What It Means to Be a Good Dog Verified Breeder
Finding a reputable breeder can be overwhelming for families, I know that struggle firsthand! When I was trying to find a responsible breeder to start my own program, I spent months researching, messaging, and trying to tell who was actually doing things the right way. There are so many listings online, scams, and not all breeders share the same ethics or care standards.
Good Dog doesn’t just hand out their Verified badge to anyone and that’s one of the things I respect most about them. Their team personally reviews every application, checks documentation, and even schedules a call with each breeder before approving or renewing verified status. It is A LOT, but it’s absolutely worth it!
Here’s what they look at before giving a program the verified badge:
Health testing that’s appropriate for each breed
Clean, humane housing and enrichment practices
Proper breed registration
Ethical breeding frequency and retirement ages
Puppy socialization and developmental care
Transparency and long-term support for new owners
For us, being Good Dog Verified isn’t about earning a title. It’s about having a respected organization confirm that the standards we hold ourselves, are truly in line with the best practices in the breeding community.
Why Verification Still Matters After Five Years
It’s easy for anyone to call themselves a responsible breeder but how do you really know? That’s where Good Dog’s verification makes a difference. They act as a neutral, third-party check to make sure breeders are doing what’s best for their dogs and future owners.
Staying verified year after year also matters. It shows consistency, that the same standards and ethics that earned us approval back in 2019 are still guiding every litter we raise today! For us, it’s not about earning a badge once; it’s about continuing to live up to it every single day.
Beyond our Good Dog verification, we’ve completed extensive breeder education covering canine genetics, health testing, temperament, and responsible breeding practices. Our coursework included in-depth training on topics like COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding), genetic diversity, and puppy development, ensuring that every decision we make supports the long-term health and well-being of our dogs and their puppies. It was A LOT but I finished and passed!
Looking Ahead
We have a new Mini Aussiedoodle litter arriving in a couple of day! AHHH!! I’m so excited! It’s moments like this that always remind us why we breed the way we do.
Every decision from health screening to early handling is made with long term well being in mind. The Good Dog program reinforces those priorities and keeps education and ethics at the center of what we do.
If you’d like to learn more about how Good Dog supports responsible breeding nationwide—or view our verified breeder profile—you can visit:
Silverton Doodles Good Dog
