Frequently Asked Questions

As of 06/2023 the average wait time is around 2-4 months for all waitlists. It can be up to a 2 year (24 month) wait from time of waitlist acceptance to the birth of your puppy. On average, it is usually between a 6 month wait depending on what waitlist you are applying for. Wait times can not be guaranteed so we please ask that you remain patient with us, as we are just as excited to meet your puppy as you are! Ultimately, we do not control the amount of puppies born or if our momma dogs get pregnant or not, which are the major factors in how quickly the lists move.

In order to get on one of our waitlists, please read over our website to learn all about Silver Lining Doodles! When you are ready to proceed with getting a puppy, you will need to apply under the Adoption Info/Application page. Only eligible individuals/families will be contacted to join their specified waitlists. Please allow 2-4 weeks to receive a response from your application!

For the safety of both the puppies and the people that live in our home, we do not allow visitors prior to pickup. Puppies are very sensitive when they are this young, and any exposure to a virus (eg. Parvovirus) is likely to be deadly. Not only that, but there have been multiple reports of Breeders being victims of robberies that result in stolen puppies and sometimes even death. Unfortunately it is a risk we are unwilling to take, and we very much appreciate your understanding!

I do my best to post lots of photos/videos/updates on my Facebook and Instagram stories, as well as keeping the 'Current Puppies' tab updated once weekly. By the time the puppies are 5 weeks old, you will have seen lots of updates of them and will likely have started to choose favourites throughout that time. When the puppies are 5-6 weeks old picks will start, and we will discuss what exactly you are looking for in regards to coat type, colour, temperament, etc. and we will then FaceTime/videocall with the available puppies to make the final decision!

While I will do my best to make recomendations for you based on what puppy I feel may be a better fit, ultimately it will be your decision on which puppy you take home!

The puppies will have been positively exposed to a variety of experiences from birth - 8 weeks using combined methods from both Puppy Culture and #badassbreeder protocols. Puppy Culture includes the following: Preparation and Prenatal Care Early Neurological Stimulation Weaning Setup and Suggestions Developmental Periods Enrichment Effect Early Socialization Communication Trinity​ Problem Prevention​ These tools are fantastic aids in ensuring litters are sent home well balanced, confident, and ready to love! Throughout your pup's time with us, they receive a ton of one on one interaction with myself and family, as well as the other pets in the house! (Our Mini Aussie x Fable, Winter, and the tiny cat Nugget). Having good interactions with "unfamiliar" animals is important for the puppies to do when they are young to show them that there is nothing to fear. These positive interactions help significantly if you already have a pet and are bringing home a new puppy! Through positive encouragement and support the puppies are introduced to a variety of experiences from birth to 8 weeks: - ENS/ESI. - Exposure to loud/unexpected noises (virtual fireworks/car starting/kids playing) - Introduction to Grooming (bath, high velocity blow dry, brush, nails, clippers) - Getting them used to touch and handling of the paws, ears, head, legs, etc.; as well as being picked up, carried, and put down. - Litter/Spot trained, which establishes a clear difference in potty area to sleeping/home area; this is a great tool to help transition into house training when your puppy comes home! - Well loved! A happy puppy is one who has been raised with love. I put as much time, effort, and care as I can into each puppy to allow them to have the best start in life they can. Our puppies are loved on constantly; Be sure to watch our Instagram stories when we have a litter to see the puppies day by day!

All puppies and dogs are raised and kept inside of my home. The puppies are raised from birth-8 weeks in my living room, to ensure they are directly apart of the family and are exposed to the hustle and bustle of family life! Our dogs are never kept in outbuildings/sheds/barns, as we heavily believe that all dogs should be apart of a family. You can read more under the 'About Us' tab!

At this time we are not offering breeding rights on any of our dogs. We may make the odd exception for like-minded breeders who ethically breed and raise dogs (health testing and a website/social media page is mandatory to be considered), but in general we prefer to sell to pet homes only. Puppies with breeding rights are sold at additional cost and are not guaranteed for breeding purposes.

