Here we tackle some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about
Golden Mountain Doodles and Carrier Family Doodles
Are Golden Mountain Doodles hypoallergenic?
This breed IS considered a hypoallergenic breed. However, there is no such thing as a fully hypoallergenic dog, as people can also be allergic to dog saliva or urine, etc. For those with mild to medium pet allergies, Doodles make a wonderful addition to the family, as they are usually low-shed to no-shed. For a person with severe allergies, a curly coat may be a better option. If you have concerns, we suggest that you get further allergy testing done as well as take some time to interact with doodles and their humans in your area before purchasing a puppy.
What is known as a “Furnished” Doodle will have the characteristic brows and bearded look (and are considered non-shedding and hypo-allergenic), whereas an “Unfurnished” Doodle will typically have straighter/shorter facial fur. This is called a “flat coat” or an “improper coat” and will usually NOT be a fully non-shedding dog (although shedding will likely be considerably less than other breeds such as the Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog). This occurs in a small percentage of Golden Mountain Doodle puppies because of the cross-breeding of the Goldendoodle and the Bernedoodle. We try to note on individual puppy descriptions the ones we suspect are “Unfurnished,” although an accurate assessment is often difficult before 6 weeks. Even then, we have heard reports of dogs that were labeled as “unfurnished” gradually becoming more bearded, particularly as the puppy coat is shed and replaced with an adult coat.
What are Golden Mountain Doodle coat types?
Every Golden Mountain Doodle is different, depending on the genetics of the parents and how they have been bred. Coats fall into three main categories: Curly, Wavy, and Straight. The appearance of our dogs is greatly affected by how short the coats are and how recently they have been groomed. Be sure to consider this when looking at the pictures. Also note that a straight coat is not an indication of an unfurnished dog and does not mean that the dog will shed more.
Curly coat – The curly coat will shed the least and is the most hypoallergenic of the three types. The curls on this coat are usually tight with a soft texture much like what you would see on a Poodle. Curly coats should be brushed daily and trimmed frequently. The curly coated Doodle is usually the most suitable for owners who have an allergy to dog dander.
Wavy coat – The wavy coat is low-to non-shedding, and is probably the coat most seen on Golden Mountain Doodles. This coat is very free-flowing, with a lightly kinked or wavy appearance. Most people with allergies to dog dander are fine with a wavy-coated dog.
Straight coat – The straight coats don’t necessarily shed more than other coat types, and a straight coat on a furnished dog is still considered hypoallergenic. Even though this coat is called “straight,” it may actually have a slight wave to it. The length of the dog’s straight hair depends mostly on the length of the parent’s hair.
Some puppies are furnished (with the classic “bearded” Doodle look) with one of the coat types above, and others are unfurnished (with a smooth nose/chin area–more of a Golden Retriever look, since that is part of the genetic mix). Unfurnished Doodles are often referred to as having a “flat coat,” but even an unfurnished Doodle may have some wave to its coat. Unfurnished dogs are not considered hypo-allergenic and non-shedding and therefore are not recommended if allergies are a significant concern. However, an unfurnished Golden Mountain Doodle will typically shed less than the Golden Retriever or Bernese Mountain Dog that are in their lineage and so are a preferred option for those who like the look of these classic breeds but want a lower-shedding option.
Groomed versus Ungroomed
Keep in mind, if you select a potential parent for your ideal puppy, the adult dog’s appearance is greatly affected by how they are groomed. The pictures here are given as examples of the same dog, in groomed versus ungroomed conditions. Each of our dogs is treated differently, depending on coat type, dog personality, personal preference, and even weather.
What are grooming requirements for Golden Mountain Doodles?
Golden Mountain Doodles have hair, not fur. They require regular brushing (2-3 times per week) with a specialized dog brush to keep them free from matting. From the time they are puppies, it is a good idea to brush your dog’s hair every day to get them used to regular grooming. If you choose to clip your dog’s hair, this can be done every 8-12 weeks or according to your preference and the dog’s activity level and needs. Most furnished Doodles will typically require a “hygienic trim” between grooming appointments to keep face, paws, and backside clean. You can easily learn to do this yourself to keep professional grooming to a minimum.
A curly-coated dog may require professional grooming; once matted, they may need to be shaved to prevent further issues.
What will my puppy look like as an adult dog?
Of course, the size of your dog will depend on the size of its parents. Most of our puppy parents are Mini in size, with the exception of our Bernedoodle sire, Buster, who is medium (50 lbs). Mini Doodles typically stand between 17 and 22 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 25 to 45 pounds, with most of them weighing 35-45 lbs. Females tend to be smaller than males.
Between 6 and 12 months, the “puppy coat” naturally changes. It usually becomes coarser, and if it had been straight it may become wavy. A wavy puppy coat oftentimes becomes curlier. A puppy that had not really required any grooming prior to the coat change may suddenly need regular, aggressive brushing with a different style comb or brush to prevent matting. If you have not been regularly brushing your puppy prior to this point, they are now of a size and disposition when they may actively resist grooming. It is important to know about, and anticipate, the changes that will occur when the puppy coat is shed.
Also, some owners who had purchased a Doodle because of its “non-shedding” label will be concerned during this transitional time. (“What happened?” “Is this permanent?”) It may be inconvenient or could create temporary concerns if allergies are an issue, but it is definitely temporary.
We love getting updates about our puppies after they’ve settled into their forever homes, and beyond! We do have some photos of our puppies at older ages, such as the sampling above (each one, approx. 5-6 weeks, and approx. 5 months). We do have some at one-year-plus. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in seeing grown up photos of previous puppies.
Why does my puppy have a pink nose?
