Can we get a little credit?

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I’ll start with a disclaimer: I am fully aware that my dog is a mix of golden retriever and standard poodle.

I have taken Ragley everywhere with me since the day she came home. Being a friendly sort, she thinks she is God’s gift to all the people of Earth and so we meet a LOT of people when we go places because she is very proactive in greeting her new human friends. People are always happy to say hello and most of the time they know she is some sort of doodle- we get labradoodle most often, sometimes wheaten terrier. But it’s as soon as I say “she’s a goldendoodle” that the commentary on her attributes starts:

“She’s so calm! That’s the poodle in her…”

“Look at that beautiful coat! There’s the golden in her!”

“She definitely has a poodle face!”

“She is so gentle- that’s the golden in her.”

“Does she like kids? Yeah, well there’s the golden part of her!”

“Well, she has a poodle nose.”

“She is so friendly! I guess that’s from the golden retriever, isn’t it?”

“Is she really smart? Yeah, that’s the poodle.”

“Our friend has a doodle of some sort, but he is not this calm- he must be a labradoodle not a goldendoodle.”

I could go on and on with the things that people have said when they meet her. Every piece and part of her appearance, behavior, and personality gets picked apart and attributed to either the golden retriever blood in her or the poodle blood. They act as if EVERY poodle is one way and EVERY golden retriever is another. Why can’t Ragley be gentle, beautiful, calm, friendly, and intelligent because she is Ragley? I fully accept that the two breeds have attributes that have combined to make her part of who she is, but why must the “designer dog” label get all the credit for the wonderful animal that she is? I spent years waiting for the right time to get a goldendoodle puppy. Through that time I was saving money, researching nutrition and other expenses I would have, looking at pictures of coats, and reading about the breed. I went up to Ragley’s breeder before putting any money down for a deposit and spent an afternoon with the parent dogs, playing with them and asking questions about the dogs and previous puppies. Why can’t it be that my research and careful temperament testing on the litter paid off and I chose a fantastic puppy?

This is something that has bothered me for a while, but I believe it was the recent discussion on the “creator” of the labradoodle that finally prompted me to write this. As doodle owners and active DK members, we all know that despite the fact that our doodles are our best friends, loyal companions, and loving family members, they are far from perfect. I have one of the calmest and most mild mannered puppies the world has ever known and she still steals socks, has accidents every now and then, digs in the yard, had nervous issues around other dogs, requires brushing a few times a week, and you can always tell when she has indulged in a water break by the spot on the thigh of my pants that is now soaked with water from her “sponge beard.” The term “designer dogs” builds unrealistic and unfair expectations for our poor doodles. Time magazine calling them the perfect family dog is far from realistic. Just like any breed, pure or mixed, a litter of doodle puppies can contain a wide variety of personalities and temperaments. I love Ragley and she is my daily blessing that has helped me get through the most difficult time in my life. She does things every day that amaze me, make me laugh, and sometimes make me cry out of pure disbelief of her seemingly flawless intuition. Goldendoodles are a perfect breed for my lifestyle and I will have a hard time getting any other breed for the rest of my life. Not all doodles are as cuddly, affectionate, and calm as she is and it doesn’t make them any less wonderful. Unfortunately for those doods, I believe people who get a “designer dog” without doing the research expect every doodle puppy to be that way and are sorely disappointed when that is not what they picked up from the breeder. Instead of seeing the variance as normal, just like what you would see in any other breed out there, the dog is viewed as a “designer dog failure.” These unrealistic expectations probably contribute to the number of doodles that are surrendered. Puppies are puppies and dogs are dogs, no matter what blood runs through them. Hopefully websites like DK that are filled with kind, informed, and welcoming people will continue to help raise awareness for potential doodle owners that our poor doodles are not superdogs that have magical gene combinations. They are individuals with wonderful merit and love to give, but they are just that-individuals.

Sorry for the miniature novel/rant, but I imagine a lot of you have had similar experiences. There’s no love like doodle love :)

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Omg! The title of this caught my eye and I can relate! Loki is hopefully taking his therapy dog test soon so we have been out and about the downtown area "practicing" a lot and if I had a penny for everytime someone said "he's so calm, that's the Bernese in him!" I could retire now and buy my own island!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

It's a lot like the comments you often get about your children- "he looks just like your husband/he has your smile/your husbands nose(poor guy) etc.  LOL .  I think it's just some people's nature to dissect looks and personalities.

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Stephanie, you are so right.  Our little litter mates (gasp) are very different, and we can see that after only six weeks.  One of the reasons we chose goldendoodles for our new family members is because we have had several (unintentionally) hybrid pups, and each seemed to be very well-adjusted. Humans like to stereotype, and it sounds like doodles have all been painted with the same brush. We like mutts at our house---and we are fond of the two breeds that come together to create goldendoodles. Designer really is a misnomer and gives the wrong impression.  We spent time with both parents of our pups and felt that we had a good chance of getting even tempered, somewhat allergy friendly pups based on their genetics, and from talking with puppy parents from previous litters. Our 3 human babies are as different as can be and sometimes we don't know how they have our genetics much less the genetics of their siblings.  I'm sure we will say that about our fur babies too.  We have unique dogs, and I guess others' pre-conceived notions come with the territory.  Doodles are worth it!

[Sue]

You may as well get used to it, lol I think people generally mean well, so it's  not such a big deal.  Kramer gets a LOT of attention where ever i go, and has for 9 years now. It will be strange when the day comes that he is no longer with me, and I will probably will miss (some) of the attention.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Well, Stephanie, we have two doodles from the same sire. They are as dissimilar in personality as they are in coat color and texture. While both have a true sweetness about them, one is as careful and measured in his reactions to life as the other is impulsive and ready for trouble. What is really funny is that these people do not assume very child born to a family is going to be alike at all (if they have children of their own anyway).  Smile and nod and walk away (again and again). 

[Sue & Leeloo Audet]

You are so right Stephanie (and Ragley). I used to work at a dog day care and the workers would say they had problems with the doodles because they "all looked alike". Funny I see each of them as individuals with qualities and quirks just like any other breed. They are who they are because we have loved them and we have taught them to do things ... mine loves to swim and play fetch while others are afraid of the water and couldn't find a ball if their life depended on it. Poodles and goldens like the water so which breed did mine take after? Goldens like balls, however, they don't all like balls so why is mine crazy to play fetch ... because my family engaged in swimming and fetch and included her in all we do. Doodles are who they are because we LOVE them and engage with them. Any dog will thrive under those circumstances.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ooohhhh, so true, Adina. 

[Adina P]

I haven't experienced this with my dogs much.  But I experienced it as a kid.  You take after so-and-so with this trait.  My dad would claim all my good traits as coming from him: math skills, love of dogs, as examples.  Hilarious and annoying.