The doodleness of my puppy

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi there!  I just got a puppy and he is a mini F2 Golden doodle but he doesn't really look like the typical golden doodle.  I have been researching the mini golden doodle for I would say at least a year and a half and the image that I had in mind when I got my golden doodle is nothing like what I got. So clearly I did not research enough!  I probably sound like a horrible person but I had my heart set on the fluffy bearded golden doodle.  I bought him long distance and my mom got one of his sisters.  She is very fluffy, the exact dog I had in mind.... the moment I saw my little guy, I knew he looked different, his hair was more like fuzzy, almost like polar fleece.  I thought he might be slow fluffer coming into his doodleness but the more I research the more scared I am that he is not the dog I had pictured in my mind.  He is the sweetest little guy, just not what I had in terms of the picture in my mind.  I am a dog lover but I feel like this will be the last puppy I get most likely and I don't want to be disappointed every time I look at him and to spend the amount of money I did on him...I don't know.  I know that sounds horrible.  I would love opinions about his doodleness and can post more pics! 

[Riley girl]

Your little guy is absolutely adorable! I'm sorry you didn't get the puppy that you imagined, but his coat will change so don't fret too much. There is a group on this site that has photos showing the changes in coats from puppy to adult. Some are really drastic!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 I LOVE his coloring.  I think he will 'doodle up.'  When you looked at the website, have the parents been paired up before?  If so, are there some pictures of the previous litters?  Does doodlekisses have  group from your breeder?  If so, join that group and ask members  to post pictures of their doodles if they come from one or both of your pup's parents.

[Lynda Kamrath]

He is just darling and has a personality all his own.  I love the coloring.  My "heartdog" Hondo started out rather smooth, but changed a lot over his lifetime.  But it wouldn't have mattered what he looked like, he had my heart like no other dog has ever had my heart.  Don't keep focusing on what you had expected and start enjoying this little guy for what he is.  You never know what will happen.  Enjoy!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am wondering what you will do if your puppy doesn't,t measure up to your ideal. I would guess most of our dogs have one or two things we'd like to change but we have them and love them nevertheless. I think your pup is adorable. I think his coat will be doodley but that he will likely have an open face without doodle furnishings.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

You can add your photos to the discussion.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I'll take an old lab with a sweet personality any day. I would just want a better vacuum.  Beauty is certainly only skin deep.  It is the personality of the dog, the companionship, the loyalty, that matters.

I certainly hope you bond with this dog.

My doodle has the worst coat. It is thick, hard to groom,  hard to maintain, just impossible.  He is not big enough. I want a huge dog.

He is everything I never wanted. Just wonderful. My best dog ever.  Truly, I am sorry and I understand.  But it takes awhile to bond and maybe this will be everything you never wanted too.  A really GREAT DOG

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Your puppy is adorable, but he has what is called an "open face". He is not going to have the doodle furnishings- the beard, eyebrows and facial hair. Abby has them, but your little guy doesn't. There is not a doubt in my mind. Any experienced breeder can tell whether a puppy is "open-faced" or not. 

Of all the various doodle generations, the F2s (parents are both F1s) have the most variation in appearance and are the most likely not to inherit the poodle's furnishings. Many breeders do not breed F2s for this reason. 

That said, you need to decide if you can love him unconditionally for the next 15 years or more, knowing that he is not going to look the way you want him to look. If not, please return him and wait for another puppy who is what you wanted. He deserves to be loved and cherished just as much as Abby or any other puppy, regardless of what he looks like. It would not be fair to either one of you to keep him and spend the rest of his life wishing he was a different dog. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I doubt that the breeder would give you a refund, but she might give you a puppy from a future litter. If you feel like you want to return him, I think you should try. Puppyhood is hard under the best of circumstances, if you are not madly in love with the puppy and are feeling like you didn't get what you paid for, it's even harder. 

(Also, just to make sure you know for the future, there are alternatives to shelters or selling a puppy yourself. There are private registered non-for-profit doodle rescue groups place  rehome owner relinquished doodles in excellent, pre-screened new homes and have rigid standards.)