| There are many breeder haters who post derogatory | | | | Yes, I did receive tons of hate mail as well as |
| comments or outlandish stories over the internet to tug | | | | threatening phone calls, from purebred dog enthusiasts. |
| on the heart strings simply to get your attention. This | | | | Yes, some were even brazen enough to leave hate |
| article has been written so that you simply know how | | | | messages on my answering machine. I figured this |
| to tell the difference between what some call a | | | | came with the territory of trying something new. The |
| "backyard breeder" and a professional hobby breeder. | | | | hate email and the hateful phone messages did not |
| There is a very big difference between the two. The | | | | deter me. After all, you can't allow people to run you |
| naysayers and those with a personal ax to grind or | | | | out of dodge just because they object to something |
| vendetta against a breeder, for whatever reason they | | | | you are doing. Because I didn't know much about what |
| may have, often use the term "puppy mill" and | | | | would happen as far as shedding, coat, dander was |
| "backyard breeder" very loosely and these terms are | | | | concerned, I had to keep back some of my |
| used very loosely because those doing the name | | | | Goldendoodles so that I could photograph them; write |
| calling, more often than not, have a personal agenda. | | | | about them; document what, if any changes occurred. |
| So this article is to help you, the potential consumer, | | | | You see, I am NOT a "backyard" breeder. Sure I've |
| learn how to know when a breeder really is a | | | | been called a puppymill and a backyard breeder by |
| backyard breeder (which is really in layman terms, an | | | | the hate mongers and by other Goldendoodle |
| inexperienced breeder or someone who really doesn't | | | | competitors who have a personal agenda. 98 percent |
| care to learn about the dogs they are breeding) or a | | | | of what has been posted in a derogatory manner, has |
| puppymill (which really in layman terms, is nothing more | | | | been posted by estranged family members who have |
| than a very bad breeder who sells their puppies to | | | | a personal ax to grind that has absolutely nothing at all |
| commercial enterprises and whom doesn't spend any | | | | to do with dogs, but since I'm the only family member |
| of the funds received on the sales, for quality dog | | | | who has a dog business who also happens to have |
| food, vet care and other necessary essentials to | | | | an internet web presence, they have made it their |
| operate their business.) | | | | business to specifically target me and maliciously post |
| There really is no such thing as a "puppymill". Let me | | | | some very outrageous, untruthful and very hurtful |
| explain why. Dogs only come into season twice a | | | | accusations and claims about me as a person and my |
| year; every six months. There is no way a female | | | | dogs/business. The truth of the matter is, anyone who |
| canine can literally "mill" puppies out…one after the | | | | has posted any type of derogatory claims that links |
| other… like one would think of a mill operation such as | | | | my name to it or my business name to it, doesn't know |
| a manufacturing plant. Such an operation would require | | | | anything about me on a personal level nor do they |
| an extensive amount of female dogs who stay | | | | know anything personally, about my business and my |
| pregnant around the clock. Dogs are physically unable | | | | dogs. I have been absolutely stunned and shocked at |
| to do this. When a breeder keeps their dogs in rows | | | | the posts I've found over the internet but at the same |
| and rows of very small cages and their dogs are bred | | | | time, I am very much aware who is behind it and know |
| every six months and they are breeding their dogs | | | | that everything they've posted has been completely |
| only to sell the produced puppies to pet stores and pet | | | | fabricated to hurt my business and stir up trouble on |
| shops around the nation, that is a commercial breeder. | | | | the internet to give my business and me, as a person, |
| Commercial breeders are generally thought of as | | | | a bad rep. It is quite unfortunate that hate groups; |
| puppymills. Where the term originated from, is anyone's | | | | some rescue groups and other Goldendoodle |
| guess. Many commercial breeders do not properly | | | | competitors have to lower themselves to such a level |
| take care of the dogs they breed. Most are not | | | | and it is even more alarming and quite disturbing when |
| registered with an affiliated kennel club. Many have | | | | your own family members sink even lower. There isn't |
| physical health problems because the commercial | | | | much that can be done, unless you are very wealthy |
| breeder doesn't use the money taken in for their | | | | or have some attorney friends, to rise above this type |