Puppies from the same litter can sometimes vary in size, especially if the parent dogs have a size difference between them. Usually, we can estimate how big a puppy will get if we combine the parents weights and calculate it from there. The weights you see posted under the Upcoming Litters tab are what the puppies from the litter are expected to weigh on average. There may be some puppies that weigh less than that number, and some more! For this reason, we cannot guarantee the size of your puppy.

Health Guarantee: An extensive 2 year health guarantee that covers non-environmental hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as genetic disorders to give you peace of mind as your puppy grows! ​ Insurance: 30 days of free pet insurance through Trupanion: The first month of puppy ownership is when accidents are most likely to happen! Having insurance for your puppy will make sure they are protected in case of an emergency. While we advise continuing coverage after the 30 days, it is not mandatory. ​ Vet Checked, Vaccinated, and De-Wormed: We want our puppies to leave our home as healthy as can be! To do our best to ensure that, our puppies are vet checked and receive their first set of vaccinations against distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza. Puppies are also de-wormed on a bi-weekly schedule to prevent internal parasites. ​ Microchipped: Our puppies are like family to us, so we microchip each puppy and require our name to stay as a secondary emergency contact in order to prevent any of our dogs getting lost or ending up in a shelter. ​ Raised on a high-quality food: With the recommendation from our reproductive specialists, our mother dogs and puppies are fed Purina Pro Plan Performance food, which is a high quality AAFCO approved kibble that delivers complete nutrition and supports balanced growth! ​ Grooming: Puppies are introduced to professional grooming through positive experiences with bathing, blow drying, nail clipping, brushing/combing, and more! ​ Training: Through the use of positive reinforcement training, puppies will go home introduced to leash walking, bite control, and litter training. Litter training is a helpful tool to teach puppies the difference between their potty area and living/sleeping area, which helps transition into house training when you take home your pup! ​ LIFETIME Breeder Support: Regardless of age, I will be here for you and your Silver Lining Doodle! I am happy to provide you with any help I can in regards to answering questions, giving advice, or just being support as you welcome the exciting life of puppy paw-renthood.

Yes! We have a group on Facebook dedicated to connecting families that own a Silver Lining Doodle. Under the "Groups" tab on facebook, look up 'Silver Lining Doodles', and we should pop up! Photos posted of any Silver Lining Puppy/Dog may be used on my website or social media.

Yes we do! Currently we are only offering shipping in the US and Canada, as international flights can be too much for a young puppy to handle. Please keep in mind that once your puppy leaves our home, they become your financial and legal responsibility. Silver Lining Doodles is not responsible for any loss or damage during transport.

Yes! I offer personal delivery in CANADA: Ontario & Quebec UNITED STATES: Michigan, New York, and Ohio. Delivery is at extra cost ($1/km both ways).

Yes! We do require that you book with a shipping company when planning to transport via plane. Petsgo is one that I have worked with multiple times in the past!

Of course! There is still the delivery charge of $1/km from my house to the airport and back, but I am more than happy to bring your puppy to meet you for your flight home.

Any driving that I will be doing is charged $1/km. A travel crate which is required for shipping via air is $60.00. Shipping companies have their own rates and services; please make sure to do your research on diligent companies! Petsgo is a shipping company I have used previously and recommend.

Yes, you must be within 1 hour of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

Proper socialization and training of the dog: The dog must be accepting of other dogs, people, children, and new situations. A beginner level obedience class must be completed through an approved trainer. Provide all routine veterinary care as needed: This includes yearly vaccinations, flea/tick meds, heartworm test, etc, as well as injuries and illnesses. Feed the dog a balanced diet, per our recommendations: The dog must be kept on a food recommended and approved by us. Based off of the advice of our reproductive specialists, we feed Purina Pro Plan 30/20 Performance food. Give the dog all necessary love, attention and care: Our puppies are like family to us, and we expect the same from our Guardians! Our Guardian dogs must stay in an overall great condition, with good hygiene (coat/eyes/ears/nails), and good health. Keep in good contact with the Breeder: Communication is key for this program to flow smoothly! Communicate when you have vet appointments, training classes, if your female is coming into heat, or if you just have questions/comments/concerns-- it is very important to have open communication between the Breeder and the Guardian for the benefit of the dog, as well as to make sure that we are both on the same page when it comes to the dog's care! Have a property suited for an intact dog: A fenced in yard as well as adequate space is necessary to be apart of our Guardian Program.

