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What is a Bernedoodle?

Good question. Put simply a Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. If you want to know why this mix is so popular keep reading.

bernedoodle puppy
Week 4

Bernese Mountain Dogs are great. They have the temperament and love of a Golden Retriever. They are beautiful loyal family dogs. The downside is they only live to be about 8 years old. That’s where the Poodle comes in. The Poodle ads health and longevity. Now they live to be about 15 years old. Another thing the Poodle ads is intelligence. It’s no coincidence that Poodles are often in the circus performing. They are extremely intelligent dogs. Now combine that with the beauty and love of a Bernese Mountain Dog and you have the perfect pet.

Personality

As mentioned Bernedoodles are going to be very loving and loyal animals. They do really well with children and other pets. They are very easy going and calm. If they are not you might want to seek another breeder. They are great for security because they look like they are ferocious. However they are very loving and gentle. They do not need much exercise. A walk in the neighborhood will suffice. They are happy to be by the family and lay on the front porch. Because of the poodle mix they can be trained for just about any outdoor activity. They love to be outside summer and winter.

Coat

There is a variety of coats they can have. You may get straight hair or curly. It could be wavy or really thick. The colors can vary from bicolor to tricolor. Be careful that tricolors are not inbred. Many people do this for sales. A purebred Bernese Mountain Dog is going to shed a ton. With the Bernedoodle you are going to get very minimal to no shedding at all. The benefits of a straight hair dog is there is practically no grooming needed. With curly or wavy you may have to groom every couple times of the year. The curlier the better when it comes to being hypoallergenic.

You will never be disappointed with a Bernedoodle as a family pet. They can adapt to any family. Single, older, young kids it doesn’t matter. Make sure you are talking to a reputable breeder. Enjoy your Bernedoodle.

The Best Present is a Puppy

Can you believe there are actually people out there who have never owned a dog or a puppy. It’s true. This is a rare experience that cannot be compared to any other pet. Owning a cat is not the same. I mean do you own the cat or does the cat own you? Does it come when you call it by name? Is it happy to see you when you get home? Does it come to you when you need snuggles or when it wants snuggles? How about a gold fish. Yeah, try cuddling with that. I’ve never heard of a service fish before but I’m sure someone will try to bring one on a plane. A dog, as the say, is mans best friend. Why? because the loyalty and love the show you. And the fact they will never talk about you behind your back.

Here are some good reasons you should have a dog.

  • A dog will clean up your kitchen floor
  • A dog is the perfect exercise partner
  • A dog is a great primer for parenthood
  • A dog can make you feel safer in your own home
  • A dog will be incredibly loyal to you and your family

Are dogs expensive

Have you ever seen a homeless man with a dog. That should say a lot. Dogs don’t need diamond studded collars. What they really want is a family to give them attention. Isn’t that what everyone wants. Even if you work a full time job this can still happen. At the end of the day some snuggles on the couch why you watch “The Bachelor” or a nice game of catch will make their day. Even the food doesn’t have to be expensive. You can buy very healthy dog food at a reasonable price. The bedding can simply be an old blanket with your smell on it. Or it could be the same bed you sleep in.

But I have children

Children are not pets. But they do want a pet. There is nothing better than for a child to grow up with a pet. That’s why children often bring home strays from the neighborhood. They want the best friend they could have. Here is a great post that really explains the benefits.

1. Babies who live with dogs get sick less

According to a study done at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland, babies who lived with dogs during the first year of their life were one third more likely to avoid respiratory illness and infection than their non-dog-owning counterparts. Many consider this to be a result of dogs causing more exposure to germs, increasing the babies’ immune systems to prevent sickness.

2. Pets help young readers gain confidence

Children who are learning to read often get self-conscious reading aloud around other people, but they don’t have that same anxiety around animals. Reading to a dog is the perfect way for kids to gain confidence.

3. Kids with dogs have less allergies and asthma

According to a study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy, scientists have found that kids who grow up around dogs are 50% less likely to develop allergies and asthma than those who grow up without a dog.

4. Kids with dogs get more exercise

It’s easy to see how owning a dog would lead to spending more time outside and playing more. Dogs are a great companion for physical activities, and they require being walked if you live somewhere without a yard. All of that leads to healthier kids who are used to a more active lifestyle.

5. Dogs help reduce stress in kids with Autism

According to a study conducted by University of Montréal, the stress hormones of a child with an autism spectrum disorder are dramatically reduced when living with a trained service dog. A significant drop in behavioral problems was reported as well.

