Q. What health testing do you perform on your breeding dogs?

     A. We are a Gold Level Goldendoodle breeder in the USA registered with the Goldendoodle Association of North America.  In order to achieve and maintain Blue Ribbon status (the best rating as a breeder) with G.A.N.A., we must submit all testing results from Paw Prints Genetics, Upstate Veterinary Services and Licensed Veterinarians to G.A.N.A. for our certification. Our requirements and protocol for parent testing are as follows:

Hips

Prelim OFA or Dr. Wallace report for hip scores of Fair, Good, Excellent, for x-rays taken 4 mos. of age or later. Note that for any dog receiving a Fair rating prior to age of 2 yrs. (OFA prelim rating or Wallace report), a Final OFA or Wallace report with x-rays taken after 2 yrs. of age or later is required to remain as a qualified breeding dog;

Final OFA or Dr. Wallace report for hip scores of Fair, Good, Excellent, for x-rays taken at 24 mos. of age or later.

Pennhip score of 50% or above done at 4 mos. of age or later;

OVC prelim or permanent with normal rating (permanent needs to be submitted by 22 mos. for dams, 20 mos. for studs)

For a breeding dog that scores a Fair rating before 2 years of age, another x-ray should be taken at age 2 or after (final OFA or Wallace report) which scores Fair or above is required to be submitted by 28 mos. for dams or 26 mos. for studs. Also acceptable to qualify a Fair OFA or Wallace rating taken before age 2 is a PennHip with a score of 50% or above completed any time after 4 mos. of age.

Cardiac

OFA Permanent heart clearance (Golden Retrievers and Goldendoodles only). A stud may qualify for breeding prior to the age of one with a OFA Cardiac prelim clearance. In this circumstance, the stud will need to have a OFA Cardiac final clearance after the age of one.

​CERF 

Bi-Annual (30 day grace period) Completed exam form, certificate from OFA or CERF, or print out from www.OFFA.org – showing the OFA eye exam date 

prcd-PRA:  One clear prcd-PRA parent required per breeding pair. Poodles (all sizes), Goldendoodles, Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles can carry the prcd-PRA mutation. Since both parents must carry the affected gene for their offspring to be affected by that mutation, one clear parent in the breeding pair is required. For a breeding dog to be “clear via parentage” both parents must be clear (without the gene). To clear a dog for prcd-PRA, it can be done via DNA by any lab approved by the OFA; or by submitting its parents’ lab approved by the OFA DNA test for prcd-PRA showing they are both clear.

vWd (von Willebrand Disease, canine bleeding disorder):  At least one clear in the breeding pair. Poodles and Goldendoodles can be cleared by parentage or by DNA testing. Golden Retrievers are not required to be tested as they are not risk for vWd. Therefore, if one of the breeding pair is a Golden Retriever, it will count as the clear parent. Poodles and Goldendoodles do not have to be tested for vWd if they are paired only with a clear partner for breeding. To clear a dog for vWd: Submit DNA test results from an OFA approved lab for the dog, or submit DNA test from an OFA approved lab results showing both dog’s parents are clear.

​Eyes

GR-PRA1: One clear GR-PRA1 parent required per breeding pair. Goldendoodles and Golden Retrievers can carry the GR-PRA1 mutation. Since both parents must carry the affected gene for their offspring to be affected by that mutation, one clear parent in the breeding pair is required. Poodles do not carry the PRA/GR-PRA1 mutation; therefore, if one of the breeding pair is a Poodle, it will count as the clear parent. For a breeding dog to be “clear via parentage” both parents must be clear (without the gene). To clear a dog for GR-PRA1, it can be done via DNA by any lab approved by the OFA; or by submitting both parents clear GR-PRA1 DNA results from any DNA lab approved by the OFA.

Elbows

Prelim or permanent clear rating at 4 mos. of age or later.

Patellas

Permanent clear rating (mini/toy Poodles and mini/medium Goldendoodles only). A stud may qualify for breeding prior to the age of one with a OFA Patella prelim clearance. In this circumstance, the stud will need to have a OFA Patella final clearance after the age of one.

Additional testing recommended for all levels

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Ichthyosis (ICH)

Annual eye exams (CERF/CAER)

GR-PRA2

NOTE: GANA accepts results from the labs approved by OFA.  A list of these approved labs is available here:  OFA and GANA approved DNA labs.

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Q. What happens if your breeding dog fails any of the testing?

     A. We never breed any of our potential breeding dogs until all required health testing has been completed, passed, and submitted to GANA. If a breeding dog is undergoing a re-test—as required by GANA—and does not meet the necessary standards, we immediately remove that dog from our breeding program. There is no need for re-homing, as all of our breeding dogs live in loving Guardian Homes. We are a family-based program, not a kennel.

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Q. Do you offer a Health Guarantee for your pups?

     A. Yes we do. Two years against any genetic defects. Click here for full details.

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Q. What happens when your dogs are retired?  

     A. All of our breeder dogs live in carefully selected Guardian Homes and are raised as beloved family members under a contractual agreement that adheres to River Falls’ Guardian Parent Guidelines. We only bring our female dogs into our care during specific times: for 7–10 days during estrus and approximately one week prior to whelping to allow for nesting, birthing, and the weaning of puppies. Because our breeding dogs remain with their Guardian Families throughout their lives, they are already in their forever homes when they retire from our program. 

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Q. How often do you breed your females?

