Meet B7

In the middle of October, once I had firmly decided that I could afford a dog, I started to look for a breeder.

I have been researching breeds for YEARS. I have been comparing sizes, coats, activity level, social needs, grooming needs, coats, etc... and finally settled on a breed.

"Ideally" I am looking for a:
 -smart
-docile (good around children)
-active
-social
-non-shedding/ hypo allergenic dog.

(Not too much to ask for right?)

I settled on a Golden Doodle. The name may sound silly, but the dog is not. It's it a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, combining the best traits of each breed.
A friend of mine has two beautiful Doodles, and I have loved the breed ever since meeting them. These two dogs are happy, fun loving, hypo-allergenic gentle giants. PERFECT. 

Once I had picked a breed, the next step (After further budget revision, and extension: Doodles (mixed with a Standard Poodle can be big dogs, so be prepared to "Biggy Size" everything: Crates, beds, food, vet bills) is to find a Breeder.
Local Vets can offer help.
Dogs Magazine is full of lists of breeders by dog breed.
Online there are Breed specific "Societies" that can help you find breeders.
And the most reliable source to find a breeder from is a family friend who has bought from that breeder before and recomends the bloodline or trusts the skills of the breeder.

Contrary to my advice, I found a post on Kijiji, announcing a new litter of Doodle pups, and after seeing their pictures (They were new borns and teeny tiny) I couldn't resist contacting the breeder for more information.

I will go into detail about my expectations from a breeder, and how amazing B7's breeder is in a later post, but for now you just need to know that I visited the breeder, asked lots of questions, met the mom, met the pups and found a soulmate in this pup.

This is B7 at less than a week old. This was the picture on the ad that made my heart do funny flips in my chest and urged me to contact the breeder. He was born October 5th 2012.

This is him at 1week, sitting on my lap, perfectly content. His mom is sitting right by my face demanding love and affection from me while I'm trying to get to know B7.

This is still at 1 week old. I call this picture "Mr Tubs" because you can see how chubby his little bum is. He's 7 days old and already nearly 4lbs. (HMR, please correct the weight if I got it wrong, you were there and have a better memory than me) All I know was at 1 week old, B7 was nearly heavier than my friend HMR's 6 month old Yorkie/Poodle cross.

That's it for now! I'll explain the nick name B7 soon.

-Brandolyn

Research:
-Golden Doodle Breed- Needs and Care
-How much are the anticipated Vetrinary bills (shots, checkups, neutering)?
-How to find a good Vet