6. Family pets lead to sibling bonding

A dog in the family can help brothers and sisters grow closer through their common love of their pet. From sharing responsibilities for care, to just playing with the dog in the backyard, siblings can bond.

7. Kids who are allergic to dogs and live with them are less likely to have eczema

According to a University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine study, children who live with a dog when they are young, and also have an allergy to dogs, are four times less likely to have eczema.

8. Dogs can help kids learn important social skills

Growing up with a dog has been proven to help kids learn social skills, impulse control, and even improve their self esteem.

9. Kids grow up alongside a loving companion

Dogs are always happy to see you when you get home, and their love is unconditional. They’re the ideal confidant and an ever-willing playmate. There’s no better friend for a child than a dog.

10. Kids who care for pets learn responsibility

The daily commitment of caring for an animal is a great way to teach kids the importance of dependability and responsibility. To be a dog’s provider is an honor that requires a lot of patience and work.

How to buy the perfect puppy

Do your research. Nothing comes easy. You are going to want to make a good choice when it comes to breed and size. Some dogs can be expensive but others can be cheap or even free to good home. The bottom line is there is a great benefit for everyone in the family.

Labradoodles – Breeder, Sizes, Personality, Grooming

If you are interested in Labradoodles you have come to the right place. As a matter of fact Labradoodles are very similar to Goldendoodles as well.

labradoodle puppies

We will start with the breeder. No they are not all the same. You may want to read this blog to see questions you should ask. Take your time to do research and ask questions. If they don’t answer the phone or take forever to call you back that should be your first clue. Also if they don’t let you visit then how can you inspect the facilities? Some questions you may ask are as follows:

  • How often are they fed or watered?
  • How often are they cleaned up after?
  • How young are they when they are left alone?

The last question tells you a lot. If they are left alone all day then the breeder has a full time job and breeding is just a hobby. What age do they start leaving them alone? It takes two weeks for puppies eyes to open. It takes about one week for them to start crawling. For the first four or five days there is a risk of the mother accidentally laying on a puppy and smothering it. Until they can crawl they could end up away from mom and get too cold or not enough milk. They use their nose to find mom before their eyes are open. Unless the breeder is cleaning with harsh products such as bleach. When their eyes open it is less dangerous for the puppy.

What Size Are Labradoodles?

Labradoodles can come in many sizes. Naturally though, a Labrador is full size. So if they come smaller than that they are breeding down. That’s fine if they do it over time. Think about this. If you have a miniature poodle female to a full size Labrador male you are going to have problems. The male is to big. If he gets her pregnant then the babies will be to big. Either there will be many puppies die in the birth canal or the mother could die. The best way would be to continue taking the runts of the litter to get smaller and smaller. The other way would be to have a full size female and small male and have her artificially inseminated.

Full size Labradoodles are as follows. Females are usually around 45 lbs. And Males around 75 lbs. They typically are smaller than full size Labradors because full size poodles are smaller. Again you can have smaller simply by having smaller breeding parents.

What Is The Personality of a Labradoodle?

labradoodle

This part is easy. They are great. They should be loving, friendly, love kids, loyal and of course intelligent. Not to bash poodles too much but they can be a little snippy. Sometimes they are moody and withdrawn to strangers or kids. If you are inspecting the parents keep an eye on this. Labrador are usually pretty friendly so its usually not them. If you find a puppy this way that should be a red flag. The mix is usually great.

Intelligence is great. Now that comes from the Poodle. Not that Labradors can’t be smart. But if you have ever gone to the circus and seen dog acts it is usually poodles. They are very easy to train and can learn just about anything. The Labradoodle is often used for service dogs. They do well. Sandpoint Doodles often uses Labradoodles for this. Prep Service Dogs.

Because of their intelligence they can learn all sorts of tasks. Because of the size they are also good for stability. Even if you are looking for a therapy dog or a dog for PTSD a Labradoodle would be a good fit.

How To Groom a Labradoodle?

labradoodle grooming

So this is kind of your preference. We cut our Labradoodles about twice a year. A summer cut in the spring and one later in the summer. We don’t care for the poodle cut so we just try to do a happy teddy bear. Remember in the summer they need a little hair or else they can get sunburn. And in the winter they definitely need some hair to stay warm. A professional groomer should be able to give you some suggestions.

We own four Labradoodles and highly recommend them for just about anyone. They adapt easily to different situations. They are ideal for children as well. As mentioned they are great for service dogs and therapy dogs. Several of our Labradoodles can pick up on the mood and know when to come to you to snuggle. Great dog.

