collie x poodle: cadoodle

[ThePrisonerOfAzkaban]

I've got lovely collie bitch, not your mad collie temp, lovely, calm, very trainable, acts more like an lab then anything else. We've been asked by many family/friends to see if we are going to breed from her, this is something we are now considering. We are thinking of putting her too a small/med poodle, from research they seem to be a good cross. Anyone have any experience? Ta

She's nowhere near breeding age. She's not grown yet.

Seriously OP, nobody in your family will have a dog unless you breed it?

What a very odd attitude, it sounds very narrow-minded given the amount of amazing dogs out there looking for homes. Maybe you could direct them to read up on other breeds and their qualities? or direct them to some dog forums where the benefits of dog-ownership is discussed?. Maybe have a look on some rescue sites and read up on the dogs they have looking for homes? they might be pleasantly surprised to find that there are dogs out there who aren't slavering, vicious, unhealthy beasts. You might even bump into them in parks or on beaches.

If you come to the Fife area you and your family could even meet my rescue dog and hopefully find him to be a wonderful pet.

Please do keep the thread updated. I would love to hear that you've managed to transform your family into dog-lovers.

I run a dogwalking and pet care agency. I've got three labradoddles on the books at the moment, as well as several other 'designer' breeds, and additionally I've met loads of others out walking.

Not a single solitary one is particularly alike to any other in looks, coat texture, size or temperament. The one I met yesterday I honestly thought was a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier until his owner said!
However OP is quite determined that she's right and absolutely everyone else (apart from cdwales) is wrong so not sure why I'm bothering to type this

The bottom line is that there is no need to breed at all.

There are hundreds of lovely, perfect dogs being killed every day - there is just an over supply.

Breeding means death. I wouldn't breed anything, ever.

No, like I've said from the off, I want an informed choice. I know she's too young, that's why I said in 18 months- 2 yrs time, and not now. There is nothing wrong in thinking ahead, and if it's not the right choice it won't be happening. I want as much information and knowledge that I can get. And like I've said again, if it's not right by us it won't be happening.

And only a few have commented on the actual question asked that is of the mix

However OP is quite determined that she's right and absolutely everyone else is wrong so not sure why I'm bothering to type this

Same old same old I used to frequent a dog forum and the number of threads just like this where the OP ignores all sensible advice (because PUPPIES!!!!!!!!!!) and goes ahead anyway is the main reason why I'm not going there much anymore.

if it's not right by us it won't be happening

Perhaps try doing what is right by your bitch and dogs a whole. Don't put her through mating, pregnancy and birth just to produce mongrels which are ten a penny in rescues up and down the country because you're too snobby to save one of those.

Actually I did comment on the mix, in the sense that every mix I've come across has a blend of traits of both parent breeds. And that blend is random. You might end up with all the desired traits in all the litter. Or the opposite.

As for temperament, yes two calm parents are more likely to have calm pups. But it's not a certainty. You might even over-egg the pudding and end up with really boring puppies...

People can give you all the information and knowledge they can, and nobody can tell what a litter of crossbreeds/mongrels will look like as it's a crapshoot. What else can make it right?

If you go ahead dogs will die from want of a home
If you go ahead more mongrels will be born
If you go ahead your bitch will be at risk
If you go ahead another backyard breeder (you) will exist
If you go ahead more backyard breeders may breed from the pups in the future

What are you waiting to hear? what will make it right for you?

dotdotdot your dog is stunning

OP had it crossed your mind that by limiting your family to only having dogs you have bred yourself you are massively reducing the probability of getting the nature of dog that you require?

I mean if you breed a litter from your bitch she could have as few as 2 pups that you are then committed to for the next 12- 15 years. There is absolutely NO guarantee that either will have the nature you desire or be suitable themselves for breeding which means you are stuck for the next 15 years with a dog you didnt want.

