We are proud to share that we are increasing the level of testing on all of our Doodles of NC breeding moms and dads! As you all know, we stand behind the lineage and health of all of our home-raised puppies. However, we want to maintain the high level of quality of the dogs we are breeding, so by increasing testing, heritage won’t be the only thing we are relying on.

In addition to the PennHip scores, which are official at 6 months of age, we are adding the OFA Hip & Elbow Preliminary screening which is completed around a year old. OFA Hip & Elbow Testing will also be completed at 24 months of age.

What is OFA Hip & Elbow Testing?

The OFA Hip & Elbow Testing is a non-invasive screening. It requires radiographs to be taken by the veterinarian and submitted to The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to review. And, the OFA assigns one of seven categories to the describe the joints: Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate, Severe.

(Look at those cute hips & elbows!)

Why focus on the hips & elbows?

Hip and elbow dysplasia is a complicated, multifactorial disease. Defined as a looseness in the joint, dysplasia causes the junction of two bones to wobble and be unstable. For instance, in the ball and socket of the hip joint (where the head of the femur and the acetabulum, or pelvis, join together) the socket needs to be deep enough to cover the ball without it slipping around. A shallow socket causes instability. This instability leads to bone-on-bone rubbing and intense pain. The friction of bone-on-bone rubbing erodes away the cartilage once cushioning the joint and leads to arthritis, or inflammation of the joint.

By testing our breeding males & females, and only using those in our line that receive top categories, we significantly decrease the chance of Doodles of NC puppies developing hip and/or elbow dysplasia.

(Yes we know this X-ray isn't of hips & elbows, but look how many precious goldendoodle puppies are in our sweet Lucy's belly!!)

Other Factors Affecting Hip & Elbow Formation

Studies do show that heritage is not the only cause for developing hip and/or elbow dysplasia.

For several weeks after birth, puppies must be provided good surfaces during development for hip and socket formation. For this reason, we use dura whelp pads which provide traction and solid surfaces.

And, in addition to verifying a puppy’s parents are OFA certified, you will still need to keep your dog at an ideal weight; use portion control and moderate exercise, and feed large breed puppy food to your golden doodle puppy. We recommend Fromm Puppy Food with an explanation as to why here.

With the increased cost associated with OAF Hip & Elbow Testing, puppies being sent home starting January 2020 will be $2500. Since large breeds are more susceptible to various forms of dysplasia, we believe the added level of security on your future puppy’s long term health (and comfort) is well worth the slight increase price upfront that could save thousands in veterinary bills in the future!

Please reach out with any questions on the OFA Hip & Elbow Testing, or any other questions related to goldendoodles. As you know, we are here for you all for the life of your pet and welcome any questions or concerns!

Happy doodling!

Recent studies have shown a new trend of large breed dogs having cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the cardiac walls) that is not typically seen in dogs. The cause is still being determined, and it is NOT 100% substantiated, but one of the theories is people feeding their dogs a grain free diet.

With golden doodles being part golden retriever (a large dog breed) our reproductive vet, Dr. Jernigan at The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt (shameless plug because he is amazing!) brought this new research to our attention. We felt it was in our best interest, as responsible breeders, to complete our own research and determine any proactive steps we could take to set our Doodles of NC line up for continued impeccable health.

What causes cardiomyopathy in dogs?

The leading theory in the cause for cardiomyopathy is people feeding their dogs a grain free diet. Believe it or not, nearly EVERY brand available is now grain free.

We have always believed in the importance of feeding good, quality food, which is why we used to feed Acana. However, like many other brands, Acana removed all grains from their ingredients list leaving their carbohydrates to be gleaned from sweet potatoes and rice.

Benefits of Fromm Gold Dog Food

After much research, we landed on feeding our line of golden doodles Fromm Gold Puppy and Fromm Gold Adult for several reasons.

Fromm pulls from a variety of protein sourcesFromm uses whole barleyFromm adds taurine (which is important in cardiac health)ALL ingredients are sourced from the USALL mineral and vitamins come from EuropeFromm is produced and packaged in the Midwest, in their own manufacturing plants

Overall, we are very thankful that Dr. Jernagen brought this to our attention and wanted to pass this along to all of you, our wonderful Doodles of NC families!

Whether you decide to switch to Fromm Gold Puppy/From Gold Adult, or not, we hope that sharing the decision we made, after extensive research, will help you make an informed decision for your own fur baby.

If you’d like to complete your own due diligence, here are a few resources we found helpful:

Purchasing Fromm Gold Online

We’ve added links to both Fromm Gold Puppy and Fromm Gold Adult to our Amazon store. We hope this helps locating the exact brand and variety easy for everyone.

Fromm Gold Nutritionals Puppy Dry Dog Food

Family Foods 727552

33 Lb

(1 Pack), One Size

Fromm Gold Nutritionals Adult Dry Dog Food

Family Foods

33 Lb

(1 Pack), One Size

Feel free to reach out with any questions (related to dog food or any other dog topic!) as we are here for you all for the life of your pet!

