Common Questions & Answers
Why the Aussiedoodle?
Good question. For years I knew I wanted to implement dogs into the therapeutic process. When I was in graduate school and dreaming up a future of helping others I paid close attention to the evidence based research that talked about how dogs can help mitigate symptoms of mental health disorders and provide an array of other positive benefits. That is when I decided to start an ethical breeding program that produced healthy dogs with loving dispositions capable of meeting those needs. The biggest question for me was “What breed do I choose?” My decision came down to many different variables.
Both Australian Shepherds and Poodles have incredible traits. When crossed together, they make a wonderful dog, known as the Aussiedoodle. The Aussiedoodle is a newer hybrid and not yet as well known as Labradoodles or Goldendoodles but they are on the rise and it’s no wonder why. The When ethically bred, the Aussiedoodle is known to be a very intelligent, friendly, loyal and affectionate dog. They are active and agile but with a slightly more moderate energy level than the pure-bread Australian shepherd. Well bred Aussiedoodles have an “off” button and know when to relax at your side but are ready for whatever the next activity is. We make sure all of our breeding parents demonstrate a wonderful off switch so they can be the best of both worlds, an avid adventure and cuddles. We also make sure our foundation parents have superb AKC pedigrees (or came from parents with AKC pedigrees if they are a parent doodle) and are the best representations of each breed structurally, health wise & temperament wise.
When properly bred and cost tested, Aussiedoodle’s have a wonderful low shedding coat that can be lightly wavy to more curly. However, many doodle breeders do not breed with proper poodles and do coat testing to make sure their poodle (or doodle) carries two copies of curl and furnishings which results in straight haired, high shedding unfurnished doodles. We breed with proper poodles and do all coat trait testing to make sure all of our doodle puppies will come with one copy of curl and furnishings. Aussiedoodles come in a variety of colors, including solid, tri color (three colors), bi color (two colors), parti (any color with predominantly white areas), and red or blue merle patterns. F1 genratuins (Aussie X Poodle) tend to be smaller than Goldendoodles, Labradoodles and Bernedoodles and are great for families wanting an active, intelligent and loyal family member to accompany them on all their outings.
We have also added the Bernese into our lines over the past few years after meeting a few Bernese Mountain Dogs and learning about their characteristics. We have begun breeding Australian Mountain Doodles which contain our two favorites still, the Aussiefopdle & Poodle, but also characteristics of the wonderful Bernese Mountain dog.
What is an Australian Mountain Doodle exactly?
The Australian Mountain Doodle is a mix between the Australian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Poodle.
With the Australian Mountain Doodle you get the best of all three breeds! As mentioned above, we have also fallen in love with the the sweet and gentle nature of the Bernese (they are on every friendliest breeds list) but with this mix you still get the incredible smarts, health & trainiability of the Australian Shepherd, plus the sweet sensitivity, loyalty, goofiness & allergy friendly properties and longevity of the poodle!
The Australian Mountain Doodle is the perfect blend between a little more mellow, outgoing, goofy and allergy friendly dog. Just like the Aussiedoodle, they have a fun-loving attitude and are highly intelligent, loyal, and friendly.
How often will I need to groom my Aussiedoodle?
A huge benefit of the Aussiedoodle is it’s low shedding coat. You will need to brush and groom your Aussiedoodle because her coat will grow continuously. Without brushing, the coat will get matted up. The added benefit of brushing her coat is that you will be able to keep a longer coat on her. I recommend brushing out your Aussiedoodle at least twice a week.
The frequency of your grooming visits will depend on what type of coat your Aussiedoodle has (coats will fluctuate in tightness of curls) and also will depend on how long you want to maintain his coat. If you prefer your Aussiedoodle to have a long coat year round, you will probably require going to the groomer every 6-8 weeks. If you are okay with a short coat and prefer less maintenance work you can get your Aussiedoodle shaved down just a couple times a year.
Can you explain shedding and allergies to me some more?
Aussiedoodles are a hypoallergenic breed. Hypoallergenic means relatively unlikely to trigger allergies or cause an allergic reaction. No breeder could ever guarantee that your dog will be 100% non-shedding (even humans shed a few hairs daily) or that you will have no allergy response (some folks are allergic to the proteins in their saliva). We recommend anyone with moderate to severe allergies who is considering a puppy consult with your allergist first to be sure that a Aussiedoodle will be a good fit for your family.
