Frequently Asked Questions

This page contains everything you need to know about our animals! From basic breed information, to our feeding and training preferences, to our adoption process. All can be found below with Maine Coons first and Golden Doodles second.

doodle, golden mountain, salty dog, seaweed

Maine Coon Kitten FAQ:

  • Maine Coons have big personalities and large strong bodies! Some enjoy water, to swim or play in, and are often very friendly and connected to their people. Some call them the dogs of the cat world, not just for their size, but for their human loyalty and affectionate natures.

  • Our female cats are 10-12 lbs, the males are 20 lbs.  Kittens may be slightly larger, but likely near these weights

  • We have kittens available every few months thru the year.

  • The waiting list has typically been 3-9 months but we occasionally have puppies available sooner. 

  • 8 weeks

  • Yes, families typically visit at 5 weeks to meet the kittens and begin to make matches. 

  • We will talk ahead of time about what you are looking for and work with you in making great matches.  Sometimes families choose a kitten at 5 weeks according to their spot on the wait list. At the same time, if someone is looking for something specific (a male tabby, for instance), and other families are flexible on color or gender, I help to meet those stated preferences or needs during the match process.

  • $ 2600-3100 including a 2 year health guarantee, an agreement to neuter/spay, and registration papers after the neuter.

  • Yes, we genetically health test our cats and only breed animals that are passing down healthy genetics.

  • We deworm the mom before the birth, and kittens at 5 and 7 weeks.  Kittens are protected by the mom’s immunity until 11 to 16 weeks.  Our vet suggest beginning vaccines at 9-10 weeks, kittens go home at 8 weeks, so families take care of those.

  • We feed approximately 50/50 raw and kibble.  We include ‘Mainely Poultry’ local ground raw chicken, organs and ground bone. Also ground beef, organs and bone from a local butcher.  We add ‘Standard Process Immune and Hepatic Vitamins’, fish oil, probiotics, taurine, and ‘Plaque-Off’ for clean teeth.  We also offer good quality grain free kibble like ‘Orijen’ and ‘Taste of the Wild’ to simplify our lives, but the cats greatly prefer the meat!  

  • Yes! For Maine Coon cats, this means the cat is officially recognized by a cat registry ensuring they meet the organization's breed standards and have a verifiable pedigree. Our cats are registered with the Cat Fanciers’ Association.

  • Yes, at times.  Let us know if a lower initial cost would be essential for you to be matched with a cat or dog. One way that that is possible is for local folks (with in 1 hour of Belfast, Maine ideally) to become a companion family, housing and loving a breeding cat for the time she would be bred, and then we spay or neuter and the cat goes back the family as their pet.

Golden Doodle Puppy FAQ:

  • Golden Mountain Doodles are a combination of Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain dog and poodle.  This wonderful breed is described by the originators; Swiss Ridge Kennels in Canada; “The Golden Mountain Doodle cross blends the clever, yet amusing side of the poodle with the placid, loyal, loving nature of the golden retriever and Bernese mountain dog.  Golden Mountain Doodles are affectionate and easy to train with a playful nature.  They are people pleasers, wanting to be by your side and learn new things.  They are social and spirited dogs and have a gentle and patient disposition that makes them great with children.  Because they are so easygoing, they are great for first-time dog owners and experienced ones alike.  They are the perfect all-around companion.

    Our puppies are low- to non-shedding and considered hypoallergenic, making them compatible for most people with allergies.

  • We aim to breed multigenerational small to medium dogs. So far we’ve had puppies from 30 to 60 lbs, with the parents and grandparents being 35-55 lbs on both sides. Most puppies are 40-55 lbs. If you prefer a smaller or larger puppy, we’ll do our best to match that, and genetics aren’t fully predictable so we can’t guarantee a specific weight.

  • We plan to have 2 litters per year in the spring through fall.  We like to begin potty training in the warm months with young puppies having lots of time outside.

  • The waiting list has typically been 3-9 months but we occasionally have puppies available sooner. 

  • 8 weeks

  • Yes, families typically visit at 5 weeks to meet the puppies and begin to make matches.  

  • Temperament is the most important aspect of matching.  We will talk about what you are looking for, observe the puppies and work with you in matching puppies with their people.  Families also give input about coloration and other preferences.

  • The price for a Golden Mountain Doodle is $4500 including a 2 year health guarantee and agreement to neuter/spay.  The price is higher than some breeders, representing the costs of seeking out parent dogs with exceptional temperament and health, feeding local farm meats, best quality kibble, probiotics, fish oil, post vaccine immune support and hepatic cleansing, prioritizing Holistic Medical Care, and including the tremendous amount of time we spend in positive socialization in their formative weeks. As a perspective, the originators of the Golden Mountain Doodle breed in Canada charge $14,000 for their puppies, and ship them all over the world! So it’s true our price is more than some breeders, and it’s also less than some. We believe our puppies are worth every bit of extra attention and care, in order that they go to their families being vibrant in every way! We hope that when you meet them, you’ll agree!

  • We genetically health test our dogs to ensure that we are passing down healthy genetics.  In addition, the crossing of 3 breeds adds tremendous genetic vitality and diversity.  

  • We deworm parent dogs before the birth, and puppies at 5 and 7 weeks.  Puppies are protected by the mom’s immunity until 11 to 16 weeks.  Our vet suggest beginning vaccines at 9-10 weeks, puppies go home at 8 weeks, so families take care of those.

  • We feed approximately 50/50 raw and kibble.  We include ‘Mainely Poultry Dog Patties’ of local raw chicken, organs, ground bone, egg and veggies. Also ground beef, organs and bone from a local butcher.  We also offer good quality grain free kibble like ‘Taste of the Wild’ to simplify our lives, but the dogs prefer the meat!  We include ‘Standard Process Canine Immune Vitamins’, fish oil, and plaque off for clean teeth. 

  • We begin training here and it’s important for consistent training to continue so a puppy becomes a well behaved, thoughtful, easy-to-live-with family member.   Most puppies have a lot of energy so abundant daily exercise is the 1st need- walks, play w/ balls or toys, recall games, etc.  We have had good success with hand feeding kibble for the first few months.  This establishes you as the pack leader, and is an easy twice daily time to practice simple essential communication- look at me, recognize your name, sit, stay, down, leave it,  place, and free dog.  This in addition to recall games inside and then outside are the foundation of dog training.  Sit, stay and place (their own spot to lay and stay until released) can prevent jumping on visitors or barking at the door.  When taught early and reinforced regularly, these are a real blessing.

    We like online trainers ‘Baxter and Bella’ who have a thorough program of live and recorded lessons to match any family's needs.  They are affordable. We are members with them which provides a discount to families so the lifetime membership is just $200 (the cost of 1-2 hrs w/ an in person trainer).   A little daily work with these tools can prevent or reduce expensive and challenging training issues later on.  And training can be fun, can include all family members.  ‘Baxter and Bella’ have great suggestions about how.

    There are also free online positive training videos like ‘Zac George’ that if done consistently, can also be successful. 

    In-person puppy classes can be great places to learn what to practice at home, and 1 on 1 training support is recommended asap if training individually isn’t leading to the desired results.

  • A Golden Mountain Doodle is, by nature, not a purebred and thus is not a registered breed.

  • Yes, at times.  Let us know if a lower initial cost would be essential for you to be matched with a cat or dog.