The 8 vitality signs of a healthy, happy dog

labradoodle puppies

Some of you may have read this article recently published in USATODAY and written by Country Living. I felt it was good enough to re-publish.

A new survey conducted by Iams has found that two thirds of Brits believe their pets are living longer, healthier and happier lives because of the love they show them.

The findings confirm that we are indeed a nation of animal lovers, with 69% of pet owners claiming the most important thing to do for our pets is shower them with love — including cuddles and tummy tickles.Some even believe that it could help their pets live up to three years longer.

Meanwhile, the research also found that over half of owners believe the most important contribution to their pet’s happiness and wellbeing is a fit heart, while one in five also think a strong immune system helps, in addition to shiny fur.

To accompany this study, the team at Iams also uncovered eight vitality signs for your pet’s health. These include…

  1. Healthy heart
  2. Healthy skin and shiny coat
  3. Strong immune system
  4. Healthy digestion
  5. Strong muscles
  6. Strong, healthy teeth
  7. Strong bones (for dogs)
  8. Healthy urinary tract (for cats)

“Most of us are familiar with vital signs: temperature, pulse and respiration, but it would help our pets if we were also familiar with the ‘vitality signs.’ Keeping a close eye on these will help us keep our pets in tip top condition, healthy and happy,” Kellie Ceccarelli, IAMS Veterinary Manager and Pet Nutrition Expert says.

“Pet owners have a unique bond with their pets, understanding their moods and funny little ways. But even though the bonds are very close, even the most caring owner can miss important ‘clues’ about the health and happiness of their pet if they don’t keep a watchful eye on their vitality signs.”

Elsewhere in the study, research uncovered that some owners do struggle to identify signs that their pets are sad. A quarter of respondents admitted they struggle to tell why their pet is unhappy, while 47% of those polled admitted that if their pet is unhappy, they are unhappy too.

Question to ask a dog breeder before you buy

bernedoodle breeder, labradoodle breeder, goldendoodle breeder

Purchasing a puppy can be scary. After all you are bringing someone home to join your family. They could be part of your household for many years. It would be helpful to know some secrets dog breeders keep from you and questions you can ask to reveal the truth.

What do you clean with?

This is an important question. Many cleaning supplies can be harmful to dogs let alone puppies. Especially a new puppy just developing. Some chemicals can burn lungs or noses of animals. Also take a look around and see what you see. The breeder may know how to give you the answer you want. For example, Sandpoint Doodles uses essential oils to clean that are safe to new puppies. We have seen breeders who use bleach to clean which can be very harmful.

Do you allow visiting dogs?

Socialization is important. However, remember these puppies have not completed there immunization shots just yet. They won’t complete them until they are about 14-16 weeks. We recommend avoiding contact with dogs until then. Avoid walking on the floor at pet stores, rest stops, or anywhere else that other dogs frequent. A good breeder would not let people bring their dogs to meet the puppies for fear that they could infect the puppies.

Can I visit?

This is huge. If they say no or you have to purchase a puppy to visit, this is a red flag and you should avoid them at all cost. Obviously they are trying to hide something. Sometimes they give the reason that they don’t want you to visit is so the puppies don’t catch a human sickness. That can’t happen. Most likely they have a bad facility they don’t want you to see. Perhaps they have many dogs in kennels that they would prefer you not to see. Remember all puppies are cute, but there is a difference in how they get their start in life and this will determine how healthy your dog will be later on.

Do you fix the puppies and at what age?

Talk to your vet. What do they recommend. Why do they recommend this? Many breeders will fix puppies before 8 weeks old simply to prevent competition of breeding dogs. This is not a good practice. It’s not healthy for a puppy so young to undergo such a surgery. They may give you all kinds of reasons why this is a good idea. Talk to your vet.

Is this your full time job?

If it is, great. That means the puppies are hopefully getting the attention they need. If not, wow. That brings up many more questions.

  • How often are they fed or watered?
  • How often are they cleaned up after?
  • How young are they when they are left alone?

The puppies don’t open their eyes until they are two weeks old. So there are many dangers until then. They can wander off and get too cold. Mom can accidentally sit on them. It’s a scary time. Dogs and puppies knock over there water all the time. If no one is home then what? Are they fed once or twice a day. These are new borns just developing.

Do your research. Ask questions. If they don’t answer the phone now when you have questions, they certainly won’t answer the phone after you buy a puppy and you have questions.