Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find a variety of information about our dogs, protocols, coat types, general questions, you name it. We'll frequently add to this section as needed.
How big will my dog get?
Currently, we only breed standard sized Poodles and Goldendoodles. We expect our puppies to mature to approximately 18-25" to the shoulder and weigh between 35-65Â pounds. When breeding crosses such as Goldendoodles, hybrid vigor can create considerably larger dogs. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the size of our dogs, but will offer our best educated guess.
Is my puppy hypoallergenic?
This is a term that has really come into the spotlight with the popularity of Doodles but is unfortunately misleading (source). Hypoallergenic simply means the dog affects allergies LESS or is only "slightly allergenic" (Mayo Clinic article here), certain breeds have been known to cause fewer allergy symptoms-Poodles and Goldendoodles among them. We've placed puppies in homes with allergies successfully, but that doesn't mean it's going to work out in every situation.
We encourage puppy families to choose a puppy with two copies of the furnishing gene and two copies of curl--these are two genes that have been linked to reducing the allergic response.
We're more than willing to send you a fur sample from our dogs to test your family's reaction. Feel free to get in touch with us for more information.
Will my puppy shed?
Probably our most asked question is whether your new puppy will shed. In short? Yes, all dogs with fur of any sort will shed to varying degrees. Our Poodles and later generations of Goldendoodles will shed similarly to a human--when brushing some hair will fall out, and you may see fur here and there on your black leggings. However, it's unlikely that you will vacuum or sweep and notice a significant amount of dog hair.
Do you guarantee coat type?
While we include color/coat genetics when DNA testing our dogs there are still factors we cannot test for yet--therefore we cannot guarantee level of shedding, coat type, or coat color. We have yet to produce a puppy that is not furnished (the characteristically scruffy face of Doodles), but our dogs have surprised us in the area of curl. We've seen Goldendoodles that we assume would be wavy end up with curly coats, and straight coats we believed would wave. We promise to be honest, use our own expertise, genetic coat trait testing, and advice from fellow breeders in determining coat types of puppies before they go home to you.
Will my puppy change colors?
In short, possibly. While we have taken care to build our program from lines known to hold color (and without progressive greying), it is not something we can guarantee.
If something happens in my life, can I return my puppy to you?
Always. Anytime, for any reason, at any age as stated in our contract. We are here for our puppies every minute of their lives.
Someone told me merle Poodles are mixed and not real Poodles. Is this true?
Well, let us explain. We know and accept that the merle pattern was introduced into the Poodle breed many years ago. This means that a merle breed (likely an Australian Shepherd) was bred to a Poodle, papers were falsified, and the dogs were registered as Poodles. Now, many years later, we have Poodles who test 100% purebred and meet the breed standard.
Many breeds have had "open stud books" allowing different breeds to be mixed in to improve structure, health, or add diversity. After all, breeds were created by intentionally pairing various dogs together to create a specific type. This is what was done here to create merle Poodles, but without official approval.
Our merle Poodles are AKC registered, and you're welcome to call AKC and they will even help you choose a color code for your merle if needed. It doesn't need to be a dirty word in our beloved breed--to each their own.
Are Embark breed identification kits accurate?
Embark is making great strides in the science behind breed identification through DNA (far surpassing Wisdom Panel), but it isn't perfect. We provide links to our dogs Embark results, including breed breakdown, but cannot guarantee your pups test will be 100% accurate until more breakthroughs are discovered. Generally speaking, if it's less than 10% it could be erroneous.
What do the generations mean? F1? F1b? Multigenerational?
Filial generations can get quite complicated and everyone has a differing opinion on the subject. The first generation Goldendoodle is a perfect 50/50 split of Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle. F1 Goldendoodles are generally larger bodied, coat type can vary greatly between puppies, and they tend to shed a bit more than later generations. Pro's of this cross is they hold on to much of the Golden Retriever personality while adding in reduced shedding, improved health, and longer lifespans.
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F1b is an F1 Goldendoodle (remember, 50/50 split) bred back to ONE of the parent breeds. Often assumed the F1 Goldendoodle is bred back to the Poodle, but not always the case--so be sure to ask your breeder if you're wanting the "typical" Doodle looking puppy or if shedding/allergies are of concern.
Multigenerational is a term frequently used when breeding different generations of Doodles. Many breeders use the term Multigen after F2 (F1 + F1 = F2), or if a Doodle of any generation is bred to another of later generation to simplify matters. One thing to watch for is many Multigenerational Doodles will test 100% Poodle but they may still hold traits of the Golden Retriever. We do NOT concern ourselves with breed percentages in our Goldendoodles, rather the traits that they retain. We want the blocky head, stockier body, straight/wavy/loosely curled coat, and happy go lucky nature of the Golden Retriever. Don't stress if your puppy is 5% Golden Retriever--look at the the dogs individual traits.
Paying a reservation fee to a stranger makes me uneasy without seeing the puppies. Are there any other options?
With the rise of puppy scammers in the world, it's no wonder many families are hesitant to pay ANY amount of money sight unseen. We try our best to ease your fears. You're welcome to personally add us on Facebook, we post photos and videos of our dogs and puppies frequently, we welcome visitors, will FaceTime you, and can offer many references of any sort you'd like (including Veterinarian). We want you and your family to be secure in purchasing your Juniper Ridge puppy and will not be offended if you need reassurance.
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We want to ensure our puppies have the best homes and an easy transition with the rest of their littermates. For this reason, we do require a nonrefundable reservation fee at three to five weeks of age to reserve. The remainder is due in cash at time of pickup. If the pup is being shipped by ground or air, monies are due before puppies leave our hands. We welcome home visits before paying too!