Why did you choose a doodle?

[SP4L]

So why did you decide you wanted to get a doodle? Why not a pure bred poodle or golden retriever or lab? Why did you decide to get a mix? Just curious to hear everyone's responses. Thanks.

[Lindsey Holt]

Wanted a larger dog, hubs wanted a golden or lab and I wanted a dog that had less shedding.

We love our F1B golden doodle, Jake.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

My first dog and I was getting a puppy.  Wanted a breed that was not difficult to train, nice temperament, and also small (I have a 1-BR condo).  Wanted minimal shedding as I have enough problems cleaning up after myself.  LOL  

Even the Mini Doodle was a bit big for my home so I got a Toy from a mom who tended to have smaller pups and also took the smallest of the 3 boys.  No guarantees of course on final size, but so far he's been all that I wanted and looks about on pace for a 15-pound final size.  We just met our 1st Toy Doodle the other day at a dog park and he was 3 years old and 22 pounds; the owner said at Teddy's age he was high-teens or thereabouts, so I am hopeful Teddy's size (11 pounds) means he'll finish well-short of that final weight.  Toy Doodles are normally 15-25 pounds so I hope I got one at the lower end.

But if not, I still love him !  LOL

[Amy and Annabelle]

Back in 2002 we lost our Golden Retriever to cancer. He was a rescue and had been the best dog. His only issue was his heavy shedding. We were getting ready to move into a new home as empty nesters and decided with both of us working long hours that we would remain pet-less. Then I had a client start coming in to our appointments with a 6lb red toy poodle. That pup was the cutest thing I had ever seen, and in the back of my mind decided that would be my next dog. Fast forward 12 years and we are retired grand parents and ready to get a dog. I think back to the little 6lb poodle and start my research. I decide that a tiny pup like that would not be good for a lot reasons, small grand kids, getting stepped on, not meant to be left alone. So we still wanted small and we loved our golden, but wanted something with less shedding, so I started looking into mini poodles and golden doodles. Then I saw where there were f1b golden doodles that given they're 3/4 poodle, upped the chances of them being low to non shedders. Or at least the reputable breeders breed back to poodle and not retriever. I know nothing is guaranteed in a mixed breed dog when part of that mix is a shedder.  But I took my chances anyway. I took the smallest pup in the litter, a girl. She is an f1b mini and is 2.5 years old and weighed 14.2lbs at her last appointment. We lucked out and she is a non-shedder. While I love my girl and wouldn't trade her for anything, I also didn't have a clue what to look for in a breeder. I wished I would have found Doodle Kisses while I was still in research mode, not after I had her for awhile. I would have been much pickier in my breeder if I had read over DK's "What to Look For in a Breeder".

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Congratulations.....if you're dog is 3/4 Poodle and also 14 pounds, is it possible she is a Toy Goldendoodle ?

[Amy and Annabelle]

I suppose size wise she would fall into most guidelines to be a toy or petite goldendoodle. But sometimes that means they have a cocker spaniel thrown into the mix to get that toy size, which Annabelle doesn't have.  I just call her a mini.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would say the goldendoodle parent was a mix of miniature poodle and golden retriever, and then bred back to a toy poodle.   I would say, golden retriever (1/4), miniature poodle (1/4), and toy poodle (1/2).  Does that fit?

[Amy and Annabelle]

Annabelle's goldendoodle mom was 30lbs and her poodle dad was 11lbs. The breeder called him a miniature poodle. I saw him on gotcha day, and he didn't look like a toy poodle. Annabelle was the smallest in her litter and expected to be in the 18lb range full grown. Her litter mates were expected to be in the 20-30lb range with her biggest brother possibly being 35lbs. I think it is just a fluke that Annabelle ended up so small, as it wasn't expected. I remember coming across a couple of breeders in my search that added cocker spaniel in the mix to get a consistent toy size in the litter. That wasn't what I wanted.

