Frequently Asked Questions about Our Program

Where do your parent dogs live? Can I meet the dog parents?

Our parent dogs are first and foremost beloved family pets. Rather than using a traditional kennel model, most of our parent dogs live with carefully selected local families through our Guardian Home Program.

A guardian home is a unique arrangement where a family receives a Teddy Puppies parent dog at no cost while Teddy Puppies retains breeding rights as long as the dog’s health remains optimal. This allows our dogs to live full, loved, family-centered lives with individual attention, affection, and care. If you’re interested in learning more about our Guardian Home Program, click here.

For the safety and health of our puppies, families, and clients, we do not offer public tours of our home or puppy areas. Young puppies are especially vulnerable before completing their vaccinations, so we prioritize a controlled and low-risk environment.

We are absolutely happy to meet families in person. At your puppy matching meeting around 6 weeks old, you’ll be able to meet the puppies you are choosing from and, upon request, the mother as well. (The father is typically back with his guardian family since he is not involved in whelping or nursing.)

After puppies are weaned, most parent dogs return home to their guardian families, who are usually very excited to have them back. Because our dogs live with real families who have jobs, children, schedules, and commitments, we try to be respectful of their time. However, guardian families are often happy to share updated photos/videos and may even be open to meeting in person if schedules align.

We also host Teddy Puppies family reunions and guardian family gatherings throughout the year, which many of our families enjoy attending.

Transparency is very important to us. We maintain an active license with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and have consistently passed both scheduled and random inspections with no violations. We are always happy to share videos, photos, and updates of our puppies, parent dogs, and living environments.

Our goal has always been to raise well-socialized puppies in loving family environments — not in a large kennel setting — and we’re incredibly grateful for the wonderful guardian families who help make that possible.

• What health testing has been completed on your breeding dogs?

You can view all of our current breeding dogs' health testing by creating an account and signing in and viewing our Program on Gooddog linked here. We only accept deposits on Gooddog becasue it is a scammer secured platform that verifies breeders and their health testing, so I'd save your password to a note so you are able to use the site again if you choose to move forward in the process.

• What Financing Options are available?

Yes, GoodDog now offers Klarna after pay options, and we do have two interest-free credit options that you can apply for. You can learn more, HERE.

• What comes with your puppies? Do you give discounts?

I am an ethical breeder, not a puppy mill, so that means we give a lot of individual time and attention to each puppy and care for each mama and I have a team that supports their care. Selecting the best parent dogs with excellent genetics and breeding rights, parent health testing, prenatal and postnatal vitamins, veterinary care, potential for C-sections or other emergency care, food, grooming, litter care, employee support, and more for my dogs. Breeding is a chosen sacrifice and I can't tell you how many important family events that I have missed in order to attend a birth or care for neonate pups. If any pup is failing to thrive, I tube feed them every 2 hours around the clock day and night. I have taken extensive courses on genetics, to understand pairing outcomes and choosing parents that compliment each other best. I know my lines and I try to be honest and realistic about expectations, and don't over-promise just to sell a puppy. People selling puppies for cheap simply have to cut costs somewhere, and likely it will be caring for the pups and dog parents that deserve to be honored as they produce the healthiest pups possible for families like you to adopt. I love my puppies and parents deeply and it shows. Please read my reviews on Google to see what others say about me. That being said, we do offer a $200 discount to military and service personelle. If budget is a concern and you live locally, you may be a candidate to be a guardian family for one of our future parent dogs and you can learn more here.

-My parents are all tested prior to breeding and my pups come with a 2 year genetic health guarantee

-Home-raised on a Puppy Curriculum consisting of the Puppy Culture and the badass breeder program

-Individual Temperament evaluations

-Access to the Teddy Puppies private Facebook group and in-person annual family reunions

-Access to puppy care, training, and grooming resources

-Thorough deworming and fecal exam

-Puppy health examination conducted by a licensed veterinarian & age-appropriate vaccination schedule

-30 days of free Trupanion health insurance

-A discount code that can be used for the Baxter and Bella online training program

-Go-home bag with a starter bag of food, toys, collar, leash, health records, and some special goodies

-Lifetime Breeder Support

-Working with a breeder who has certificates in whelping, socialization, and evaluation, genetics, and holds an active license with the Department of Agriculture and adheres to their inspection codes.

