As good as Gold
We did it! Modern Doodles was recently awarded Golden Paw status by the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA). All breeders who are members of the ALAA must meet basic health testing requirements, including hip and elbow clearances, but breeders that exceed the basic requirements become eligible for Silver and Golden Paw status.
We take our breeding dogs for an eye exam by a certified canine ophthalmologist every 18 months. In our case, we haven’t been able to locate one in Edmonton with a regular schedule, so we travel to Calgary. Yes, six hours on the road for a 12-minute appointment – but it’s worth it.
Also included in the requirements for the Golden Paw status are some additional tests that are done through DNA: exercise induced collapse (EIC) and progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA). We also check for degenerative myelopathy and von Willebrand disease. We’re proud to be members of the ALAA. We want to do everything we can to have healthy adult dogs in our breeding program.
Our puppies get lots of attention, too – they are in the main part of our house, not tucked away in a kennel somewhere. We play with them, snuggle them and expose them to all the sounds, smells and activities of a busy household. Snuggling puppies is definitely the best part!