| puppy sales, to pay a vet or to buy necessary | | | | of hateful behavior other than to just blog about your |
| essentials at keeping their dogs healthy. Most | | | | experience and then move forward with your life, |
| commercial breeders don't even take the time to do | | | | leaving them behind on their trail of hate-mongering. |
| any research about the dogs they are selling. They | | | | A good breeder, regardless of breed, spends an |
| only sell the dogs because the dogs are popular on | | | | enormous amount of time with their dogs and the |
| the market. That is a bad breeder that is deemed a | | | | expenses/costs can be literally staggering. If you are |
| puppymill by those who usually are affiliated with | | | | not in love with your dogs or hobby, you will not even |
| "rescue" groups and other such entities. I am not, in any | | | | consider such a venture. There is absolutely no money |
| way…shape or form…condoning the practice of | | | | to gain and you will spend an enormous amount of |
| commercial breeders. I do not condone bad breeders | | | | your own money including what you take in from |
| whether they are commercial, hobbyist or private. I am | | | | selling your puppies and dogs. The naysayers and |
| simply explaining to the general public what the facts | | | | "rescue" agencies will have one to believe that it is |
| are regarding what the difference is …because there | | | | breeders who are the cause for the rising population |
| certainly is a difference and you, as a consumer, | | | | of animal shelters. The truth is, many animal shelters |
| should know the facts about the differences. | | | | deliberately fill them with dogs, cats, horses and other |
| What is a backyard breeder? Naysayers will call any | | | | animal types because they are a business enterprise |
| breeder a backyard breeder if they don't own a large | | | | and they make money from the animals they take in. |
| facility that looks like something out of a magazine. | | | | Whether dead or alive, shelters make a lot of money |
| The derogatory term is used because many "rescue" | | | | from the backs of animals. Their employees receive a |
| agencies or even those with an ax to grind have a | | | | weekly paycheck; they may even get a 401K; their |
| personal agenda or a personal vendetta against | | | | vehicles are purchased by the state and even their |
| whomever they are calling a "backyard" breeder. | | | | gasoline, building, dog/cat food and other supplies at |
| Many breeders can't afford a facility that looks like | | | | their shelter facility is paid for by the state and they |
| something out of a magazine. Such a facility requires | | | | may also receive community contributions and |
| hundreds of thousands of dollars to build and maintain. | | | | donations. A private/hobby breeder doesn't get any of |
| Because most (good) breeders are private breeders | | | | those things. I've never been paid for what I do; I have |
| or hobby breeders, they do not take in enough money | | | | never received a 401K and I certainly have never |
| from their business, to afford this type of facility. Of | | | | received any offers of assistance much less any |
| course it is every good breeder's dream..including my | | | | donations. Every single expense, which can literally top |
| own. I want you, the consumer, to understand what | | | | $50,000 a year, comes out of my own pocket. As |
| the difference is between a breeder who operates | | | | someone who absolutely wants their potential |
| their business from their home and of course, keep | | | | customer to learn everything they can about the dog |
| their dogs in their backyard and what a true backyard | | | | they are interested in obtaining from me, I have used |
| (technical term) breeder is, because there is a huge | | | | thousands of my own free hours to learn every |
| difference. When someone who has an ax to grind, | | | | imaginable thing about the Goldendoodle I possibly can |
| has a personal vendetta or is an "rescue" agency with | | | | so that I can turn around and provide this information to |
| a personal agenda, uses the term backyard | | | | you…the consumer…free of charge. It actually |
| breeder….they use the term loosely and not in the | | | | COSTS me money to provide FREE information to |
| true sense of what a real backyard breeder is. | | | | the internet world, at large. |
| In reality, a "backyard" breeder is simply an | | | | Whether you are seeking Goldendoodle information; |
| inexperienced breeder who has failed to understand or | | | | have an ax to grind or have a personal vendetta and |
| learn about the dogs they create. They didn't take the | | | | are only looking up my name and my business for no |
| time and perhaps may continue not to take the time, to | | | | real purpose at all, it costs ME money for YOU to find |