You are responsible for any costs associated with having a dog! - Veterinary Care - Food - Toys/Treats - Beds - Training Classes We are responsible for all breeding-related costs such as: - Health Testing - Veterinary Care during Whelping/Raising puppies - Food while the dog is in our care - Ultrasounds/X-Rays

We do not typically breed our males before their first birthday. Females are bred for the first time usually between 16-24 months, depending on where their heat falls! Some females may go into heat super early, while others may be super late.

Female dogs are pregnant on average for 63 days. For the first half of pregnancy, you may notice decreased appetite/energy levels, as well as potentially some morning sickness and lethargy. (Vomiting should never be continuous, and if you have any concerns throughout any point of the dogs pregnancy, the Breeder must be contacted right away.) Exercise does not change for now. Half way through her pregnancy, her food will need to start being increased as her babies grow. She will not need to change diets, as long as she is eating Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20. She will need to take it easy from here on out, so exercise is limited to leash walking only. (No dog parks, roughhousing, running, etc) Absolutely no vaccines/flea/tick/heartworm medications are to be given during this time. No vitamins/supplements/food additives are to be given without consent from the Breeder. A week before her due date, I will pick her up to let her get settled in my home-- then, we wait for babies to arrive!

Females would stay at our home for 7-14 days during her heat, and 9 weeks to deliver and raise her puppies. Males stay in our home for 7-14 days while we have a female in heat.

We breed for 4 litters at the very most. We decide whether to breed a female again if they recover well from the pregnancy, raise their pups well, and overall seem mentally/physically fit. If a female does not seem to take to motherhood too well, she will be removed from our program and retired to live on as a pet. A litter is considered at least 2 live puppies.

Our females are kept in our program for 4 litters. Breedings are done every 6 months (depending on when she goes into heat), based on the reccomendations of our reproductive specialists. Males are kept in our program until their 7th birthday.

If your Guardian dog is unable to be bred for whatever reason, you will have the option of purchasing the dog/puppy at a slightly discounted pet price.

We hope that the individuals becoming Guardians are honest and understand that this program is not just a cheap way to get a high-quality puppy, but rather an amazing way to ensure a healthy & diverse breeding program while allowing people to have their dream dog! Blood, sweat, and tears have gone into developing this program into what it is today, which requires a lot of emotional and financial investment. Individuals that plan to take advantage of this program will be met with legally enforceable penalties that include a hefty fine, as well as the removal of the dog from your possession.

We only allow 2 people from any Guardian family to visit their FEMALE dog ONCE while she raises her puppies. The puppies must be vaccinated prior to visiting (which is after 6 weeks). While it may seem like a long time to go without seeing your dog, I will do my best to provide photos and videos throughout their time with me! It is less stressful for the dog to be able to solely focus on raising her puppies, without the distraction of parents. Your Guardian dog will be totally comfortable with me and my environment as they have visited multiple times and established a relationship with me prior to breeding, so not to worry!

After retirement, the dog will be spayed or neutered at our expense and then signed over to you to officially become your pet!

Unfortunately, if you are to move out of our 1 hour radius, the Guardian dog will need to be returned.

Yes. We require a non-refundable $500.00 commitment fee to your puppy and our program.

As unfortunate as that would be, we understand that things can happen! If the situation arises where you can no longer look after your Guardian dog, he or she must be returned to us. The commitment fee will not be returned, however it can be used towards purchasing a puppy in the future if you so choose.

Yes! I offer boarding for my Guardian dogs for $20.00 a night with your food provided, or $23.00 a night with my food provided. Please book boarding at-least a week in advance. Boarding is unavailable when I have puppies or dogs being bred.

