The recommended and listed breeders share certain likeminded philosophies in breeding and client relationships. All site recommended breeders agree to the following criteria:

• all dogs are raised in an environment which meets both their physical and emotional needs, and are regularly vetted.

• all breeding dogs used are health tested with scores that the OVC, OFA or PennHIP suggest as being viable for breeding. More testing in encouraged (CERF, heart, thyroid, vWd, etc.)

• a minimum of a 2 year health warranty covering genetic defects including HD (mild, moderate and severe). The warranty should offer some financial compensation, preferably a 100% refund or Vet bills up to the price of the pup. As genetic defects are not contingent upon food supplements, neither should the warranty be (although their use can certainly be encouraged). The warranty should not be contingent upon the return of the original pup.

• a reputation for treating people professionally and with courtesy in person, in correspondence and on forums, and fairly if a dispute between the owner and breeder should arise.

• a willingness to discuss their breeding program with candor and to present pedigrees and copies of health tests upon request.

All of the above criteria are set out with the understanding that regardless of health testing, every kennel, if it breeds long enough, will certainly see some birth defects. Testing is simply the best method currently available to reduce the incidence of defects, not eliminate them.

The site is a community and breeder listings will be based on the betterment of the site as a whole, at the discretion of the site administrators. Our goal is to find a small variety of good breeders in each state and province so that no one has to look too far or wait too long to adopt a pup. Once there are enough breeders in a state or province to meet demand, no new breeders are added and requests to list are turned away. The only time a new breeder would be added, is if that breeder worked with and was recommended by another site breeder within their state.

Although the listed breeders vary in how they run their kennels, they can all be relied upon to provide healthy pups. Many of the site breeders benefit from shared working relationships with one another.

Decorum in all things. The forums are a useful tool for providing and gaining information and aught not be used to gossip or to malign others. Disputes are expected to be resolved professionally and privately.

1) Gathering Feedback - After all the above criteria are agreed upon, the breeders name is added to a list of Recommended Newer Breeders. This list is emailed to all who inquire about additional breeders and is linked online to the owners forum for prospective owners to access. As well, recommended breeders are welcome to post litters and are invited to get to know the owners in the owners forum, the Doodle Forum. During this time, feedback regarding the breeder, kennel and pups are accumulated.

2) If the feedback is great and they are determined to be an asset to the Goldendoodle website community, then the breeder is asked if they would care to join the site list. The fee for listing on the site is $650 Canadian* per year. Breeders with one to three litters a year are offered a fee of $325 Canadian*.

If the breeder decides not to list, the kennel name is simply removed from the mailing list. If anyone writes to ask specifically about that kennel, they would be forwarded the same good feedback the site had received.

• Breeders' Page table listing tests (with links to pages discussing tests), and popup pages for each kennel. http://www.goldendoodles.com/breeders.htm

• Working Doods - Showcase for dogs donated to service groups http://www.goldendoodles.com/workingdoods.htm

If you share in the philosophies of Goldendoodles.com and are interested in joining the Breeders List, please contact Blue@goldendoodles.com