All Golden Mountain Doodles are born with pink noses. They become black within the first 8 weeks or so, although there is the occasional dog that never gets a fully black nose.
How does the puppy selection process work?
If you are interested in purchasing a Golden Mountain Doodle, we invite you to sign up for notifications of new litters here. Keep in mind that as interest grows, you may not be first in line to select a puppy. We DO NOT maintain a waiting list. Instead, we begin advertising new litters as early as 3-5 days after birth. We try to take a group photo within a week, and then individual photos at approximately 3 weeks, and weekly thereafter. The ideal time for you to take your puppy home is 8 weeks.
We open new litters for reservation/deposit at approximately 4-5 weeks, when furnishings can be determined with some confidence and when puppy appearance and personality are better developed. You can make an appointment to come see the puppies in person before putting down a deposit. Alternatively, we enjoy answering your questions and providing photos and/or videos via email, text, WhatsApp, or FB Messenger. We can arrange real-time video calls via WhatsApp, Messenger, or Google Hangouts. (Sorry, Face Time is not an option.)
What should I feed my puppy?
We feed our puppies a combination of Purina Puppy Chow and Black Gold Explorer. (Black Gold is preferred because of quality, but it is expensive and not widely available, unless you have a local distributor. Thus, we mix that with the readily-available Puppy Chow that you may choose to use when bringing your puppy home.) Every puppy comes home with a quart-sized starter bag of our puppy food. If you want to use another brand of food, you can use the starter bag to mix slowly with your preferred food until your puppy has transitioned completely. Please be aware that “tummy problems” are common during this transition and going slow is a must. Pure puree mixed with food at a rate of 1 tablespoon per cup of food can help, as can a puppy probiotic. However, within a couple weeks you should see an improvement in any problems that you may experience. Our puppies are on “auto feed” and can eat as much as they would like, as often as they like. However, when you welcome a Carrier Family Doodles puppy into your home, you will probably want to feed them 3 times per day, an average of 1 cup of food per feeding; adjust if your puppy eats less, and offer more if they eat quickly and still seem hungry.
Will my puppy receive vaccinations and de-worming before I bring him home?
Our puppies are typically de-wormed 3 times before they go home (e.g. at 3, 5, and 7 weeks) and have their first set of vaccinations at 4 and 6 weeks. The next set of shots will then need to be done when the puppy is around 9-10 weeks weeks of age. If your puppy comes home at 8 weeks, we recommend you see a vet for an initial checkup and have them decide when the follow-up vaccines should be done. It is important to keep your puppy on schedule for their vaccinations. We include a Shot Record in the paperwork so your vet can see the shots we gave your puppy.
What will I get when I get a Carrier Family Doodle?
Your puppy comes home with a gift bag full of everything you need!
- stainless steel dog dish
- play and chew toys
- brush
- collar and leash
- starter bag of dog food
- puppy-print fleece blanket
What is the cost of a Carrier Family Doodle?
Our prices vary and depend upon puppy size, color, age, and coat type. Each puppy’s price is listed on the Current Litters page. A single-color puppy is typically in the $1500 range; two-color, $1750-2500; tri-color, $2500-$3000. Unfurnished puppies are always priced less than their furnished counterparts.
Where is Carrier Family Doodles located, and how can I get my puppy home?
Carrier Family Doodles is located in New Concord, KY. You are welcome to visit us any time, just give us a call at 765.318.1123 to arrange a day and time. You can visit when it’s time for you to select a puppy, or you can pick up at our location on your designated adoption day. We can also arrange delivery for you if pickup is inconvenient (please see our policies page for options and fees).
How does the Carrier Family Doodles puppy giveaway work?
We know many people who would love a Golden Mountain Doodle for a special purpose: as an emotional support animal for an elderly loved one or a special needs child, or to provide an anchor for a family in transition. Yet not everyone can afford it.
We are Christians who believe in giving back from what God has blessed us with. For this reason, we offer one free “giveaway Doodle” out of every 10 that are born. This giveaway does come with certain terms and conditions, so if you are interested, please visit our giveaway page!
What about puppy potty training?
Because Carrier Family Doodles’ puppies are home-raised, we are just as concerned about puppy potty training as you are! We put an Astro-turf mat and waterproof underpad in our puppy play areas beginning at about 3 weeks. They often gravitate towards it naturally. If not, we use a training spray to encourage puppies to go in the proper place. Puppies acclimate to the use of a particular texture and surface for potty and tend to prefer it, and we have found that astro-turf most closely mimics the natural grass where they will eventually go in the great outdoors. Thus, it is an ideal training tool for easier potty training as the puppy ages.
Our puppies do not go outside until they go to their forever homes. They are regularly de-wormed and up-to-date on vaccinations. We are very careful about their environment and its cleanliness. Even so, common intestinal issues like giardia are easily transmitted from the outside environment and can even be brought in on Mama’s feet. We like to be as careful as possible while the puppies are small and their immune systems are not yet as strong and fully developed as they will be later. While older dogs may not show any symptoms or effects from giardia exposure, puppies are more susceptible and therefore, we keep them indoors until they leave our home.
By many reports of our happy customers, our puppies go home “nearly potty trained!” Of course, it depends on the individual puppy and upon your own consistency in bringing them outside when they display elimination cues (shortly after eating, after waking up, and if sniffing around looking for a “spot.”) Many owners are proactive in simply bringing their puppies outside on a timed schedule. Some people like to train their puppies to scratch on the door when going outside, others train to ring a bell. Some puppies will naturally whine or bark if they want to to outside to use the bathroom. We give our puppies the best possible start so that the puppy potty training process is easier for you!