Crate training is an essential tool to help your new puppy establish a sense of security and comfort, as well as prevent behavioral issues like separation anxiety. It is highly recommended that you introduce crate training as soon as you have your puppy home! The crate becomes like a den to your puppy--a safe place. The crate should be on the main floor of your home preferably close to the door that leads out to your yard. Place a bed, chew-safe teething toys, and food/water dishes inside of the crate. For the first few days while your puppy settles in, feed and water him/her inside of the crate to make it a good experience for your puppy. If your puppy is fed inside of the crate, he/she will associate meal times with being in the crate, which makes for an easier acceptance from your puppy. Remove the food and water dishes at least an hour before bedtime, and put them back in after puppy's morning pee. The rule of thumb is for every month your puppy is alive, is an hour that they can hold their bladder. So when you get your puppy at 8 weeks, he or she will need to be let out every 2 hours to go pee! (This unfortunately includes overnight, so make sure the coffee is ready for the AM!) Your puppy is going to cry! And that is completely normal-- but just be careful that you don't teach them that crying is okay! If your puppy is crying and whimpering to get out of the crate (when you know they don't have to pee), ignore them until they are silent for at least 30 seconds. Once they are silent, approach the crate silently and let the puppy out. If they start crying as you approach immediately pause your movements. Once the puppy is silent again, continue your approach. If your puppy gets too excited and does not settle after seeing you and continues to cry, retreat completely and go out of the puppies view to wait for another 30 second window to try again. As the quiet puppy is walking out of the crate, praise with a high-pitched tone "Good boy/girl!" and go outside immediately to help reinforce house training. ** TO HELP AVOID SEPARATION ANXIETY: - For at least an hour a day while you are home, put your puppy in their crate for some quiet time. Having your puppy by themselves while still being able to hear you around the house will help comfort them in the crate, as well as help avoid the puppy associating going in the crate with you leaving the house. Start a timer the moment you put your puppy in, but do not let them out if they are actively crying/protesting. Make sure to bring your puppy outside for a pee before and after quiet time!

Puppy bladders are quiet small when they first arrive home to you, so you will need to be very diligent for the first couple weeks to set a solid foundation of house training! Your puppy will have been introduced to litter training during his or hers 8 weeks with me. Take a small palm-full of the litter pellets I provided you at pick-up and place in a pile somewhere in your yard as soon as you get home(Don't sprinkle them everywhere, just place them in a small pile). Place your puppy in your yard and allow them to sniff around. As soon as they are on the ground say "Go Pee". It is important that you do not play with or distract your puppy until they have done their business. As soon as you notice your puppy peeing or pooping, say "Go Pee, Go Pee Good Dog!" in a high pitched tone and reward with pets and a high-value treat. The important thing to communicate to your puppy is that outside is meant to go potty, which is why minimizing distractions before your puppy has done his or her business is extremely important. If you put your puppy down and say "Go Pee" and they go off to play, pick up your pup and place them in a different area of the yard and repeat "Go Pee." Repeat this process until your puppy has successfully gone to the bathroom, and once they do-- make it a huge reward! After your pup has done their business, feel free to romp around and play in the yard. If you put your puppy in the yard and they have no interest in going potty, then place your puppy back in the crate for half an hour. After the time has passed and the puppy is quiet, take him or her outside again and repeat the original process. The use of a bell is also an effective tool to help your puppy communicate with you that they need to go outside. Hang the bells from the door that leads out to your yard, make sure that your dog can easily hit them with either its nose or paws. Before taking your puppy out, have them make physical contact with the bells (enough that they acknowledge what the bells are, and what sound they make) and immediately open the door as soon as the bells start ringing. Eventually, this will transition into the dog ringing the bells when they want out! When your puppy is inside and not completely trustworthy with accidents, a great method of limiting their space is to keep them on a leash for the first week or so as you establish a routine with them. For more advice with house training and training in general, check out Youtube!

