Does anyone here own a doodle (or a poodle or a golden retriever? )

[LovelyMuffins]

I am going to see a Goldendoodle litter this week. They sound adorable and I am very excited. I have researched poodles and labradors and retrievers and the breed temperament fits our bill really well. but I don;t actually know anyone who owns one so am searching for information on here and doodle forums. I would love some 'first hand cyber advice!'

Oh dear.

People on here do have Doodles and one (that I know of, there could be more, of course) has Goldens. Not sure about poodles.

But most posters, myself included, wouldn't encourage anyone to buy a doodle, noodle, piddlyoodle or whatever the feck silly names they are giving them these days.

Breeders of these types of dogs are not reputable breeders. They are cashing in on the latest fashion trend with little to no thought for the wellbeing of the dogs. Many are puppy farmers. Many are bred without proper health screening resulting in sick and expensive to treat pups who will possibly live a short and painful life. It's certainly not a practise I could feel happy about creating demand for

It does sound like you have done your homework and it's great that you are asking for firsthand advice, but I am afraid my advise would be to decide whether you want a poodle or a golden and then go about finding a decent breeder or breed rescue.

Also they are all very high energy, highly intelligent breeds. I would expect any resulting puppies to need an inordinate amount of exercise and mental stimulation. Possibly more than you realise.

Sorry to rain on your parade.

Don't apologise DDoin. I need to hear proper information. It is so hard to guage when you are besotted by the appearance of a particular breed. Any breeder wil tell you how wonderful they all are and they do look supercute so sell themselves in a way. They are F2 doodles and the breeeder is happy to speak with me before I visit to be sure I am making the correct choice. She does sound very responsible (even though you say she is not a legitimate breeder. ) Do you really think that their exercise expecations and needs would exceed that of a golden retriever? ???I had read that 2-3 30 minute walks or runs would be sufficient! I don't want to be walking for, in excess of, 2 hours daily!

What we need is more curly coated retrievers in the world! I tell you we need curliest!

Never heard of them, that's because they are on the ukbreed endangered lists, I have one who is adorable. Pictures on my profile.

Like doin I don't go in for the doodles of any kind.

Oh and I won't tell you that they are the best etc, they are stubborn, dirt magnets, lazy, greedy, not easy to train but I love mine and wouldn't be without him!

morethanou...... so, why would you not go for a doodle breed? Is it (and please don't take offence here) a doggy snobbery type thing? Or are there genuine concerns about the ethics involved in breeding these dogs. My puppy (if I get one from this breeder0 is from a pedigree sire and F2 goldendoodle bitch. The puppies look very Golden Ret like in appearance. Would that naturally follow that the will be more golden Ret like in temperament too? I do feel slightly less excited than I was an hour ago!!

I can honestly say it is NOT a snobbery thing, it is purely down to the ethics, breeding, why it is done, I also think that purposely breeding two dogs that are so different in temperment and needs etc is very irresponsible and asking for issues! Lots of doodles are rehomed, abandoned etc because they are not what the person thought they would be. Like doin said it is a fashion thing that makes a shed load of cash.

Why are you do keen on the doodles?

And no it doesn't naturally follow that looks and temperament will go together.

Also don't forget that they will change a lot in appearance over the next few months.

well, this has given me a lot to think about. ....... I need to talk to the breeder I think. With an open and clear mind.

I've never owned any of those breeds personally but I have a had a Lab and 2 30 minutes a day would not have been enough.

You probably could get away with it if the mental stimulation you give during the day is upto scratch and if most of the walk were off lead and running or fetching.

Typically if working dogs are not given a 'job' to keep their minds busy they will find their own work and this often is a job that is not desirable such as guarding or barking to warn away passers by intruders.

If you're looking for a low energy - low maintenance dog, with a good temprement and good with children, you really cannot go wrong with a retired or failed greyhound.

If Doodles are your thing and you don't want to consider other breeds you could try here which takes away the concern of unethical breeding and also you'd have a better idea of how the dog's temprement and exercise requirements will be. They're good people to to talk to regardless of whether you want to adopt. They'll be best placed to give you the advise you are looking for.

I can confirm that 2 x 30 mins a day for a standard poodle (the other pedigree dog used in this cross) can survive on this walk regime but only if at least the same amount of time is also give to mental stimulation and training. They are an extremely intelligent breed who can think for themselves, throw into that the working mind of a labrador or GR you are looking at a very clever dog who needs stimulation a lot of the day. I can also confirm that SPs takes at least four years to calm down, they are a bouncy in your face knock your kids over type of dog, ours bounce over the furniture like the wall of death. This of course is what we love about the breed, we've had them for years and know what to expect but to a novice owner it can all be very overwhelming. They are natural clowns and even with training will get themselves into lots of mischief.