-I commit to taking any puppy back at any point in their life so they won't overwhelm shelters.

-I have lots of Google reviews and have references you can check

• How and where are the puppies raised? Can you explain a bit about the Puppy Culture curriculum?

  
  

  Most puppies are raised at my home, but some guardian families have chosen to be mentored by me and were previously retired breeders, vet techs or wanted to learn the way we do things. Those hand-picked families at times are allowed to raise our puppies in their home under my supervision and care.

  
  

EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION

Experts at Puppy Culture recommend doing Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) exercises daily when the puppies reach 3 days old to wake up their neurological system, increase resilience, and stimulate brain activity during this critical stage.

1. “Tactile Stimulation” where we use a Qtip and run it over paws for 3-5 seconds to wake up neurological system

2. Hold puppy vertically with head up for 5 seconds

3. Hold pup with head down for 5 seconds

4. Hold puppy on back in ‘supine’ position for 5 seconds

5. ‘Thermal stimulation’ put puppy on cold washcloth that’s cold and damp

   
   

EARLY SCENT INTRODUCTION

We do ESI to increase neuroplasticity in neonates and prepare dogs to be successful in work and everyday life. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify, change, and adapt both structure and function throughout life and in response to experience. Some of our puppies will go on to become diabetes support dogs, emotional support dogs, or serve in other capacities.

1. On days 3-16 we present pups with a new scent like garlic, grass, dirt, leaves, bark, moss, flowers, pungent fruits, herbs, and spices including orange, banana, lemon, apple, lime, rosemary, mint, cloves, cinnamon, and even anise. Then we introduce working items, like ducks, pheasant, tennis balls, wood, and leather.

2. Then, one pup at a time we hold these scents just in front of – but not touching – its nose, allowing it to sniff them for 5 seconds. We are looking for one of three common reactions. Some items they love, some items they hate, and some they just don’t care about. How do we tell if a puppy likes the smell of an item? When they like it, the pup will often try to bury its nose in the object, snuffling, staying engaged, and despite their inability to move well they’ll even try to move towards it. If they hate it, pups will turn their head away and keep it there, sometimes blowing hard out their noses as if to clear it, and even screeching. Of course, there are many scents that they just don’t care about. We call this a neutral response and typically the pups do little or nothing aside from sniff when presented with the scent.

On day 16 until 8 weeks of age, we expose our puppies to Loud Noise and do Lifestyle Exposure exercises and daily handing exercises. We begin with sounds like clanging on a metal bowl and gradually work up to more startling sounds like fireworks, lawn mowers, airplanes, vacuums etc.

The goal of lifestyle exposure exercises is for the puppies to learn how to recover from being startled. Lifestyle exposure exercises include being introduced to bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, water bottles, steps and things to jump/climb through, puppy playground activities, wobble disks, crinkly tarps, ropes, tunnels, car rides, meeting a stranger, a ball pit (day 35-56), a skateboard, steps etc.

• How does puppy-picking work? What if I reserve before the puppies are born and my preferences are not available when my pick arrives?

  
  

When the puppies are 6 weeks old we temperament test them and share results with our families. Then we allow families to pick in-order of the deposits placed and we are happy to make recommendations based on the test results and our relationship with the puppies. We ask you to pick between 3 or fewer puppies to avoid confusion and family members all connecting with different puppies, which makes for a hard decision. Choosing a puppy is like a marriage and it will involve training and discipline, even with the puppy of your dreams.

