Anybody ever had their Doodle called a Mutt?

[Joy Williams]

I was just at Petsmart and a lady was walking across the parking lot with a beautiful Golden Retriever. She stopped me and asked me some questions about my car, as she is thinking of getting one. She said she is a Breeder and was questioning whether a crate would fit in the back seat or not. She asked if I had a dog and when I told her I had 2 Golden Doodles, she rolled her eyes,turned up her nose and made an awful face. "Why would anyone ever consider paying that much money for a Mutt!! That's all they are ya know...mutts." And she went on and on about GD's and all kinds of negative things about them. She made me so mad, I think if she had not had the Golden Retriever standing there beside her, I probably would have run over her.

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

Last year at a Pet Expo, my husband and I had two separate rude experiences at the same time.....I ran into this man with a very handsome dog and asked what kind he was..well, he was an Italian Spinone, which the man proudly pointed out to me, was embroidered on his baseball cap and I mentioned that the dog looked quite doodle like and he felt compelled to say to me "You do know that a doodle is not a breed, don't you?"....like I was some kind of idiot. Like most things in life, it's not what you say, it's HOW you say it....
When I met up with my husband and told him what a jerk the man was, he laughed and said that he had been looking dog breed socks to buy me and when he asked if they carried anything doodle, the woman told him "NO, we ONLY carry pure breeds"......well, excuuuuuuse me. She's missing out on a big part of the doggie market, because I think there are more of us Doodle lovers out there, than the snobs who are so closed minded and rude about such a silly thing. Anyway, too bad for that sock lady, I might have bought several pairs of those socks if there was a sweet doodle face on them:)

[JBAdorableDoodles]

I hear ya Joy.....I was thinking run her over while I was reading your post. My doodles have been called mutts...I think people are jealous of our love bugs!

[TrevorDoodle]

Yes, I have had people say snarky things to me about my "designer dog" or "mutt". But I really could care less. It is not going to ruin my day! I know my dog is perfect for me! I know my dog is smart & quick to learn. Has an awesome & funny personality. I think he is also pretty cute to boot! So whatever. BUT for the few snarky remarks, I get compliments almost everytime I take him somewhere! Maybe 2-3 snarky comments and at least 100 compliments. I think if I ever get a snarky comment again I will probably say something along the lines of, "That's funny, you must have really bad taste, I get compliments on him all the time!" HA! Trevor(my Doodle) would probably just say, "bite me", to the snarks anyway! LoL!

[Felice]

How rude! It's sad that this ignorant woman is breeding dogs,no dog deserves to be in her company.

[vehc26iqe89q]

I am waiting for my new license plate that says doodluv! Can it get better than that? I love the GD's... geez... I have had 16 puppies now and they have great homes, and that is why I breed them, to let everyone have the wonderful experience of the love and devotion of these dogs! My Mom is 80, and all of her girlfriends-widows come over for rent a doodle night... they are just so in love with Barney... check out Manordoodles.com Love all of your guy's devotion to your dogs.. I work with a toy poodle handler... she gives me hell but loves my doodles! .. Jackie

[23nyik3g6rkq5]

I love it when people make rude comments about yankee. I have her sit primly, smile warmly and then tell them, "She may be a mutt but she has more class than you!" I then do a high five with her and we walk off. I absolutely love watching them pick up their jaws! :)

[Joy Williams]

Ha!! I'd love to see this one! Especially the high five!! Not only more class, but more brains as well. Go Yankee!!

[Scott Chalkley]

I am sorry to hear this is happening but I am not shocked one bit. I was orignially when I read all the nasty things people have to say on Craigslist and that is why I will never go on that site to discuss labradoodles with anyone. Don't get me wrong, love the site for many things but talking about doodles is a total no no. If you haven't tried, go to the site and type in labradoodles in the search engine under the pet forum. Good luck finding anything positive.

My famed story though is one that was based on paying someone else for their services. I had an encounter with a highly reputable trainer/whisperer here in Oregon. I will not use her name but she writes three columns for different papers up here and she has a newsletter that goes out once a week about tips on behavioral modification for pups. She came highly recommended from a co-worker. After filling out her 8 page questionnaire for each one of my dogs... Yes, I was not able to combine all four dogs into one questionnaire, each one had a packet of lengthy questions and responses... She proceeded to call me and leave an extensive message on my voicemail stating that since I called Logan (our Multi-Gen Australian Labradoodle stud) a stud that she would not be able to work with me.

She believed that labradoodles were mutts and she would not even consider calling them by the name labradoodle. She would always call them a mixed breed. She then went on to tell me that I could call her to talk about her decision but there was no need to because her mind was made up and she could "NEVER, EVER DO BUSINESS WITH SOMEONE WHO BREEDS THAT DOG." I only use caps because that is how she said it. I played that message over and over again to different people I have come in contact (even the person who recommended her) for various reasons, so I know the exact words by heart.

Bitter, party of one here! ;-)

Anyway she proceeded to let me know that she had another trainer/whisperer whose method of training is behavioral modification and that person would help me out. I thought for a split second that maybe I was being to hard on this woman but then she said that this trainer is from the humane society. Come on, what kind of subtle jab is that? I, as a known breeder, am going to call someone from the humane society to come and train my loved ones, on my property? Not a chance. Nothing against the great work that humane society does. Just a personal preference and looking out for the well being of my pups.

So I let it go (as you can tell) even though I really wanted to do all the research I could on Dobermans and send her facts, on when her precious pure bred would have been considered a mutt. I really felt like I was a character from a harry potter book when I heard her message. You know a half-blood; half muggle, half wizard.

The funny thing is that I have never once been discriminated against, to my face, for being gay. Not one single time in my life and I have been out and proud for 15 years. But I go and fall in love with labradoodles and then there is some real descrimination for you.

DOODLE OWNERS UNITE!

Scott

[Maureen]

Whenever you encounter this,,,always remember that Labradoodles were bred for a purpose....
Service dogs for those folks who have allergy issues. The first Doodle was bred for a blind woman who had allergy issues and the cross worked. A service companion without the shed!

[Joy Williams]

Well said, Maureen!

[Michele B]

All of the people who insult doodles are just idiots.........plain and simple. Most domesticated dogs have evolved from the combinations of other breeds, Portuguese Waterdogs are one purebred for example. Just because Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are a newer breed they are getting a lot of insults. Doodles were developed for a reason....to provide allergy friendly service animals. There are tons of resonsible doodle breeders who are following specific breed standards to further develop the doodle breed. I think most of these rude breeders are feeling threatened because the doodle breeds are really catching on. People are finding out that doodles are awesome pets! They are smart, friendly and for the most part don't shed. When a golden or lab breeder/owner says stuff to me, I just wish them much happiness in their endless vacuuming! As far as the price of doodles goes............this would be an economic principle called supply and demand in a free market economy.

[Teri]

I have had people say this to me before and it makes me really angry. I was at the dog park with Gordon one day and a woman who was there with 4 purebred poodles and said to me :"maybe next time you can get a REAL poodle!" I was so angry I wanted to kick her. Anyway I always respond with a list of reasons why he is great and that they are not inbred like purebreds, less health problems so on..... Stupid snobs!