THE EVERDOODLES STORY... THE EARLY YEARS
Our special needs breeding story was born out of a problem that might be universally relatable.... We simply needed a some extra cash that winter of 2005 for the cost of heat.
Back in those days, we did not know much about "backyard breeding," but we sure loved our Golden Retriever, (GR) and thought everybody should have at least one.
Unfortunately, while interviewing adoption families, we discovered that many of them had recently lost their beloved GR to cancers. Several were YOUNG dogs. They died with little warning and no medical explanation.
But their love for the Golden Retriever breed prevailed, and they were willing to take a chance.
Worry about this mystery fueled our search for a healthier breed. We found that, by adopting a standard poodle male, we would be adding “hybrid vigor” to our line of puppies. (Yay to that!)
These pups were going to be big, (some huge) ...and gentle.. and wonderful with the children and precious with small animals...
The most perfect family dogs on the planet are likely GoldenDoodles.
FOREVERDOODLES
When we adopted Indiana Bones, we built our business around the the domain, "Foreverdoodles." It fit , because we believe true adoption creates a family relationship that exists outside of time itself.
So we insist that our families take the concept of adoption very seriously.
This is why we only breed zero-shedding, easy-to-train, no-nuisance, calm puppies. They are sort of like (perhaps easier than) children...(just more hairy).
Indiana (BONZEY) changed everything we thought we knew about puppies. Our experience with his pups was about to reveal the potential of Goldendoodles, especially for families with particular (special) needs.
PUPPY EARLY-TRAINING
Our interest in early-training began around Summer 2009 when our 6 wk-old Purple-Girl (PG) sustained a bad cut between her shoulder blades.
She was brought inside, away from her siblings for several hours a day. Inside, she could get her nap in while hanging out with our older dogs, and she slept almost through the night in my bed .
Her routine included Puppy Free-Play, protected by a duct-taped puppy jacket… (which was pure genius.)
It was 3-4 days, when I noticed something odd: Not only did she follow our trained dog's routine, but she held her urine until they answered the Potty” call …
In other words, she wanted to follow and copy the older dogs! ...That was huge!
Somehow, we had discovered the KEY to early potty-training:
Urine is a social event for ALL dogs. (We knew that, but we had never considered the implications with a young puppy.)
Taking it further, we realized that urine is a language. Puppies want to urinate where the other dogs urinate because, like all kids, they have something to SAY.
When we realized we had accidentally potty-trained a 6-wk old doodle, it raised a profound question:
“What would WE CREATE if we put in just a little effort with EACH PUPPY before they go home?”
THE HUNT
I immediately launched a search for info that could explain these surprising results.
Then we found several authors applied these findings in easy-to-read books. We learned specific routines that we (breeders) can do during the first 1-8 weeks of puppy development to enhance the training and coping abilities of our puppies.
These small, brief stressors are actually good for the newborn pup's psychological development for special work environments.
Oddly enough, we discovered the little exercises we were doing with the newborn pups, gave us similar results with PG.
We called it "desensitizing the puppies,"... just doing little things to the pups that mimmic their future home environment. Doing so would prevent fear of routine noises at home.
We ran the vacuum right inside the birth box, so they would not fear it. We started by holding each newborn, head slightly down or cradle position for a few seconds (completely unnatural).
This program helped our doodles adapt quickly and smoothly into their new home at 9 weeks of age fully potty-trained.
We also found an obscure little resource called, "Just Say Good Dog." It taught us how to talk in a way that is understandable to a puppy.
REAL LIFE ON the EVERDOODLES' HOMESTEAD
One thing we hear all the time, is that our puppies are unusually "CALM."
Perhaps the reason for this is because I do not tolerate AGGRAVATING dogs. Early-trained good behavior is something I expect. It is non-negotiable, because I am overwhelmed, while managing 9-18 pups/dogs with simple 1-2 word commands.
We live according to what we have learned, so our way of doing things is very natural.
Our interactions begin well-before our doodle puppies’ eyes are open, so they trust us like their mother.
Our pups never know what it’s like to live in a kennel where they walk through their own excrement. So, they do not form confusing habits by tracking it into their sleeping or eating area. This means that our pups will not blend those habits with the worst habit of eating it: (bleh!).
They live in our home where we wipe the floors constantly to keep odors at a minimum. They want to go outside to eliminate.
FAST-Forward to 2020
Now, we are embarking on a new generation of Mini-Goldendoodles led by our 21 lb. sire, Lil’Bo “Leo” Waggins, and his two sister-wives, Brandy and Daisy. We have joined the “big players” with ethical health clearances, certifications and super-generous health warranties. Yet we have remained small-enough to be accessible and comparatively affordable.
We have hundreds of EverDoodles that are making a huge difference in their families and communities. We have a long list of doodle family members who are so enamored with their doodles.... They love to talk about our work here and what they think of us.
SPECIAL NEEDS~
We do cater to families who NEED the special qualities of our puppies.
1. Some families need the (guaranteed) non-shedding.
2. Some are interested in the On-Premises Allergy Testing, or Life Time Training Support.
3. Many of our Doods are companions to Special Needs adults and children, particularly those with problematic experiences,… such as autism, PTSD, depression, abuse or life-altering trauma.
4. Many of our Doods are Pet Therapists and Medical Alert Dogs that provide life-saving work for their humans.
5. In 2019, we became more aware that some families simply need AN OLDER TRAINED PUPPY.
In one group, we find the adults in the home sometimes have LITTLE (or NO) EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS. They are uncomfortable with the overwhelming task of raising and training a puppy.
It is often THEIR CHILDREN who have been BEGGING FOR THE PUPPY for MANY YEARS. But these families need a breeder like us that provides an older trained puppy and a LOT OF TRAINING SUPPORT to build their confidence as a family.
FOR OTHER FAMILIES, it is the opposite: THEIR PAST EXPERIENCES of raising puppies brings back memories! It is a lot of hard work. They do NOT want to go through THAT AGAIN!
Our work for
