Your puppy's personality, health, size, and coat all start with two dogs: its mom and dad. This post explains how we decide which dogs become parents at Purkey Puppies and what we weigh before any pairing.
It's the same reasoning we walk through with families on the phone, written down in one place.
Temperament comes first
Most families come to us because they want a gentle dog that fits into busy family life. That starts with the parents. Before a dog joins our program, we want to see how it behaves with toddlers, teenagers, visitors, and the other dogs in the house. We want a dog that settles easily indoors, plays well with others outside, and doesn't guard food or toys.
Our first Goldendoodle, Daisy, set that standard. She was patient with a four-year-old who used her as a pillow, and that's still the bar. A dog can have a beautiful coat and perfect clearances, but if it's nervous or pushy around people, it stays a pet and isn't bred.
Health clearances before any pairing
Temperament gets a dog considered. Health decides whether it's bred. Every one of our breeding dogs is genetically cleared at minimum, and most are OFA-certified for hips and elbows by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Hip and elbow problems are among the most common orthopedic issues in both Golden Retrievers and Poodles, so we don't skip that step for our larger dogs.
We cover what each screening means, and what it doesn't, in our health testing standards. The short version: if a dog doesn't clear, it isn't bred.
We know our dogs from birth
Several of our current moms and studs were born into our own litters. Peaches came from Daisy and our red standard poodle, Tye. Millie and Finn are from Teddy's litters, and Luna came from Lizzy and Tye. Keeping a puppy back is something we only do when we've watched its temperament from the whelping box onward and feel sure it belongs in the program.
That history matters. We know how these dogs behaved at eight weeks, how they handled their first vet visit, and what their parents and grandparents were like. It's the same daily handling every litter gets, which we describe in how we socialize puppies from birth to 8 weeks.
Size, coat, and the right match
Once a dog passes on temperament and health, we think about what each pairing will produce. Our F1B Goldendoodles pair a Goldendoodle mom with a poodle, which raises the odds of a curly, low-shedding coat. If the generation labels are new to you, our guide to Goldendoodle generations lays them out.
Size works the same way. Our Mini Goldendoodles come from smaller parents like Gigi, Macey, and Rhett, while our Standard Goldendoodles come from larger moms paired with studs like Tye and Pretzel. We match parents so families get a realistic idea of adult size, not a guess.
Pets first, in our homes
Every breeding dog lives with one of our three families, the Purkeys in Midland and the Stinnetts and Gentrys at our Red Oak program near Dallas. They sleep in our houses, ride in our cars, and play with our kids. That's how we keep seeing their temperaments day to day, not just on a good afternoon.
It also means we can answer real questions about them. If you want to know whether a mom is a couch cuddler or a ball chaser, we can tell you. You can meet every one of our parent dogs with photos, sizes, and clearances, then check our available puppies and upcoming litters to see which pairings are coming up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Purkey Puppies look for in a breeding dog?
Purkey Puppies looks for a calm, kind, people-loving temperament first, then health clearances, then size and coat. A dog that isn't gentle with children and other dogs doesn't join the program, no matter how pretty its coat is.
Are Purkey Puppies' breeding dogs health tested?
Yes, every Purkey Puppies breeding dog is genetically cleared at minimum, and most are also OFA-certified for hips and elbows. Each dog's clearances are listed on our parents page.
Do Purkey Puppies' breeding dogs live in a kennel?
No, every Purkey Puppies breeding dog lives inside one of our three family homes as a pet. Our litters are whelped and raised in those same homes.
Can I meet the parents of my Goldendoodle puppy?
Yes, you can see photos and descriptions of every mom and stud on our parents page, and you can ask about a specific litter's parents any time. Call or text Jenna at 432-770-6013 to talk through a pairing.
Have a question about a particular dog? Send us a message.
Why does Purkey Puppies keep puppies from its own litters?
Purkey Puppies keeps a puppy from its own litter when we've watched its temperament since birth and know it belongs in the program. That gives us years of firsthand knowledge no outside purchase can match.
Ask Us About Any Pairing
Every Purkey Puppies Goldendoodle is $1,700: a $200 reservation fee and $1,500 at pickup, including the first puppy shot and a vet well-check. If you want to talk through an upcoming litter or a specific mom and dad, call or text Jenna at 432-770-6013.
Ready to Reserve Your Puppy?
Join the waitlist for an upcoming litter from our Midland or Red Oak, TX program. $200 reserves your spot.