Good Dog Tiers Explained: Good vs. Better vs. Excellent (And What It Means for Your Doodle Puppy)
A plain-English guide to Good Dog's three-tier breeder program from a Good Dog certified Bernedoodle, Cavapoo, Goldendoodle, Schnoodle, and Poodle breeder.
By Boise Doodle Co. · Updated April 2026 · Reading time: ~9 minutes
If you have spent any time browsing breeders on Good Dog, you have probably noticed the colored badges next to each kennel name: Good, Better, and Excellent. They look like medals — and in a way, they are. They tell you, at a glance, how rigorously a breeder has been screened by Good Dog and which voluntary programs they participate in beyond the baseline Code of Ethics.
But what do those badges actually mean? Is an “Excellent” Good Dog breeder really better than a “Good” one? Should you only buy from Excellent breeders? And how does a breeder move from one tier to the next? These are some of the most common questions we get from families looking at Bernedoodle, Cavapoo, Goldendoodle, Schnoodle, and Poodle puppies — so we wanted to break the entire Good Dog tier system down in plain English.
As a Good Dog certified breeder ourselves, we will walk you through what each tier represents, what it takes to earn each one, and how to use those badges to make a smarter, safer puppy buying decision.
The Basics: What Are Good Dog Tiers?
Good Dog is the leading breeder vetting platform in the United States. Every breeder listed on gooddog.com has been screened against Good Dog’s published Code of Ethics, which covers health testing, ethical breeding practices, transparent records, lifetime breeder support, and humane care of every dog in their program. Meeting that Code of Ethics is the price of admission — every Good Dog breeder, at every tier, has met that bar.
On top of that baseline, Good Dog operates a three-tier recognition program: Good, Better, and Excellent. Each tier reflects deeper participation in Good Dog’s health testing, mentorship, and continuing-education programs. Think of the tiers like belts in martial arts, or stars in a restaurant rating: every breeder has met the standard to be there at all, and the tiers tell you who has gone further.
The three tiers, from baseline to highest, are Good, Better, and Excellent.
Tier 1: “Good” — The Baseline of Ethical Breeding
A Good Dog breeder at the Good tier has been fully screened, has signed Good Dog’s Code of Ethics, and is committed to the platform’s welfare and transparency standards. This is not “entry level” in any kind of dismissive sense — it means a real, accountable breeder who has been independently vetted and approved.
What you can expect from a Good tier breeder of Bernedoodles, Mini Bernedoodles, Cavapoos, Goldendoodles, Schnoodles, or Poodles:
• Vetted by Good Dog: They have been reviewed and approved against the platform’s Code of Ethics.
• Health-conscious breeding: Parent dogs are health-screened in line with breed-specific recommendations.
• Veterinary care: Puppies receive age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, and a vet exam before homecoming.
• Transparent practices: Clear contracts, traceable records, and open communication about lineage and care.
• Lifetime commitment: They commit to take any of their dogs back at any point, so no dog from their program ever ends up in a shelter.
If you only ever buy from a Good tier breeder, you are still buying from someone who has cleared a meaningfully higher bar than the average backyard breeder, pet store, or “puppy concierge” reseller. The Good tier is real, and it matters.
Tier 2: “Better” — Going Beyond the Baseline
A Good Dog breeder at the Better tier is doing everything a Good tier breeder does, plus voluntarily participating in additional health testing programs and providing more detailed documentation. This is where breeders begin to publicly demonstrate that they are serious about long-term health outcomes — not just for their next litter, but for the breed.
What changes at the Better tier?
• More extensive health testing: Parent dogs typically have additional certified screenings on file (such as OFA evaluations, CAER eye exams, or breed-specific genetic panels) and those results are submitted directly to Good Dog.
• Independent verification: Health certificates come from accredited registries and labs, not just an internal vet note.
• Active program participation: The breeder is engaging with Good Dog’s ongoing breeder education and program tools, not just sitting on their original approval.
• Higher transparency: Buyers can see specific test results on the parent dogs’ profiles when they shop.
If you are looking at Bernedoodle, Cavapoo, or Goldendoodle puppies and you want concrete proof that the parent dogs’ hips, eyes, and genetics have been screened by independent registries, the Better tier is the level where that documentation becomes visible inside the Good Dog platform itself.
Tier 3: “Excellent” — The Top of the Good Dog Program
The Excellent tier is the highest recognition Good Dog awards. An Excellent breeder is doing everything a Better tier breeder does, plus the most rigorous, breed-specific testing, plus deep ongoing engagement with Good Dog’s programs, education, and breeder community. They are setting the pace for the whole industry.
Excellent tier breeders typically demonstrate:
• Comprehensive, breed-specific health testing: Every parent dog has the full slate of recommended tests for the breed (orthopedic, cardiac, ophthalmologic, and DNA), and the results are uploaded and verifiable.
• Excellent program participation: Active involvement in Good Dog’s advanced programs, mentorship, and ongoing education.
• Best-in-class transparency: Detailed pedigrees, public test results, professionally documented protocols, and a long, traceable history of healthy litters.
• A strong family-feedback record: Reviews from adopting families that confirm the breeder’s claims about temperament, health, and customer experience.
