Expectations vs. Reality

[Adina P]

I'm sure that each of you, before you got your labradoodle or goldendoodle (if you were planning on one) had certain dreams and hopes for what your doodle would be like.

Which characteristics of your labradoodle or goldendoodle did you expect? Which characteristics surprised you? What did you expect and what did you get? I'm off to bed soon, so I'll respond later, but didn't want to forget this burning question so I'm posting now =)

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Boomer is exactly what we expected in the looks and personality department. Before we got him we spent a day with one of his older brothers, that helped us decide. Our big surprise is how intelligent he is. He is great.

Shayna surprised us in a couple of ways - first we expected her to smaller, her father is a 16 lb poodle - she is almost 45 lbs. She is also is much more protective than any of the others.

Mariner due to his disability we did not know what to expect. There were a couple of surprises - first although he is a biological brother to Boomer - he has a much smaller body and much different fur, Boomer's is curly Mariner's is fleecy.

Mariner has learned to do everything that a dog with full eyesight does, we were prepared to have to make accomodations for him - totally unnecessary.

All of them are smart and loving, they are the perfect companions.

[Adina P]

When I was thinking about getting my own dog, I had never heard of labradoodles or goldendoodles. But Clark suggested I look up "labradoodle" and so my internet search and doodle addiction began (even though I'd always preferred) short-haired sporting breeds). It was the look of "Bocker" that really won me over. And I dreamed of having a dog that looked just like him. I had no allergies or aversion to shedding since Cass sheds plenty (though the potential LESS shedding was a-okay with me!).

I fully expected I'd have a perfect 50-60 lb white scruffy female who adored me and was perfect in every way: cuddly, smart, easily trained, low shed, CUDDLY. I'd never had a dog before so I really didn't know what to expect other than adorable and loving.

But I read a lot to bring me back to reality so I wasn't terribly surprised.

But some things were different:

1) Instead of a dainty, creamy, female I got a hunka hunka big red male because his temperament matched what I wanted....the female did not.

2) I didn't want a curly dog, didn't want the grooming. But even though Rosco is curlier than I wanted originally (LOVE it now) his grooming needs are minimal.

3) He sheds far more than I expected for being as curly as he is...but it's not a problem and it's not anywhere near a lab's worth of shedding.

4) He was FAR nippier than I thought a pup could ever be. Even after all I'd read...it really took a lot of perseverance to get through that part of his growing up. He was great outside of that...but my oh my did he leave bruises!

5) He was NOT cuddly as a pup as I expected all pups to be. I tried so hard to make him like affection, but not until about a year and a half...after bonding via training and time...did he start to seek affection and CARE what I thought of him. He's now THE MOST cuddly of all our dogs. He's just a big love!

All in all I'm more than pleased with Rosco and Thule =)

[1mzns1erua5gt]

I guess like many others, the amount of grooming to keep out mats. Just got some new grooming products which I hope will help.

[Adina P]

I think she may fluff out a little more, but it's like she'll be more retriever...just like my Thule is more labby. A cutie either way!

[9pavxfihcp80]

We actually got Calli at one of the worst times of our lives. We had just lost our two cocker spaniels. Chewy, 9-years-old, was on phenobarbitol his whole life for seizures and it eventually attacked his liver, causing him to bloat up like a little football, bless his heart. He still had his normal spunk, but we knew it was only a matter of time as his appetite was waning. Jax, 10-years-old, was fine (except he had horrible teeth-- he'd had so many pulled that he looked like a little hillbilly!) until one day; he laid down with his legs straight out and his little soul seemed to disappear. He was alive, but extremely lethargic. We took both of them to the vet the next morning only to find out that they suspected that Jax may have had a tumor near his heart that burst because his red blood count was under 15. His tongue and gums were nearly transparent. We made the heartbraking decision to put both of them down together. I've never seen my DH cry so much as I did that day. He said he never wanted another dog because it hurt too much. The next day, we were out in the yard, and he said, "It just doesn't feel right. No one is by my side." We have worked opposite shifts most of our married life together and our "boys" were truly his companions.

We came in the house and began researching different breeds. With Chewy's lifelong health issues, we really wanted a breed that didn't have a history of epilepsy, or other major health problems. We happened upon a site about goldendoodles and after reading about all of their wonderful qualities, we just knew it was the dog for us. We found several sites for breeders but only a few were in our state of Wisconsin. Of those few, we found one that just happened to have puppies ready to go that very weekend. We crossed our fingers and hoped they would have one available. As it happened, one of the litter of eight were left, but the breeder had a verbal confirmation but had not received a deposit from the potential owner. We wired the deposit to her and that weekend, just four days after we lost our beloved Jax and Chewy, we welcomed Calli into our home.

Calli truly helped to heal our broken hearts and then some. She has so many wonderful qualities, many that Jax and Chewy had, too, so we often say that they are living through her. Adding Cooper to our family has only increased that, and we find ourselves constantly amazed at what incredible dogs goldendoodles are.

Calli and Cooper will never replace Jax and Chewy, and we wouldn't want them to, but they have a very special place in our hearts and home.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I met my first doodles at work. I was impressed by the goldendoodle temperment and I loved the adorable scruffy look. My senior newfie was not doing well medically and I thought about how lonely my collie would be without another dog around. I asked questions about the breed to every doodle owner who would talk with me at work. My boss kidded me about having "Doodle envy." When I had the opportunity to get a goldendoodle puppy, much to my husband's dismay, I jumped at the chance. I thought I'd get a wooly, platinum blonde. Instead, I met this precious little apricot 13 week old puppy who could not stop wagging his tail. He grinned when he felt shy. I fell hard for this puppy. Since he came to live with us, he has exceeded every expectation I could have had. Connor is smart, hilariously funny, bouncy, cuddly and has the best heart you can imagine. He is so kind. And he has grown into an incredibly handsome young fellow. He had such a rough start in life, but he is the happiest dog - he's downright sunshiney. He has made a doodle believer out of my husband!! I cannot say enough good things about the breed in general and my precious Connor, specifically.