[DonMarie and Picco]

I was ready for a dog again and my husband (not a dog person at the time) complained about hair all over the place with the last one I had. So I was thinking of a poodle and researching other non-shedders.  Well one sight of a Doodle and that was it, I had to have one!  My husband has since fallen in love with dogs and when he retires in a couple years wants his own little fuzzy shadow!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We already had two dogs (a lab mix and an English Springer Spaniel) when I saw a mini labradoodle where we were camping.  It was love at first sight.  I had no information about doodles or finding a reputable breeder.  Our first doodle was an Australian Labradoodle, our second was a rescue goldendoodle we surmise, and our third is a re-home Australian labradoodle who is a  sentimental 'replacement' for our beloved Springer who died the summer before.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

I researched Doodles and thought this was the perfect dog for me with the low shedding and the cutest faces around!  However I did not like reading that they are high energy!  Before I could go pick out a doodle puppy, our grown kids got one...they decided then that the puppy was too much to handle so we took the puppy.  Today she is a very laid back darling.  I think it helped her being an English Cream Golden Doodle ... we have another American Doodle and she has much more energy.  So I can see the difference between the two.  Are you thinking of getting a doodle?

[Wendy and Myla]

In 2006 I retired and we decided that it was the time to get a puppy.  I saw an ad in the paper for a "golden doodle" and had no idea what it was.  We googled and found out it was a cross between poodle and golden retriever and were intrigued!  We loved golden retrievers and figured a poodle cross would be great.  We got our Zak (from a backyard breeder, two friends who decided it would be fun to breed their dogs) and immediately fell in love.  Unfortunately, at the age of two, she collapsed!  We brought her to the vet and they couldn't figure out why.  A few months later, we found that she was losing weight fast and excreting all the time.  After many (expensive) tests, we found out that she had EPI.  It was so expensive to treat - for a while, I figured that we just couldn't afford it and I was devastated.  We did get a balance with the pills - the more stressed she was, the more pills we had to give and each pill was very expensive so the key was not to let her get stressed - very hard for a doodle!.  She lived to the age of five and when she died. we were totally devastated - she was the most loving dog!  Immediately after, I wanted another doodle!  Zak had left her legacy - a doodle was the best dog ever!  DH was skeptical - he didn't want to go through the heartbreak again!  I then did my research and decided that when we got our new doodle, she would have all of the testing done!  I wanted to make sure that if anything happened, it would not be because she was not bred by chance, but by choice!  I had to make sure that she had the best chance possible by birth.  I could not go through the heartbreak again!!!  We did our research and got our Myla and I honestly believe that Zak is guiding her!  She is the best dog ever!!!!  I know this is a long post, but after being a member of DoodleKisses since before Myla was born and reading all of the posts, I know that we are very lucky that Myla is non-shedding (she is F-1) and such a laid back awesome dog.  If I were to get another dog (when she passes away) I am pretty sure that I will go with a pure-bred poodle and groom her to look like a doodle.  When we first got our Zak, we thought that all poodles were groomed "poofy".  I honestly don't think that I could have a shedding dog any more - I am too used to Myla and I wouldn't gamble with my next dog.  But, if it were guaranteed that my next doodle would be non-shedding, I would not hesitate - to me, Myla is the best dog ever and the most perfect for us!!!!  If you are thinking of a doodle, make sure that you are ready for any king of coat and personality!!! 

[Diane, Baker & Oskar]

We had two schnauzers, then 2 yellow labs.  At one point, when doodles were first being bred, we saw one.  He was black with little hairs sticking out all over...not what we typically think of today as a doodle.  So, when it was time to get another puppy, I wanted a labradoodle to carry on the wonderful traits our labs had, but with a different look.  We did no research, but went to a local, reputable breeder & put money down on a labradoodle. Weeks later, the breeder called & told us the lab female had a false pregnancy & asked if we would consider a goldendoodle with a $100 discount.  Since we were anxiously anticipating a puppy soon, we agreed & got Baker.  We love the mix & personality so much.  When we lost our second lab, the only dog we would consider was another doodle...Oskar is a double doodle, F1 mixed with Australian Labradoodle.  They are such wonderful dogs...my son has one now, just as wonderful as our two.