What are your thoughts on this color?

[DJ]

Hi, I'm new and we have been planning on getting a doodle for a year now. I'm sure we all have in our mind what the typical doodle dog looks like. After finally finding a breeder I trusted the dog mom and dad finally had pups. It was a white doodle mom and red miniature poodle dad. I though for sure one of the pups would be that beautiful light tan color. All the pups came our medium apricot, which looks very dark to me. Also the breeder recently changed her allocations to 100% temperament testing. So she matches the puppy up with the family. So we no longer get to pick gender, coat, size. We can pick one characteristic but she said mainly we will get the puppy she says fits best with our family. So now I am having reservations about this litter. Not only it isn't the color I like but I'm paying $ 3,000 and get no say in what puppy I get. What is everyone's thoughts on this process? Thanks in advance!!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Amen to that Karen!

[Dolly Dykhouse]

I can chime in with a me too on this LOL...If you could see the puncture marks on the backs of both hands and the tears in pj bottoms, a shirt sleeve, my robe...I think puppies see you and your family as part of their pack and treat you the same as they would their litter mates; they really don't know any better until they learn through training (which takes time and maturity on their part) what is acceptable "play" behavior. 

[DJ]

Ok thank you! I will take a look. My kids are 10 (almost 11) 8, 6 and 3. I am aware of the potential problems. But I feel like my older kids are at a great age to help and they will take the pup to obedience school with me. No time is great. But I don't want to wait until they are teenagers. I believe many good things come with animals and kids too!

[Lisa & Sunny]

I understand...hopefully you can help your kids come up with some good ways to handle the nipping and mouthing.  My 7 yr old has a lot of success with redirecting her to bite her toys instead of him...ha ha!  I would  mainly be concerned about your youngest.  Do you plan to keep the puppy in a restricted area?  Ours is confined to the living room, so the kids can get away from her if they need to. 

[DJ]

Yes I plan on confining the pup sometimes during the day. Until it's housebroken. I was thinking of a portable playpen but will have it mostly set up the kitchen. Where I am 90% of the day. We are outside so much during the summer though, so it will be where we are most of the time. Like you said I know my kids and I will need a little break sometimes. So a playpen or gates are needed.

[Lisa & Sunny]

I'm sure you will figure out what works best for you, your kids, and your puppy.  Sometimes the puppy may need a breather from the kids, too!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's another way to help predict whether or not a red or apricot puppy will fade: the parents' pigment. If either of the parents' nose is not solid jet black, expect fading. If both parents do not have jet black noses, fading is pretty much guaranteed. 

[DJ]

Oh thank you! Here are the pups mom and dad. The white one is the mom. The 2nd white dog is the moms dad. The puppies grandpa, lol. I'm beginning to think color doesn't matter much more. I just love that doodle look. And hope they all have it!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

I never knew this was associated with coat color!! Yeti's nose has a lot of pink and I've always thought it was so unique haha :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yeti's nose looks a lot like JD's. :) 

Pigment is definitely related to coat color. 

[DJ]

I think their noses look pretty jet black to me. Would you agree?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

On the mom, yes. On the others, it's hard to tell from the photos. But even with the black pigment on the parents, the puppies' color can still fade, and I think there's a good chance it will.