Australian Labradoodle/Goldendoodle or Wheaten Terrior?

[Lisa Moses]

Looking for any suggestions/opinions. I have begun research on the 3 types of dogs and am having a hard time deciding what's best for my family. Anyone have any comments on which type is better? Thanks!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

please realize that doodles are not allergy friendly.  It varies from dog to dog and person to person.  Doodles are constantly rehomed through DRC because someone in the family is having allergy issues.  If allergies are a big concern for you or your family you might want to consider a pure bred poodle and not one that is mixed with a shedding breed like a lab or a golden.  I also know that many people are allergic to the dog's saliva so the breed wouldn't matter in that case.

I have 2 non-shedding doodles.  My mom with allergies is ok around them but my friend with allergies isn't.  I have also found that their nice long doodle coats are great for bringing outdoor things that bug my seasonal allergies which makes grooming them fun at certain times of the year.  lol 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There is no way to know whether any given doodle puppy will be low-to-no-shed as an adult. With Wheatens, the coats are consistent, they do not shed, and you know what you are going to end up with.

Regarding size, there is also no way to be sure with a doodle puppy what size the dog is going to be as an adult. Many people who were told that their goldendoodle would be 50-60 lbs ended up with an 80-90 lb dog. Even the ALDs can have a pretty big variation, with dogs from the same litter having a 20 lb difference as adults. Again, with a well-bred Wheaten from a reputable breeder, there are no surprises in terms of coat or size.

In terms of temperament, the temperaments of the parents is the most important factor. You want a breeder who breeds for temperament and not just for coats, size, or looks. But as someone else said, your pup's temperament also depends on you. Great dogs are made, not born.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I had terriers for 30 years and first three were great family pets--4th was a wheaten--please, be very careful if you decide on one--they can be neurotic and mine certainly was. I know a vet who won't even treat them--doesn't trust them to not bite--many are wonderful, but many are NUTS! 

Here is the issue: they were promoted as hypoallergenic (the same mistake is being made with doodles right now...) and also as a laid back breed--everyone started breeding them including puppy mills. Now, I have to say that I got my wheaten back in the 1990's so I didn't even know what a puppy mill was and fell for a pet store pup--that was a big no-no! But even so, they were overbred and temperament went out the window.....If you decide to get a wheaten, go to a reputable breeder and make sure you meet the parents--and be prepared to wait a while. Usually there is a waiting list for the pups...or at least there was at one time.

Also, if you get a doodle that has a curlier coat, you should have no more care or shedding than a wheaten--my doodles shed about the same amount as my wheaten did and the grooming is similar also. I decided to leave the terrier world because I wanted a dog that was friendlier to other dogs--terriers can be very territorial and I wanted a dog I could take anywhere...

There are lots of people here on DK who have australian labradoodles, american labradoodles and goldendoodles--they are all mixed breeds and are all different to some extent--not all doodles are created equal! So, it is more important in my opinion that you find a quality breeder who is in your area and get to know them and their dogs so that you can get a home raised well balanced puppy--that is the most important thing!

Now, once you decide and do your homework on the breeder and get a nice pup, the rest is up to you---training is the most important thing when deciding the temperament of a dog--you need to be aware of the fact that you do not determine temperament when you decide on a breed or pick a puppy--it is a start, but the rest is up to you and how you raise the pup. 

Good luck!

[Lisa Moses]

Wow, thanks so much for all that info- truely appreciated! And it all makes sense what you said. Just trying to do my homework! My friend did lots of research on her A. Labradoodle and ended up getting her dog from a breeder across the states and had her puppy flown in. She recommends the beeder over all others, but makes me nervous to not be able to meet the breeders/dogs directly. Don't know how common this is??

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think that in general it is ideal to meet the breeder in person. I personally feel it's really important. That being said, we have many members here who had their dogs flown to them without meeting the breeder in person, and their pups did fine and their breeders were very good breeders. If you do end up not being able to see them in person, I'd say give it double the effort to do your research on the breeder.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Ha Ha...Ginny did neglect to tell you that she has three Doodles and her Goldendoodle Lyric just delivered her third litter of 7 beautiful pups!  Go to the home page and scroll down the right side to see her blog announcement.  It should still be there unless it got bumped to the second page!  Ginny really knows what she is talking about and her advice is a good one to follow!  Good Luck!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Thanks Nancie! But Lyric is a labradoodle--mom was an australian and dad american--both multigens--HA!!! Just had to fix that---

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

ha ha...I don't know why I thought she was a GD.  I guess because she reminds me so much of my Gracie Doodle.  Doesn't matter what they are...I love them all!  Lyric is such a sweet girl and one of my very favorites.  Pats and hugs to her and the pups!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

This is a post I copied from the GoldenDoodle Owners Group on FaceBook that was just posted this morning:

Having a very sad day. I adopted my amazing doodle Annie from the shelter back in 2007 when she was 4 months old. On that same day I also adopted a 10-month-old wheaten terrier named Fergie. Fergie was always food aggressive and dog aggressive (though ok with Annie). In 2010 we brought our daughter home from China and Fergie hated her from the get-go. She snapped at her a few times and despite working with three trainers over the course of the year, she bit my daughter pretty hard in the face which was completely unprovoked.

I found Fergie a wonderful new home with no kids and no dogs to a retired couple that loved her to pieces and sent me updated pictures every month for the last two years. They just called me absolutely hysterical because Fergie cornered her 80-year-old mom and tore open her arm and her leg after two years of showing no aggression. They decided that they need to put her down which is probably the best thing to do but I cannot stop crying!!! Anyhow had to get that off my shoulders....

[Adina P]

Where is that recent discussion we started a while back about what people need to consider when thinking about getting a doodle?  Someone please post a link to it for Lisa =)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

here you go:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/considering-a-doodle-crowd...

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

All three of these breeds are high energy and high coat maintenance with the potential for moderate to heavy shedding (I have a heavy shedder.)

 

Lots of things to take into consideration and lots of good advice given here.  Good luck!