| research the lineage or history of the dogs they are | | | | me and to read what I write or post or blog about. But, |
| breeding; their canine may not even be registered with | | | | all of this comes from a good breeder who has good |
| an affiliated kennel club and most of the time, they fail | | | | intentions and who has dedicated many years of their |
| to use their income received from their puppy sales, | | | | own personal time helping you, the consumer or |
| for the necessary essentials for proper food, vet care | | | | non-consumer, learn something new about a most |
| and/or operating expenses. When questioned about | | | | wonderful hybrid…possibly me as a breeder and |
| the dogs they have bred, they more than likely give | | | | maybe just a hint of me as a person. I enjoy meeting |
| you, the consumer, simple answers because of their | | | | people and I certainly enjoy talking to people about the |
| failure to get deeply involved in the business they got | | | | Goldendoodle dog. I know there are tons of fabricated, |
| themselves into. A "backyard" breeder can have any | | | | worthless, untruthful claims on the internet….all over |
| number of dogs. The amount of dogs doesn't matter. | | | | the place…about the Goldendoodle, about me, about |
| Owning one pair of breeding dogs and not knowing | | | | my dogs and about my business. But there are also |
| anything about those dogs and not having any | | | | tons of supporters who own my dogs and who have |
| knowledge of the dogs' history or lineage and not | | | | taken the time to read what I write and have taken |
| spending any money on those dogs can cause this | | | | the time to get to know a little bit about me to know |
| type of breeder to be labeled a "backyard" breeder. | | | | that the stories swirling about on the internet are only |
| When I personally think of a "backyard" breeder, I think | | | | meant as a smear campaign and nothing even |
| of someone who thought it was a good idea to breed | | | | remotely close to being true. This type of behavior is |
| dogs because they thought they could make some | | | | called cyber bullying and it is very easy to tell when |
| money on the side without considering all the | | | | someone has intentionally targeted an individual |
| expenses that come with this venture. They also took | | | | breeder or individual person because they claim to |
| on this type of business without understanding the | | | | have something against "breeders" or "puppymills" or |
| huge responsibility that comes along with live animals. Is | | | | "backyard breeders" and want to "help" you, the |
| a "backyard" breeder a "bad" breeder? Let's consider | | | | consumer and yet, they only mention and post |
| the fact that they more than likely do love their dogs | | | | derogatory content that specifically targets one |
| and they, in general, provide average care to their | | | | individual. Take these type of posts and this type of |
| dogs and puppies. They believe they are doing the | | | | content with a grain of salt. The consumer must make |
| right thing by giving their puppies one set of shots and | | | | their own decision to accept what they read about a |
| maybe deworming them once or twice. But they | | | | breeder as either being the truth or just overzealous |
| forget about the important things such as researching | | | | hate mongering. A commercial and backyard breeder |
| their breeding dogs' lineage and they fail to learn about | | | | will never take the time to help you, the consumer, |
| the dogs they create to help you, the consumer, | | | | learn about the dogs they sell. They certainly would not |
| understand what it is you are buying or adding to your | | | | spend any of their own money to pay for the costs |
| family. I don't necessary believe that a "backyard" | | | | and expenses that come with doing so. My business |
| breeder (in reality an inexperienced breeder) has bad | | | | requires that I stay in debt to my electric company; |
| intentions. I just believe they should do more when it | | | | water company, veterinarian and stores where I obtain |
| comes to the business of breeding so that they can | | | | my essentials necessary to operate my business. My |
| offer important information to you, the consumer. | | | | business requires that I spend thousands of my own |
| My entire purpose for this article is to help you | | | | dollars because more goes out than what comes in. I |
| understand that hobby breeders and private breeders | | | | am affiliated with a very reputable kennel club and all |
| are not "backyard" breeders or "puppymills". I consider | | | | of my Goldendoodles are registered and they also |
| myself a private hobby breeder. I actually spent 2 | | | | have a very impressive, quite lengthy champion |
| years researching the pedigrees of my private dogs. | | | | pedigree that dates back to the early 1930s. My |
| Also when selecting my dogs, I wanted only the best | | | | Goldendoodle dogs are beautiful, intelligent, outgoing, |
