My old highschool friend just bought an "Airedoodle" from a BYB, any thoughts?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I just saw on facebook that a girl I was friends with in high school and talk occasionally to bought an Airedale/Poodle mix today. I am pretty sure it was from a BYB as she said it cost 300 dollars, and that it was 100 percent hypoallergenic and non-shedding. This girl has owned a dog before (actually, her parents have, not her)  but I know her well enough to know it was an impulse buy, and she has never had a dog that requires grooming or anything. Anyways, I wanted to contact her and tell her about DK, etc. Any thoughts on Airedoodles? Know any?

[Adina P]

Don't know any aireDOODLES but have met some Airedales.  They can be tough dogs...they are large terriers after all!  But with good training are good workers.  Also goofy!

[Adina P]

Some pics from a training seminar I attended last fall:

There's Rosco and I in the corner of this pic!

All the Airedales were male, 2 of them intact. All but one (the one far off to the side with a woman in bright pink) was under superb control. The one not in control was a neutered rescue who was mostly observing and being observed. He had some issues--but that was not particularly due to his breed.

The girl in green with the scarf on her head is somewhere between your age and my age and an AMAZING handler. Her airedale does great in the obedience ring and has some titles and awards. She got her airedale in part because of a trainer/philosopher she admires had one (or several) and in part because she was bitten by one as a child and wanted to get over her fear of them. So obviously in the right hands they can be fabulous dogs. I certainly wouldn't want an airedale mix as MY FIRST ALL MINE dog, but it might turn out just fine.

[Camilla and Darwin]

As far as I know, Airedales are great dogs, but not recommended for a novice dog owner. Due to their feisty temperament and difficulty to train if you are new at training... The main two reasons I worry is because first off, she has never owned or been responsible for a dog that needs any kind of specialized grooming. Both terriers and poodles require professional grooming. I have no idea what an airedoodle's coat would be like... but I can only assume it would be high maintenance. Second, she is most likely not going to take it to obedience training. I would be very surprised if she did. I just hope it doesn't end up in a shelter when she realizes how much work it is...

I guess I should clarify that I don't know her well enough that it would be normal for me to give her information. I only know she got a dog through her facebook status, and we haven't talked in a while. I don't think it would be normal for me to just randomly give her information and advice... but that is what I want to do! Maybe I am too pushy and worrisome, but I feel like I should contact her and at least tell her that I would like to share experiences. I just worry that a month from now, she'll get overwhelmed and put him in a shelter. I certainly can't stop everybody from buying dogs spur of the moment... but I live close and can't help but feeling like I should talk to her.

She is younger than me, and I know she hasn't owned a dog on her own before. The other thing I worry about is that I know she is pregnant, and it seems that having an untrained dog and a new baby is a bad mix.

[Adina P]

Unfortunately there are lots of people like her out there! I agree that you can't just butt-in. Maybe, if you really feel moved to offer help...simply respond to her FB Post (or on her page) with something like:

'Hi ____,
I saw you got a new puppy! Congratulations...Ive never heard of that mix! Can't wait to see pics of his cuteness :) I don't know if you'd be interested, but I belong to this really cool dog site called Doodle Kisses. It's mostly for Labradoodles/Goldendoodle owners...but they are really nice and there's so much helpful info on there you might really like it! There's stuff on grooming and a puppy group...it's really fun! It's DoodleKisses.com and you'd be totally welcome'

THEN delete your post so she doesn't see it! LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Camilla, here's a good link for your friend about Airedale terriers as family pets, from the Airedale Terrier Assn:
http://www.airedaleterriers.org/articles/right.html

[Camilla and Darwin]

This is a great link, thank you!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Adina that Airedales can be very tough dogs; they are known as the kings of the Terrier Group because they're the largest. Most terrier breeds are very feisty and many are known to be same-sex dog aggressive, including Airedales. Your friend should definitely start training early and be very conscientious with it.
How silly that these Airedoodles are advertised as non-shedding and hypoallergenic. Neither poodles nor Airedales shed, so of course they're nonshedding. As to hypoallergenic, we know that's a bit more complicated.
She is going to need a crash course in grooming and ear cleaning; this dog is going to have an extremely coarse, thick, profuse, curly coat as an adult, definitely as woolly as it gets, and with the additional facial hair, is going to be very challenging to groom & keep mat-free. I would advise her to start ear maintenance now, to get the dog accustomed to it.
I'll bet they're very cute puppies, but IMO, there's no reason for anybody to be breeding this particular mix.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I would call and talk to her. Let her know what you have learned by experience and here in DK. I have never met anyone, with an open mind, that can't learn from others. I bet she would love to talk puppy with someone who has been through it.

