional factors that are important to consider in order to get a good fit for your family and lifestyle.
When we are ready for the selection process to begin we take new pictures of the puppies and post them on our website.
You have the option of coming here in person to meet the puppies or selecting from the pictures on the website, and utilizing Skype while speaking in depth with us about your family and our puppies individual traits. We will do our best to help you make the best choice for your specific needs and preferences.
Rest assured that if you are one of the last people choosing, we will not sell a puppy to a family that we do not feel will be a good fit for one reason or another. We always reserve the right to refuse to sell a puppy to anyone for any reason if we do not feel it in the puppies best interest.
If when it is your turn to choose a puppy, we do not have a good fit based on gender, color or personality issues – you will have the option of having your deposit refunded or you can opt to place it on another litter or puppy that is coming available. Our deposits are non-refundable for any other reason.
What about early Spay or Neuter?
Some breeders are offering puppies that have already been spayed or neutered before they go to their new homes. This procedure is typically done at around 7 weeks of age.
We have consulted our veterinarian and have decided against this procedure for our puppies.
This practice originally began in the dog shelters when a litter of unwanted puppies was surrendered. The purpose was to help avoid additional litters of puppies from people who are not responsible enough to have their pets neutered on their own.
Breeders are now taking advantage of this as well because it assures them that no one will be able to breed their puppy without their approval. It is also a nice added benefit for those purchasing their puppies.
We have decided against this because we feel that it is not in the best interest of the puppy. In order to do the early spay or neuter the puppies must be put under anesthesia when they are about 7 weeks of age which can have harmful outcomes in some cases. In addition to this we feel it is vitally important for the puppy to be able to have the hormones God gave them in order to grow properly.
Although at first glance the early spay and neuter option may sound like a good idea – but when you look further into it it is easy to see that although it may be in the best interest of the breeder it is certainly not in the best interest of the puppy.
We do have a spay/neuter agreement for everyone who purchases one of our puppies. This should be done around 6 months of age according to most veterinarians.
Are the puppies Dewclaws removed?
A dewclaw is a small claw that is on the side of the dog’s paw. It is in about the same place as our human thumbs. Some puppies have them on the front paws only and others have them on all four.
Some breeders routinely remove these claws but we have decided against doing this on our puppies.
The practice of removing these was most often used in the sporting breeds because they would have a higher chance of tearing them or catching them on something while running through thick brush during a hunt.
Because most Goldendoodles have hair that covers these dewclaws and because most Goldendoodles are not running loose through fields and bounding over wire fences while hunting – we feel removing them is an unnecessary thing.
The removal actually takes place when the puppy is only about two days old! The procedure basically amounts to cutting off a two day olds thumb with a sharp instrument with NO ANESTHESIA.
What can you tell me about a Newborn’s Coat?
Even from day one there are indications of whether or not a specific puppy will be straighter coated, wavy or curly. Compare the first puppy on the left with the others. This puppy’s coat is lacking the little ripples that the others have. This puppy will most likely have a straighter coat than the other three at maturity
Thinking About Purchasing A Mini Doodle? Read This Before You Do!
You must use caution when buying a mini doodle! Don’t let this discourage you…. simply become informed and make a wise choice!
For years we refused to breed miniature doodles because temperament is a huge concern for us in our breeding program! This was a problem for us because we knew that oftentimes the Miniature Poodle was not known for having the same patient and gentle temperament that the Standard Poodles are known for, especially with young children. It is not unusual for a mini poodle, or toy poodle, to be snippy with kids and quite yappy as well. These attributes can certainly be passed down to the mini doodles and we did not feel it was beneficial to reduce the size of our puppies knowing that we may be sacrificing temperament.
It took us YEARS to find a mini poodle that would exceed our expectations with personality, temperament and intelligence! Bentley was the first mini poodle that we added to our program and it took us three years to find him! We have recently added Justin and Brodie and they are absolutely amazing! You can read more about them on our Meet Our Dads page.
In summary – if you are seeking a mini doodle – do not be discouraged….. be informed! Do your homework and make sure the mini poodle that was used, has the type of personality and temperament that you would want in your own home and family, if they do not, then continue looking! Don’t be an unwise shopper by purchasing the first cute little face that you meet! Temperament should be a big concern when you are looking for a mini doodle.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Good Mini Doodles Can Be Found…
But Always Remember
You May Have to Really Look Around!
Which Is Better, A Goldendoodle Or A Labradoodle?
In the years that we have been breeding Doodles – we have had experience with both Labradoodles and Goldendoodles.
Our personal opinion is that we prefer the Goldendoodles because their coats are much more consistent from litter to litter. We also really like the soft, full, fluffy look of the F1 and F1b Goldendoodles vs. the harsher, sometimes wirey, “Terrier” look that some of the Labradoodles ended up with.
That is not to say that you cannot obtain a Labradoodle with this same look – but oftentimes it is achieved with the multi-generational Labradoodles which typically raises the cost quite a bit.
