EARLY NEUROLOGICAL STIMULATION (ENS)

Early neurological stimulation (ENS) is a process that was developed to introduce mild stresses to young puppies (3-16 days old). These stresses help improve the growth and development of the puppies immune system and stress tolerance by stimulating the neurologic system. Puppies are handled individually and put through the next 5 steps for 3-5 seconds one time a day.

Tactical Stimulation: The puppy is held in one hand and is gently "tickled" with a cotton swab between their toes.

Head Held Erect: Using both hands, the puppy is held straight up so that it's head is directly above it's tail.

Head Pointed Down: The puppy is held with both hands and is held directly downwards.

Surpine Position: The puppy is held firmly in both hands on it's back.

Thermal Stimulation: The puppy is placed feet first on a damp towel that has been refrigerated or 5 minutes. The puppy is not restrained from moving.

Along with ENS we also follow protocols from the BadAss Breeder Program and the Puppy Culture Program.

Color, size, gender, ect.....are all factors in price. Most our puppies are priced between $2800-$6,000.

The puppies are typically de-wormed 3 times before they go home (e.g. at 3, 5, 7 weeks) and have their vet health check up and first set of vaccinations at 6-7 weeks. The next set of shots will be due around 3 weeks from then. That usually falls at around 9-10 weeks. Your puppy will likely come home at 8 weeks, so the first set will be due 1-2 weeks after the puppy comes home. It is important to keep your puppy on schedule for their puppy vaccinations. Your vet can discuss the best plan at your first vet appointment when the puppy goes home.

Each puppy comes home with a swag bag, just for them. It includes a sample bag of the food that they are on (Victor brand),a collar and leash, vet/ vaccination records and pee pads if travelling a significant distance.

While Bernedoodles tend to be healthier than their parent breeds, they can still be prone to conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia and certain eye problems. Skin problems, such as hot spots and allergies, are also seen in this mix.

Genetic testing can reduce the risk of many diseases. At ExpedtionDoodles we test our dogs through Embark and certified veterinarians. It’s important for prospective buyers to understand that breeders invest a great deal of money upfront in finding healthy breeding stock and doing the required testing. This investment is usually reflected in the higher cost of the puppy for the buyer. A higher upfront cost will most likely reduce vet bills down the road.

Tests required for Breeding of Bernese Mountain Dogs:

1. Hips – OFA or PennHip or OVC

2. Eyes – CERF

3. Elbows – OFA

4. Heart

5. Degenerative Myelopathy

6. Von Willebrand Disease – if not cleared through parentage.

Elbows have become a recent problem in the Bernese, and you may find many older health-tested dogs will not have elbow clearances. To continue to keep up with the research and the recommendations of the breed Association, all new Bernese certifications should have elbows cleared before breeding.

Tests required for the Breeding of Standard Poodles:

1. Hips – OFA, PennHip, or OVC

3. Eyes – CERF (Required yearly)

2. Elbows – OFA

4. Von Willebrand Disease

5. Sebaceous Adenitis

6. Degenerative Myelopathy

7. Heart

* Thyroid malfunctions – Not Required but a highly recommended test for all breeding dogs.

Tests required for breeding of Miniature and Toy Poodles:

1. Hips for Hip Dysplasia and Legg-Perves Disease OFA, PennHip or OVC 2.

2. Stifles for Luxating Patellas

3. Eyes CERF – Required Yearly

4. Von Willebrand Disease

5. Elbows

6. Degenerative Myelopathy

7. Heart

* Thyroid malfunctions – Not Required but a highly recommended test for all breeding dogs

F1- refers to the cross between two purebred dogs- A Bernese Mountain Dog crossed to a Poodle. This generation cross gives a 50/50 mix, genetically they will have a combination of attributes between the two parents. Coats in F1s can vary in terms of amount of hair shedding. Some will be nearly completely non-shedding and others will some hair that still sheds. There can be variation within this generation in terms of coat but most will be a loose wavy coat to a curly wave. Some choose this generation in order to have a more even combination of the genetics and personality of the parent breeds- In Bernedoodles the F1s typically have the most Bernese colors, blockiness and personality.

F1b- are a Bernedoodle crossed to a Poodle- with 75% poodle, their coats are consistently, low to non-shedding. Typically half of the litter will be have a curly coat and half will have a looser wavy coat. They are more suited to a family that may have mild allergies or that feel strongly about shedding in their dog. Their build will usually be a little less blocky and their colors can vary more than the F1’s.

F2 or Multi-Generational- refer to two Bernedoodle parents that are bred together to achieve a multi-generational cross. The attributes can vary, but the idea behind multi-gen breeding is to reach a consistent pairing between desirable attributes from both parents. All purebred dogs today come from many generations of breeding multi-gen crosses to achieve a consistent breed standard. There can be variation in the mix of genes that each multi-gen puppy gets, but with many generations, a predictable set of traits and looks will emerge.

Our doodles can have a straight, wavy, or curly coat depending on the generation and parents of the dog.

When their coat is grown out it will need to be brushed regularly to prevent matting. Typically a shorter coat is fairly easy to maintain. We recommend grooming every 6-8 weeks.

Sizes will vary depending on the size of the parents

“Toy”: up to 18lbs

“Micro or mini”: up to 25lbs

“Moyan”: 25-35lbs

“Medium” 35-50lbs

“Standard”: 50lbs+