Thoughts on australian labradoodle

[Karen]

Hi - I'm looking for some advice. I have allergies and 2 children (4 & 8). We have had dogs in past but do not have any pets currently. While we have had success with a rescue dog I do not want to go that route (my rescue was completely devoted but he did have triggers due to his past, my kids are too young). I DO know what I'm getting into with a puppy (I even just read Raising Kids and Dogs to be sure I'm being realistic). Soo all that being said the Australian labradoodle seems perfect (with exception of price) of course this is based on Internet and breeder sites :-S.
I live in suburbs of Philadelphia (bucks county PA).
So finally to my questions:
Given following criteria any other dog recommendations?
-mid size (35-50lbs)
-very good with children, safe temperament (4.5 yr old will NOT be unsupervised w dog)
- allergy friendly
- calmer disposition (once exercised)

Also does anyone have experience with Windsor Labradoodles?? (I think you need to reply privately). They have a litter coming up in spring and the sire looks like one of the cutest dogs I've ever seen!

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks
Karen

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Hi Karen!  We have a Multi Generation Australian Labraboodle and she is two and a half years old.  She is a medium and weighs about forty seven pounds.  She is the best dog we have ever had and is definitely laid back and mellow.  We are retired and we feel sometimes she is so mellow because we are laid back too:)  With that being said, we do have six granddaughters ranging in age from 4 to 16 and she is absolutely the best dog with them and loves every minute she is around them, which is daily in this house:) She has her play times outside and we walk her daily, which all of us love!  I am not saying all Australian Labradooles are this way and puppyhood was definitely a challenge for us, but she is an amazing dog.  Training is the key to behavior in my book and we did a lot of training with her and a daily basis.  Going to the weekly classes and then coming home and enforcing daily want we learned was a must in our case.  She has no allergies at this point and she does not shed.  When she comes home from the groomer she leaves little puffs of fur once in a awhile, but I do not consider that shedding.  Which ever Doodle you choose will be a perfect fit I am sure, they are incredible dogs and Libby amazes every single day with her love for our family.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Quincy is a multigeneration Australian and is now 16 months. He is about 52 lbs and I think that it about it.   We also did lots of training starting early on and we just started a reinforcement class a week ago.  He is a very mellow and [mostly] well behaved dog who takes direction very well and is eager to please.  He had and still has some puppy moments, like stealing gloves from the workmen and running around in crazy circles taunting us, but for the most part he settles in quickly and aims to please.  As Lonnie noted, he does give off wisps of hair, but not shedding per se.  He does need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks and I shower him and brush him in between with some frequency. We are very happy with this breed.  Good luck!  

[Diana Erhart]

Hi Karen,  Our Charlie is a miniature Australian Labradoodle.  He weighs about 25 pounds and is 7 years old.  I would recommend when looking for an ALD that you try to find one with a wool coat if you are worried about allergies.  My husband is allergic to animal dander and we were worried when we first got Charlie if my husband would have a reaction to him (my husband's reaction to other dogs is swelling and hives ending up in anaphylactic (sp?) shock).  At first we kept Charlie out of the bedroom and off the furniture but as time went on and there was no reaction we let Charlie roam all over the house.  My husband can hold him and snuggle and Charlie even sleeps in our bed sometimes.  My husband has been around goldendoodles and still has a slight reaction with them.  So anyway, advice would be to try to find a wool coat.  I agree that training is a must when they are a puppy.  Charlie has a high prey instinct and took alot of training to get that in check.  But now he is the most laid back and best little guy around.  His vet and his daycare says he is "the best dog ever".  I don't have any experience with the breeder you are considering but good luck.  It sounds like you have done much background work and that will definitely pay off when you bring your little doodle home!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know nothing about Windsor Labradoodles. Have you read the article on choosing a breeder: http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder   Are they on one of dk's owner recommended breeder lists or are they a member of the breeding group here on dk who promise to abide by proper breeding practices? Have you visited them to see if what they say on the website is what their operation looks like?

 I think that multigenerational is the key to your question rather than whether they are Australian.  You want to look at 4th or greater for your generations for the most hypoallergenic coat. One of my doodles is a multigenerational (7th) Australian Labradoodle. He is not a high energy dog yet he is playful, friendly and outgoing.  I can also say the same personality-wise for my rescue who is definitely neither multigenerational, non-shedding, nor allergy-friendly.  My Australian labradoodle is from mini parents yet he grew slightly larger than either one of them.  Ned is 28 pounds and 17" tall.

[Karen]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your comments.

I've read the article on choosing breeder but the breeder I'm looking at doesn't allow visits because of disease (apparently a new policy). None of breeders near me are listed (eastern PA) on site. The link for one in MD takes me to different breeder so I can't tell on that one either. I want to see the type of dog in person before I commit.

Thanks
Karen

[Lynda Kamrath]

We have an ALD and he is about 50 pounds and full of energy.  He is three years old and has never settled down.  He loves to wrestle and play every day and needs frequent walks.  He also likes running with my husband's bike (in the country) and going riding with the BTL (bike tow leash).  He took swimming lessons because he likes to get in the water at the beach and that frightened me.  I am a very good swimmer but would not go into the ocean after a dog who got into trouble.  He loves swimming and running and playing on the beach.  Mixing with kids?  I wouldn't do it with this guy.  He is allergy friendly and non-shedding.  The ALDs I have known were not calm, good pets, but not calm dogs.

