Charlie & Candy ..Just Doodling Around!!

About Me:

I am the happy grey haired companion of "Charlie", a blonde
(3 1/2year old) Goldendoodle boy. Also known as "Charles," especially when naughty and "Charlie Doodle Dandy."
We live in Duluth, Minnesota and will be moving to St. Paul, MN during the next two months (Oct./Nov. 2008) I have two wonderful (well, I think they are!) children, a daughter and a son. My daughter lives in St. Paul, MN.... engaged to her guy, and my son is planning to move there this year, so we'll all be together :>). In the same town, that is. As much as they like their mother, I am not a potential "roomie!" They are not dog people!! My daughter doesn't even want the responsibility of a house plant(she loves to travel) and my son loves cats and really loud music)I keep teasing them and asking where I went wrong.
I've always been a "dog person." In grade school I showed and groomed Wirehaired Dachshunds for a neighbor who raised them.

Dogs. What would life be like without their joyful , loving energy in our lives?
I think Will Rogers summed it up when he said "If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."

What Type of Doodle(s) do you have? What are their names? Tell us about your doodle(s) or any other pets you have!

Charlie is my only Doodle.
I found him in the want ads....told my self I was only going to have a look at him. It took me all of 2 minutes to to be smitten!He was 4 months old.His former owners kept him outdoors a lot, so he really had not had a chance to begin to blossom into his crazy, lovable self. They told me they were a little concerned because he had "begun growling at them." What he was really doing was starting to "talk" and it has evolved into the most hilarious combination of sounds you can imagine! He does different sounds to greet people, let me know that he would like his breakfast or dinner, just pester me and to Show Off. For "Showing Off" he parades back and forth past me with a plush squeeky toy in his mouth. His head is high, he's on a mission and all the while he is making this muffled deep growling sound with the squeeky crammed in his mouth. It really is too funny. I am not sure that printing the sounds will do them any justice, but I'll try.
Something like "Owr rowr ROWR row row" (very loud) for Greeting. Or "Aber rabber Rabber rabber rabber (short "a") if he's mumbling because he's been scolded or something hasn't gone his way. Showing Off is a continual low, serious sounding growl.
Charlie loves his "eeeky-squeekies" (stuffed squeeky toys) and it is so funny seeing this 90 lb.... very robust looking Doodle.... carrying and rapidly squeeking his buddies.

He sleeps with me (of course) and loves his morning routine.The routine involves MANY kisses, rolling and rubbing his head on his person, and finally turning around and stretching his hind legs past mt face so that I know it's time for a hind leg massage and scratch.
Charlie has had two major surgeries, one for hip dysplasia and one to fix arthritis in his right front elbow. I informed his breeder and she did refund me his purchase price. Which was thoughtful, because I was not the original owner. However, my vet told me Charlie's health probs. were 75% genetic, since he had such severe dysplasia @ only 5 months of age. I informed the breeder of this, and her reply was "Well, none of us are perfect." Her doodles are very handsome with terrific personalities, if my Charlie is any example. But I worry about future litters. Most folks will not /cannot spend the kind of $$ I have had to come up with to help a dog like Charlie.
But, he's definitely been worth it and and is happy , playful and mostly pain free......thanks to a good diet, excellent vet, several supplements and regular (moderate) exercise.
Charlie will be having much more fun these days. I'm disabled and Charlie's hips and elbows limit how much crazy playing he can do @ a dog park.So, we just got a 4 wheel mobility scooter AND a tow behind dog buggy. Like the mesh and nylon ones you see for kids, but made for dogs. So now Charlie can ride to grassy areas, which are much easier on his paw pads! His gait (hind legs) is odd because of the dysplasia and too much pavement can wear a raw spot on the pads.And I can go fast enough to give him a good romp.
Haven't been very active on Doodle Kisses as of yet, but when I finally get settled in my new apartment in the Twin Cities, MN I hope to visit and contribute much more regularly.Thanks and Hi to everyone who has visited my site and sent me messages!

Where did you get your doodle(s)?

Breeder

Why did you choose a doodle rather than another breed or mix?

Because they are adorable and so good natured.

What are Your Favorite Things to Do With Your Doodles?

Take him with me as much as is practical, play fetch, dog park, groom him and just hang out. And, of course,the "morning routine."

Does your doodle(s) shed?

Yes!

Who grooms your doodle(s)?

professional groomer and myself.

Favorite Doodle Products?

So far, a Chris Christensen pin brush I ordered online.It's a
# 16 mm T pin brush. It's amazing. It is SO much nicer to use than a wirey slicker brush. Charlie hates slickers anyway....I think a groomer was a bit heavy handed with one....but he doesn't mind the pin brush.I also use a comb that is fairly short with teeth that are "one long" "one short" in length.I try to groom part of him each night.He has a very "cottony" easily matted coat and grooming him all at once is pretty hard on him.

Relationship Status:

Single

Do you have a website of your own? If so, share it here:

http://sandspitt@yahoo.com