In the past it was believed that you had to get a curly coated puppy in order for a dog to be hypoallergenic or non-shedding. This is no longer the case. Aussiedoodles have different furnishings, and the tighter the curl the less he will shed but it does not mean that your allergies will be spared if you have them.
Can we Come Visit?
Yes, we welcome visitors and people who have reserved a pup when the puppies are 8 weeks old. We call it "Puppy Pickup Day." This is a very exciting day around our house. It is always fun for us to meet the families and get to see everyone meet their puppy.
No, we do not accept visitors before the pups are 8 weeks old. The safety of our puppies, dogs, and family will always be placed above a potential sale.
Puppies are still developing their little immune systems and are not protected by vaccinations and maturity yet. (People can inadvertently—or even intentionally—carry diseases in on their shoes, hands, and clothing). Due to the warm Tennessee climate, many fatal diseases like Parvo and canine influenza are highly active year round. If Parvo is introduced to our home and yard, we would have to move because it takes 9 months - 2 years to get rid of it and that date resets every time another dog or puppy gets it. Here is more information about parvo and canine influenza.
We have to protect the physical and mental health of our Moms. Visitors are a significant source of stress for nursing moms. Science shows that stress produces cortisol and other stress hormones, and those hormones go into mom’s milk and is passed onto the puppies. Stressed moms can become protective and separating moms from puppies is too stressful. Moms also can get frantic with new guests and accidentally roll on or step on newborn puppies if they panic.
We are a real family, with a real life. We have other responsibilities inside and outside of our home and we prioritize any additional time that we have with spending time raising our puppies and children.
Significant harm has come to people like breeders who work in home-type environments where unknown people are routinely invited in. We have to protect ourselves and our children.
These puppies are also not ours to risk—they belong to the families that are taking them home and we are just their caretakers for a brief period of time.
To help families be a part of their puppy's raising, I post professional photos of each puppy at a few days old, then do a professional video of each puppy once their eyes are open at 3 weeks old, another round of professional photos at 5 weeks old and 7 weeks old. I also make 1-2 Instagram/Facebook videos of the litter and send email updates about the puppies, what's been happening around our house, and any recommendations I have for preparing for your pup. It's truly a fun interactive experience and I know how exciting it can be waiting on your little one to come home!
What is Genetic Testing?
Genetic or DNA testing is the "gold standard" for dog ethical dog breeders. Genetic health testing is done by sending in swabs with the DNA of your dog to authorized companies like Paw Print Genetics or Animal Genetics who are authorized to conduct the analysis. This is an extremely valuable tool and any breeder not taking the time to do the most basic tests (Degenerative Myelopathy, Von Willebrands Disease & MDR1 for the Aussie hybrids) is not one you should consider getting a puppy from. We only breed dogs that are clear for genetic health conditions known commonly to each breed.
When can we bring our doodle home?
You will be able to take your Aussiedoodle puppy home as soon as she is 8 weeks old.
We live at a distance. Will you ship my new puppy?
Yes, we ship our puppies all over the country! 80% of our puppies cross state lines!
Door-to-Door Delivery
Customer’s sometimes use Hound Hauler’s for door-to-door delivery. They have a great reputation. The average price for shipping your pet is usually around $500 but this amount can vary due to distances. You can estimate the cost of your flight here. Pet’s stay in temperature controlled van during night with staff member and are kept safe until they reach your home.
Flight Nanny (Preferred)
For a little extra you can fly your puppy with a flight nanny. In fact, 80% of our puppies cross state lines and at least half of every litter flys to their new families all over the country. We can ship from the Atlanta International airport. We use a few different flight nanny companies that we have developed relationships with and trust. This way your puppy fly’s home to you in cabin with a trusted nanny there for support. The cost of this is usually $550-650.
Nanny companies do stand-by which means they very infrequently miss flights but care for your puppy until she arrives safely to you. The pet nanny sits in the cabin with the puppy and puppies NEVER fly in cargo with this option. Atlanta has many direct flights to most major US cities a day and Pet Jet Pals has only missed 2 flights so far and we able to make the next flight.
