Breeding Practices

The McKenzie’s Doodles Difference

We’re the Experts!

Our family business was established in 2004 by seasoned animal farmers, making us among the most experienced breeders in Virginia.

Dog welfare and transparency are our business…
  • McKenzie’s Doodles main location is inspected through our county’s conditional use permit (CUP), which is publicly available and ensures our kennel and operation are sanitary and safe.
  • Our model proudly features a leading Guardian Program, which places our breeding dogs in real family homes in to prevent them from living in kennels.
  • We are dedicated to talking at length with each family to ensure they are matched with the right breed and litter for the best possible fit.
We’re dedicated to health…
  • We offer a 2-year genetic health guarantee.
  • We ensure our dog moms and dads are tested for hip health and DNA (unless cleared by parent’s genetic history), receive all vaccinations and deworming, and eat the highest quality diets that promote reproductive and digestive health.
  • Where possible, we prefer holistic and naturopathic choices that work with our dogs’ natural immune system to avoid unnecessary toxins and invasive procedures.
  • We literally drive the extra mile (two-hour roundtrip) to ensure all of our dogs receive the best healthcare from the National Capital Region’s best reproductive veterinarians, demonstrating our confidence in their services.
We specialize in temperament…
  • Our dogs historically make great therapy, emotional support, and work dogs, making them exceptional family companions.
  • We believe the miniature poodle (which is commonly used to create Mini-Doodles) temperament can create aggressive Doodles. We understood our customers’ demand for smaller Doodles they can trust around children and other dogs, so we painstakingly created the MckNugget (Mini-Doodle) variant to fit that need.
F1 Doodle

F1 Doodle

A first generation (F1) is a cross between two purebred dogs. For example, an F1 Goldendoodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle, an F1 Irish Doodle (shown) is a cross between an Irish Setter and a Standard Poodle, and an F1 Bernedoodle is a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Standard Poodle. The first generation cross is thought to have the highest hybrid vigor.

F1B Doodle

A first generation crossback is known as an F1B, and is a first generation F1 Doodle that is bred back to a Standard Poodle.

In the doodle breed, we believe that the F1b is the best cross for the more serious allergy sufferers. They are ¾ poodle at this point and that is where the non shed and allergy tolerance comes from. Their coats require a bit more brushing and grooming as they grow continually and can mat easier but for those looking for a more sure chance at none shedding, this is the cross. The F1 is a great cross for those with no allergy issues or mild to moderate ones. These have looser curls and can shed mildly or not at all.

F1B Doodle

Starting Life On
the Right Paw

The first few weeks of a puppy’s life are crucial as they develop some of their most important systems. We take advantage of this period with proven methods to maximally support our puppy’s early development. These methods include:

  • Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS): Applies gentle stressors (example: laying on its back, rubbing its paws) to a puppy during its first 16 days to improve behavioral and neurological development, enabling our pups to cope with common stressors and anxiety later in life.
  • Early Scent Introduction (ESI): Introduces pups to one pungent scent each day (example: rabbit, tennis ball, coconut) to help develop strong olfactory senses, which in turn enhances problem-solving, alertness, and environmental awareness. ESI has been known to increase a dog’s value as a therapy dog, as their sense of smell may detect certain dangers earlier than dogs that did not receive ESI.
  • Sound Desensitization: Exposes puppies at an early age to noises that frequently cause dogs anxiety to “inoculate” them against fear responses when they encounter them in real life. These sounds include construction work, farm animals, thunder, fireworks, vacuum cleaners, the clinking of ice cube makers, and many more.
Starting Life On the Right Paw
Health Testing

Health Testing

We believe that healthy parents are the building blocks for healthy puppies. There’s never a guarantee that any dog will remain healthy through their entire life, but we use every available tool to ensure we have the best raw materials to start from! All of our dogs undergo hip testing (OFA, PennHip, or OFA-certified veterinarian approval) and DNA testing for breed-specific diseases (unless cleared through parents).