We want you to be over-the-moon happy about choosing your fur baby. We recommend choosing a puppy based on temperament over physical attributes, but we do understand that is a factor in choosing your new companion. That being said, if your picking opportunity arises and there isn't a puppy that matches your criteria, you will have the opportunity to defer to the next litter and typically you'll have an earlier picking number which is more likely to fit your needs.

• If my life changes suddenly, can I return my puppy/older dog?

  
  

Yes, we commit to take any Teddy Puppy back at any point during their life. We never want them placed in a shelter and our home is always open to our babies. We do not offer a refund for dogs surrendered to us, as it is usually quite expensive to re-train, vaccinate, groom, and provide the care and temperament evaluations for a dog whose care has likely not been optimal prior to rehoming. This process typically takes several months for us, and we will always try to empower you to find solutions for your dog before it comes to this. Surrendering a dog to us should be a last resort for emergencies.

If there is an older puppy that is available, is there something wrong with it?

Not at all. Families’ circumstances can change for many reasons, including travel schedules, vacations, timing, finances, housing changes, or family planning decisions. Sometimes families are simply not ready when the time comes — and we genuinely want families to adopt a puppy only when they feel fully prepared.

Because of that, we allow families to defer their reservation up to 3 litters for any reason, including personal circumstances or even mental health needs. We try to approach puppy adoption with compassion and flexibility rather than pressure.

Every family is also looking for something different. Some prefer a very calm personality, while others want a more playful or outgoing puppy. Some are waiting for a specific size, color, gender, timing, or temperament match. Since we wait until temperament evaluations are completed before final matching decisions are made, it can sometimes take longer for the right family and puppy to find each other.

Our goal is not a fast fit — it’s the right fit.

In many cases, older puppies actually come with advantages. They may have additional socialization, crate exposure, grooming experience, confidence-building, and foundational training that younger puppies have not yet had the opportunity to develop.

• Do you offer a Health Guarantee?

  
  

Yes, we provide a two-year genetic health guarantee and you can read all of the details in our puppy contract here.

• When can we pickup our puppy or when will he/she be delivered? Do you provide transportation?

  
  

Our puppies go to their forever homes between 8-9 weeks of age. We do have reliable transportation partners who provide in-cabin flight nanny services and ground transportation services. This is an additional cost and you can let me know if you want to request a quote.

• Do you offer Breeding Rights?

  
  

We occasionally offer breeding rights to approved programs only. This is never assumed as all puppies are sold on a pet-only contract and this must be discussed prior to adopting your puppy. There is a special application for breeders and we need to have a conversation about this. You can learn more, here.

• What vaccines and de-wormings do puppies receive before going home? What else will my puppy come home with? What kind of food are they on? Are the puppies potty-trained?

  
  

Our 8-week old puppies are partially potty-trained (with a litter box) but our families will need to continue the training process. Our puppies are dewormed at 2, 4, 6 & 8 weeks with pyrantel pamoate and are vaccinated at 7 weeks for distemper-adenovirus, parvovirus, and type 2 parainfluenza (this is 1 of 4 vaccines typically spaced 3 weeks apart). Our pups usually transition to their forever homes between 8 - 9 weeks of age and they are due for their next vaccines at 10 weeks of age. If the puppy going home is older than this, they would be on the age-appropriate vaccination schedule.

Their puppy go-home bag includes a few of their favorite toys, a month's worth of free Trupanion insurance, a blanket with mom and littermates' scent, and a quart sized bag of pawtree puppy food, linked here. To learn about crate & potty training and how to prepare for your pup's arrival, click here to read our blog about Taking Your Puppy Home.

• How long have you been breeding?

I got into breeding after my mom suddenly passed in the summer of 2018. I was pet sitting and this dog came up and started licking my entire face wildly and their tongue went up my nose and I was laughing so hard--it was the first time I laughed uncontrollably in a long time after my mom died (courtesy laughs aside) and I felt like it healed me in a sense. So I got my first breeding dogs (I had always owned dogs in the past from rescues or my family dogs growing up). I joined GANA (Goldendoodle Association of North America) and got paired with an experienced breeder and learned a ton from her. She helped lay the foundation for my program and make lots of tough choices that we are reaping the benefits of now.

