Questions and Answers
When I was searching for my bernedoodle, these are some of the questions I had:
I see pictures of my puppy and her nose is still pink. Will it turn black?
Yes, your puppy's nose will turn black and if you look closely it is likely already doing so. Starts out as small dots.
I've seen some pictures of doodles and their hair is straight. How will I know if my puppy's hair will be straight?
This is one of the reasons I bred my puppies to be multigenerational. They are not first generation and will not have straight hair. Their hair will range from slightly curly to wavy.
Will my puppy shed?
The hair on our puppies is considered non-shedding, at least as much as we as humans are considered non-shedding. I know with my 2nd generation goldendoodle, I will sometimes see a clump of his hair that is almost like a dust bunny. But no globs of hair on my couch or clothes! Yay!
Why is my puppy's coat changing?
The transition from a puppy coat to an adult one can come as a bit of a shock to novice owners and newbie pet parents. You may be happy with your puppy’s super beautiful, low-shed, vibrant hair…. and then suddenly, everything changes. This happens with every breed, but the transition is less noticeable with multigen bernedoodles. This “blowing of the puppy coat” tends to happen anywhere between 4 and 8 months, although it could take as long as two years. Some breeders choose not to mention it for fear of putting off prospective buyers, but it is completely normal and it doesn't mean your puppy as an adult will be a shedder.
Will my puppy be hypoallergenic? As much as I'd like to say a solid, "Yes", I can't. Some breeders boldly list that their doodles are hypoallergenic, but the truth is that relative to other dogs, doodles are considered allergen-friendly, not hypoallergenic. Because of their low to non-shedding coats they are less likely to cause allergies in people allergic to dander. However, if a person is allergic to dog saliva, all dogs have saliva and I would recommend they get a pet snake. :)
How much grooming will my puppy need?
Ideally, daily brushing for less than 5 minutes will keep the job from becoming overwhelming. I like to have my dogs' hair cut every 8 weeks or so. But, that can get pricey with two, so I've found some tools I love and I now groom on my own. Everybody's happy!
A good rule of thumb with dogs is that with a low-shedding coat, you have to spend more time on brushing; with a high shedding one that time will be spent cleaning hair up off the floor or your clothes.
Why can't I know for sure how big my puppy will get as an adult?
The best we can do is take a look at mom and dad and estimate on the size of your puppy as an adult. Kind of like our own kids...it's a bit of a guessing game, but taking a look at parents and puppy size certainly helps.
Will my puppy grow up to have that "doodle" look (bushy eyebrows and beard)? Yes, unless you choose to groom it off. These puppies are considered "furnished" and will have the "doodle" look. Many refer to the multigenerational bernedoodle as the teddy bear doodle.
When should I first take my puppy to the groomer?
Your puppy will have a puppy coat until at least 6 months of age. At 6 months, it's a good idea to take him/her in for that first clipping. I like to go shorter during hot months and leave the hair longer during the winter.
Puppy Vaccines
At 8 weeks old, while still with the breeder, your puppy will receive the first of a series of three DHPP vaccines (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza). At 12 and 16 weeks your puppy should receive the second and third vaccines. If you take your puppy to a groomer or attend any dog parks, bordetella will likely be offered at 12 weeks. Rabies vaccines are typically given at 16 weeks. Depending upon where you live and what the risks are in your area, your vet may advise more vaccines.