We can also meet you at the Atlanta International Airport. Usually flights touch down in Atlanta but then take another 45 min flight up to Chattanooga. We are happy to bring your puppy and all their supplies and meet you in baggage claim before flying back home.
Hand Delivery
We can also meet you at the Atlanta International Airport and in some cases the Nashville Airport as well. Usually flights touch down in Atlanta but then take another 45 min flight up to Chattanooga. We are happy to bring your puppy and all their supplies and meet you in baggage claim before flying back home if you can provide us with a 4 week notice so we can plan accordingly for a fee of $75.
Finally, we can sometimes drive up to 4 hours to meet customers with puppies (and sometimes rely on a close friend to do so) for a $150 fee.
How much are your puppies?
The price of our Aussiedoodle puppies can range between $2,800-$4,500. More details about price differences are found on our puppy pricing page.
If you are interested in a purchasing an available puppy for sale or a puppy from an upcoming litter please fill our our application.
A trained therapy/service dog starts around the price of $20,000. Our Aussiedoodle puppies come from highly trained & credentialed parents that pass on their genetic traits & predispositions to their puppies.
What does it include?
All puppies go home with the following:
A microchip will be provided (because the microchip is a blunt object it is best to give it to your vet so he can insert it when your pup is under anesthesia for its spay/neuter).
Your new puppy will have all their puppy shots up to 8 weeks.
You puppy will be dewormed at 3, 5, & 7 weeks old (recommended schedule for new puppies)
They will be vet examined before going home and come with health certificates.
You will go home with a new collar and leash.
Transition blanket with mama's scent on it
Documents on puppy's parents will be supplied.
A small sample bag of the puppy food they've been eating.
Probios Supplements (5 day supply)
Access to training tips and recommendations from Remedy Ridge Aussiedoodles and us personally if you have any questions along the way.
A 3-year genetic health guarantee
Health record pamphlet
*We keep the dew claws and the tails! We do not want to provide prolonged and unnecessary pain to puppies during their first few days of life. Tail docking is considered inhumane and is illegal in some countries. Animal rights activists are fighting hard to ban this painful procedure in the US. Tails are a dogs way of showing us emotion and signaling their feelings to other dogs as well. They are a sense of security.
I have also done a lot of research about dew claws online and have consulted with my vet who seldom sees a dewclaw injury. Some dog breeds have no use for dew claws and are at risk for being torn off. The Standard Poodle/Aussie breed have functional “thumbs” aka dew claws. They are used to grasp things (like bones) and assist them in grasping steeper terrains. We believe that removing dew claws does not provide more good then harm for the Aussiedoodle breed and most researchers/veterinarians would agree. We want to minimize adverse experiences for your puppy during the first 8 weeks as well since we are working on trust and confidence with your dog and do not wish to create any unnecessary pain. You can opt to have this done during the spay/neuter procedure for a small fee if you please.
How did you determine your price point for the puppies?
This is clarified to most individuals who take the time to research our program and compare it to others but we do receive this question at times. To break our price of our puppies down, it is important to know that we spend upwards of $18,000-$20,000 on just 4 litters and two breeding dams a year! Below breaks down most of our costs which are no different then the costs of any ethical breeder on the market.