     A. We breed our females naturally, as they enter estrus, in alignment with both veterinary recommendations and current research. Typically, this occurs once per year. Each of our breeding dogs receives thorough veterinary evaluations both before and after each litter to ensure their ongoing health and well-being.

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Q. When do you know if your female is actually pregnant?

     A. While we do everything possible to ensure successful pairings, pregnancy cannot be guaranteed, as we are ultimately subject to the unpredictability of nature. In the event that your selected pairing does not result in a pregnancy, we will gladly offer to transfer your reservation to another upcoming litter or provide a full refund of your deposit. Although we have previously used ultrasounds to estimate litter size, we found the results to be inconsistent and have therefore discontinued them as a routine practice. However, if a female does not exhibit typical signs of pregnancy by the 6th or 7th week, we may use ultrasound for confirmation at that time.

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Q. How long is the pregnancy?

     A. Average 63 days from first breeding.

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Q. When can I take my puppy home?

     A. To accommodate a variety of schedules, we offer flexible puppy pickup dates, including two weekend days for added convenience. Please be aware that puppies must be at least 8 weeks old to travel by air, per airline regulations. When submitting your deposit, we kindly ask that you confirm your availability to pick up your puppy at the 8-week milestone or confirm extended stay at the time of deposit.

If extended care is needed beyond 8 weeks of age, we offer this service at a rate of $35–$50 per day, depending on the level of care required. This includes ongoing individualized support such as intermediate crate and potty training, sensory stimulation, sound desensitization, and socialization with children and other animals. However, due to family commitments and limited space, we may not be able to accommodate all requests for extended stays. If you anticipate needing this service, please notify us as early as possible so we can make appropriate arrangements.

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Q. How many names do you take on a deposit list for a puppy?

     A. We typically accept 5 to 6 reservations per litter, depending on the expected litter size, which varies by the size of the female—Standards generally produce larger litters than Minis. While we cannot guarantee the exact number of puppies, in the event that there are not enough to fulfill all reservations, we are happy to transfer your deposit to a future litter. Please note, however, that we are unable to move anyone ahead of others already on a confirmed reservation list. Alternatively, you may choose to receive a full refund of your deposit.

Breeding is ultimately subject to the unpredictability of nature. Despite our experience and careful planning, some breedings may not result in pregnancy, and in rare cases, pregnancies or puppies may fail to thrive. We work closely with our trusted veterinarians and take every possible measure to support healthy outcomes for both our mothers and their litters.

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Q. What do you feed your puppies?

     A. We have done extensive research and we have chosen TLC All Stages for our adult non- breeding pets and TLC Puppy Formula for our pregnant females and puppies. TLC is our exclusive pet food. The cost is around .66 cents per feeding following the proper feeding amounts for adult dogs. It is extremely important to follow feeding guidelines and not over feed your pup.  This is the most common reason for over weight dogs.  Click here for full details on TLC and why we recommend their awesome products including food and treats.  Click here for TLC's review on Dog Food Advisory.

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Q. How do I reserve one of your puppies?

     A. Click here for our current and upcoming litters. Decide which litter you would like a puppy from. Click here for our application to fill out and send to us for review. All other details can be found on our Adoption page. We will reply within 24 hours if not sooner via email upon approval. After you receive your approval, you can then send your deposit in the amount $500 to River Falls Goldendoodles 203 Medinah Drive Easley SC, 29642.  Once we receive your deposit, we will reply with where you are in the picking order a long with a Puppy Personality profile for us to help you pick the pup with the personality, temperament and look you desire. 

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Q. I want a male, how can I be sure of that?

     A.  Please note that we cannot guarantee the gender of the puppy you will receive from any given litter. Puppy placement depends on your position on the waiting list, the gender distribution within the litter, and previous selections made by other buyers. We encourage keeping an open mind during this process.

We recommend allowing us to assist you in selecting a puppy based on personality traits and temperament rather than gender. Research has shown that the commonly perceived differences between male and female puppies are largely myths, and that a puppy’s personality will develop through human interaction, environment, and training.

If you have a firm preference for a specific gender and we do not have enough available, we are happy to place you on an additional waiting list for a future litter. Please note that this will require an additional deposit of $500, which will be credited towards your final balance.

Each litter contains puppies with a range of personalities across both genders. Our puppies are known for their mild temperaments and thorough socialization, resulting in balanced, neither overly dominant nor submissive, behavior in both males and females.

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Q. When do I pick my puppy?

     A.  Puppy visits begin at 6 weeks of age and are conducted by appointment only. Prior to 6 weeks, puppies’ immune systems are still developing, so visits are not permitted to ensure their health and safety.

Once the puppies reach 6 weeks, we will schedule a designated “Visit/Pick Day.” This date is set shortly after birth, and we will notify each family within one week of the puppies’ arrival with the confirmed Visit/Pick Day details.

To facilitate the selection process—especially for families further down the list—we ask that you observe the puppies and prepare a ranked list of preferences (1st, 2nd, 3rd choice, etc.). Additionally, we assist in matching you with the ideal companion by using a Puppy Personality Profile Sheet, which you will complete and return after submitting your deposit to secure your place.

The personality match is the key factor in helping you find the perfect puppy. Based on the traits you indicate on the profile sheet, we will recommend the puppy best suited to your family.

If you are unable to attend Visit/Pick Day in person, we offer the option to connect via phone or video call (Skype/FaceTime). Should you miss your scheduled call or visit, River Falls will select a puppy for your family based on the information provided in your Personality Profile.

 

 

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