What also concerns me about dog ownership these days, so many people go on looks, ah that looks cute, love the curly coat etc. Most doodles will require professional grooming every 8 weeks or so, at a cost of around £50 the nice pictures online are usually of very well groomed dogs, they don't look that nice all on their own. The less hairy variety, the ones that won't require as much clipper and scissor work are the shedding ones, they take after the lab or GR coat, so instead of leaving the hair with the groomer you will hoover it and wear it 24/7. If you think you want your dog to look 'natural' then you must be prepared for hours of brushing, dematting and combing, again they don't even look natural without lots of work, if you don't do this they will matt like crazy and matting hurts.

Asking the breeder isn't going to help you at all, they will be wanting you to buy a puppy and tell you what you want to hear, unless they are a truely good breeder concerned about where their puppies go, lifetime support etc then if they think it's not what you want will tell you so. Please don't look at the puppies if you are unsure, that's a sure fire way of letting your heart rule your head.

There will be lots of people who love their doodles, and why not, if they knew what to expect and have put in the work then that is the best possible outcome but you do want people to be honest with you.

Don't even consider a pup from untested parents, not health checked (that is entirely different, just a check from vet to say they look healthy) but tested, you want at least hips and eyes, elbows if possible and there are a few diseases in SPs Addisons (can't be tested for) & sebaceous adenitis which you will avoid carriers and affected dogs. I don't know of the labrador inherited diseases but you should research this. A cross breed will not necessarily be healthier, and could inherate diseases of either or both breeds, hip dysplasia is unfortunately common as usually both parents are not the best example of either breeds and unscored.

Think it over very carefully :)

I have a goldendoodle (out and proud).

She is six years old now. I got her because I wanted a big dog, but not the hair - I grew up with Irish Setters and the house was permanently orange. I didn't actually mean to get her, we went to see labradoodles, hadn't heard of goldens, and the owner said that goldens are a lot calmer (they are). Both her parents were there and hip scored etc etc.

She has the most amazing temperament, completely calm, happy to lie around the whole time unless walks and games are on offer, never ever barks, the only noise she makes is a purr when she is happy. She likes everyone, she is happy for babies to pull her ears and tail etc. She loves playing.

The downsides are the grooming (I keep her short), particularly because both breeds are water dogs and so she loves a swim everyday, mud will do as a substitute, and that intelligence. She was easy to train and understands every command - but chooses whether to obey them or not. Retrieval was a huge issue for years, she would look at us and you could see her thinking, Yeah whatevs, I'm going to do X.

She also has "hybrid vigour" and is expected to live a long time...

Oh, we take her to the groomers about three times a year at a cost of about £30 a go.

I have two golden retrievers and think they are the best dogs in the world . Mine, and others I know, do have lovely temperaments and are very affectionate very good with children and mostly obedient. They also are ruled by their stomachs, can have a tendency to eat anything and adore mud and water - oh and socks - one of mine is currently walking around with an old sock in his mouth. I don't think you get moulting with poodles so needn't worry about having to hoover every day (at least I do).

I take mine for a 3-4 mile walk every day where they are off lead and run around like mad things (approx 1-1.5 hours). This seems to keep them happy but I do have a fairly large garden that they are in and out of.

I do find the pleasure outweighs the mud etc.

'hybrid vigour' is a myth hully although i expect your dog is both gorgeous and healthy

labradoodle trust health info very good on this. and in fact on all things Doodle.

well I absolutely do appreciate the honest views given on here and am having a rethink about my choice of breed. In all honesty, I don't think you can glean all the facts from just reading on google so am very glad I came on here to find out more. I can cope with 1 hour for a main walk or run around and a couple of shorter walks of around 20 - 30 minutes most days. The mental stimulation you refer to, i assume is in training, dog games and the like? I am also rather nervous about having a giant dog (Standard Poodle size) and the goldendoodles I was considering are from a mdeium sized goldendoodle Mum and golden retriever which, size wise, is jsut about perfect for us. But, as pointed out, there are other breed choices so I will broaden my horizons and research a bit more. I don't particularly like greyhounds (sorry...) but am happy to consider other breeds. Maybe I will go for a true Golden Retriever. Now, that's a thought. I had better get googling :-)

OP you say you like them because of the 'breed temperament' but there isn't a consistent temperament because it is a crossbreed It could look like a poodle and act like a goldie, or vice versa, or something in between. Apart from a few very expensive ones in Australia, they are not 'breeding true'. (even F2s I think)

It might shed a lot, or a little, or none at all.

Get a poodle. They don't have to be clipped into silly pom-poms (see my photo) People always ask me what he's crossed with, and I reply 'oh, he's a proper poodle!' [smug]

I didn't like skinny hounds either, until I was adopted by a mythical and much worshipped hound otherwise known as a whippty-lurcher-whiggy thingy.

