Another Perspective On "Doodle Bashing"- Do You "Bash" Poodles?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

On every doodle forum I have seen, there are lengthy discussions about the "anti-doodle" sentiment, hurt feelings about someone's doodle being called a mutt, criticism of designer dogs, etc. I can certainly understand being insulted by this. But stop and think for a moment..have YOU ever made a derogatory statement about poodles?
I lived with purebred poodles for 47 years before I got Jack.
There were outstanding dogs...brilliant, playful, wonderful with children, clean & easy to train. They did not have "attitudes". (Well, except for my show dog.)Yet I continue to hear derogatory remarks made about poodles, a lot of them from doodle owners. Just yesterday, I was speaking to a potential IDOG adopter about her reasons for wanting a doodle. She mentioned the shedding/allergy thing. When I asked her if she had considered a standard poodle, she made that "ech" sound, and then the inevitable "My husband doesn't like "foo foo" dogs." At the vet's office the other day, there was a woman with an F1B that looked exactly like a standard poodle, but with a big plumy tail. We got into a doodle discussion, and she too, was negative about poodles and their 'attitudes'. But her own dog is 75% poodle!
How can you love your doodle but dislike at least half of his parentage? I am sure the breeders and others here who own poodles will agree on what wonderful dogs they are. When I had my miniature, there were actually people who said things like "that's not a real dog", etc. At least half of the doodle owners I have personally met have remarked that they didn't like poodles, and then went on to comment on attitude, hyper, foo-foo, etc. If you were a poodle owner and heard this type of thing from people who then want a dog with half or more of your dog's genetics, wouldn't you be angry too? Might you not become prejudiced against all "poodle mix" dogs & those who breed them?
It is perfectly fine to prefer one type of dog to another, and it is perfectly fine to base those feelings on looks. I myself think doodles are cuter than poodles for one main reason...they have broader snouts and bigger noses, and I love the shaggy dog look, too. I dislike the appearance of pugs, shar-peis, chihuahuas, and many other breeds. But I don't say so to their owners.
Just a little food for thought...have you ever made a disparaging remark about poodles? If we want to help stop the "doodle bashing" that many of us complain about, maybe some of us need to start by adjusting our own attitudes. :-)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

True!......until they realized that their hair coats hindered their ability to manuever through dense brush as it would get caught on everything...I can relate..I don't know about your Doodles but Blake is like velcro!...lol

[Adina P]

My impression has not been so much that people thought the dogs themselves were 'foo-foo' but that they are associated with foo-fooness or femininity. The extensive grooming requirements, the show haircuts, the ribbons in their hair, the dye jobs. All of that stuff is individual owners' choice on hairdo's not the dog's foo-foo personality or abilities. But because you often see poodles (on tv, in media) like that the association sticks since you just don't hear about poodles as hunting dogs despite their history.
My history is 100% pure bred Romanian, but I don't LIVE according to Romanian culture--not in any daily, discernible way. So someone reading about Romanian history and trying to apply it to me now would find it doesn't fit me, today, in the USA. Not a very tight analogy...LOL...but simillarly with poodles, even though their origins involved retrieving/hunting that is not what the average person today SEES on tv and in other media.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

C'mon Adina, we want to see you in traditional Romanian dress!
Quite the coincidence, I am a quarter Romanian myself, from my paternal grandmother. That's where I got my black "gypsy" eyes.
I still think that most real life poodles don't look like that dumb foo-foo media portrayal...at least not here in the Midwest. Maybe it's good to not be on the fashionable coasts...fashion & dogs= icky-foo-foo! :-)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Quite true.....What many people don't know is that Poodles are second only to Border Collies in intelligence....Labs and Goldens are somewhere down in the teens.......

[Tamara & Giada]

Well said!! I have also heard people say they "hate" one breed or another or one size of dog. To me a real animal lover would never say hate and I would actually question how good of an owner they really are. I have always taught my children we not to say hate.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I agree...I love the doodle look more so than the poodle, but my female is often called a poodle by passerbys. I don't even correct people unless they ASK me.

Everyone perfers certain dogs over others....this includes ALL breeds. It boils down to being a respectful person and respecting others.

[Libby, Rufus & Jacoby]

I used to make fun of poodles, especially the little ones - UNTIL I babysat for a family in the 1970's (now I'm dating myself) that had Fred. He was a little gray poodle that was a great family dog. They did not groom him with the pom poms etc, he was allowed to be natural, just like my labradoodles, and he was a six pound bundle of energy and a real cutie pie!!!! I have admired them ever since!

[2kfat5c5med13]

I never cared for Poodles, and really dont know why. But one day after I had Abby, we were in Petsmart and a man had his standard poodle there. Abby was acting like a doodle does (or possibly a moose) and this gentle poodle was so shy he hid behind his owners leg and peered out with his gorgeous eyes and I saw what a beautiful dignified dog he was. When people ask me what Abby is I tell them what my son calls her. A very expensive "mutt" and I would have 10 more if I could. Not all breeds are for all people, thats why GOD made everyone of us different. So we could all take care of different dogs. Cats are a whole different story. LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I love your attitude (& your son's) and I'm so glad you got a chance to see what "beautiful dignified" dogs poodles are...especially the standards. Thanks for commenting.

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

I completely hear what you are saying. I have thought the same thing.With Doodles and Poodles and Pit Bulls and all the other dogs out there. Everyone has a idea of they are, how they all act,what the owners are like. The thing is people feel that they are right and it is so hard to change their opinions.

I love Stand. Poodles. I grew up with them. My Mom also bread them. I love My Shaggy LD. The more I think about getting another dog. I am leaning towards another Blue Stand Poodle just like my Diggers(childhood dog).I even contacted the AKC to see if I could trace Diggy's lines so I could have one of her long lost descendants. The lady blew me off in the return email. So now I have my Mom trying to trace her lines. Oooo I thought of something, what if I could get a Doodle that was a long lost descendant.
Then I think I love the fleece coat Multi-Gen. Or another F-1 like Jordan. Oh what to do.

[diane silver]

I also owned two mini poodles before getting my Emma. They were absolutely wonderful pets - smart, happy, and the loves of my life, especially my last one, Sadie. The primary reason I got a Labradoodle was because we have friends who have one and after taking care of her last year, I absolutely fell in love with this breed and the best combination of poodle and labrador. So, having said all that, Emma is an absolute joy and like children, has a personality all her own. We adore her as much as all our other "kids" and though I have encountered some snobbery when I tell people what she is, it really doesn't bother me at all. Each person owns a breed of dog they like and as you said, everyone likes different ones and it's rude to make a disparaging comment about any breed, in my opinion.

[Oliver]

I agree with this completely! Very well written!