| quality dog I could possibly find. Some people only buy | | | | healthy, quality dogs that would make a wonderful |
| a dog because the breeder had the parent dogs | | | | addition to virtually anyone who desires to own one. |
| tested. That in no way makes a dog a quality dog. | | | | The Goldendoodles that come from our Goldendoodle |
| There are other things to take into consideration such | | | | World are loyal dogs who are playful with other dogs |
| as personality and temperament. Since my own dogs | | | | and people. I've never sold a single dog |
| carried an impressive history of ancestors that had | | | | commercially…meaning I've never sold any of my |
| over 400 ofa good, champions that dated back to the | | | | puppies or dogs to a pet store or petshop even |
| early 1930s, there was no need for me to personally | | | | though I've been contacted by many, over the years, |
| have my breeding dogs tested. The naysayers will | | | | from those who seek them. I have always said no. I |
| claim that a breeder isn't a good breeder or is a | | | | am definitely NOT a backyard breeder even though |
| "backyard" breeder if they don't have their dogs | | | | yes, my business is ran from my home and yes, my |
| tested for every test known to dog. I disagree with this | | | | adult dogs are kept in my back yard. If that is what |
| notion completely. A "backyard" breeder is someone | | | | someone means by a backyard breeder…I will |
| who doesn't take any time at all to research the | | | | accept that definition of meaning my dogs are on my |
| history of their dogs much less the lineage to | | | | property and in my backyard. However, I am NOT a |
| understand what it is they are breeding. A "backyard" | | | | backyard breeder in the sense that these hate |
| breeder also fails to pay attention to any health issues, | | | | mongers and estranged family members use so |
| if they crop up and they continue to breed their dogs | | | | loosely and in a most, vile and vulgar derogatory |
| even if such an issue crops up. I am NOT that type of | | | | manner. I have NEVER been a puppymill and never |
| breeder. Had any of my selected dogs for my | | | | would EVER consider becoming one. Raising puppies |
| breeding program shown any type of health issue, | | | | is an enormous challenge and extremely time |
| while in my breeding program that would affect the | | | | consuming. Taking care of dogs of any age, is very |
| genetic outcome of the offspring created, I would have | | | | expensive and also time consuming. I personally spend |
| never bred them and I certainly would have removed | | | | all year long grooming and maintaining my dogs and I |
| the dog/s from my program. Any breeder who wants | | | | personally work with my puppies and dogs around the |
| to remain in their chosen field of business for the long | | | | clock at different times of the day, seven days a |
| haul will have common sense to do exactly what I just | | | | week. My last brief vacation was in 2009 and only for |
| stated up above. I began my breeding business in 1996. | | | | four days. Prior to that, my last "vacation" was in 2004. |
| When I began my Goldendoodle breeding program in | | | | Being a breeder requires a very large responsibility and |
| 1999, I didn't even know any other breeder was | | | | I understood that responsibility at the time I decided to |
| intentionally pairing a Poodle with a Golden Retriever. | | | | chose to become a breeder. Consider the fact that a |
| Before I even considered pairing these two unlikely | | | | good parent has to understand the huge responsibility |
| breeds together, I discussed this venture at great | | | | of raising a child…even though they can't possibly |
| length, with quite a few people. These people included | | | | know what challenges really lay ahead of them down |
| my personal vet, many Poodle breeders, many Golden | | | | the road. 98 percent of all humans who chose to |
| Retriever breeders and even my own family | | | | become pregnant, never consider to have themselves |
| members. I was a purebred Golden Retriever | | | | "tested" prior to conception. A child is certainly more |
| enthusiast whom like many purebred enthusiasts, | | | | costly and time consuming than an animal. So my |
| would have never considered mixing their Golden | | | | question to the naysayers that a breeder should have |
| Retrievers (or any other purebred dog) with anything | | | | their breeding dogs tested prior to breeding them is |
| other than another Golden Retriever. My personal | | | | why are you saying that a breeder is a "bad" breeder |
| reasons was because I had allergies and at the time, I | | | | for NOT having their dogs tested when they certainly |
| had a very dear poodle/golden retriever spayed mix | | | | have children and never had themselves tested for |
