RUSSELL – The Hess family in Russell has been breeding goldendoodles for sale for the past five years, and has now added bernedoodles. A goldendoodle is a mix of golden retriever and poodle, and a bernedoodle is a mix of a Bernese mountain dog and poodle.

One litter is ready to go, and more litters will be ready in the next two to three weeks, said Ronald Hess, who also owns Country Woodcraft on Route 20. Hess said they are not a pet store, do not have regular hours, and they don’t always have puppies.

“However, we welcome you to give us a call and we will see what we have or what we are planning for in the near future. These pups are in high demand and go quickly,” he said.

Hess said that goldendoodle puppies have the personality traits of golden retrievers and the hypoallergenic coats of poodles, and are highly affectionate and great for first-time dog owners. The family breeds the goldendoodles in “mini” size, 18 to 20 pounds, which Hess said can adapt to a house with a small yard; and mid-size, 25 to 35 pounds, which are great for hiking on a trail, but require a bigger back lawn. Goldendoodles are easy to train, as both parent breeds are listed among the top five to 10 most intelligent dogs, he said.

The expected lifespan of a goldendoodle is 15 to 16 years, compared to 10 to 12 years for a golden retriever. Hess said golden retriever inbreeding over the years has produced a propensity to cancer and hip problems.

“When you break genetics, you get a much healthier dog,” he said.

Hess said the same is true of bernedoodles. The Bernese mountain dog is described as a large, affectionate, 100-pound working dog with an average life span of seven to eight years. Bernedoodles are calm and great around children, have the hypoallergenic coat of a poodle, and live, on average, to 12 to 13 years. The Hess family breeds mini, 18- to 20-pound, and mid-sized, 25- to 35-pound bernedoodles.

All their parent dogs have been DNA-tested for potential genetic diseases.

“We only breed healthy dogs,” said Hess, adding that the health of the parents is monitored daily. In addition, all the puppies that are sold have a doctor’s health certificate, all shots up to date, and a one-year genetic health guarantee.

Hess said the American Kennel Club does not recognize goldendoodles as a breed at this time, though there might come a time when they do.

Visitors are welcome whenever the pups are six weeks old, but by appointment only.

“Our modern whelping setup has a clean and healthy environment and, in our ambition to maintain that, we ask that you let us know if you have been in contact with any other sick animals before coming in. We may ask you to wear booties and sanitize your hands, or we may choose to meet you somewhere outside, depending on the situation,” Hess said.

For more information or to schedule a visit, call or text 454-7254.