Goldendoodle or another breed?

[kt12mum]

I'm just starting my research/prep as DH and I have agreed we can get a dog instead of a third child
My dream dog is a goldendoodle, we're planning for about 2years time so children will be 6 and 4 and I guess we can go on breeders waiting lists. I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or experience of goldendoodles they could share or other breed suggestions.
I'd like a larger dog, but preferably not much shedding (I'm aware costs can vary as they're a crossbreed). Exercise would be 1-2 hrs a day. House is 4 bed with a decent garden and semi rural so plenty of areas for walks.
We do like to go abroad once a year for a week so what do people do for this? Potentially our in laws could have the dog but do people use kennels or just stick to UK holidays?
DH works from 3 days a week and I only work part time so our schedules work that one of us is always at home.

@Mybalconyiscracking

In my day all these “breeds” were just mongrels. Cheaper too!

Pretty much every breed was created by crossing other breeds together at some point.

It won’t be long before doodle mixes are standardised and recognised as official breeds.

I walk a Goldendoodle and he's one of the loveliest dogs I've ever met in my entire life (and I've met a lot!). He's medium energy, playful but not boisterous, super kind and gentle, clever, learnt to walk on a loose lead in about three short sessions. He's just great. Loves people, loves other dogs.

The main problem with him is his coat. Dogs with curly "doodle" type coats REALLY need to be groomed every single day with a fine-toothed metal comb. Not just a quick brush, but a careful, thorough grooming. They attract grass seeds like velcro, and I'm not joking! It's awful. I took the Goldendoodle I walk to a local park for all of 15mins and he came back with HUNDREDS of seeds stuck in him.

Groomers often post on social media about this now, because people tend to get them without thinking about their grooming needs. Then what happens is that they get matted super quickly, and then they have to be shaved all the way down. It's uncomfortable/painful for the dog if they mat, and dogs have coats for a reason. They're not meant to be shaved down. :)

If you can manage the grooming needs, I say go for it. Try to find a breeder that health tests both parents for whatever diseases are common in Goldens and Doodles. Just do your research, read reviews, and pick carefully.

As for opinions on "doodle" type dogs. At the end of the day, it's personal preference. I went on a forum once saying I wanted a Border Collie / German Shepherd / similar type mix, and almost everyone told me to get a purebred Labrador or Golden Retriever. :D

Golden doodles aren’t a breed.

They are a money making scheme.
Breeders of golden doodles and any other type of doodle aren’t in it for the betterment of the breed. Cos it isn’t a breed. They are just wanting to make money.
Stop supporting back yard breeders aka puppy farmers and go to a proper breeder of a proper breed who have done the appropriate health checks etc

Oh as for holidays :)

Most people I know use dog sitters (who stay with your dog in your home), or dog boarders (who have your dog come to stay in their home). Kennels are an alternative option.

Having a dog won't necessarily stop you going on holiday! But you'll probably find yourself doing lots of UK holidays on top of your overseas ones, because you'll love your dog so much, you'll want to show them all the exciting things! :D

@victoriaspongecake

Golden doodles aren’t a breed. They are a money making scheme. Breeders of golden doodles and any other type of doodle aren’t in it for the betterment of the breed. Cos it isn’t a breed. They are just wanting to make money. Stop supporting back yard breeders aka puppy farmers and go to a proper breeder of a proper breed who have done the appropriate health checks etc

All breeds are designer, as all dogs are descended from wolves. Golden Retrievers were developed by crossing a Retriever with a Water Spaniel, then crossing their offspring with Bloodhounds, Irish Setters, the St. John's Water Dog, and other Retrievers.

So what's the difference?

www.wala-labradoodles.org/

Standard Australian Labradoodle. Amazing dogs, I have a mini but I'd love a large medium/standard if we had more space. Fully health tested and a better standard of care required for members of WALA than KC breeders in my opinion.

@Simonjt the shutting it in the kitchen/utility comment was in reply to a poster who asked what I'd do if my children's friends were scared of dogs. Mine are very happy round dogs as family and friends have them

I'd second an Australian labradoodle...the recognised UK breeders all health test and have...Ours is only 16 weeks but such a great pup. Reasonably chilled for a puppy and pretty receptive to training....

Hiya. Can anyone tell me what I should expect t to pay for an Australian labradoodle? Many thanks

We had a goldendoodle from a pup til she died, aged only 10. She was gorgeous to look at, soppy and affectionate towards all humans, fine with other dogs, but a sodding nightmare with birds. Saw off several of our chickens and we couldn’t walk her anywhere with pheasants around because she would be off. She also took longer to train than any of our other dogs - mixed or pure breeds. She seemed to stay at the toddler stage for longer.

The strength is what I would be most wary of with your DCs’ ages. It will be a long while before they could hold the lead and have real control.

@Tiredmum12389

Hiya. Can anyone tell me what I should expect t to pay for an Australian labradoodle? Many thanks

I have sent you a PM

If your set on a curly coat what about a curly coated retriever or a barbet?

Personally I couldn’t think of anything worse than a curly coat though. Cute but so much work! Give me a shedding breed any day over that much maintenance.

Zombie thread

I have labradoodles and they don't shed. For holidays if I don't have anyone who will house and dog sit they go to kennels.
Golden retrievers are lovely dogs but you'll soon realise you have shag carpeting too.

I’m not sure what all the Doodle hate is about, there are plenty of good Doodle breeders around. Our Cockapoo was the loveliest dog.

Our neighbours have a cockapoo who sheds as much as my golden retriever (they are the same colour and we were comparing the state of our cars...), so if non-shredding is an important requirement I would go for a breed (or cross of two) that definitely won't shed. Retreivers definitely shed - all of them - and you could end up with a dog that leans more that way than they other.

If you want the temperament of a golden, you should probably just get a golden - mine is a gentle giant and has never given me a moment's concern - we got him when our dc were 3, 5 and 6. A pp said that gun dogs are sensitive - that is not my experience - I'd actually say he was pretty thick skinned and he's very confident (in the sense that he is bomb proof). Poodles are notoriously needy.

The trainer we have used with our dogs boards them for us when we go away. The breeder we got our lab from (have a lab too) offers the same service. In both instances they just hang out with their working dogs while they are there and have a little holiday of their own - they only offer it to dogs they know. It's worth trying to make friends with someone like this. I just have to hope the trainer doesn't retire soon - not sure what we'll do then (Breeder lives 2+ hours away).

Oh! It's a zombie!

It may be a zombie thread but I have enjoyed reading all the answers. I have been deciding a similar question and all the answers are helping me decide.