I hope that she gets her AD into an obedience class asap. Pregnant and an untrained dog of any size can only be a recipe for disaster for that dog to stay in their home.

I hope and pray that I am wrong!

[Dr. Judith P. LaVorgna]

I'm never sure if my post will land under where I want it to or not Adrianne. Here's what rescues are facing....the popularity of the Doodle as we know it (Goldendoodle and Labradoodle) are so impactful that breeders of Doodles BY and first rate are also crossing them with other breeds. I'm not so sure I'm all for that BUT, if we believe in hybrid vigor...then I would guess we would have to look increasingly at these sort of odd crosses. It is going to be difficult for the major Doodle rescue groups to turn away a beating heart, we will probably have to work collaboratively with the AKC Breeders to find homes...Boxerdoodl, Corgidoodle, etc. Now, for me although it isn't at all my predisposition to enter these crosses, I grew up in the land of Aierdales. They are a magnificent looking dog and very bright. They can be stubborn (but so can mine), brave (and so are mine), and wonderful companion animals. They are almost revered in England...and worked in law enforcement long before GSD's. Worked in our military and England in WW1. They are the giants of their breed and tend to have relatively small litters so there are not as many as we might see among other breeds. I think you and Adina are right...like all of our dogs they will need good early obedience training and socialization. My worry is more the strain on our Doodle rescue organizations and how it will strain rescue budgets to find homes for these unusual mixes.. So opening our arms on places like DK , The Doodle Zoo, Doodle Discussion forum and more, as Adina suggested is going to be critical.to the well being of these "new kids ion the block". I was so lucky to grow up next door to an Aierdale breeder. Loving, loyal, goofy, funny, it's when we get to Pitdoodle or Rotdoodle I begin to worry. Imagine a Chidoodle! OMG. We are entering a new phase that is both frightening and exciting. For you as a rescuer and for me...well, we will have to see because apparently it is occuring before our very eyes and we have no way to stop it...and I guess we either question it strongly or go forward in placement. I don't know. It's almost too new, But I'll know soon because as of 6:30 tonight my DH is fostering an Aierdoodle at our unsold home in GA, Either he will be the best Aierdoodle foster...or foster failure...or he will be wandering around mumblling about divorce/ Had he not taken the boy in.the dog would have been euthanized. I guess we will all have to start gearing up for the After the Designer Dog influence. It should be interesting when you and I meet at a romp with our St. Bernadoodle and our Colliedoodle. Was a monster created, or. the best of the breeds. suppose the jury is still out. But for sure we will recognize one another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you for the rescue you do...and I hope vice versa. But it's getting a little scarier every day. When you come back to Florida next winter we shall have to gather our maltdoodle and our bischondoodle and have a glass of wine somewhere!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Too many darned oodles!! St. Bernadoodle???? OMG! Must be a sweet dog but shedding?? Drooling?? Talk about HUGE! I would love to see a picture of this puppy!

[Dr. Judith P. LaVorgna]

I, I want to walk the St. Bernadoodle...he'll have the flask...I won't care how much he drools. You, ride into the romp on the Danedoodle. We will for sure recognize each other. :)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Pregnancy with a terrier puppy makes me squirm.....
I would encourage her to do training and to even join DK - I think that being a first time dog owner, being pregnant and owning a puppy with a smart/stubborn streak, could be pretty tough! We know our doodles weren't the easiest as pups. I know terriers can be very very stubborn and hard to train - it just takes time. I grew up with terriers....
Keep us posted.