Freedom, liberty, independence. All worthy of celebration! But, here’s a surprising fact - more dogs run away on July 4th than any other day of the year. All because of fireworks!

So, how can you keep your dog safe this July 4th?

With enough time, you can recondition your dog to associate the loud booms to a pleasurable action. By playing the recording of firework sounds repeatedly before going outside, meals, or even snuggle/playtime, your dog can learn to look forward to what follows fireworks.

Some canine behavioral experts, like Cesar, recommend playing the recorded sound of fireworks for your dog at an increasingly louder volume for three or four months.

Since we are only a few days out from July 4th, let’s keep that approach in mind for next year. There are still some ways to help your dog prepare for this year’s festivities.

1) Location.

If your house backs up to the city’s display of fireworks, perhaps relocate your dog for the holiday - a friend or family member’s house, or even a doggie day care. Just be sure to acclimate your dog to the new location a few times leading up to the day.

2) Security.

When removing your dog from within earshot of fireworks just isn’t feasible (keep in mind dogs hear noises 4x the distance of humans!) then provide a small, safe place for them to hunker down. For many, this may be their crate with their favorite toys away from windows. For others, this may also involve the use of a “Thundershirt.”

Contrary to popular use, Thundershirts should be placed on your dog prior to them showing the emotional triggers of stress like heaving panting and pacing. Thundershirts should keep them from getting anxious, but can have a tough time calming down an already stressed out dog.

Here is one of our top picks you can order from the Doodles of NC Amazon Store.

3) Background noise.

If your dog is used to noise around the house (think TV, music, kids, etc.) then packing up and heading out to a July 4th party leaving them all alone in a quiet house can be a recipe for disaster. In addition to creating a secure space for them, put on some background noise to entertain their mind.

4) Exercise.

Take your pup out for a long walk/run, or go throw the frisbee. Do anything in your power to help them relieve extra energy that afternoon. Your dog is much more likely to be relaxed that evening if they are exhausted from the day's events.

5) Remain Calm.

Pass along the message through your tone and body language that everything is just fine. Showing anxious, worried thoughts on your face and through your voice communicates a high energy to dogs. If you make a big deal out of the fireworks, then they are going to pick up on those cues and become concerned along with you.

This can be a tricky balance if you have young ones at home. Your excitement to show your kiddos the fireworks, can rub off the wrong way on your dog. So, keep that in mind and perhaps attend a local viewing of the fireworks elsewhere in the city.

We hope these 5 tips will help you manage your dog’s stress this fireworks season, but more importantly keep your dog safe! Feel free to message us with any additional questions as we are here for you for the life of your pet.

Known for their hypo-allergenic fur, the Goldendoodle’s coat is why many seek after the breed. But, hypo-allergenic & non-shedding doesn’t always mean low maintenance.

When left unattended, a Goldendoodle’s undercoat can get matted and painful for your pet. Every dog loses their puppy fur to grow in their adult coat. For Goldendoodle puppies, this poses a challenge.

If not brushed frequently, the puppy’s non-shedding fur gets matted in with the adult fur at the follicle, causing discomfort, which translates into excessive scratching. A quick solution to this is using a slick brush a few times a week.

Here is one of our favorites.

All of our Doodles of NC puppies are brushed from just a few weeks old so they grow fond of the one-on-one bonding time. Who doesn’t love a back scratch - right?!

If your doodle’s coat becomes fluffy after brushing, a simple water - or children’s detangler - spritz & pat brings those coils right on back!

Bath time!

In addition to brushing, our puppies learn to love bath time.

Using a tear-free or mild dog shampoo allows you to bathe your doodle as frequently as every week without drying out their fur.

Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo is our all-time top pick. -

Be sure to keep the insides of their ears dry while bathing! Dogs, in general, have sensitive ears. If their ears start emitting a strong odor, or your dog scratches their ears and whines, we recommend a trip to the vet to check for an infection.

Mini goldendoodles can easily be bathed in the kitchen sink. For larger Goldendoodles a walk-in shower or bath tub with a shower wand works beautifully. Lather twice and rinse thoroughly! Then towel dry and brush the coat.

To speed up the drying process, a hair dryer on a low, cool setting, can speed up the process.

Trips to the Groomers

A goldendoodle's fur grows quite rapidly. We encourage a few trips to the groomers a year to help trim up their coat (especially around their eyes) to help minimize madding of the fur and healthy coat growth.

And, one last tip!

Let’s face it, pollen can irritate even the strongest of eyes! If your Goldendoodle ends up with the pink/orange tear eyeliner, use an alcohol-free makeup remover wipe. It is gentle enough for their delicate skin, but also smells super clean and fresh.

