20 Questions to Ask a Bernedoodle Breeder Before You Buy
By Zach, Z and Z Doodles · · 5 min read
Choosing a breeder is the most important decision you will make about your future dog. The right breeder gives you a healthy, well-raised puppy and a partner for the next decade or more. The wrong one can leave you with heartbreak and big bills. As a family breeder myself, I want you to ask hard questions, of us and of anyone else. Here are the ones that matter, grouped so they are easy to bring along when you call.
About the parents
- Can I meet the mother, and the father if possible?
- What health tests have both parents had, and can I see the results?
- How old are the parents, and how many litters has the mother had?
- What are their temperaments like?
- How big are the parents?
Good breeders are proud of their dogs and happy to answer. A mother who has been bred many times in quick succession is a red flag. We raise only a couple of litters a year so every mama recovers fully.
About how the puppies are raised
- Where are the puppies raised, in the home or a kennel?
- How are they socialized before they go home?
- What do they experience each week?
- Who is involved in their daily care?
Puppies raised underfoot in a home grow up around ordinary sounds, people and routines. That tends to produce confident, calm dogs. Ours live with our family and are handled gently every day.
About health and vet care
- Will the puppy be vet-checked before going home, and will I get the record?
- Which vaccinations and deworming will be done?
- Will the puppy be microchipped?
- What does your health guarantee cover, and for how long?
Ask to see the guarantee in writing. Every puppy we place goes home vet-checked, dewormed, microchipped and up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, with a written health record and health guarantee. For more on what testing means, read our health testing guide.
About matching and the process
- How do you decide which puppy goes to which family?
- How does the waitlist and deposit work?
- Can I visit, and when do puppies go home?
We match puppies to families by personality, never by line order, because the right fit matters more than who called first. Puppies go home around eight weeks.
About support and what happens later
- What support do you offer after I take my puppy home?
- What happens if I can no longer keep my dog?
- Will you stay in touch?
- What do I receive on go-home day?
A good breeder is still your resource months and years later. We stay just a message away for the life of your dog, and if life ever changes we ask that the dog come back to us, never to a shelter. Go-home day includes a health record, health guarantee, starter food and a blanket that smells like home.
How to read the answers
Listen as much to how a breeder answers as to what they say. Warning signs include:
- Pressure to pay quickly or to skip a conversation
- Reluctance to show health results or parents
- Several litters on offer at once with no clear parents
- Vague or unwritten guarantees
- Willingness to ship a puppy with no questions asked about your home
- No interest in what happens after the sale
Green flags look like patience, openness, written paperwork and questions in return. A good breeder interviews you too. We ask families about their home, their experience and what they want in a companion.
Questions to ask yourself
Before you start calling, be honest with yourself:
- Can I commit to grooming, training and exercise?
- Who will care for the dog when I am away?
- Is my home and budget ready?
- Do I want a puppy or would an adult suit me better?
Our guide to preparing for a new puppy can help you decide.
Trust your instincts
Visit if you can. Look at how the dogs live, how people speak about them, and how you feel. If anything seems off, walk away. A good breeder would rather lose a sale than place a puppy in the wrong home.
A few extra things worth asking
Can I see how the puppies are doing now? Most breeders will share photos and videos while the litter grows. We post updates on our Facebook page and share them with waitlist families.
What if I am far away? Ask for video calls, written records and a clear plan for go-home day.
Do you offer advice if I am unsure about a Bernedoodle? A good breeder will talk honestly about whether the breed suits you, including the downsides. We would much rather you decide a Bernedoodle is not for you than take one home and struggle.
Ask us anything
We are happy to answer every one of these. You can read common answers in our FAQ, see our available puppies, learn about our family, or contact us by phone, text or email whenever suits you.
Zach and his family raise Bernedoodle puppies at home in Central Illinois. Every puppy is health-tested, raised underfoot, and backed by lifetime breeder support. Meet the family.