When you see an Excellent badge on a Good Dog Bernedoodle, Goldendoodle, Cavapoo, Schnoodle, or Poodle breeder, you are looking at a kennel that has chosen to be measured publicly against the highest standard the platform offers — and is meeting it. There are not many of these breeders in any given breed, and every Excellent listing represents a serious, sustained investment of time, money, and care.
How Breeders Move From Good to Better to Excellent
It is not a one-time test. Good Dog’s tier system is dynamic — breeders move up over time as they invest in more testing, more documentation, and deeper program participation. The path generally looks like this:
• Apply, get vetted, and sign the Code of Ethics. (You are now Good.)
• Add documented health testing through accredited registries and submit it to Good Dog. (Better.)
• Complete the full slate of breed-specific testing, participate in advanced programs, and build a verified track record across multiple litters. (Excellent.)
There are also reasons a breeder might be moved down a tier — failing to keep documentation current, having a verified complaint, or stepping back from program participation. The tiers are not lifetime awards. They are living signals that have to be maintained.
Which Tier Should You Look For When Buying a Doodle Puppy?
Here is the honest answer most other articles will not give you: the right tier depends on what you personally need to see in writing.
If you want maximum peace of mind
Choose a Better or Excellent tier breeder. You will see independently verified health testing on the parent dogs, registry-issued certificates, and a publicly visible record. For families spending $3,500 to $6,000 on a Bernedoodle, Cavapoo, or Goldendoodle, this level of transparency is well worth it.
If a specific breeder feels exactly right but is at the Good tier
Look closer before you rule them out. Many Good tier breeders are doing extensive health testing and simply have not yet uploaded everything to Good Dog. Ask them directly to share OFA numbers, CAER eye exam results, and DNA panel results. A real, ethical breeder will send those over without hesitation. If they cannot, that is your answer. (For more on this, see our companion article on red flags in fake Good Dog listings.)
If you only see “Excellent” as acceptable
That is your prerogative as a buyer, but it can also limit your options unnecessarily — especially in newer or less common doodle crosses where the Excellent badge is rare. Many wonderful Bernedoodle, Cavapoo, Goldendoodle, Schnoodle, and Poodle breeders are at the Better tier with full health testing and a long track record of healthy puppies.
Where Boise Doodle Co. Fits Into the Good Dog Tier System
Boise Doodle Co. is a Good Dog certified breeder of Bernedoodles, Mini Bernedoodles, Munchkin Bernedoodles, Cavapoos, Goldendoodles, Schnoodles, and Poodles, based in the Pacific Northwest with nationwide delivery to all 50 states. Our parent dogs are health-tested through OFA, CAER, and breed-appropriate DNA panels, and we are actively engaged in Good Dog’s ongoing programs.
If you would like to see our current tier badge, our up-to-date health testing summary, or reviews from adopting families, the best place to verify is directly on gooddog.com. Type the URL into your browser, search “Boise Doodle Co.,” and our profile will load with everything Good Dog has on file.
Frequently Asked Questions About Good Dog Tiers
Is a Good tier breeder still safe to buy from?
Yes. Every Good Dog breeder, including Good tier breeders, has been screened against Good Dog’s Code of Ethics. The Good tier is meaningfully above the average non-vetted breeder, pet store, or online reseller. Higher tiers reflect additional, voluntary documentation — not a difference between “safe” and “unsafe.”
How do I see a breeder’s Good Dog tier?
Go directly to gooddog.com, search the kennel name, and look for the colored tier badge on their profile. The tier badge will read Good, Better, or Excellent. If a kennel claims a tier on their own website but does not appear on gooddog.com, treat it as unverified. (See our scam red flags article for more on impersonator listings.)
Do Excellent breeders charge more?
Often yes, modestly. Comprehensive health testing, advanced program participation, and ongoing documentation cost real money. Most families find the difference is small relative to the lifetime cost of a doodle puppy and well worth the added confidence.
Can a breeder lose their Good Dog tier?
Yes. Tiers are not permanent awards. Good Dog can move a breeder down (or remove them altogether) for outdated documentation, verified complaints, or failure to maintain program participation. That is part of why the system is trustworthy — it is actively maintained, not granted once and forgotten.
Are Good Dog tiers the same as AKC titles?
No. AKC titles relate to dog registration, conformation showing, and competitive events. Good Dog tiers are about a breeder’s screening, health testing, and program participation. Many Good Dog breeders are also AKC-affiliated, but the two systems measure different things.
Continue Reading
If you found this guide helpful, you may also want to read our two companion posts in this Good Dog series. The first, “Why Boise Doodle Co. Partnered with Good Dog: The Gold Standard for Ethical Doodle Breeders,” explains exactly why we built our breeding program around Good Dog’s standards. The second, “How to Spot a Fake Good Dog Listing: 7 Red Flags Every Doodle Buyer Should Know,” walks you through the most common scams and exactly how to verify a real Good Dog breeder in five minutes.
Together, these three articles will give you everything you need to confidently navigate Good Dog and bring home the right doodle puppy for your family.
Verify Boise Doodle Co. on Good Dog: gooddog.com
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