We hope these tips & tricks help you keep your Goldendoodle cute, clean, and comfortable.

And, feel free to reach out to us with any other questions you have on providing the proper care for your Goldendoodle.

About the size of a watermelon, but a whole LOT lighter!

Those of you who have been following Doodles of NC's growth for a few years may remember that we diversified our breeding to include mini goldendoodles in 2017.

How do you breed a mini goldendoodle?

Contrary to popular belief, mini goldendoodles are not the "runt" of litters. When you breed a medium-sized Goldendoodle with a miniature poodle, the puppies are coined the breed "mini goldendoodle."

Adult weight of our Doodle of NC mini goldendoodles range from 10 - 15 pounds. However, we do have one handsome, adult mini weighing in at 22 lbs.

Our current mini goldendoodle mom is Genevieve (affectionately called "Ginny"). She is a beautiful red, F1 Medium Goldendoodle (right).

Ginny got the best of both breeds from her parents - a golden retriever and a miniature poodle. She is incredibly sweet and snuggly, yet attentive and bright. Her coat resembles more of a golden retriever's in appearance with straighter fur. Yet, her shedding is minimal!

Ginny and our miniature poodle stud, Duncan, have created some incredibly precious mini Goldendoodles! Just look at these sweet faces!

In 2019, Marley and Gracie will join our breeding line of mini-Goldendoodles. These two future mamas are near and dear to our hearts as they will continue the breeding line of our original Doodle Mama - Bella!

Benefits of a mini-goldendoodle

Many reasons exist for clients selecting the smaller, mini Goldendoodles over medium Goldendoodes. But, the top three reasons we hear on a regular basis are:

more conducive to apartment / city livingrequire minimal exposure to outdoor activityease of travel (think puppy purse!)

Other benefits of Goldendoodles

Whether you choose a mini or medium Goldendoodle, you will always enjoy the breed's benefits of:

hypoallergenic fur = low maintenancehigh intelligence = easy to traingreat with children = family doggreat with other pets = you can keep your cat(!)affectionate "snugglers" = portable foot warmer

We are happy to help you decide which breed is right for you! Either fill out our application or give us a call (919) 943-6112 to start the conversation.

While reflecting on 2017, we picked up on an undeniable trend in blog topics you all found most exciting to read. Here are the top 5 Doodles of NC blogs from 2017.

Can you pick up on your common favorite themes?

When you're in the market for a Goldendoodle Puppy, doing your due diligence is super importance. Will a Goldendoodle be the best fit breed for your family's lifestyle? Questions about price, size and disposition help determine the fit of the breed. And, then questions regarding the care of our puppies from prenatal care to the arms of their forever family help determine the quality of the breeder.

Interestingly enough, this post was a continuation of #5 on the list! It talks about the timing of getting a goldendoodle puppy and our master waiting list. Since predicting the number of puppies each doodle mama will have is sporadic at best (one of our mamas had a smaller litter than anticipated last year), we've created a waiting list. When your name comes to the top of the list, we let you know what colors and genders of puppies are available and invite you out to select your puppy or wait for the next litter.

Since Doodles of NC breeds both medium and mini Goldendoodles, we have two separate master waiting lists to help serve our families better.

Over the summer, we introduced you all to Lucy and Chloe! These precious moms have now started breeding with Chloe delivering her first litter on December 8th! She is a wonderful mommy and loves snuggling with her pups. We are anticipating a litter from Lucy late Spring or early Summer.

Similar to #3, this blog introduced us all to a new Doodles of NC mama. Sharing Kuechly's birth stories of her first litter of 8 perfect, medium goldendoodle puppies was a highlight of my year. Being a puppy nursemaid is such a gift!

And, drum roll please...

Thousands of visitors have come to our site looking for the answer to this question. We broke the answer down into the sizes of the doodle (mini, medium, standard), age, and disposition. If you haven't had a chance yet, we would highly recommend the post as a check point on the healthy lifestyle you are providing for your pup.

After completing this review of your top picks for 2017, we're steering this year's blogs in two directions:

Proper Care of GoldendoodlesPuppies, puppies & more puppies!

Thanks for joining us on this wonderful ride of creating opportunities for family bonding with each puppy born into our nursery. We hope you enjoy the view!

If you have any specific topics you would like us to cover this year, please add a comment below or reach out on our Contact Us page!

Nearly every child, at one point in their life, answers the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with....a puppy!!

But, how many kids actually get to open a surprise puppy Christmas morning?

Well, this was an extra special year for us as Goldendoodle breeders. Bella, the original Doodles of NC mamma, celebrated Christmas with a retirement litter. Bella started our passion for spreading joy to families all around the country in the form of four precious paws, just a few years ago. And, this year six sweet families got to fulfill those childhood dreams.

Take a look at the sheer joy that spreads across their faces as Gunner's new "siblings" unwrap him Christmas morning.