How can I determine the size & coat of a pup?

[Kristi and Mickey Finn]

Hello DK folks,

Well, our new family member was born December 28th and I am so excited! How do you determine the actual adult size and the type of coat they will have when you just see a photo of a new born? The mom is a 50 lb Golden Retriever and the dad is a 30 lb Moyen Poodle. I can tell that some of the coats are already curly and some straight. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[BG and Gavin]

As everyone said "you can't."  Funny story, I was looking into doodles before getting one and an aquaintance had one named Ben.  Ben was a total sweetheat but just monsterous in size.  Nice dog, but we could not get over the size of him.  When we got out puppy we though hopefully he dosen't grow as big as Ben.  Well Gavin is about three inches taller than Ben and weighs about the same.  He just kinda snuck up there.  But as he grew we just thought, the bigger the better!  Now when Gavin and Ben are together people say "Who is that huge dog with Ben?"

[Adina P]

You can hope the dog will be between 30 and 50 lbs, but it could get bigger.  Or the weight might be within that range, but the legs might be looooong poodle legs and make the dog taller than the mom.  As for coats, if you post a photo of the litter at 5-7 weeks, we could all take fun wild guesses...some of us might even be right :-)  Straight coats at the newborn puppy stage don't mean much, but a straight and short coat at 6 or 7 weeks might mean a more retriever looking pup.  When and how are puppies allocated?

[Kristi and Mickey Finn]

Here are the puppies 1 week old. Please know that I will love and cherish what ever puppy we get. I am so excited out of my skin! Welcome 2013! We put our 15 year old dog down in April and we can hardly wait to bring our new family member home. Thanks to all of you who have posted here and love the info and the sarcasm. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Oh my, Kristi, they are all darling and very different shades plus the red. Some look like they have the crinkle (like Ginny said) and some don't.  Keep us posted about your pic.

[Katherine]

What a beautiful litter!! I'm far from any expert, but looks to me like only two of them have a true straight coat (and that may change a lot just in the coming weeks). You must promise to post the next litter picture you get too. Are you going to visit the pups before you select one?

[Ginny Nightingale]

Oh my--how very very cute they are!! The red one and 5 of the creams have the "crinkly coat" that could be a curly doodle and the others may get more wavy as time goes on. No matter what, you will be in love the minute you get your pup!!!!!

[Shelley & Beans]

Oh my... tears... I haven't seen a picture of mine yet.. Also a week old. Thanks for posting the picture.

[Katherine]

I'm getting my new dog in two weeks. They are F1b (so 75% poodle) but ALL 8 puppies were born with a straight coat. I visited them now at 6 weeks, and none of them are straight any more. The two closest to straight both have those wavy strands between the eyes and signs of an upside down V, which I've come to understand is an indication they'll get those lovely beards. I suspect these two will become the shaggy, wavy kind of doods, unless they completely change their coat again which doods often do. I've also heard that the ears on pups are a good indication. 

As to size, I know of mini pups that have grown up to be 60-80 lbs! I know many disagree but I still think the paws of a puppy are a good indication of adult size. Of course with doods that gets more complicated because some puppies have the flatter Golden paws, while some have the dainty poodle paw, and that has to be factored in too. Someone also told me once that a puppy much bigger or much smaller than the rest at 6-8 weeks (not before then) might be an indication of the genetics they've inherited when mixing two breeds and two sizes. An 8 week puppy a lot smaller than the others in the litter, may have inherited more of the gene making the moyen poodle small. The puppy who is a lot bigger than his litter mates might have inherited the height of a Standard Poodle (yes, even from a Moyen dad) and the boxy-ness of the Golden and you could get a really big dog. Sort of makes sense to me, but could be complete hogwash.

[Kristi and Mickey Finn]

Just thought I would post the pics of the Daddy (Moyen Poodle) & Mommy (English Golden Retriever) of our puppy. In 3 weeks he will be home with us and I will post his picture. There are 10 puppies we have the 8th pic so who know what one we will get.....I know the RIGHT one! Very excited! 

[BG and Gavin]

You must be very excited!

[Kristi and Mickey Finn]

our puppy Mickey Finn