Choosing a puppy

A healthy, well-bred Bernedoodle puppy looks a lot like any other adorable puppy in a photo. The difference shows up in the paperwork, the parents, and the answers you get when you ask questions. Here is what actually separates a good puppy from a risky one.

• Health testing on both parents

  Ask for proof of hip and elbow evaluations (OFA or PennHIP), an eye exam, a cardiac exam, and DNA screening for degenerative myelopathy (DM) and von Willebrand's disease (vWD). A reputable breeder will hand this over without hesitation. See our full breakdown of what those results should actually say.
• Honest generation labeling

  A breeder should tell you plainly whether a litter is F1, F1B, F2, or multigenerational, and what that means for expected coat and shedding. Vague or shifting answers about generation are a bad sign.
• Age at homecoming, 8 weeks minimum

  Puppies need that time with their mother and littermates to develop bite inhibition and early social skills. Walk away from anyone offering a puppy younger than 8 weeks.
• A written health guarantee

  This should cover genetic conditions for a defined period, typically one to five years, and spell out what happens if a covered issue shows up. Read it before you pay a deposit, not after.
• A puppy raised in the home

  Puppies raised underfoot in a family living room, exposed to normal household noise and handling, socialize better than puppies raised in an isolated kennel. Ask to video call the litter in its everyday environment.

• No health testing records, or vague answers about them

  If a breeder cannot produce actual documents, hip, elbow, eye, heart, DM, and vWD results are not optional extras.
• Claims of "100% hypoallergenic" puppies

  No dog, including a Bernedoodle, is guaranteed allergy-free. This claim is a marketing shortcut, not a fact.
• Multiple litters always available

  A small, careful breeding program has occasional litters, not a constant rotating inventory.
• Payment only by wire transfer or gift card, no contract

  A legitimate breeder uses a written sales contract and standard payment methods.