Why is there so much hate towards Goldendoodles?

[Alli and Barkley]

I am so excited to welcome our new goldendoodle puppy into our home in a few short weeks.  I have researched and researched and researched, trying to prep myself, and my family to become the best puppy owners ever.

 

I made the mistake of joining a doggy forum(not here), and posted a question there- and got SLAMMED for wanting a goldendoodle.  Then I read tons of negative things online about them being a designer breed. 

 

Makes me sad.  I didn't buy my puppy because he is a "designer" breed.  We got him because we truly feel that he would make a great addition to our family.  I love the typical goldendoodle's temperament, posssible low shed, happy go lucky demeanor, and their cute look.

 

Do you just ignore people that say these things?  Have you ever been approached in real life while out with your dog and confronted?  

 

 

 

 

[Kay Bolin]

On our first visit to our vet here with Misty the person at the front desk said that they didn't have any way to designate a "designer dog" on their form when I noted that it said that she's a Labrador and I said that she was a labradoodle.  I thought about it afterwards and felt like I should have said - what is a labrador if not a designer dog?  Or a poodle, or a boxer or any of the others?  They are the product of people breeding for what they want.  Designer.  They're not wolves any more are they?  People have been designing them for MANY thousands of years.  So YES!  They're designer dogs.  The ones that aren't are the accidental ones.  Nothing wrong with them either.  So there.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Well said!  I have been thinking the exact thing. 

[Debbie Ann Smith]

I have been told my Double Doodle is a mutt by a breeder of Irish Setters. I believe haters are jealous because a Doodle is  such a beautiful dog. My Doodle does not shed and I have no problems with allergies with him as opposed to those so called pure breeds who make my allergies unbearable. I have had positive comments that they look like a stuffed animal to they belong in a Disney Movie. The Doodle will be around forever!!!!

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

I agree I never experienced as many smart remarks when I got my bichon or yorkie.  Most comments stem around the cost of the labradoodle which I can't understand because we never discussed how much we are paying.   My daughter decided that she wanted a labradoodle because she suffers with bad allergies, wanted an intelligent dog with a nice temperament .  She also didn't want a  very small dog like I have. 

I hear comments like why didn't you just get a puppy for the shelter  because there are so many shelter pups.  Well first of all no pet is cheap.  You spend $$$, time and love with any dog.   When she said she wanted  a labradoodle I decided to help her because I wanted her to have the best quality pup possible . Cheaper is not always the best because a poor quality dog can have all sorts of issues.  Frankly it's your personal choice on what type of puppy you get. 

I agree designer  breed doesn't matter. It's quality that counts. For those haters that call Doodles "mutts, they need to remember that all mutts (though wonderful) are not created equally.

[Stacy]

After following some really good poodle breeders I think I understand the dislike for the doodles more than I did when I got Katie. A really good breeder can tell you about their dogs for generations back. Even the dogs they didn't personally own. They can tell you their strengths, their weaknesses, their health histories. A good breeder may spend thousands of dollars at dog shows to find out if their dog is champion quality - and that other people agree. They spend money on health testing. They carefully pick a sire that will compliment the strengths and weaknesses of their dog. They may spend a lot - a lot of money to have semen shipped if that dog isn't physically available. They don't just pick a random sire because it lives next door. A good breeder stands behind their dog for the life of the dog. If something happens they take them back. Not very many championed sired poodles end up in rescue, I suspect. The breeder carefully screens prospective owners and is available after you take your puppy home for questions, concerns, and mentorship. Good breeders breed for themselves and the betterment of the breed first. It's lucky for the rest of us if they have a puppy left over for a pet home. And how much do they charge for that puppy? Around $2,500 more or less. 

Now, contrast that with the doodle breeders. Katie's breeder is currently charging $3,000 for a puppy whose parents have had no health testing. She throws her dogs away when they can no longer breed. She forgets the puppy buyers names as soon as they walk out the door, and doesn't care where the puppies go as long as you have the cash to pay for them. She breeds everything that comes into heat with whichever dog is available. It keeps her cost low. Willow was born in a horse barn. The breeder has a poodle, the breeder's father has a golden retriever. I think there were 7 puppies. They were only charging $1,000/puppy. But that's pure profit. No special care for the dogs. No shows or testing or stud fees. 

I understand the resentment of these breeders when someone comes along and gets rich off of mixed breed dogs, when they've spent years creating a breeding program. I love doodles. Willow is my fourth (but I only purchased one from a breeder.) It's not that they aren't wonderful dogs, it's just that the way some of them go about things feels wrong, and maybe unfair too. 

Normal disclaimer. I don't want to malign doodle breeders who do things right. It's just that there are so many who are just doing it for the money and not for the dogs. 

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

Great post .  However, I have known some AKC breeders who are in breeding for the $$$ as well. Not all breeders of pure breeds are ethical either. You just have to do a lot of research and look for red flags. This is very disturbing about Katie's breeder and others like her.

[Stacy]

I agree you can't just take any AKC breeder and assume they are doing things right. But I do put some stock in people who have put multiple titles on multiple dogs and only have a litter yearly or in some cases every other year - that they're doing it for the right reason and don't have cages of dogs out in the barn. It's on us to do our homework. 

Katie's breeder... I don't know if you know my horror story with that woman. She gave me Katie's mom after she stopped having puppies. Just handed her over. The most wonderful dog in the world, who I'm pretty sure had never set foot inside a house. She also had cancer and some other horrible disease that we could never figure out. She was my heart dog and I lost her way too soon. I wish I could put up a billboard telling people to stay far away. But she has a beautiful website... I keep an eye on them and I've noticed that their puppies are sitting there getting older and older. I'm hoping that means she will find a new job soon. 

[Rosalyn Ancrum]

This is terrible. I don't know your back story with Katie's breeder but this is awful. It's sad that some breeders are so unethical and unfeeling.

[Connie]

Stacy you stated all of that very well! I have been involved amateurly) in the sighthound fancy since the late 70's. AKC Breeders, involved in the showing, involved in performance, involved in their breed clubs BREED for the betterment of their line. They spend tens of thousands a year showing, specializing and health testing their breed stock. They aren't making money on puppies. I understand completely. I would never use the term "designer dog" for our new pup Beau. He is a mutt, a mixed breed a dolden/poodle cross. I have no problem with that. We think he's a great mix, an awesome member of our family and we are in love with our first doodle. I NEVER paid that much money for ANY of my purebred sighthounds. I get the "hate" some breeders have spent a lifetime dedicated to their lines and the breed.

[Stacy]

Thanks, Connie! As much as I hate to see people who are mean about our fabulous mutts, I also hate to see the breeders of amazing purebred dogs thrown under the bus. I hate to think where the dog world would be without them.