Is there any hope for less shedding?

[Michelle Klohe]

Hi All!  We recently became the forever family to Bristol an F1B Goldendoodle (mom F1 Goldendoodle/ dad standard poodle) we went with the breed in hope of having a lower shedding dog due to our sons allergies.  Well we have exactly the opposite.  At this point our guy who is now 15 weeks old and is shedding horribly.

 At this point he has lost all of his puppy fur along the tail to the back of the head and the only furry stuff is on his legs and underbody but those are starting to fill in with this wavy wiry coat as well.  Our groomer and vet were concerned about this coat change so early (he started it at 10 weeks) and at how fast it is happening.  Did anyone else have their puppy lose so much so fast? I can literally get about a tennis ball size of fur out of him daily.  We have had labs in the past and have friends that have goldens and frankly none of us have had a shedding puppy who 1) shed so much so early and 2) who is continuing to shed that much on a daily basis. Has anyone had a puppy who has shed this much as a puppy and have it taper down as an adult.  Our kiddo was off allegory meds for over a year and is now back on them due to this shedding and I am at a loss as to what to do.  I have emailed the breeder several times and she says this a normal amount to be shedding?  This is our first doodle so I have no idea what is normal. We have a friend with an F1B who is 11 days younger and she doesn't shed one bit.  

I would also love some good fur remover tools that are gentle on a puppy. We used a shedding loop once but I was afraid it was too harsh so we have switched to a curry brush and it works ok but there is always more even right we brush him.  We have to keep the fur at bay or our indoor puppy will soon become an outdoor one with the shedding.  Thanks so much and cross your fingers that we will hopefully outgrow some of this.

I have added some pics to help better explain the shedding.coat change.

 

**I am in no way considering putting my doodle outside.  It was just me venting my frustration.**

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

I don't thinks so. My Gracie came to us at 8 weeks shedding and hasn't stopped. She's going on 9 months. Maybe once they lose their puppy coat we can hope, pray, and cross our fingers. ;)

[Michelle Klohe]

Can you tell me is she an F1 or an F1B? Bristol is an F1B.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Lyndy. There are puppies who don't shed until after their coat changes, but when they shed at such a young age, they almost always continue to shed for life. The shedding does get heavier with the coat change and may lessen afterwards, but it won't stop. 

If it does turn out that you cannot keep Bristol indoors, please consider returning him to the breeder or rehoming him through Doodle Rescue. No doodle should ever be living outdoors. 

[Michelle Klohe]

I would never put a dog outside. It was really just my frustration getting the best of me. I wish the breeder would have been more honest about the possibly of shedding. I now have a kiddo who is super attached to a dog that is making his allergies flare up daily. It wasn't until the breeder and I had traded several emails when she let me know that two other litter mates were having shedding issues as well. I guess when the description of the dogs said they ARE low to no shed and I get this cutie who is shedding every last hair off of him I have no clue which way to go.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, many people only do their research on breeders' websites. :( 

There is a lot of information out there regarding the fact that with any doodle of any generation, from any breeder, there is a possibility of shedding. But not on the websites of the people who make their living from selling them. 

There are purebred dogs who are guaranteed not to shed, no matter where they come from. But with mixed breeds like doodles, where there are shedding genes in the pedigree, there are no guarantees ever, no matter what the breeder says. 

[Michelle Klohe]

Yeah we have found that out the hard way. You do your research, count on a breeder of 15+ years to be a proactive resource and then Mother Nature intervenes.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Ooh. I didn't catch the outdoor comment. I would never put Gracie outdoors even with the daily tumbleweeds we find in all corners of the house.

Michele, maybe your dood is just shedding his summer coat?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Non-shedding dogs don't shed their summer coats. Or their winter coats. They don't ever shed their coats, period. 

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

Obviously her dog isn't non-shedding. So, that's why I suggested it was a summer thing.

I do agree that non-shedding dogs don't shed. However, Barkely, my scnhoodle, does have clumps that fall off of him when he hasn't been brushed and his hair is longer than it should be. And although he doesn't shed like a shedding dog does, when I brush him I do get some hair off of him and that's all year long.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

If I didn't know better I would swear this is an F1.  Very little facial hair and very little hair on the feet and legs.  Most F1 to Poodle breedings result in a very curly coat like the poodle.  Just looking at the coat on this puppy I would say you should figure out how you are going to deal with the shedding because if I were a betting person I would say it isn't going to stop.  Could I be wrong, certainly, but ....

[Michelle Klohe]

Funny you say that because our groomer (who regularly grooms out yorkie/Maltese) is convinced he was switched with an F1 litter. She also said that she has never seen an F1B so young with a coat like this. Aside from the massive shedding (which is a big deal for us) he really is a great puppy.

[Gracie, Jade, & Barkley]

He is a cutie. Do you think the breeder would have steered you wrong into buying an f1?

Also, maybe your brushing him too much? I had once been told that you can brush too much. But, that was just from a friend. I only thought of that because Gracie is an f1 labradoodle and I've never brushed as much hair as the one hairball in your pic. Of course she wouldn't stand long enough for that either. ;)