trying to put people off labradoodles?

[misdee]

i feel like i'm disloyal to my dog.

people ask me if labradoodles are easy.

i say no, they are hard work. they are a very intelligent 'cross' breed.

are they good for allergy sufferers.

no.

are they friendly

mine is, a little too friendly.

are they obident,

they can be but mine is also bloody minded and wont always listen.

they ask me what he is like, i am honest and say he is lovely but he is also totally bonkers.

Ah, but therein lies the danger of generalising! My friend has one and swears she's the best thing ever - biddable, nice-natured, non-shedding, tolerant, calm....
(Don't mean to depress you! )

I think it's best to be really honest about what it's like to own a dog, especially breeds like labradoodles that are sometimes seen as an 'easy' designer option by people who want to avoid the unavoidable ("I"m looking for a dog that don't shed or smell or bark after 9pm or wee in the wrong place, etc, etc, etc"). Better that than another puppy being dumped into the rescue system because it turns out that it does shed a bit.

I mean, I love my Bassets and wouldn't have any other breed but when people say, ooh, they're so cute with their cute ears and cute faces, we're thinking of getting one, I do tend to up the horror stories about the houndy smell and the hair everywhere and the fox poo - just to be sure they know what they're getting into...

Calm.

Ralph doesn't shed much. His brther shed like crazy.

He is calmer now but never get in the way of a doodle dash.

He is very willing to please if tere is foodinvolved.

He is gorgeous natured and I love him.

But he is hard work.

I think you are doing labradoodles a favour. Your honesty may make someone stop and think about the reality of owning a dog rather than assuming any breed is an "easy" option. I own border collies and I am amazed by the number of people who say they want to get one because "they are so clever, they train themselves". I love the very bones of my dogs, but I never hesitate to tell people to avoid collies at all cost if they are not willing to put in the time and effort to train them.

Hahahahahahaha Fluppy is the opposite of what a Doodle 'should' be.

Thick as shit except when food is mentioned.
Sheds enough fluff to stuff a cushion weekly.
Friendly yes but still a complete wuss and will hide behind my legs.

Train themselves?? I'm sure that bit missed mine

an older man stopped me and the shops recently and said 'thats a labradoodle isnt it'

i asked how he knew. someone at the gun club has one. great gun-dog but totally bonkers. i laughed and had to agree with him.

i think what bothering me is i have seen 3 ads for doodles within a half mile radius recently, all with different contact numbers/details.

Ours is totally bonkers too Misdee, and too friendly, knock visitors flying as they walk in the door.

I tell anyone who'll listen not to get my breed of dog precisely because I care so much about the breed - it's not disloyalty at all if you're protecting the interests of the breed as a whole by putting off the numpties. :)

The Only Doodle In Our Village is gigantic and a complete nutcase. Lovely but HUGE, bouncy, over-friendly and very high energy.

I say the same. Thornton is a wonderful dog but hard work. I had a police man stop me yesterday and our dogsitter had someone stop the car, and run down the road after her
I explain he is great with the kids, wonderful and friendly BUT is strong on lead, loves other dogs abut too much and doesnt listen if there is another doggy insight.
Mine also sheds but not a huge amount.

IMO not a bad thing and certainly what the Labradoodle Trust is trying to do too www.labradoodletrust.com (unfortunately their site seems to be down just now so can't link to the exact page) but they have a page full of reasons not to own a Labradoodle. A good breeder should also make prospective puppy owners aware of the challenges of owning a Labradoodle, they are great dogs (I have three) but there's never a dull moment!

had it again yesterday 'oh they are hypoallergenic arent they and dont shed'

'errr no. some dont shed (like ralph) but others leave piles of fur about that could crete a whole new dog as they walk'

plus they go through several coat changes so although you may be fine with the puppy coat, you could be allergeric to their grown up coat.

dh reacted to the pre-teen coat in the winter, and we had a few weeks where we thought we'd have to rehome both of them.

I have been the same with all the breeds I have ever had they are great because, but these are the disadvantages. When ever anyone remarks the dog is really well behaved I remind them of the hours of training I have put in .