Puppies teethe until they are around 5 months old. Unfortunately this can mean for a lot of chewed shoes and carpets for us! If you puppy is nipping you: Your puppy will have been introduced to what "No" means, as I never allow my dogs or puppies to put teeth on me-- even in play! While puppy nipping is normal, not biting you is a very important boundary that needs to be respected by your puppy, even at 8 weeks, as this can lead to aggression if not managed properly. If your puppy is trying to bite you, wrap your thumb and index finger around his or her muzzle with enough pressure to keep the puppy's mouth closed, but not enough to cause significant discomfort. Say "No" in a deep and sharp tone, and then release the puppy and redirect them to a toy. When your puppy takes the toy, reward and give lots of pats and allow them to continue play! Your dog should never just outright bite you, aggressively growl (there are playful growls which are acceptable), or try and herd you. These are signs that your puppy over time has lost respect you, and has learned these behaviours are okay-- which runs the risk of your dog not listening to you, becoming aggressive towards you, others, and other animals. These behaviours are solely caused by the dog being allowed to get away with disrespect as a puppy, which can snow-ball into the bigger issues mentioned previously. If you notice your dog is demonstrating any of these behaviours, you will need to get professional corrective training immediately to prevent behaviours from getting worse. Puppies can find anything to chew! If you notice your puppy chewing on something they shouldn't be, take the item away and say "No" in a sharp tone, and then offer the puppy one of their toys by placing it on the ground infront of them. Once they take the toy on their own accord, reward with a high pitched "good boy/girl" and a pat! If they don't seem to want to stop chewing, you can purchase 'Bitter Apple Spray' for dogs which tastes really bad if a dog bites/chews something that has the spray on it, which is a great deterrent Teething is something that you need to make sure you are consistent with when setting your boundaries, especially when its on people. Usually the majority of teething is done around 4 1/2 to 5 months, though destructive behaviours can continue onwards if puppies have not been given proper guidance through the teething stage. Teething toys are important and will help your puppy not feel the urge to shred everything!

You puppy will have been dewormed on a bi-weekly schedule at weeks 2,4,6, and 8. Vaccines will have been done between 6/7 weeks. Your puppy will need to receive a booster of their vaccine 4 weeks after they got their first one, and the third one will need to be 4 weeks after their second. At their second booster appointment, your vet may reccomended Lepto as an additional vaccine-- we highly recommend you vaccinate your dog against this bacterial disease found in puddles/smaller bodies of water, as it can be life-threatening. Rabies is usually given around 3-4 months and requires a yearly booster. We recommend deworming your puppy at the second and third booster appointment, and then yearly afterwards. *UNTIL YOUR PUPPY HAS ITS SECOND SET OF VACCINES, DO NOT BRING IT TO A PET STORE, PARK, ETC. PLEASE KEEP PUPPY SOLELY IN YOUR HOUSE/YARD, AND ONLY LET HIM/HER INTERACT WITH KNOWN DOGS THAT ARE VACCINATED/DEWORMED.

We are doing our best at working towards breeding the Ultimate Companion Dog by selectively choosing our dogs & puppies that we keep in our program. Not only that, we also raise our puppies to the best of our ability with Puppy Culture/#badassbreeder protocols and pour hours of work into them from birth to 8 weeks to prepare them for your family. Ultimately as much effort as we have put in, it is up to you to continue positively molding your puppy into a respectable citizen and companion. While how puppies are raised from 0-8 weeks and genetics do factor in, training is at least 90%! Starting off on the right foot and going to training classes is highly recommended, and will only benefit both yourself and your puppy! It is also a great socialization tool and introduction to other dogs/puppies in a controlled environment. Make sure that your puppy has received their second DAPP and rabies vaccines at the least before you bring them into a pet store/training/dog park environment.

We are located in the K/W Region of Ontario, Canada!

Silver Lining Doodles is proud to produce Tiny, Mini, Medium F1, F1b, and multigenerational Bernedoodles with gorgeous coats and tempraments alike! We are also excited to annouce the addition of Mini & Medium Aussiedoodles and Australian Bernedoodles to our program! We will be starting to produce these AMAZING companion dogs in 2023/2024.

A Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. There are different sizes, generations, and coat types that we see in Bernedoodles. To learn more about the Bernedoodles we offer at Silver Lining, please visit the "Coat Type & Colour" tab.