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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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

118 replies

LovelyMuffins · 24/06/2012 22:09

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!'

OP posts:
MrsSpoonFromButtonMoon · 25/06/2012 19:39

Stupid ph

HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 25/06/2012 19:41

Hully mudbloods make excellent pets, I pet she flicks her stick perfectly whilst woofing wingardium leviosa and levitating her bonios out your pocket.

MrsSpoonFromButtonMoon · 25/06/2012 19:43

phone!!! Even more silly as I've decided to shelve what I was going to post in the first place! Blush

horseylady · 25/06/2012 19:44

What is more disturbing is designer breeds (anything with poodle in etc) can cost more to buy than a pedigree and the breeding isn't regulated.

Don't get me wrong the kc don't do a super job of stopping puppy farming but they do have limits on how old a bitch can be and how many litters she can have. Backyard breeders of mongrels designer breeds not regulated at all. They do not the hip and eye scores etc. Breeding well is a huge huge task to ensure the future of breed stands the best chance of surviving!

Mongrels are 'healthier'? but there are loads of pedigree dogs that have nothing wrong with them either!!

Op go for the dog you feel happiest with! Ive done agility training with doodles, this one was lovely and friendly a bit mental but a really sweet dog! Good luck in your quest :)

horseylady · 25/06/2012 19:45

Honey cross post- well said!! I was attempting to write similar!

LtEveDallas · 25/06/2012 19:54

What about an Otterhound. They are wonderful looking and are an endangered breed now Sad

I'm still working on DH to get one!

Or there is a w

LtEveDallas · 25/06/2012 19:56

What about an Otterhound. They are wonderful looking and are an endangered breed now Sad

I'm still working on DH to get one!

Or there is a wonderfully curly mutt (probably collie / Springer) called Fizzy on the Many Tears Animal Rescue website who needs a loving home.

Hullygully · 25/06/2012 19:58

yy Otterhounds lovely.

I don't know about this whole breed thing.

This is not confrontational, I just don't know what I think.

4lbsOfShiteInA2lbBag · 25/06/2012 20:01

Or a Spanish Water Dog?

Or Portuguese Water Dog?

Or Irish Water Spaniel?

All medium sized and curly coated. Guaranteed non-shedding.

bottersnike · 25/06/2012 20:10

We have a miniature poodle, and he's brilliant! We only clip him when we can no longer see his eyes, so most of the time he looks like a little brown sheep.
He's playful, loves everyone and is just a joy. if all poodles are like him they're gorgeous!
Good luck with your choice.
x

Flatbread · 25/06/2012 20:11

Prepared dogs? I meant pure bred dogs, of course.

I think the biggest problem is in-breeding...it increases predictability but at the same time, reduces genetic diversity. Over time, that leads to all kinds of health problems and need for even more and more rigorous selection for breeding which then further reduces genetic diversity, especially with recessive genes.

It doesn't matter where it is pure breed, designer cross breed or a mongrel, it is the inbreeding which IMO, is the issue.

The thing is you are most likely to have extensive inbreeding for pure bred dogs, simply because predictability and conformity to certain breed characteristics is so important.

Not so much for designer doodles, although that could happen two-three generations down the line.

Least likely with mutts, as there is no monetary value to them, so who on earth would inbreed a line of mutts? Could happen by accident, but would imagine it is a very low incidence, as compared to purebred dogs.

A long way of saying there is no unambiguously good way of breeding and op should go ahead and get the puppy she wants. But might be a good idea to look at a doodle rescue. You probably won't get a worse (or better) dog than directly from a breeder.

HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 25/06/2012 20:18

Ooooh I love Spanish Water dogs.

4lbsOfShiteInA2lbBag · 25/06/2012 20:28

Me too, Honey. I know a couple of breeders and they're cracking personalities and great agility dogs/gundogs/herders - a real jack-of-all-trades :)

LovelyMuffins · 25/06/2012 20:29

oh cripes! Now I am really confused!!! I didn't ring the breeder today after all as I really don't know what I am going to do. Three of hte puppies are accounted for now and she has 6 left. I feel a bit guity about it really as I have been communicating with her quite a bit but failed at the last hurdle. However, I have been reading up about Retrievers this afternoon and think the best way forward for me is to list what I want out of a dog and what I can offer a dog in terms of commitment and what I am prepared to put up with (muddy feet, shedding, howling etc) and take it from there. I understand that you cannot guarantee watertight results with any puppy any more than you can any human baby but there are general traits that are more likely in some breeds than others. If I start a new thread can you join me over there please? Thank you so much for your insightful and knowledgeable responses. I am delighted!

