Visit to the local dog park has me questioning if I belong here

[Riley girl]

Hello everyone!

I am sorry for the length of this post. Thank you very much if you make it to the end and actually have the energy to comment afterwards ;)

Riley is now 4 months old with all of the proper shots needed to visit the local off-leash dog park. For our first visit I made sure it was at a time that the park was completely empty so she could get used to all of the different smells. Well, we had our second visit last night when the park was filled with all sorts of different dog breeds.

One of the owners we met had her three bearded collies there. (They were HUGE but really sweet to Riley) The lady introduced herself and said she either worked for, or runs, a bearded collie rescue, I was barely listening at this point because her 3 dogs were surrounding Riley. After asking me what breed Riley was mixed with I told her that she was an F2b doodle. She insisted that I was wrong about Riley having any relation to a poodle, lab, or golden. I kind of laughed it off and told her that since I found her on Craigslist anything was possible, but that the couple I got her from insisted that they purchased her from a Labradoodle breeder.

Of course they were complete strangers getting rid of a young puppy (after only having her less than a month) on Craigslist and may have lied or been lied to. I wasn't even looking for a dog at the time because we had lost our 13 year old lab/pit in January and the ache was still there. I was looking for another kitten to keep my daughter's cat company!  But when I saw her face I couldn't resist! I only reimbursed them for the first vet visit ($100) so it's not like I spent near the amount a doodle would have cost, though I was wanting a Labradoodle when the time felt right.

So I've been doing research on bearded collies and Riley does fit the bearded family, but she also fits into the doodle family. The fact that she is greying is common in both bearded and poodle breeds. The big nose, small eyes, and high ears also seem to be a trait of both doodle and bearded. The one thing that almost convinces me that Riley may be a beardie instead of a doodle, I can find examples of her coat and coloring online for beardie mixes, but not Doodles.

So, I'm going to have her DNA tested just so I can know what health problems may arise in the future.

Either way my family loves her more than I ever thought possible, so she is stuck with us =)

If it turns out that I do not in fact own a doodle, I will suspend my account until I give Riley a doodle sibling LOL

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Whatever Riley is, I think she still looks "doodly" - not classic doodly, but doodle enough :)  Stay no matter!

[Carol and Banjo]

Riley, whatever you turn out to be....you ARE adorable!   And I hope you stay with us.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Go know but Riley is a pretty dog. I agree that DNA testing is unreliable. DK is for anyone who likes doodles whether they have one or not. So do stay on.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Rhonda ~ I would not take anything to heart that someone says at a dog park about someone else's dog!  Riley is a beautiful girl and could very well be a doodle. I hope you will continue to post on DK and post lots of photos of your beautiful girl.  BTW - thank you for rescuing Riley and giving her a wonderful home! 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Riley is lucky to have found you, she's beautiful and loved, and really that's all that matters. As long as she is loved it doesn't matter one bit and you are always welcome here. :>)

[Becka]

I think you should start calling her a Beardoodle anyway because it makes it sound like she's part bear. ;) No matter what she is, she is gorgeous!

[Riley girl]

Thank you all for the comments and support. I have researched more on dog DNA testing and now realize they can be unreliable. I'm still going to have her tested but even if comes back that she is a Chihuahua, I'll stick around because I know Riley will have a doodle sibling no matter what she turns out to be.

I think the characteristics of beardies and doodles can be similar and that maybe the woman was mistaken. (With how condescending and uppity she acted, I'm being nice by just saying mistaken)  Her dog's fur was really coarse and rough, almost like you're petting a brush. Riley has really soft fur, like a bunny. It's really long though (3-4 inches) and the black spots have a grey downy-like fur closer to the roots. (she has a single, non shedding, matting coat). Since I haven't owned, nor seen, any doodles to pet I'm not sure what they are supposed to feel like LOL

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Yeah, I would not worry about her "expert" opinion. Riley look is very unique and fascinating. I don't think you have to worry about the Chihuahua part, LOL. But I'll be curious to see what the DNA test tells you. I would do it just for fun. Riley is your girl that is happy and loved. That's all that matters.  One time somebody at a dog park asked whether Monty was a Bedlington terrier!! WTD?!?! 

[Gail and Bailey]

That is funny, Jarka.  I had Bedlington Terriers for over 35 years and folks were always mistaking them for poodles.  Now that I have a doodle...folks mistake her for a Bedlington!  You are correct...WTD??

[Amy & Albee]

Riley is adorable!! Regardless, I hope you stick around. We would love to see more pictures of her =)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

First of all, whatever Riley is you and he are WELCOME here. He is gorgeous.  My paid-a-lot-of-money-for 7th generation doodle, gets called a poodle all of the time!   My rescue has no background. When he was chipped as a puppy by Animal Control, he was listed as a terrier mix (that is the entire history we have).  We figure that he was a pound puppy TWICE.  At age two, he was listed as a labradoodle by the Pet Adoption Center.  We think he is a goldendoodle, but he has SHORT legs - kind of like when he was in line for legs, the angels gave him the wrong ones for his powerful, sturdy body.  He does not have the lithe poodle body, however he does have more of the poodle athleticism and goofiness, and the eager-to-please part of the retriever. We haven't DNA tested him simply because it never reaches the top of our priority list.  We call him a doodle and that is that, but for all anyone knows he is a Beardie! Someone who had Otter hounds insisted that Clancy was an Otter hound.  I googled Otter hound images - he definitely isn't.  Someone else said he was a Wheaton-Poodle - he isn't because he sheds!

[Christine & Camus]

It is amazing how many "exceptionally well informed people" there are :)  I get comments about Camus a lot, what is he? , Is he an Irish wolfhound mix?, Terrier mix? and more.  When I answer with he is a Labradoodle, I know there are those he think I'm nuts.  I think Riley is absolutely adorable.