How can DK help prevent owners from giving up their doodles?

[jamiegirl]

After seeing the doodles that are looking to be rehomed, I got to thinking how the owners must have felt or had to deal with to come to that decision. DK is wonderful for discussions but I wonder if there was a "support group" system that could offer time for the confused or troubled owners to consult with so that they don't have to resort to giving up their pets. I understand that training and behavior are the most common reasons for this. A major function of this "support system" could be to offer non-judgemental advice without making the owner feel that they or their dogs are inferior to the stellar stories that some of the other members have. The information that I get from the forums and discussions here are excellent but I have a feeling that someone who is already contemplating on giving up their pet would be less likely to post discussion forums because of lack of time and anonimity.

I don't know if this is even making sense to anyone else but I just wanted to get my thoughts out there.

Anybody else have an idea or opinion about this?

[Donna -]

Even though my Doodle, Maximus, is a devil in disguise, gets into everything, has ruined more shoes, wallets, glasses and clothing than I can count -- he is one big lovable dufus and I would open my home to another one in a minute. Energetic dogs with smarts need to be kept busy or they get "bored" and I've seen a lot of people give them up for that reason. It makes me sad.

[Stella]

I think a lot of the idea listed in this discussion are great, particulary the "so you think you want a doodle"piece. I feel that one of the biggest reasons people get a doodle and then give it up is that they have no idea how smart and energetic these dogs are. And a bored, smart, energetic dog can only lead to distruction in the home! When people hear our dog is a doodle, the first thing they tell me is "oh, so he doesn't shed", or "so he's hypoallergenic then". I find myself jumping up on my soapbox a bit and give them a speach about doodles, shedding, and allergies. Our older dog is reasonably well behaved (a work still in progress at 16 months) and people are usually so impressed that they say they want to get a doodle too. I always tell them that it has taken a lot of training to get to where we are, and I also tell them how much exercise he needs a day.

The breeders need to stop selling these dogs as non-sheding, hyopallergenic dogs. Our breeder was very honest right from the start, it is even on her website explaining that doodles do shed, and can affect allergies. She will also take a dog back if they need to be rehomed, so we count ourselves as lucky that we found a good one.

As a doodle owner and lover, I almost try and discourage people from getting one! If people can come here to doodlekisses and find out the wonderful and the not-so-wonderful things about owning a doodle, at least they can make an informed choice and not be influenced by what is currently 'in fashion'.

I think I got a bit off topic there, sorry, I got on a roll!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Not off topic at all; this is exactly the issue. You are lucky to have had a breeder who was honest.
Jackdoodle has a coat just like a Golden retriever (although he's an LD) and everyone says, "oh a labradoodle, they don't shed." When I tell them he does, I have had people go so far as to say "Oh, then he can't be a labradoodle, because they don't shed." People truly believe, as Amanda said, that they are non-shedding retrievers.
On the other side of it, many people who would never in a million years get a big retriever, with their enormous exercise requirements, and their tendency to be easily bord and distracted, rush to get a doodle. People who dislike purebred poodles rush to get a doodle. The two parent breeds, these people absolutely don't want, but they are hell-bent on getting a doodle...without any understanding of what they are getting. Thank you for helping to educate people about ALL aspects of our dogs...it can only benefit the doodles in the long run.

[Kathy Wilson]

Karen and all, DK has been such a wealth of information for me! As a result of coming here, I found a responsible breeder who also has a rescue doodle. I have learned what not to do as well as how to best take care of my soon-to-be-born little brown girl. I also know that there may be/will be surprises that I must be prepared to deal with. I am shocked that folk would get a doodle when they don't want retrievers or poodles! I've had a poodle and loved her. I adore retrievers. May I be honest here? The thing that kept me from looking into doodles for years was the name! I thought "who could want a dog who's called a "doodle""?
Then I met one, and I googled them and fell in love! And now, I'm adopting one. If I am able to realize my dream of moving to Oregon in the next two or three years, I will also rescue one or two. My cousin lives on five acres up there and says my dogs would be welcome along with me.
I come here to DK several times a day and have never left without learning something important that I didn't know or hadn't thought about. I am grateful to all of you.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I also get the hypoallergenic and non-shedding. I also then stand on my soap box and give the 'oh, that's not true' speech. I also give them the time, training, exercising, wonderful, naughty, expense shpeel. I can only hope that these would-be doodle owners actually listened and heard what I have to say.
When we were in Dewey Beach I can't begin to count how many couples stoppped me to inquire about doodles. I spent more time trying to dissuade them from getting a doodle unless they were fully prepared to make the doodle a lifelong member of their family. One couple was young and wife was pregnant. I think I got through to them that a Doodle was not right for them at this stage. One was an empty nester couple that seemed to be very good candidates. They spent a long time at the romp, talking to so many DP. We can only hope that they are got a good dose of info and spend a long time talking about the life changes that a Doodle brings.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

It would be a wonderful thing if all breeders, resuces and those rehoming would give a questionaire to the impending parents.
I know The DRC and IDOG have info on the websites, "Is a Doodle Right For You", but I am talking about actual writing down answers to quesstions that could be and should be discussed with potential Doodle Families. I bet that many potential families would change their minds when they actually see in writing what it takes to have a Doodle become part of their lives - one that they would keep in their homes forever!

Are you aware that there is no dog that is truly 'hypoallergenic'?
Are you aware that you may be allergic to your doodle even if they don't shed?
Do you know your dog may shed?
Do you know that they require lots of exercise since most are high energy dogs?
Do you know that your dog minimally need $200 (depending where you live) for yearly vet visits and vaccines?
Do you know that a grooming can cost you app $75 or more if you don't brush your doodle every day.