Whereas if you visit rescues, get to know the dogs that interest you and learn how they are in different scenarios you stand a far better chance of getting a dog that meets your requirements- with the added security of knowing that the rescue (a decent one anyway) will take the dog back at any point should you decide its not working out.

Quite honestly you are coming across as a bit ridiculous now making up this 'rule' that your family only has family bred dogs to suit your argument on this thread. You want to breed your own dog probably for the very simple reason that you can. There really is no justification for it. Your family dont need dogs. If they dont want rescue dogs then so be it but they dont have to have any dog. If they insist on family bred dogs then why on earth havent they kept their own dogs to breed from rather than putting yours at such risk?

So I will comment on the mix two high energy 'working' breeds as after all that is what a poodle is.
The potential puppies are going to be high energy, super intelligent dogs who without a job to do will get themselves into trouble.
Whoever takes them on would need a huge amount of time and energy to devout to training.

dotdotdot your dog is stunning

Thank you, we think he is too :-)

Have a couple more photos to help to show any readers just how gorgeous a rescue dog is...

My friend had this cross and my god he was hard work . Both very clever lively breeds and no amount of agility miles of walks slowed him down.He was also very unpredictable and possesive of food and house.This isn't saying they are all like this. Collies are lovely but so many in rescue due to being hard work.

Dotdot your dog is beautiful, really, really, lovely.
OP I have a poodle cross (shih tzu), mum is quiet and placid and dad (poodle is hugely intelligent and highly trained) Eric is pure poodle temperament (but looks like a shih Tzu) and needs no end of stimulation to keep him out of trouble. He's eight months and the number of words and commands he knows is ridiculous for essentially a puppy. He can even tell the difference between H-A-T and H-A-M (spelling out words which we started because the mention of ham in conversation would have him trying to open the fridge and hat would get him checking everyone's head) I wouldn't change him for the world and love how clever he is but I would worry about crossing a poodle with another highly intelligent breed just how much stimulation it would take to keep it happy. The dog's size would also be something to think about, Eric is barely 9 inches high but jumps stair gates from a standing start, he goes round rooms without touching the floor because he is so agile. he can jump onto the kitchen worktop if he's in that sort of mood and there is something he takes a fancy to (not necessarily food, he's like a magpie loves anything shiny )

I will comment further on the actual mix of dogs if you want.

You are breeding two highly intelligent working dogs. They will need to be worked (a lot) every day.

I am unsure who would want a working dog of these two breeds, If you want a collie and the ability to herd and work with you - you may not get this in the cross - if you want a non shredding dog you can not guarantee this in the mix either. If you want a poodle that will need to be mentally stimulated but rubbish at herding you would get a poodle not the cross that could have mega herding instincts.

So the new owners will not be people that want a working breed because this mix will not be good at either job of a collie or poodle. The owners will want the mix because they are fashionable, pretty but will not be owners who want to work dogs because the mix will not be right. So you will get frustrated dogs who will not be stimulated and owners who will rehome as the dogs are hard work.

Just to illustrate how quickly Eric picks up things, we got home from holiday at 6pm last night. Dd1 had bought him a new toy a squeaky fox when she got home at 7pm. Dd2 who sings all the time took the toy singing "what does the fox say?" and then squeaking his toy. This morning if you sing "What does the fox say?" he will pick up that toy and only ever that toy. He doesn't muddle it up with the toy he brings when she sings wrecking ball or the one that is broken that he will fetch when you say "that's rubbish" and if you give him a name at the same time he will take a particular toy to a particular person.

Genetics is very very complicated. You may well end up with health issues related to both breeds. You will also end up with mutts. If any of the mutts breed, they will be even greater mutts. It is an uncontrolled experiment. One litter of pups does not a breed make.

This thread made me angry, the OP clearly doesn't give a flying fuck about any of the ethical or serious health issues raised, she just wants someone to say 'good idea Hun, lol puppieesssss!!! You go girl!'

Plenty of people have replied to you about the mixing of the breeds you're going to do, love. None of it is good.