Puppy Love: Raising Canine Companions at Bernedoodle Hill

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy of Holli Petropaolo

Sometimes being a bernedoodle breeder means staying up with a mama canine while she is in labor all weekend or saving newborn puppies by giving them CPR on the way to the vet. It also means drawing small crowds excited to say hello to these fluffy, fun-loving dogs whenever they are out and about in the community. “It’s okay, they’re very friendly!” Chelsea Inderman assures a curious family, to their delight, during an interview outside Lamppost Coffee in Georgetown.

She and her mom, Holli Pietropaolo, have been bernedoodle breeders for the last three years and love raising these adorable fur balls, even if it can be challenging at times. They discovered that love while owning two Loving Touch Pet Spa locations in Liberty Hill and Bertram. “Of all the dogs we groomed, we loved the texture of bernedoodles’ hair. They don’t have to be groomed nearly as often as most doodle breeds,” Holli says.

DOG BREEDING ADVENTURE

Building on Holli’s previous experience breeding other dogs, she and her daughter now raise miniature and medium-sized bernedoodles anywhere from 25 to 55 pounds at their home in Liberty Hill. They prefer these types of bernedoodles as they are less expensive to groom and easier for families to manage than large doodle breeds. Each dog is raised in sanitized, climate-controlled rooms in a loving home around adults and children to help them develop sweet, sociable temperaments. “Our number one goal is to raise healthy forever pets,” Holli says.

One of the main lessons she and Chelsea have learned is that breeding bernedoodles involves a significant amount of dedication and patience. The duo provide 24/7 care for dogs and their puppies, who have their own room in the house with their mom until they are 6 weeks old. Additionally, the puppies begin kennel training and receive their first vaccinations and wellness check at the vet at 6 weeks. “The new families are surprised about how well they adapt and have started their new training when they pick them up at 8 weeks,” Chelsea says.

From day one, they work closely with their vet, Dr. Shane Daigle at Mercy Veterinary Hospital. He performs hormone tests to determine breeding readiness, handles artificial insemination if needed, and conducts X-rays to ensure the puppies’ and mother’s safety throughout the pregnancy as well as wellness checks after the puppies are born.

The two have certainly had their share of adventures as dog breeders. Chelsea remembers one stressful Christmas Eve when her mom called her around 1am to tell her one of the dogs was in labor. “We delivered a whole litter of puppies, and I was back minutes before my kids woke up.” She received a similar call about another unexpected birth during her daughter’s fifth birthday party — the difference being one of the dogs started having puppies in the front seat of Holli’s Jeep. They ended up naming the puppies after the Jeep, the highway she was driving on, and gas station they met at –Wrangler, Highway 29, and Boomers.

FINDING FOREVER HOMES

The hardest part about raising bernedoodles, Chelsea and Holli share, is handing them over to their new families after becoming so attached. Still, they love playing witness to the dogs’ journeys with new, loving families thanks to regular updates from many adopters. And, as the two still own Loving Touch Pet Spa, they enjoy getting to groom some of the dogs they raised.

When it comes to choosing a reputable breeder, Holli and Chelsea advise looking for one with a personal, thorough adoption process such as Bernedoodle Hill, which allows potential adopters to meet their future furry friend in person or over FaceTime. “You should talk to them in person and go to their home where they were born and raised so you can see the parents and what kind of conditions they were brought up in,” Holli says.

The cost of adopting a bernedoodle can range from $2,800 to $3,500, reflecting the extensive care and resources invested in each puppy.

“We spend a lot of one-on-one time with each puppy and provide the kind of care and DNA testing needed for better quality puppies. We breed bernedoodles for the love of this breed,” Holli says.

That kind of passion is an essential quality for anyone interested in becoming a dog breeder, “You literally have to be obsessed with any dog you breed,” Chelsea says. “And definitely do it with a partner.”