• Can I meet a particular puppy in person or over video?

  
  

Yes, I would love to speak with you about your unique needs and have you meet our sweet pups in person (if they are over 6 weeks of age) in-person or over video. The best way to begin this process is for you to fill out a puppy application (no commitment or deposit required) by clicking here, and will reach back out and give you a call within 2 business days. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out.

• How often do you breed your females and how do you care for their reproductive health?

Each dog is evaluated each cycle by our vet and they provide specific health direction but here's a general overview if all goes according to plan. We typically breed a healthy female (who usually lives with a wonderful guardian family) and has an excellent temperament after her 2nd or 3rd heat cycle (typically around 2 years of age). There is no guarantee they will get pregnant every breeding but if everything continues going perfectly during her pregnancies, we usually retire females at some point when they are 4 years old and neuter males around age 6 or when their sperm count declines. Our moms all receive excellent pre-natal and post-natal care and get thorough reproductive evaluations every cycle and they remain up-to-date on all vaccines, heartworm, and flea and tick medication and are screened for genetic diseases. We give them prenatal and postnatal vitamins as well and supervise them closely throughout the entire process. We follow the advice of the leading reproductive expert, Dr. Hutchison, DVM with Good Dog and our amazing reproductive veterinarian Dr. Bob at Hamby Road Animal Hospital and Dr. Ana at Best in Show Animal Hospital.

Let’s discuss back-to-back breeding, or breeding without skipping a heat cycle. Traditionally, we thought that bitches needed a “break” between litters for their optimum health. That’s no longer considered best practice, for several reasons.

 First, when you look at the reproductive and nursing cycle of a dog and their healing needs, it’s fairly comparable to a human having a baby every 2 years or so. While I emphasize frequently that dogs are not people, I think that as an analogy this can be helpful to some who find initial mental resistance with breeding a female as frequently as twice a year.

Next is the effect of progesterone on the uterus. One of the most vocal proponents of breeding back-to-back is well-known reproductive specialist Dr. Robert Hutchinson, DVM of Good Dog.

In his seminars, Dr. Hutchinson explains that the progesterone level in the bitch remains elevated for two months after ovulation whether or not she has a pregnancy. This is a critical fact since progesterone can be inflammatory to the lining of the uterus.

When a bitch cycles and there’s no pregnancy, the uterine lining thickens from the inflammatory effects of progesterone and that can increase the risk of infection and endometriosis. In fact, while most of us think of pyometra as a bacterial disease, Dr. Hutchinson says it’s actually an inflammatory disease, with the bacterial infection being a secondary factor. In Dr. Hutchinson’s own words, the progesterone “hammers the uterine lining for 60-plus days.”

(Dr. Hutchinson also says that bitches should be spayed as soon as they no longer will be bred to help avoid future pyometra and other problems. Research shows that spaying also helps prevent mammary cancer, particularly when done by 4 years of age.)

At the risk of repeating myself once again, dogs are not humans, and while human females shed the lining of their uteruses every cycle, dogs only shed their uterine lining when whelping. As linings stack up, they lose flexibility and elasticity, which can also contribute to fertility problems as that can affect the ability of eggs to attach.

So his advice is to breed your bitches young and breed back-to-back and not to skip cycles unless you have a medical reason to do so.

To add to this, skipping a pregnancy puts your bitch at risk for a phantom, or pseudo pregnancy—a false pregnancy. False pregnancies look just like regular pregnancies, except there are no puppies. Your bitch, however, will gain weight, nest, have enlarged teats, and lactate. But she won’t shed her uterine lining. False pregnancies increase the risk of mammary cancers in dogs.