Doodle Generations

[shelly]

Hi all! Okay - I have two questions.... what exactly is the differnece between F1, F1b,etc. What are the qualifications???? And two - Can someone tell me what a Les Pooch brush is??? I have actually looked for one, and can't seem to find one anywhere. With all of this snow and now rain.... Tori is mating pretty badly. I did spray her down with dematting spray before our big storm, because I knew there would be no keeping her in. Got most of the mats out and now they are coming back. I like to demat her as much as I can before going to the groomer so she won't have to be cut so much (I LOVE her hair long)... Kinda' like cleaning before the cleaning lady comes! LOL
Thanks so much!!! By the way - Tori's mom was an australian shepherd and her dad was a standard poodle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Someone else will be able to fill you in using the correct terminology, but F1 is a first generation cross - poodle for one parent and lab or golden or cocker or australian shepherd or maltese or.... for the other parent (doesn't matter which parent is which). F1b is when that first generation pup is bred back to a poodle. In theory they are 3/4 poodle. The more generations there is of doodle to doodle breeding, the more consistent the doodle is for doodle traits. After a certain number of generations (I think 3) of doodle to doodle and you call them multi-generational. If the doodle's heritage is Australia then they are Australian labradoodles; if the original parent cross is in America, they are multi-generational. Tori is an F1 Aussiedoodle.
This is simplified and as I understand it.
Matting apparently is common with doodles - at least as far as I can tell. And some shed AND mat. Some doodles mat when their coat is changing from puppy to adult but mat little or not at all as adults. Some never mat and some mat forever. Shedding can have the same progression.

[shelly]

Thanks Nancy! Wow - such terminology.. LOL Shedding, matting and all we just LOVE her. Mostly she just sheds in little fluffballs I find floating across the floor. Never on any furniture or against your clothing. I'm just glad she doesn't shed like our golden retriever did. So this is NOTHING! As far as her matting... she does mat just about 4 weeks after her grooming. But I think I mentioned on another post, I think some of her loose, cut hair may have gotten caught up in her hair and she came home from the groomer a bit knotted in spots, so she is in need of a good grooming now, especially with all of the snow we had. And hate to say it, but she gives me a run for my money when we try and brush her. Have to put he in the tub so she won't escape - LOL

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think Ned gets little mats from grooming too. She thins his coat and I think it is impossible to get all of the hair out so what is left gets some little mats. As for grooming techniques...... My husband holds Ned while I brush. Ned falls asleep for much of it, but he will not hold still on his own. If you don't have a wonderful hubby in that area, you could fasten a leash to a chair or table leg. Here in Southern California, I don't have to deal with snow, luckily for me. Ned would probably love it!

[shelly]

Oh I'm jealous! Right about now, it's 20 degrees with an unbelievably strong wind of 30 mph - bringing the temperature down to about 5 degrees above ZERO! BRRRRR!!!! (But at least the 2 feet of snow we got last week is gone already. It warmed up to about 45 and rained) BUT.... What I would give for a walk on the beach in the warm sun right now - LOL... Soon.....
And yes, Ned would probably LOVE the snow, just like all of his "doodle friends" in snow country.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

One of the things I most love is to see the pictures of doodles in the snow. The reality of it is probably not fun, but the photographs you all take are just wonderful. I am really looking forward to this week's slide show with snow doodles. Sadly, Ned will not be participating.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Not sure how much the Les Poochs brush was on their site but you can also get it at the DoodleCountryStore.com. They are members here. That is where I got mine. If you send them a pic and tell them what type coat they can make sure you get the correct size for your situation. I am a total fan of the Les Poochs. I thought paying that for a brush was nuts, but everyone kept talking about it so I just thought I had to try it and it is worth every penny as far as I'm concerned. Our Sophie hated being brushed but for some reason she doesn't mind the Les Poochs brush. I also find if I get them up on a table or somewhere they stand still much better (plus it is easier on the back).

I love your "cleaning before the cleaning lady comes" comment, as I do the same thing. I always make sure they are matt free before they go to the groomers because I don't want any chance of them shaving out matts. I also once had a cleaning lady call me to lower her price because she said she was charging me too much for no more than she had to do at my house! Obviously that was prior to owning 2 doodles. I also worked full time then and there was never anyone home! My how times have changed! I could use her daily now!

[shelly]

Okay... You guys have convinced me... heck the price is worth the extra that would be charged at the gromer when she has to spend hours brushing her out so she doesn't shave her... she so patient... but still don't want to take the chance of getting her on a bad day LOL. Maybe I'l even buy her one too! Feeling in a generous mood tonight. I should go order them now before I change my mind (or mood) LOL. Thanks!!!!!