[Ginny Nightingale]

I only have a few things to add to the list of comments which are all very helpful. First of all, breeders can take precautions to prevent the spread of disease when allowing visits...a breeder that does not allow visits is a red flag in my opinion. Many online breeders are running puppy mills and the pictures on the site are bogus. I don't now anything about the breeder you mentioned...this is just a general caution.
I raise American labradoodles for a breeder and after 20 years, her LDs are multigenerational and you can easily get a curlier coated doodle that would be less likely to cause allergies. There are many other breeders of American LDs that have lovely non-shedding dogs without the ALD price. In addition, the American LDs do not have other breeds mixed in besides lab and poodle, while ALDs have many other breeds that were mixed in early on and sometimes still do. The stock breeding dogs were also less likely to be AKC champions ( meaning that they had great confirmation) , while many American LDs did have champions in their background.
That being said, the choice is up to you-- I just wanted you to be aware that you do not have to purchase an ALD to be assured of less allergy issues...with ANY LD there could be allergy issues, but the curlier the pup, the better.

[Karen]

Hi Ginny

I think the red flag in back of my head is why I joined this group. I'm getting a puppy so I can increase my odds with the dog having a good temperament. If I can't visit breeder and meet parents until I decide that doesn't feel 'right'. Thanks foe the advice I'm going to open up search to American multigenerational as well. My only concern with that would be size...

Big thanks to all for the help and advice :-)

Karen

[Lynda Kamrath]

Actually, American breeders are breeding smaller dogs also because many people just don't have the room for large dogs.  To get a smaller breed, you just use a miniature poodle instead of a standard.  Multigenerational just means the miniature poodle was the ancestor.  There is so much mixing now that you cannot even be sure of what they call "multigenerational".  Know your breeder and pay attention to those red flags.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Hi Karen,

With any dog there is a chance for an allergy issue.  I have 2 mini ALDs (from different breeders) and my allergic mom is fine around then while my allergic friend still has a reaction.  I've noticed that my seasonal allergies are bothered more now by having these 2 because their coats just trap all those outdoor allergens and bring them in to the house.

 

No breed of dog is perfect around kids.  The dog (and children) have to be taught the proper ways to behave.  Puppies are a lot of work but training is key.  You can successfully have a puppy and kids, but you have to be willing to put in the time and effort. 

 

There are 2 main reasons that doodles end up in shelters/rescues.  They are allergies and kids.  Many people have purchased a doodle be cause they heard that they are allergy friendly but that just varies from person to person and dog to dog. here is a good link about doodles and allergies  http://doodlerescue.org/group/isadoodleforyou/forum/topics/the-alle...  

And many people underestimate how much time it takes to properly raise a doodle (training, grooming, excercising) and end up having to give the dog up.  There have also been many cases where a young household became to hectic for the doodle and the dog had to be rehomed. 

 

Whatever you decide to do, get insurance the day you get the dog.  I've spend over $3,000 in vet bills on just one of mine this year alone. 

[Nancy]

Hi Karen,

I have a multigeneration ALD with a curly fleece coat and does not shed at all.  Oliver is 38 pounds and 2 years old.  I have to admit, he is the best dog that I have every owned.  He is very smart and a quick learner.  Being my second dog, he house trained very quickly and is always eager to learn something new.  Oliver is definitely mellow but does require some type of exercise throughout the day.  I usually take him for a long walk 4 to 5 times a week and we play fetch with a ball both inside or toy both inside and outside SEVERAL times a day.He loves to play fetch and we love to play with him.!  He does not need to be "tired out" in order to act mellow, I truly believe that is attributed to proper breeding.  During his first year and a half, he got into the typical puppy mischief but never destructive.  The key is to "puppy proof your house" and not allow access to things that the he shouldn't have access to, it is very simple.  I highly recommend crate training as long as the pup is not left in the crate for more than 3 to 4 hours at a time with the exception of night time once the puppy can "hold" itself longer.  Oliver still sleeps in his crate in our room with the door open, this is his choice not ours :)

As far as choosing a breeder, do your homework and make sure that the breeder really is as what is portrayed on the website.  You should be able to visit the breeders home at some point.  Definitely a "red flag" if that is not possible.  Also read the Adoption Policy and the Health Guarantee before purchasing a puppy!!  Not only will a good, responsible breeder give a 2 year health guarantee but they should ALWAYS agree to take the dog back if it becomes necessary to re-home during its LIFE TIME.  

Best of luck to you, I highly recommend an Australian Labradoodle from an established, responsible breeder.

Nancy 

  

[Debra Ekstrom]

Hello Karen,  We have a multi generation Australian Labradoodle.  He is 15 months old.  He has a curly fleece coat, completely non shedding.  He is white with chocolate.  We never find one hair on our clothes.  He is 40 pounds.  We are retired and it worked out training him since we were always home.  He took two puppy classes and loves learning new things.  He can have his puppy moments of finding and shredding paper.  He has never destroyed anything else, not even a toy.  We made a point of having him meet as many people as possible in his first month home.  He absolutely loves every person, every dog.  We do not have grandchildren but we try to get him around kids as much as possible.  We have a little water park in town.  During the summer we would take him over there to meet the children.  He is so good with them.  I always made it the rule for him to sit before the children approach him.  Babies in strollers, toddlers, etc can be eating food and he will never once try to get to it.  At our local farmers market kids gather around him and he just lies there and lets them pet him.  Of course he goes through all of his tricks that he knows as he loves when they laugh at him.  I trust him completely with everyone.  He is full of energy and enjoys long walks and playing at our dog park.  He is also very mellow. Most people cannot believe he is so young.  You cannot make a mistake by getting a multi gen Aust. labradoodle.