Here, you will find the points most important to me when adopting a Goldendoodle from Mason-Dixon Doodles. This page will give you more information about Goldendoodles in general, and about what I ask of you when you adopt a pup from me.  You can find out what comes with my pups and when they will be available on the Puppies page. If something is missing, or you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Thank you for taking time to learn more!   Grooming     Goldendoodle coats are much like a Poodle coat in that they never stop growing! This means that the dog will have to be clipped anywhere from every 6 weeks to every 2 or 3 months depending on how you want the coat to look.  Shorter is easier to care for at home, but requires more frequent clipping.  The longer waves of a Goldendoodle can become a tangled mess if not cared for properly.  Once per year, spring grooming will not cut it for these guys!     A Goldendoodle's coat may be wavy or curled, which requires brushing at least a couple times per week to keep from tangles and matting.  The more you brush the dog, the healthier his skin will be and the better his coat will look.  By preventing mattes, you prevent your dog from possible over heating, the pain of having them brushed or clipped out, or a funny looking hair cut after they are removed!  This also saves you the insanity of trying to untangle a mess after a couple weeks of romping in the yard.     Since Goldendoodle coats can be unpredictable, I recommend a visit to the Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Database.  There you will find information on shedding, allergies, etc. I also invite anyone who already owns a doodle to please fill out their survey. The more information they have to share, the better informed new owners will be!   Exercise     Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles both require a moderate amount of exercise. They are happy to play ball in the house, but  love a walk or romp in the yard. It is better for Goldendoodles to have a medium to large yard to play in or a park they are free to romp around in.  Any large dog who is not exercised finds ways of entertaining themselves - ways that may be to the detriment of your house.  The best way to keep your dog happy and entertained (as well as keeping you from getting upset over something like a chewed up table leg) is to play with or exercise your dog daily.  This doesn't necessarily mean long walks three times a day, especially for a puppy.      NOTE ON PUPPIES: Let your puppy play until he is tired (like you would a toddler) and let him rest. A long walk or hard exercise after sleeping all day can contribute to hip problems later, even if the parents have been tested.  Periods of moderate exercise throughout the day are best. Roll a ball around or teach your pup to retrieve - this is in their nature!  Swimming is another great form of exercise, but start out small!  Puppies, like babies, can drown if left, unsupervised, in a lot of water. Click Here for more information on Hip Displaysia and testing   Food     My Goldendoodle puppies are large breed dogs.  Unfortunately, Hip Displaysia (HD) has become common in large breeds. Breeders try to prevent it by testing and not breeding displaystic dogs, but we also have to pay attention to environmental factors that contribute to a puppy's growth.  One major factor can be the puppy's food.      Puppies need quality food in controlled amounts to grow up healthy.  Most low-cost dog foods consist largely of corn which puppies can't digest.  If a puppy cannot absorb the food he is eating, he will not get the nutrition he needs without a large amount of food.  Most of that food will ultimately end up in your yard, meaning more clean up for you.     Remember, dogs are carnivores. A quality dog food will consist mainly of real meat (or "meal") and other ingredients better absorbed by your puppy's system. Foods with "meat by-products" can mean ground beaks, cartilage, skin, or anything else that comes from a source of meat - this is not meat.      Large breed dog foods are formulated specifically for the needs of large breed dogs. One major cause of HD is a puppy growing too fast for his structure, resulting in loose hips.  Large breed foods have less calories and the right balance of calcium, protein, and other ingredients to keep your dogs rapid growth under control.  I personally recommend Nutro Natural Choice dog food for my puppies and dogs. Check with your breeder about the food that has been fed to your puppy and why he or she may recommend that food.   House Dogs     Goldendoodles are meant to be house dogs. They love people and are very unhappy and unfulfilled when not around them.  In my opinion, the yard is for exercise, not living quarters.  What is the point of having a wonderful family companion if he is not around the house to be with the family?  I try to give as much information as I can about training to make the transition to dog-owner an easy one.  Questions from prospective owners are welcome and I am glad to help any way I can. ** If for some reason, you ever become unable to care for your dog in the manner you originally intended to, PLEASE contact me. I don't want any of my pups to have to end up in an animal shelter. There are many families out there who would love to give a Goldendoodle (large or small) a good home.**   Spay/Neuter Agreement (click to view)     I call this an agreement because that is what it is: an agreement that spaying or neutering your dog is the best way to prevent pups from ending up in shelters or in homes where people don't want them and may not properly care for them.     Breeding might sound like fun to some of you, but it is very hard and costly work!   There are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration before anyone breeds a dog (for the sake of the dog as well as the breeder).     I breed my dogs to be family pets ONLY.  Spayed and Neutered dogs make better family pets for the following reasons:       1. You don't have to worry about the unexpected responsibility of a litter of puppies. (Large breeds can have upwards of 10 puppies at a time. In eight weeks, that many puppies can consume over 100 pounds of premium dog food.) Not to mention the cost involved in vet bills, DNA testing, and other responsibilities of breeding.      2. Intact females can make a mess around the house when they are in heat, sometimes for up to two weeks. (Just ask, I will be glad to tell you about it!)  They can also draw other dogs to your yard from miles away, just after a short walk in the yard. Spayed female = no mess, no strange dogs in the yard, and a content companion.      3. Intact males tend to wander more and are sometimes more aggressive with other males (especially if a female is around).  Intact males also feel the need to mark their territory more often in the presence of a female. Neutered male = a loving, laid back companion with no need to make his mark all over the house.      4. Breeding a Goldendoodle to another Goldendoodle will not give you the same results as the F1 (first generation) parents.  There many factors involved in the combination of DNA in mixed breeds. For example, you may end up with more poodle like pups, more retriever like pups, or some of both and no sign of a nice blend.      5. Reward! I offer to refund $50.00 of the adoption fee to my puppy owners who present proof of spay or neutering by 1 year of age.  This helps you with some of the cost involved in the procedure, and their health warranty depends on it. Because of these reasons, I have a spay/neuter agreement with all my pups. If you agree with me, then you may sign it when you come to get your pup.  If you disagree, then you may prefer to try another breeder.  I like to agree with my buyers on all points that are beneficial to the puppy and it's new family.  This helps me ensure you enjoy your new family member for it's lifetime. Click on the Spay/Neuter Agreement link above to view my contract and health guarantee. Again, thank you for taking time to read this! If you read the information here and decide that one of my pups is what you are looking for, and you would like to tell me more about yourself, you can call Jamie at (724)415-1494 or e-mail me. I would love to talk to you about them!  PLEASE NOTE: No puppies are guaranteed without a deposit and I only take deposits after the puppies are born.  So if you have placed a deposit with me you are guaranteed a puppy. I do not have pre-paid waiting lists so I don't promise puppies I may not be able to deliver.