| that I had brought to my home from my mother's | | | | anything. What kind of parent does that make them? |
| home (the dog had been abandoned by a family | | | | There are thousands, possibly millions of children who |
| member and my mother didn't want it) who shed so | | | | suffer from physical and mental disabilities that might |
| much less than my purebred Golden Retrievers. She | | | | have been prevented had the parents been tested |
| was a beautiful shaggy dog that had eyes that | | | | prior to conception. And, by all means, please do not |
| sparkled of intelligence. Three years after I obtained | | | | take offense to the above statement. I worked, when |
| her, she went into renal failure (she was 9 years old) | | | | younger, with challenged children and my heart would |
| and my vet unfortunately had to put her to sleep. That | | | | swell from the love I received on a daily basis from the |
| was a very difficult decision and one that I agonized | | | | children I helped work with as a nursing assistant in a |
| over. To this day, I have her ashes kept in an urn with | | | | facility where many parents just dumped them. How |
| her photo next to the urn, inside my curio. She is still | | | | many millions of children are abused, mentally and |
| sadly and very deeply missed. One of my breeder | | | | physically neglected; killed, molested and treated |
| friends was a Poodle enthusiast. I would off and on go | | | | horrifically by their own parents who should have |
| over and help her shave her dogs down or just go | | | | never become parents in the first place? Who should |
| over and spend some time with her and her Poodles. | | | | have received counseling prior to conception or |
| Every time I saw the face of her Poodles…several in | | | | testing? There are millions of abandoned children left in |
| particular…I thought of how much I missed the Poodle | | | | facilities with terrible conditions. There are millions of |
| mix I had lost. Jokingly, we discussed the possibility of | | | | children who are raised in horrible conditions. It is rare |
| pairing her Poodles to my Golden Retrievers and we'd | | | | that people speak out about the injustice and suffering |
| joke around about what we would call them. After | | | | of children at the hands of their parents, but too many |
| great consideration and time had passed, I decided to | | | | will focus their attention on animals. I am an avid animal |
| purchase a couple of her Poodles and my | | | | lover. I love all dogs….all cats…all animals…no matter |
| Goldendoodle breeding program began. In the beginning, | | | | what they are. I just feel sometimes, there are people |
| I called these beautiful Poodle/Golden Retriever mixed | | | | who have their priorities mixed up and require higher |
| dogs, curly Goldens. I never would have considered | | | | expectations of a breeder when they, themselves, |
| calling them "Goldendoodle" . Why? Because if you | | | | didn't require specific things about themselves. We as |
| were to put "Golden" with "Poodle" you would get | | | | human beings can only do so much to prevent genetic |
| "Groodle" or "Golden Poo"...perhaps "Goldipoo". None of | | | | diseases in animals. We still can not prevent many |
| those choices seemed likely, so I simply called them | | | | genetic diseases in ourselves, but there will be many |
| "curly Goldens". When my first litter was born, a | | | | people who require this of a breeder when that isn't |
| customer came to purchase a puppy and brought with | | | | possible. It is a known fact that many vets who are |
| him a print out from some breeders in Australia. They | | | | breeders, can't even prevent offspring from their own |
| deliberately bred the "Goldendoodle". I wasn't really | | | | dogs from coming down with a genetic health issue |
| keen on the idea, in the beginning, of this | | | | even though they have thousands of dollars in |
| name…Goldendoodle…. But after some time, I | | | | equipment and knowledge right at the tip of their |
| decided that this was a far "on board" I was going to | | | | fingertips. Some of the dogs they created came down |
| jump. | | | | with hip dysplasia or other serious health |
| When I began my Goldendoodle breeding program, | | | | issues…why? They had all that equipment and |
| there wasn't any information to assist me one way or | | | | yet…it still happened. The reason is because we good |
| another, in learning about this mixture. Hence, why I | | | | breeders, vets and parents can only do so much. |
| began to write about this beautiful, intelligent, heavenly | | | | To know more about our Goldendoodles, just visit our |
| hybrid. In 1999, I was the only breeder for the entire | | | | website at where we have quite a bit of photos, |
| southern region of the United States who was pairing | | | | videos as well as other doodle information you may |
| a Golden Retriever and a Poodle together, deliberately. | | | | be interested in. |