REPUTABLE BREEDER - COSTS TO RAISE A LITTER
$3,500-$6,000 Cost of REPUTABLE Dam/Stud for Potential Breeding (purchase, breeding rights, shipping/travel)
$2,400/2yr General Care per dog (general care, feeding, vet)
$2,000 Training/Classes/Club Fees per dog
$500-800 Equipment/Supplies (collars/leashes, harness, training tools, coats, crates, grooming supplies) per dog
$1,000-5,000 Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Titling (to prove form and temperament for breeding, includes entry fees, handling, grooming, travel, hotel, food) per dog
$200-400, Genetic Health Testing per dog
$5,000 Professional Photography/Ads of the dog (to show accurate good photos of the dog and what it has accomplished, to thank judges/mentors, advertise and campaign) annually
$500 Website & Book Keeping costs
$500 Breeding Fees (hormone tests, artificial insemination, etc)
$350 Ultrasound Pregnancy Confirmation
$300 Whelping Box
$300 Whelping Supplies
$150-200 Cleaning supplies
$300 Annual Purified water delivery for facility cost
$100 Pregnancy Wellness Exam(s)
$500 Puppy Supplies (blankets, heaters, bottles, cleaning, toys, collars, daily laundry) per litter
$3,500 Possible Emergency C Section or Vet assistance
$750-1000 per litter (mobile vet): Deworming the Dam and Puppies at 4, 6, 8, Weeks Old, Vaccines for Puppies, Wellness exams and tail docking
$500 Puppy Food
$75/puppy Puppy Kits for Owners & Registration (care information and instruction, health records, registration papers, etc). Average of 24 puppies a year=$1,800.
$4,000 annually toward loan to build environmentally friendly and puppy specific facility for puppies on property + increased electric and water costs
Several thousand in overhead annually on our mortgage to live on a multi acre property so our breeding dogs can have an amazing life
$20,000 anually for a puppy assistant that helps with daily upkeep, cleaning, puppy socialization and densitization, training puppies and breeding adults
A reputable breeder invests the absolute best into their litter, the best sire/dam and proven quality by titling and all the available health tests. The litter receives the best care, not to mention all the breeder's time they spend the most time and effort screening potential buyers and then supporting them with their questions and follow up for the rest of their puppy’s lives. You are likely to get a healthy, well rounded puppy that fits your needs and all the support you could imagine from this kind of breeder. You can expect to pay between $3,500-$6,000+ for a quality bred puppy by a reputable breeder.
The hours I spend with puppies properly socializing and desensitizing them, advertising them, keeping up with my website and other social media accounts (making it a fun and interactive experience for buyers) communicating with prospective buyers, updating current buyers, and time it takes to clean and sanitize things daily is my passion and my job. I will only do this one way, and that is the right way which takes many more hours a week then your average breeder. This can be done so much more cheaply. Breeders can put their puppies in their laundry room/bathrooms/basements/cages with poor set ups and spend hardly any time with them or cleaning them. They give them a bath and send them on their way and the buyer gets to deal with a lifetime of repercussions of an insecure dog that wasn’t socialized or desensitized to things and thousands of additional dollars spent on health issues. Did you know that the average vet bill for a puppy mill puppy or rescued dog is $5,000?
Another big point to bring up is how buyers get frustrated when the dog doesn’t demonstrate the personality traits of what they read about or they complain about aggression issues, anxiety issues, impulse issues, hip/joint issues & skin issues etc. Did they do any research on the parent dogs? Was their lineage and pedigrees traceable? If dogs were bred that are not stand up representations of each breed then you’re not going to be left with the kind of dog you’re seeking. Puppies from great lineage cost more on the front end, to better ensure a great dog that lives up to the wonderful characteristics they are known for when bred properly. Behavioral/health issues end up costing buyers looking for the cheapest puppies thousands more on the back end. Not to mention their sanity, which is priceless in my opinion.
There’s cheaper everything in this world. Ethical breeders put thousands more dollars and hours into their dogs to save buyers thousands on the back end which drives up the cost of the puppy. If the pedigrees, lineage, credentials of parents, facility puppies are raised in and amount of time spent with them daily is worth the money to you then I am so glad you found us. This is a 12-15 year commitment to an animal that will live with you everyday and we are SO glad that you are taking this seriously. Your diligence is the characteristic we are looking for in prospective buyers. We care deeply about our puppies and the homes they go to.
What type of training do you recommend? How do I get my doodle Canine Good Citizen and/or service dog trained?
My training recommendations and the steps to obtain such titles are layed out for you under the “What to do” Tab found here.
Will you consider breeding rights on a male or female puppy?
We will consider breeding rights to qualified breeders if this wish is communicated prior to purchase of puppy. Please email us so we can discuss in more detail. I will want to know of your plans and considerations for health testing and training first and most importantly I need to understand your motive for breeding. I am receptive to like-minded ethical breeders and just as importantly I believe in mentoring new breeders to encourage and assist them to do this right.