OP posts:
HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 25/06/2012 20:33
LovelyMuffins · 25/06/2012 20:34

hhahaha! thank you HoneyDragon :-) flattered.com

OP posts:
Hullygully · 25/06/2012 20:35

tart

Hullygully · 25/06/2012 20:36

honey, not you indecisive muffins

HoneyDragonWearingLederhosen · 25/06/2012 20:38

But Hully, you know you're my special Mnetter,I named my puppy after you.

morethanyoubargainfor · 25/06/2012 20:54

Horsey lady, I think I love you!!!!! I like to collect fellow curly owners, I know everyone in the local area (up to a 25 mile radius!). There are not many around and I get fed up with the is it a labradoodle, I am seriously considering a t-shirt with "I am a not a labradoodle but a curly coated!

Hurrah for the curlies!

Hurrah for op asking questions but more importantly listening to the answers.

morethanyoubargainfor · 25/06/2012 20:59

What I would say about the curlies is they moult for sure, unfortunately the hair they shed does look just like pubes and get everywhere! It's inteteresting trying to explain to the cleaner/visitors etc that the small curly black hairs in the bathroom are not in fact yours they are the dogs! Even thought the dog doesn't go anywhere near the bathroom, the little balls of pubes get everywhere and I mean EVERYWHERE! Grin

popmasterdefeatsme · 26/06/2012 11:53

just wrote a HUGE response then computer crashed ARGH...

so just quick post from me as I wanted to offer a positive story about doodles!

I have a lovely male 4 year old doodle - had him since a puppy. There is so much snobbery against doodles - I got him as I wanted an active strong labrador cross breed . Like you, I did my research. The other posters are correct - in as much as they are big bouncy energetic dogs! They need a lot of exercise (I think what you propose is fine as long as most of it off lead). Lots of them do shed and the hybrid vigour thing only works if both parents are healthy.

They need a really firm hand - need to know you are in charge - but given their intelligence they are easy to train. They are in generaly very social friendly dogs - provided you don't miss the critical socialisation period in which case it could be harder.

I would ask to see the breeder's establishment, meet both parents if you can, ask to see the health scores. The doodles with problems are generally from untested parents etc - the doodle will only be as healthy as its parents.

My dog is incredibly affectionate - I have changed the minds of a lot of hardened anti-doodle dog owners about doodles! He is great with kids (although doodles can knock over v little kids with their bounciness) - he is brilliant on walks - he is generally very biddable and well behaved (because we are strict with him). I have a dog walker for the days I work and she says she now loves doodles because of ours (had bad experience before from a badly trained one) and that he's the cleverest sweetest dog she's met.

Anyway, hope this helps - don't write off doodles just yet! Would be happy to answer any questions...

ps have you considered a standard poodle? I would never have thought of a standard poodle until having my doodle -but they are fantastic dogs too..

popmasterdefeatsme · 26/06/2012 12:00

sorry - one last thing - dont necessarily choose the crazy puppy in the litter that runs up to meet you - generally that will be a very high energy dog... my doodle was the little quiet retiring on that I had to walk up to and cuddle... he still likes me doing that now :)

Cesar Milan (I suspect I'll have to run for cover in mentioning his name) had a lot of good stuff in one of his books about choosing a dog and energy levels matching your own.

LovelyMuffins · 26/06/2012 12:14

popmaster, thank you for your balanced post. I am beyond confused now. Your dog sounds fabulous. Thank you :-)

OP posts:
horseylady · 26/06/2012 12:18

More than- I have that t-shirt and happily wear it!! I also have one which says 'if it's not a curly it's just a dog'.

I don't know many curly owners :( the breeder there's some local(ish) to me but I'm yet to find them!!

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