They sort of grow on you and then you become addicted to them and start collecting whole sofas full of them

And when you look properly at them they are not skinny little weeds at all. They pure muscle and very, very strong. And then there's the whole new world of shopping they open up to you, which reminds me, whippy is need of a new summer collar -flexes credit card-

I'm sure Goldens are lovely too, although given the amount of hair my half bald terrier sheds, it's not something I would subject myself to

Yes mental stimulation includes basic obedience training and games like hide and seek and fetch. You could also read up on free shaping and train your dog cool tricks like 'bow' or 'sorry' or 'shut the door'. Agility training is both physically and mentally stimulating.

Puppy classes are a must, particularly if you are a first time owner. I'd start reading up well before pup comes home. Loads of books are reccomended on here. I'm reading a book atm called Oh Behave, by Jean Donaldson, which is good. I can now confidently say that my terrier is a genius and DH's whippy-whiggy thingy has the intelligence of a gnat . It's an interesting book but Gwen Bailys Perfect Puppy would probably be the best place to start, followed by The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson.

I have always had golden retrievers, they are gorgeous dogs, beautiful with children, mine have always been diggers and stick chewers who make a B-line for the biggest, muddiest puddle whenever we are out walking. ANd food magnets - they are, as stated above, ruled by their bellies.

But they are the kindest, most gentle creatures. You do have to put up with constant hoovering due to shedding and mud tracking but when you have watched a baby pull himself to standing using a retrievers eyebrows as handholds, and seen how she stands and wags her tail and licks his belly with not an ounce of agression...you realise they are perfect family dogs.

Labradoodles and golden doodles are not necessarily what you think they are. Yes, some of them will be low shed....but I read its only about 30% will be low shedding dogs. You cannot tell if they are low allergy until their puppy coat sheds. You are not guaranteed a dog that looks like the archetypical doodle....many of them take after the lab, in that they have short coats. Others are wiry coated. Others look just like poodles, with thin limbs and snouty faces.

Take a look at this page to see the huge variety of doodles and how they might look in adulthood.

I do absolutely love golden retrievers. We always had labradors when I was growing up, well we had two, but they seemed to be ever present in my childhood. They are so expensive though and few and far between. I have looked at that linnk hattifattner. I cannot believe the difference in appearance of them! Some look distinctly labrador-ish and others are very much poodle influeneced. I have to ring the breeder today to make an appointment but I am wavering now.

hair

hair hair hair hair hair

hair

nightmare hair!

Lovelymuffins, I just want to wish you all the very best for your decision, and to pat you on the back for asking here for opinions and taking on board all the advice you have been offered. Making an informed choice and listening to others experiences, good or bad will help you make the best decision. Nobody wishes to put you off the idea as of course the choice is entirely yours but to make you aware of the differences in doodles and any breeds you are concidering. This is a long term commitement and you want to get it right. :)

hullygully - are you suggesting that Golden Retrievers tend to moult? A lot? By any chance :-D

and bring half the common into the house by being matted into their tails but they will always be smiling when they do it.

See, what you need is a DogMouse. 25% Golden, 25% Staffy, 50% Mutt (with some Ratting Terrier and some sort of Hound thrown in).

He looks like a short haired Golden, but a bit smaller, is calm and lovely, and sheds virtually nothing

Not good with small furries, though (ask the rat population on the local Common )

Prices of labs, goldens and poodle hybrids are all in the same sort of region tbh. Especially those that are fully health tested and carefully and thoughtfully bred.

As so many people have already pointed out, it is impossible to reliably predict exactly how a litter of puppies will turn out. And I can guarantee that out of a litter of say 10 pups, no single one will be grow up to be the image of another.

And that's pairing 2 known and carefully researched parents of the same breed, who's ancestors, characteristics, behaviour and temperament has been carefully followed for generations.

A pedigree lab or golden has been refined over a good number of years to develop the 'desired' characteristics or that breed. Some of the matings will have been done for looks alone, some for temperament, some for their working instinct. A really good breeder seeks to obtain all of those things - to make a true, well rounded example of the breed.

A good breeder will choose a bitch who is the best possible example of the fully rounded dog, from a line which has been proven to throw those desired characteristics through the generations and then find a dog who complements all of those things. A dog with the right balance of look, temperament and ability - and who has been proven to throw them into his progeny.

And even then, all the pups are different. All of them tweeze out a different set of their parents DNA. With a pairing of 2 entirely different pedigree dogs, the results will be even more variable. It honestly, despite assuming you have found one of the few good hybrid breeders, will be impossible to predict what you will end up with - nor which of the health problems may arrive with it (I assume the breeder has done ALL the possible health checks?).

I haven't even thought about boring everyone with the significant differences between the 2 types of golden or lab - the working bred dog and it's subdivisions and the show bred dog. They are streets apart in almost every way possible and that would also need to be taken into account in any mating.