Most people looking for doodles are doing so because they wish to reduce or eliminate shedding in their home. In our experiences with both breeds our Goldendoodles were much more reliable in this area as well.
One thing that can be a benefit for some people with the Labradoodle is that they sometimes require less grooming because their coats may not be as long or as full, especially with the F1 generation.
There is absolutely nothing “Wrong” with the Labradoodle! They are a wonderful dog worth considering! But if you have allergy concerns – be careful because their coats can be more difficult to evaluate amongst some litters.
There are no true personality differences between the two doodle breeds. Temperament and disposition are really a matter of each individual puppy and the two parents that were bred together vs. the difference between the Goldendoodle or the Labradoodle.
It is all a matter of preference – but you should continue your search with the knowledge of how the two breeds can vary in order to be sure you find what you are really looking for!
HOW DO GOLDENDOODLES DEVELOP?
The following pictures show the age progression and change that takes place in the development of a Goldendoodle
Kirby and his brothers – Day One
Kirby at 4 weeks of age
Kirby at 6 weeks of age
Kirby at 3 months of age
Kirby at 8 months of age
Are Internet Purchases Safe
People calling us from all across the country often ask us this question. Not only do we consider it a good one, it also shows good discernment and judgment on the caller’s part!
Before internet use grew to be an everyday household event, puppy buyers were often limited to their local newspaper advertisements for contact numbers for finding a new pet. Now the entire county has been opened up for your search. The internet has opened to you, the buyer, a huge new group of breeders to speak with and consider.
Remember: The internet not only opens up the possibility of a bad experience it also gives you many more opportunities than ever before to find exactly what you are looking for, because it also allows for you to search the entire Nation for reputable breeders. You will now have many choices of experienced breeders to choose from instead of only whomever is limited to your geographical location.
Our advice continues to be that you should first search your own area for good quality, reputable breeders. If you do not find someone you are comfortable with or someone who has what you are looking for – then begin a nationwide search through the internet – but always use caution!
Look for a breeder who raises their puppies in their home with their family, one who can tell you about the temperament of the parents as well as the personality of each puppy, who does the necessary health testing on both parents, and offers a written health guarantee.
We have personally purchased quite a few dogs and puppies from across the country that we have found on the iternet. Our experiences thus far have been extremely positive.
Good-Luck in your search! And be careful in your selection!
Can We Visit Lakeshore Doodles?
We do allow people to come meet our puppies but protecting our puppies is our main concern – so we do take special precautions.
Before asking to meet any of our puppies you will have to complete our online puppy application so that we can work together to determine which litter or puppy might be a good fit for what you are looking for. If we do not have anything that will work for you we might be able to make a good recommendation for another reputable breeder who does.
Because our puppies are raised in our home with us and not in a separate building we do not allow stop-in visitors. Appointments are made first for those people who have already placed a deposit on the litter and these will be scheduled in the order that the deposits arrived. If there are any puppies still available after those who have had deposits down have made their selections – we will then schedule visits for those interested in meeting the remaining puppies.
Because viruses can be brought into our home by unsuspecting visitors we have all puppy selection appointments take place at a different location than our home. We have asked previous customers NOT to visit any other kennel or breeder on the same day they will be coming to us so that they cannot bring parvo or many other deadly viruses to our home – only to find out later that they had visited other breeder friends of ours on the same day. We
simply cannot take chances like this with our babies.
We also have people visit our puppies that we meet online, who come from all over the country. Not many people would feel comfortable inviting strangers that they meet online into their home with their families – so because of this and as a way to better protect the health of our puppies, we meet in another location.
We begin making appointments when the puppies are about 8 weeks of age. We wait until this age so that we can tell you more about the puppies overall sizes, coat types and personalities. We want to make sure you make a wise choice instead of an emotional one! And you need this additional information instead of just choosing by color or only by their appearance.
If you have any questions about visiting just let us know!
How To Choose The Best Puppy For Your Family
Once you decide on the breed you wish to purchase and you locate a reputable breeder – the toughest part is yet to come. Upon arrival at the breeders, you will be faced with many of the most beautiful little faces you have ever seen. Choosing the best pup for your family should be more than picking the one that you think is the cutest.
When you visit with the puppies take notice first of which pup or pups break away from their litter mates to see you. This is often a sign of a pup that will be harder to train as they may tend to be stubborn or high energy. If they are comfortable leaving the safety of the other pups to run and see strangers they may not be the best choice in the litter for a family pup.
Also, watch them interact with each other. A pup that is bullying or picking on the other pups will tend to also be more aggressive in nature with humans. This does not always translate into problems with biting or being aggressive with people as much as being submissive to their owner and easy to train.
When you pick up each pup that you are interested in flip them over on their back and cradle them much like you would a baby. If the pup struggles fiercely and does not settle down at all note this as well. You are looking for a puppy that might struggle some but who will relax and enjoy a good belly rub at the same time.
