Family Thanksgiving...the bad

[Margaret M Pitts]

I have been wanting a labradoodle/goldendoodle for over two years. Had some health problems to take care of (specifically knee replacements) and now I am so ready to make a new friend this spring or summer!!

This year at our Thanksgiving my husband's brother and his wife, who are both vets, started in on what terrible crazy dogs doodles are.  Did not have one good thing to say about them and said they wouldn't recommend them to anyone!!  Then one of the young girls visiting started in too.  She grooms dogs and said doodles were the worst, she hated doing them, they were such a pain. Needless to say I was crushed!  I have been so down ever since and can't seem to get out of this blue fog.

I have researched for several years and think particularly a goldendoodle would be perfect for me. I am retired, home alone almost all the time, have so much love to give and have always loved dogs.  There is a good groomer in our town and a lovely young lady who has started a business training dogs. She is highly qualified and I will be looking to her for help.

So guess I am just needed some positive thoughts on doodles and I thought members here would be able to give me honest, first hand, actual life experiences on living with a doodle. Please and Thank You!! 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Haha - I could only do this with Photoshop.  My dogs absolutely love routisserie chicken and when I come home with one, they follow me all the way from the garage wanting to get their noses in the bag with the chicken.  

[Margaret M Pitts]

Oh my gosh I love this picture!! Now those are some very good dogs that are super well trained!! Not sure I could have left that yummy turkey alone!!  So good to hear what well behaved dogs you have, makes me think I can get my future doodle to be a good girl too! Thanks for sharing!!

[Carolyn Shusterman]

All seven dogs with the yummy turkey have learned the one word that is sooo important to all dogs.........that word is "STAY"!.   We use that word in our S. CA Doodle romps to get the dogs to sit by themselves to pose for our 'Blue Ribbon Group' (that's the first prize ribbon color in dog shows).  Go to that group and take a look. One of the dogs in our Thanksgiving Turkey group belongs to our granddaughter who trained her dog.  

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm beyond impressed!    What a great photo!!!!!

[Carolyn Shusterman]

Carol, thank you.  The other secret to getting photos like this is the family never feeds their dogs from the table.  They know we eat first then they get their dinners and .......sometimes healthy table scraps under their kibble from our plates.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Carolyn, this makes me smile!

[Bonnie and Kona]

The light doodle in the front looks ready to be served! What an adorable photo!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

We have two medium Australian labradoodles and they are each laid-back and lovable.  Of course, I have spoiled them to high heaven!  I enjoy brushing them - it is a great bonding experience especially when they are puppies and they seem to enjoy it.  I do take them to a professional groomer about every 8 weeks, and I trim their faces myself in between if necessary.  My groomer grooms quite a few doodles and she has never made a derogatory remark about doodles per say, but she has said that most owners do not spend much time on coat care no matter the breed.  If they are a non-shedding or long haired dog and are allowed to get matted - it is difficult to groom them without shaving them down as it is hard on the dog to de-mat and most groomers do not have the time to do that.  IMO - proper training makes all the difference in the world. and I wish all new puppy owners would take the time to go to obedience class - so they can learn how to train properly.  Most of the time, it is not the dog that is the problem, it is the owner.  We had a standard poodle prior to getting a doodle, and I know in my heart - as long as I can take care of a dog, or breed of choice is a doodle.  You might consider rescuing through Doodle Rescue if you are not into going through the puppy phase.  There are so many doodles out there that are ending up in rescue through no fault of their own.  Good luck finding the companion best or you.  Welcome to the DK site.

[Margaret M Pitts]

I am glad to hear you think the obedience class is so important as that is one of my first priorities.  I have nothing but time on my hands so think I will be able to devote a lot of time and attention to proper training.  I will be asking the breeder for a little more laid-backed puppy so hope that will help too. I am really looking forward to having another puppy (had a Maltese in 1973 and a Golden Retriever in 1986) so I can raise her to be the type of dog I will be glad to have with me. Thanks for the welcome to DK. I am thinking DK may be the best source for me to get my information...definitely not listening to the in-laws anymore!!

[Andrea, Belle and Honey]

I have a lively mini labradoodle, Belle, who certainly requires persistent training by me and bimonthly grooming by a professional, but she is bright, sweet, and soooo funny that I am thankful every day that she is here to enjoy my retirement with me. Did I mention that she is a world-class snuggler?  I think anyone, especially a vet, who denigrates an entire breed with the vague allegation that they are "crazy" is someone whose opinion of that breed is pretty worthless. Belle has never given her vet a hard time, and with regard to groomers, I can only share my experience. Belle has a very thick, easily matted, fleece coat with a curly topknot.  She has had 3 groomers. The first one, when she was still a rambunctious puppy, said she clearly knew the meaning of "no," and was a delight to work on.  When that groomer moved out of the area, a second groomer claimed Belle was impossible to work with, so we never went back to her. Belle's third, and current, groomer says she is very cooperative and one of her favorite clients. Bottom line, I think a really competent groomer and a well-trained doodle will have no problem dealing with each other.  If you do decide to go ahead and make a doodle part of your family, I wish you luck and good times.

[Margaret M Pitts]

Thank you for sharing your experience.  So glad to hear of her snuggling as I am looking forward to have a dog to snuggle with again!!  Apparently my in-laws haven't dealt with doodles of the caliber found here at DK.  I am just glad to have found this site or I might have missed out on having a great future companion!! Thanks for your good wishes!

[BG and Gavin]

I think grooming varies by doodle. My guy does not have a tight coat and sheds a bit. This makes him very easy to groom with no matting. However, a doodle like Spud (Joanne) has tight curls and a difficult coat that does not shed. Pick your poison I guess. Temperament varies too. Overall doodles are a combo of two athletic breeds and therefor need exercise and mental stimulation to be happy. We walk and run Gavin a great deal every day (at least an hour on days when he is not working) and have put in several levels of training. We are rewarded by having a calm, respectful and loving family member. He was a handful as a puppy with the typical mouthing. We had to be consistent and patient in that respect.