But why a doodle?

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

So many posts lately have gotten me thinking about how much my boys mean to me.  Yes - there have been other dogs that I have loved deeply, mourn still to this day but Rooney & Stuart tug at my heart like no others - so I have to ask "why a doodle"?  What is it about these dogs that make us love them so? 

Part of the reason for me is;

that I adore their look.  Rooney resembles a little teddybear and his walk from the rear view makes me think bear too.  Stuart looks like a cartoon character - Fozzy Bear come to life.

even though they grow out of being puppies - they continue to look and act like puppies.

smart, smart - sometimes too smart.

So I ask you - why a doodle?

[Christine & Camus]

I did not start out looking for a doodle. I had a lab mix for 16 years that I loved and when ready I started looking on Petfinder for a lab mix.  Like Karen I wanted an older dog, past puppy stage ~ 12 mos old.  Einstein had a beautiful, long, sleek, black coat (looked like a black wolf) so I decided to try and find a light colored, scruffy looking dog so I  would not be able to compare the new dog to Einstein.  When I saw a dog listed  as Lab/Poodle X, I thought perfect!  Always loved the standard poodles and love the lab temperament.  So I adopted Nietzsche.  I adopted Camus, with Karen's help, because of Nietzsche. 

[GBK]

When people tell me they are getting a new puppy, I always ask what kind and why?  It always amazes me that their only reason for their choice is how they look.  What about temperament, how social they are with other dogs, time committment to walks and runs due to high energy needs, a dog that is not energetic enough, grooming issues and costs, medical problems that can be consistant in the breed especially if not from a health testing breeder and on and on. 

My dogs are just what I want and need.  They are not super high energy, good after a good walk in a day or the dog park.  They are easily trained, and totally loving.  I put the energy and training in that they need to be well socialized around other dogs and people, but thet are still happy for the challenge of "training" in other areas for fun.  They are beautiful, but it takes grooming, and I am now doing it myself due to cost and my own pickiness as to how I want them to look.  They are the most loving beings I have ever had, and even though they wake me up at 6:30am on Saturday, they do it in the most adorable and loving ways.  A sweet little brown head on my pillow beside me with little kisses and a big curly body slid next to me on the other side with big sloppy kisses and cuddles.  I know they want breakfast....but they ask in such a heartfelt way :) 

People who know what breed or mix works in their lives, continue to get that or a similar breed.  My heart will always go out to mixes like mine, I don't think it can get any better, for ME (my DH agrees).

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

My husband has always wanted a golden retriever... and I've always had great experiences with GRs owned by other people. However... they're just too big for us!  A friend got a mini goldendoodle and the rest was history.  We fell in love with the idea of a smaller GR-like dog, possibly looking like a muppet.  We were confused when Luna never "doodled out", but we couldn't be happier.  She's a smart, funny little rascal who has a wonderful zest for life.

[Richard Crowe]

I just love everything about our Holly!  I enjoy just watching this beautiful dog and I am forever thankful that Holly has a wonderful personailty and is just great with our rescue Maltese...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I admit that I did fall in love with their looks.  When I saw the online picture of Guinness, that was it for me.  I thought he was the cutest dog I had ever seen, and then the breeder sent me videos and I was in the car heading to Vermont.  It was pretty much the same thing with big Murph.  I totally fell in love with how he looked.  The hope of a non-shedding dog was also a huge attraction for me (and I lucked out there with both of them), but if I'm honest it was all about their "adorableness".

[Carol and Banjo]

Love this Sandy!   What a sweetie you have!

[Camilla and Darwin]

-They are adorable

-The temperaments of Standard Poodles and Golden Retrievers are really ideal for us

- They don't shed much, if at all.

-Standard size doodles are the size we wanted (50-80lbs)

Those are the main reasons we chose a doodle. There are plenty of other breeds that are pretty high on my list, but I'm really happy with our decision because Darwin is just perfect. :-)

[Doris]

I was not looking for a doodle, but the opportunity to adopt Bodi came along and I am so glad he came into our lives! I love the doodle kisses!!  And tonight Bodi had the baby boy from next door laughing- those great big belly laughs from a 4 month old baby!  Priceless!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

My doctor purchased Jack for me, She had three golden doodles and she was very partial to them. I didn't know anything about golden doodles other then they didn't shed.

I was all set to buy a doxi-poo from what I now thanks to DK know to be a very bad back yard breeder with no health testing and would breed any type of dog I wanted.. Geeze.

Luckily my doctor thought that was not a good option for me and said I needed a "well bred dog" I had NO idea what the difference was except the price was insanely more...

I thank God a hundred times a day for Jack, for being from a well bred breeder and that he is so stinking cute... I will tell you I love my Jack. He is 75 percent poodle, He is and F1B Toy and as cute as can be...I happen to be partial to anything that loves me though....

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Jen - I loved this!!!!!!!

[susan kaput]

Never had a dog before I got Angus.  About a year after my husband died, my kids told me I should get a dog....My son and his wife had recently gotten a goldendoodle, chosen because of his wife's allergies to dog dander.  They did tons of research, and got a dog from a breeder in Canada.  I did tons of research a year later, and chose a mini doodle from a breeder in Illinois.  We all read everything we could about dogs, dog training, bonding, etc.  Both dogs (6 years later) are a joy to us.  Their dog seems perfect for them and my dog is perfect for me.  I never thought I would ever let a dog sleep on my bed......best investment I ever made.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Daisy has the best personality and I can truly understand what she is thinking, when she needs a hug or a kiss, when she needs just to be close, when she wants to be left alone. She is never far from my side unless DH is home. In the evenings when I am on the computer and he is in the family room in the basement she spends her time with both of us, up and down. It is so cute, and so is she.

The other thing I love about Daisy is she is frriggen cute and she is big, my first real "big" dog. At 70lbs she is tall and perfect for us. We expected 50lbs and we got an extra 20 for free! ha ha

I also think Daisy's look in unique even to a doodle. Everyone loves her and so do we.

OH and why we got a doodle was I fell for the old, no shedding, hypo allergenic story....I have asthma. Our last doodle (of sorts) I was not allergic to and he did not shed so 3 years after he passed we decided to get another. Of course we were not on DK and found out by research that there was a chance that our new dog would not be what we expected but it was too late I was already bitten by the doodlebug and knew it had to be.