Meet Betsy and Murphy’s Bernedoodles
Eleven puppies tumbled into the world on October 10: six boys and five girls. It was mid April when we last had newborn Bernedoodle puppies here, so our whole family has been smitten from day one. They’ll be ready for their new homes on December 5, just in time to spend their very first Christmas with your family.
These puppies are Irish Golden Bernedoodles, a cross of Bernese Mountain Dog, Irish Golden Retriever and Poodle. You may also hear them called Golden Mountain Doodles or Bernese Irish Goldendoodles. Whatever you call them, they’re sweet, steady family dogs with the classic Bernedoodle look.
Meet the parents
Betsy, the mom, is a mellow, people-focused girl who loves to be wherever we are. The Golden in her really shows in her gentle, sweet personality. Murphy, the dad, is a 40-pound parti Poodle with excellent OFA hips and a friendly, social nature. We own both parents. After 25 years of raising puppies here in Indiana, that means we can tell you exactly where your puppy comes from, how they were raised, and what they’re likely to grow into.
See what they’ll look like at going-home age
Betsy and Murphy come from family lines we’ve raised for years, so our past litters are the best preview of how these puppies will look when they’re ready to come home. Here’s one of our earlier litters from these same family lines. The video in the photo gallery at the top of this page shows a past litter from these same lines at going-home age. Videos of Betsy’s own puppies will be shared with families on the morning of picking day.
A past Sunshine Acres Bernedoodle litter from the same family lines, shown at going-home age
Three sister litters, all home before Christmas
Betsy has two sisters, Missy and Cally, and both had litters this October too. Murphy is the dad of Betsy’s and Missy’s litters, and his son Dusty is the dad of Cally’s, so all three litters share the same family lines. Hoping for a girl? Missy and Murphy’s litter has eight. Hoping for a boy? Cally and Dusty’s litter has eight, and matures a little larger, at 50–70 lbs.
How to choose your puppy
Start with our free application, and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours. A $500 deposit by Venmo or Zelle places you on our waiting list, in the order deposits arrive. As each litter nears picking age, we ask the families on our list whether they’d like to choose from that litter, and whether they’d prefer a boy or a girl. Families who opt in choose on Puppy Picking Day in deposit order, with separate picking orders for boys and girls. The earlier your deposit, the earlier your pick.
Your deposit is fully refundable and transferable between litters and breeds until you choose your puppy, and there’s no obligation to choose from this litter. If you pass, you can join another litter’s picking order behind the families already planning to choose from it, or keep your place on our list for future litters. Once you choose your puppy, your deposit becomes a non-refundable earnest deposit held for that puppy.
Puppy Picking Days for this litter are November 9 and 10. A couple of days before, we’ll post updated photos of each puppy. On the morning of picking day, we’ll share videos of the puppies in action, wiggles and all, so you can see them at their most current. At your scheduled time, we’ll walk you through each puppy by FaceTime or Zoom, or by phone if you’d rather just talk, and share what we’ve noticed about each puppy’s personality and coat. You can also visit in person and meet them through our window. At this age, our veterinarian advises that the puppies not be handled by visitors, to protect them from accidental exposure to outside germs.
Can’t make picking day? You can choose a day or two early, still in your deposit order. We’re glad to recommend which puppies might suit your family, but the final choice is always yours.
Raised with our family, on a protocol that hasn’t changed
We’ve been raising puppies alongside our own family since 2001. Our children, elementary age to teens, handle every litter daily, starting the week the puppies are born. Each puppy has Early Neurological Stimulation in the first weeks, then socialization following Jan Fennell’s Amichien Bonding method. Both parents are tested through OFA hip, elbow and heart screening, CAER eye certification, and DNA panels.
Going home
Puppies are ready on Saturday, December 5, with plenty of time to settle in before Christmas morning. If you’d like a later homecoming, just let us know and we’ll work out the details with you. Families who’d like a head start on training can choose optional board-and-train with Happy Pup Manor in the Chicago area, who can pick your puppy up straight from us. Too far to drive? We deliver by flight nanny or airline pet carrier.
The balance is due at pickup and can be paid by Venmo, Zelle, cash or personal check. If you’re paying by Venmo or Zelle, check your account’s daily limit ahead of time, since some accounts cap daily payments.
Every puppy comes with
- A 3-year written health warranty
- Up-to-date vaccinations and deworming
- A thorough veterinary exam, plus a health record of immunizations given
- Microchip identification
- A first puppy grooming
- Crate training started, for a head start on house training
- A blanket with mom’s and littermates’ scent, and a sample of puppy food
- Lifetime support from our family
- A $200 rebate when your puppy earns the AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate
“We had a wonderful experience with Sunshine Acres in adopting our puppy Max. He is a beautiful Bernese Irish Goldendoodle and everyone who meets him is completely in love with his sweet demeanor. He is also super smart and very healthy – our vet went crazy over him! Erica and Michael were awesome in answering all of my questions and eased all my anxiety as a new puppy parent.”
— Kathleen G., Bernese Irish Goldendoodle family
Ready to choose your puppy? Apply today (it’s free), or text us with any questions. Looking for a larger dog? See Cally and Dusty’s litter, maturing at 50–70 lbs.
