I read an article about golden doodles who at an early age incur huge vet bills for surgery and illness.  Is this true?

If a golden doodle pup is not healty, do not blame the breed, blame the breeder.  Ask yourself these questions about your prospective breeder before you buy.

1. Does the golden doodle breeder offer a guarantee?  Taos Dood Ranch and other reputable breeders offer a one year guarantee against genetic defects and some illness.  In fact, Taos Dood Ranch always wants puppies and owners to be happy.  If you are unhappy with your pup for any reason within the first few months, Taos Dood Ranch will take the puppy back and replace it with another, or refund your money less the $300 deposit.  I have even taken back a puppy because he "didn't fit into the family dynamic" whatever that means.  We found a second new home for that pup in Santa Fe where he helps his mistress operate an art gallery.  I regularly get calls from clients who have just met Oliver at the art gallery and want to know if we have another Oliver.
   
   
2. Does the breeder use only championship bloodlines in the breeding stock?  Taos Dood Ranch does.  Even though golden doodles are not an AKC registered breed, all of the poodle and golden retriever parents are pedigreed and boast champions in their backgrounds.  That means their confomation is as perfect as can be.  All of our pups grow into beauties.
   
   
3. Does the breeder do genetic testing on their breeding stock.  Taos Dood Ranch does.  Our dams and sires are all genetically sound and healthy?
   
   
4. Does the breeder screen for parasites and health traits that are dangerous to pass on to the next generation?  Taos Dood Ranch checks for common and not so common parasites regularly.  We almost never find any because we are very diligent about puppy medications and cleanliness.  If our vet finds a tiny trait that should not be bred into the next generation, that pup is sold on a spay/neuter only basis.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.  Beware of bargains.