What is the smallest ALD you have seen?

[Diana Erhart]

My darling daughter, is in college and getting her own apartment next year.  She is talking about getting a small dog at some point after that.  We have a mini Australian Labradoodle with a wool coat at our home (24 pounds so maybe closer to a small medium?).  We got an ALD because my husband has severe allergies.  He had previously ended up in the ER with anaphalyctic shock.  We have not had any issues with our Charlie though.  

 

DD wants a small dog (under 10 pounds) when she gets one, but I know that it will end up spending alot of time at our house.  Has anyone ever seen or heard of an Australian Labradoodle that small?  I figure I need to start investigating this way ahead of the time she would actually want to get a dog.  Also, does anyone who has as severe of allergies as my husband have a pure-bred poodle or some other poodle mix that has worked for them?  Would he potentially not be allergic to the poodle since he is not allergic to the australian labradoodle?  Any experiences/advice/knowledge anyone would care to share is greatly appreciated!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You have a million times better chance of a purebred poodle not affecting your husband's allergies than you do with any other breed. The poodle heritage is what gives doodles whatever low-shedding, allergy friendly qualities they have. And structurally, you are much better off with a toy poodle than a teeny tiny doodle, IMO. It's very easy to find poodles under ten lbs. Just be very careful in selecting a breeder. I would be happy to refer you to some reliable poodle breeders.

[Adina P]

I agree with Karen, if allergies are an issue and she wants a TINY dog then a "toy poodle" or another non-shedding pure breed would be ideal.  Just stay away from 'teacup' dogs of any breed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Right. No "teacups", the word alone is indicative of a puppy mill or BYB of the worst kind.

Some other tiny non-shedding breeds she might consider are the Havanese, Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, and Shih Tzu.  

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, no reputable breeder breeds teacups!  People think Taquito is so big, but he is about 6 pounds - breed standard is 4-6 NOT 2ish!

 

Anyway, Peri's dad was a mini poodle who was 14 pounds - a really wonderful size. He was gorgeous. They kept his hair slightly longer and he looked kind of like a doodle! 

 

Good luck :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The minis are the middle size poodle. Mine was 19 lbs. The toys are smaller. :)

[Carol Brand]

The Mini Poodle I have in foster care right now is 14.5 inches at the shoulder and about 14 lbs.  He is quite a robust dog and I don't find him small in the least.  A well bred Toy Poodle who is "in-size", would be 9-10" at the shoulder and would easily weigh in under 10lbs.

 

The bigger issue is whether or not a college age student should get a dog.  As a breeder, I personally would not sell a dog to a person still in school.  I think their lives are still too transient.  College students should have the freedom to go out with friends on weekends or study abroad if they want.  Housing can be difficult to find with a dog and students more likely than not find themselves having to relocate after they graduate.  College students also often can't afford the cost of veterinary care.  

 

I think getting a dog is an adult responsibility.  If you want to get a second dog, well then, by all means, add another dog to YOUR household.  However, I would hope that you would encourage your daughter to wait until she is older and more settled before she gets a dog of her own.

 

[Leigh & Allie]

Carol, I take offense to this broad discrimination of college students. I was a Junior in college when I rescued a shih-tzu, Honey. She went with me everywhere. She was my baby and she lived until she was around 14 years old (I was never exactly sure of her age). No one and I repeat no one could have told me that I should have waited to get her. She was around when I had my first child, Mark. He started to call her "good girl" when he started talking so that was her name until she passed away years later.

I would hope that you would consider each potential person with open eyes and not just make such a broad statement.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You were the exception. I can't tell you how many dogs enter the rescue system because a college student wanted a dog. And I have never yet seen a dog who was relinquished to rescue by a college student that did not need to be neutered/spayed and given all their shots. And this is the experience of over 12 years in rescue, with three different groups.

 

 

 

 

[Leigh & Allie]

I get that "most" college students are not able to handle the responsibility. I just take exception to the blanket statement that she would not let a college student become a forever home to a college student period. That statement just hit me wrong. If I had gone to a breeder to find a puppy and was told I could not have one because I was a college student, oh my goodness, I would have been beside myself.

[Leigh & Allie]

Maybe she should not sell a puppy to a "family with 3 children" because that is who I, the college student, rescued Honey from. I'm just saying.........The blanket statement just flew all over me. I'm almost "40" (just a few more days) ....... countdown.....so this obviously no longer affects me;0)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

See, Leigh? I just found this older discussion on this very topic, and you said yourself that you were the exception! LOL

Dogs in College?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Don't tell anyone but.. I am also a college student  :)   I no longer carry a full schedule but if I were, there is NO WAY I could handle a puppy and go to school.  However, I own a home, and have my husband's support but there are many nights the dogs must be walked before I sit down to concentrate.