Always ask the breeder which pups seem to be the bully or lead pup from the litter. Try to find one that is not the most aggressive nor the shyest that does not have an interest in meeting you. One right in the middle is the best choice for a family pup!
Find out what the pups were doing prior to your visit. If they just ate or were having a rough playtime with each other – they may not be acting like what is typical for them. So, always listen to the breeder if what you are witnessing is different than what they are recommending. Pups get tired after mealtime and playtime. The puppy with the most energy may be having a sleepy period
when you visit.
With all of this being said – the training you give your puppy once you take it home has a huge influence on it’s behavior as it grows. A calm puppy can learn to take advantage of you and be hard to handle just as an active puppy can learn to be calm and very well mannered depending on the training it has.
Your best bet is to choose a puppy with a calmer, middle-of-the-road type of temperament and then give the puppy very consistent training right from day one!
Should I Choose A Male Or Female?
SHOULD I CHOOSE A MALE OR FEMALE GOLDENDOODLE PUPPY?
HERE ARE THE FACTS THE WAY WE SEE IT:
Many dog owners and breeders will have varying opinions on this topic, such as: “Males are sweeter” or “Females are much calmer”. You have to be really careful when listening to these types of opinions because there is simply no truth to broad statements like these.
If you think about this question by putting it into a more “Human Perspective” you will get a better understanding of the truth to the matter. Some people have a very misguided opinion and may say that men are more aggressive, work harder, and are better leaders than women in the workplace… and that women are more emotional than men. Although there may be some people that would fit into these broad categories there are also just as many that do not. Most of us would agree that although there are many men that are very aggressive in the workplace, there are also just as many women who can run circles around their male counterparts. Likewise, there are women who would never shed a tear while some men are extremely compassionate.
This perspective is just as applicable when choosing a puppy. Character traits are very unique to each individual puppy in the litter and often have nothing to do with gender. We have had female pups that have been the bully in the litter just as often as the males. Likewise, we have the calm laid-back puppy be a male in one litter and a female in the next. Broad generalizations can be very misleading when you are trying to pick out a puppy. We strongly recommend that you consider each individual puppy according to it’s own unique blend of characteristics while setting gender aside.
Another note of caution concerning gender assumptions: Some people tend to believe that male puppies will be larger than females. Although this may often prove to be true with some purebred breeds it is not always the case with Doodles. When adding the poodle into the mix you should consider the fact that there may be many differing sizes in the puppies backgrounds. Poodles come in a huge variety of sizes ranging from teacup to royal. If we just look at the standard poodle you could have dogs ranging from about 15″ at the shoulders up to 25″ at the shoulders! Because of this, you could have a male take after a smaller poodle in his background and a female take after a really large poodle.
So once again it is really important to evaluate each individual puppy according to it’s own traits instead of assuming one gender has more benefits than the other.
AS ALWAYS, I HELP YOU MAKE AN EDUCATED CHOICE BY TELLING YOU ALL ABOUT EACH PUPPIES PERSONALITY, COAT TYPE, BONE STRUCTURE, ENERGY LEVEL ETC… BY WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION BASED ON THE NEEDS OF YOUR OWN HOME AND FAMILY!
Why Do We Have To Wait Until They Are 8 Weeks Old?
This is a great question and there are two main reasons why we wait until 8 weeks of age:
#1) Young pups are physically mature enough to leave their mom asyoung as 5 or 6 weeks of age. They have developed their strong teeth that are capable of chewing food. They are not relying 100% on mom anymore. But, it is not the physical maturity that is growing the most these few weeks as much as the emotional side of your pup.
Within the confines of the whelping box the young pups are learning huge lessons from each other. At about 5 weeks of age they begin to play quite roughly with one another. One pup will grab another pup’s ear and bite down hard in order to use it as a tug toy. Since this hurts the pup badly, it reacts by counteracting with a vicious bite back in
order to save its own ear! The first pup immediately lets go of the ear because now he hurts too! Although at first glance this may seem just like simple puppy play – you need to understand what is really taking place. When the first pup bites the other, and the other one bites back the first pup – He learns quickly that if I bite – I am going to
get hurt as well. In a few weeks, the pups learn this lesson very concretely.
If in contrast, they leave at 6 or 7 weeks of age, they may not have yet had the opportunity to thoroughly learn their lesson.
Which means that you take home your cute new pup – he gets so lonely and quickly decides to play with you since his littermates are no longer anywhere to be found!
He will grab your hand, or leg, or ear, or whatever is within reach and chomp down with all of his might! You may scream, put the puppy down or just tell him to cut that out! But you do not have those sharp razor-like teeth that his brother has that are so fantastic at getting back at him!
His littermates are much more equipped for teaching this lesson than any human can ever be! If left to learn like they should, you will have a much more enjoyable time when you do finally get to bring him home.
#2) It is also a NYS law according to the Department of Agriculture that breeders may not sell any dog or cat before the age of 8 weeks.