Obviously it will never happen with most breeders because they are too many irresponsible ones out there who are just looking to make a buck (I am not speaking of the responsible breeders here in DK - you know who you are so please do not take that statement personally).
For the sake of the Doodles I wish that this would be done! I have been spending countless hours lately on Petfinders and you just wouldn't believe just how many doodles are out there looking for forever homes!! It just breaks my heart!!

Thanks for listening....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As long as this discussion has been revived, I would like to show you all an article that has become very famous throughout Bouvier de Flandres circles, and has also been rewritten for other breeds on many purebred breeders' websites. It is called "Don't Buy A Bouvier", and it is intended for people who are thinking of getting one of these wonderful dogs. It is too long to reproduce in this discussion, but here is just one excerpt:
"DON'T BUY A BOUVIER IF YOU ARE FASTIDIOUS ABOUT THE NEATNESS OF YOUR HOME. The Bouvier's thick shaggy coat and his love of playing in water and mud combine to make him a highly efficient transporter of dirt into your home, depositing same on your floors and rugs and possibly also on your furniture and clothes. One Bouvier coming in from a few minutes outdoors on a rainy day can turn an immaculate house into an instant hog wallow. His full beard soaks up water every time he takes a drink, then releases same drippingly across your floor or soppingly into your lap. (It is of course possible to cut the beard off and to keep the feet clean-shaven year-round to reduce mess.) Although it is technically true that Bouviers do not shed, you will find that the grooming process usually results in balls of pulled out hair tumbleweeding their way about your house, unless you deposit same directly from comb into a trash basket. I don't mean to imply that you must be a slob or slattern to live happily with a Bouv, but you do have to have the attitude that your dog's company means more to you than does neatness and you do have to be comfortable with a less than immaculate house.
While all dogs, like all children, create a greater or lesser degree of household mess, almost all other breeds of dog (except the Old English Sheepdog) are less troublesome than the Bouvier in this respect. The Basenji is perhaps the cleanest, due to its cat-like habits; but cats are cleaner yet, and goldfish hardly ever mess up the house."
And it goes on about temperament, training, exercise, etc.
Here is the full article:
http://www.bouviers.net/info/dontbuy.html
Why don't we ever see anything like this on doodle breeders' websites? This article was written by a woman who loves this breed. It is not meant to disparage Bouviers, it is meant to make people think hard before getting one. And maybe it works, because at this moment, although Bouviers are adorable, large, shaggy, non-shedding, intelligent, rambunctious dogs, there are only 20 Bouviers listed on Petfinder, some of them mixes. Go look at the Doodles In Need listings on the DRC website, and count.
I really think that anyone, especially a breeder, who truly loves and cares about doodles would want to have some similar information out there.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

But instead, we get stuff like this:
Goldendoodles are hybrid dogs, a cross between two purebred dogs. As first generation (F1) hybrid dogs, they inherit the best qualities of each parent breed and none (or few) of the health or genetic problems. What are doodles like?
Everything you’ve ever wanted in a dog can be found in a Goldendoodle. They have the the friendly, calm, and loyal personality of the golden retriever and the intelligence and hair (low to non-shedding and hypoallergenic) of the poodle. This and their intelligence (both parent breeds are in the top 5 most intelligent breeds) make them incredibly easy to train. Doodles are fun-loving, loyal, goofy dogs and great for anyone who wants a new dedicated member of the family.
Honestly, there are NO major health concerns. As a hybrid cross, Goldendoodles live longer and healthier than either parent breed: generally 15 years.

This is from a breeder's website. I am sure she means well, but with this kind of misleading hype, is it any wonder people are making some poor decisions?

[Kim]

Nothing like there being something wrong with EVERY SINGLE SENTENCE there. My dog is NOWHERE near calm yet (hoping she will grow out of that soon)! My Husband is allergic to her. She is "almost" non-shedding, but I've seen others that shed A LOT! She was very easy to train - but she is VERY stubborn. ok... they are right with goofy. She is goofy at times, I'll give them that!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I found when looking at labradoodle site that many breeders had a page like Adina and others are thinking of regarding whether or not the breed is a good match for a potential owner. Here is an example from Rutland Manor called "Is this the breed for you?". Despite some hype about Rutland's dogs, it goes into the pros and cons of the Labradoodle's intelligence and intuition, the types of coats and shedding, mischievous nature, love of water etc. It ends with: "If you are prepared to dedicate the first twelve months with your puppy to TRAINING then you will have a superlative family companion second to none. If you are not, then you should seriously consider a different breed." I think this is exactly what you have all been saying breeders should do to inform people about the breed and what's required.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

AAAMEN!!
I gave Ms. Mischievious Charli her first grooming Wednesday before dinner - clippers and all! After I ate dinner I gave her a bath. She smelled do deliciously good! Did some zoomies around the house and then I took her out back because she was slipping and sliding on the floors and I didn't want to stop the zoomies but wanted to keep her safe.
Where was the first place the wet rat went?? Straight into the pond (pondless waterfall kind)! Ran right into it, tried to dig up the pond rocks, rain up the stream and stuck her clean, gorgeous face into the waterfull and stood there!!
So much for a clean, delicious smelling puppy! What did I do - cursed her through my hysterical laughs! What else could I do?
Mischievious, love of water - that's Charli!!!!