Catalog Shopping for a Doodle!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Many things bug me in life.  Just ask my family.  I am very vocal about the things that irritate me and many of my family members can often be heard saying, “Give it a rest, grousemeister!”  Grouse isn’t really the word they use, but it sounds nicer than the actuality.  My mom also used to say, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all,” but I have found when I really get going when something bugs me, it wouldn’t be fair to my family to just clam up and keep my opinions to myself, because the silence that followed would just be awkward.  Also, since I don’t know sign language, there would be no other way to make my point.  If you are married to me, by now you would be wondering, “how can I distance myself amicably from this tirade and still feign enough interest that she doesn’t turn her attention to my faults?” Luckily, you have the option of clicking off, but I think what I have to say is important.

 

When did shopping for our Doodles become like ordering an item from the Sears catalog?  Growing up, it seemed like people I knew just had dogs.  Most were mutts and I never heard anyone go on and on about their expectations regarding looks, coat type, nose color, specific size and weight requirements, or overall appearance.  Yes, I admit I was taken with the cuteness of a Doodle and still am, but the only reason I would select a specific color next time is because I am determined to use the name Black Olive, which works much better on a black dog and they don’t come in green.  I would also be willing to change the name to just plain Olive if the right dog found me.  As far as nose color and coat type, luckily I had no clue that it mattered.  The only question I was smart enough to ask was about temperament and I still didn’t get exactly what I wanted, but it doesn’t change how I feel about my dogs.  Besides that, who is to say the whole nature versus nurture debate can’t be argued about our dogs, too?

 

It just seems to me we are getting more specific about requirements when picking out our dogs and opening ourselves up to a whole can of worms down the road if something goes wrong. Dog must be under 20 pounds….what happens if it grows to be 30 pounds?  Dog must not shed…..what happens if you take a chance on a mixed breed and it sheds?  Dog’s coat must be curly….what happens if that doesn’t pan out and your dog doesn’t look Doodley enough?  The list could go on and on, but these are living, breathing creatures we are talking about and genetics can be a tricky thing.  Our neighbors are an ordinary couple, not too big or tall, and their son is huge and by huge, I mean he could hang out with professional football players and make a few of them seem small.  I have one daughter who is 5’10” and the other one may hit the measuring tape at 5’3”.  Sure, we can use the old joke about the mailman, but in my case, the mailman is old and rarely speaks and I imagine if I asked him if he would like to start a torrid affair with me, all he would say is, “here’s your mail.”  Nope, it is genetics that can cause the unpredictability in families and if you convince yourself that if you start having kids they all have to be a certain size fully grown, good luck with that plan.  The same holds true with our Doodles. They are like snowflakes and no two are ever the same. I really think if appearance is all that matters you would be better off going to Build-a-Bear and picking out a stuffed dog.

 

What if our dogs had the ability to turn the tables on us and select the owner who meets their criteria?  Can you imagine a dog saying, “What color is her nose?  Is her hair curly or straight?  Does she weigh less than 135 pounds?  I surely can’t, because none of this superficiality matters to a dog.   They already know that love can happen in all sizes, shapes, and outward appearances, and they are far more forgiving and accepting than humans.  When you think about it, a dog doesn't have any options at all, they get who they get in an owner, faults and all, and frankly, they often end up with the short end of the stick.  What is that old saying?  Let me be as good as my dog thinks I am.  Maybe it should be changed to, Let me learn to love like my dog does..simply and without all these expectations.  So, the next time I see a question being asked about a specific physical characteristic of a prospective puppy or an already gotten dog, I am not going to answer, “who cares?” but, hug my dogs and thank them for accepting me just the way I am, imperfections and all.

[Adina P]

I think the key is that whether someone wants specific characteristics or not, they must understand that when it comes to a mixed breed, they shouldn't get one in the first place if there is a chance their make-or-break 'needed' characteristic might not be manifested in the puppy they purchase.  And any dog may not always meet your expectations out of the box...or ever...or you might have unrealistic expectations and need to change them to honor your commitment--because it should be a commitment to adopt/purchase a dog.  
I'm kind of like Sandie in that I just am drawn to certain breeds because of how they look--hence my doodles.  Luckily I will avoid some of those I'm drawn to because they are obviously not a good breed match for me.  I've always liked large dogs, but there are days I wish I could zap my dogs with a shrinking machine and stick them in my pocket -- perhaps right before a bath or when they come in from outside with mammoth paws dripping in mud ;-) 

But the thing with dogs is that there are 101 choices on a variety of characteristics.  No other pet comes in so many sizes...chihuahua to Great Dane or various Mastiffs.  Hairless to Rapunzel ;-).  Friendly to aloof.  Lap dogs to high energy working breeds.  The options are practically endless.  So within the world of pure breeds you can, more or less, get what you want on the documented breed characteristics from a quality breeder.  The Yorkie will never be 100 lbs or taller than my seat height. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Karen, I just cried reading you last comment...it is apparent, my friend, that you and JackDoodle were meant to be. So much love and never enough time!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Between my two there's not one of your nevers that they haven't done. Of course they were puppies when most of those things occurred but some....

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Donna, I totally understand the fear of being without her. Some days I allow myself to think about 12-14  years from now and wonder how my heart will take being without her. I just can't imagine and always pray I get at least that much more time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

From a physical standpoint, JD is absolutely not what I wanted in a dog; he did not match one of my criteria in terms of his appearance. I wanted under 50 lbs., under 20 inches, curly, non-shedding, and preferably black or silver. I was terribly disappointed when they first brought him out to meet me, and it didn;t help that he was filthy. But you don't go looking at rescues with a laundry list of physical characteristics. What matters is personality, and in that department, he was flawless. My deal-breakers were good with kids and cats, housebroken, good temperament, no separation anxiety, and past the destructive stage. I got all that and more.

I got a one year old dog who could be left alone with the run of the house from the third day he was here. No gates, no crates, no closed off rooms. To this day, he has never jumped up on anyone, never destroyed anything, never chewed anything, never went in the garbage, never took anything that didn't belong to him, including food on tables or counters, never barked for more than 30 seconds, never put his teeth on the skin of any human being, and never had an accident (except when he got so sick last year from the IBD, and even then it was only once). He was phenomenal with kids from day one, gentle as could be with even the littlest ones. Never even got carsick, or had worms or parasites. Puppy Madness people, eat your hearts out, lol.

And you know what?  I think he is absolutely the cutest dog who has ever walked on this planet.  I will never find another one to compare with him, inside or out. 

 

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I tried to respond to this on my ipad and somehow published it before I finished it, so I am trying again on my computer..Laurie, I really liked this blog and particularly liked all the comments.  I confess,  when I got Webber I had two conditions.  The dog had to be a male and had to be any color but black.  I was afraid that if I got a dog that was "the same" as the Doodle I had just lost to hemangiosarcoma, that I would put unfair expectations on the puppy.  She was a wonderful, black female.  So getting a male that was any color but black made sense at the time.  I think as sad as I was over loosing my heart Dood, it was a good decision for me at the time.  In retrospect I probably would have loved another black female but having an apricot/cream male was easier.  The shedding or not, weight or nose color was not an issue.  The issues of health and temperament were taken care of, as much as possible, with my choice of breeder.  Since Webber didn't turn black and female there wasn't a chance for him to not meet my conditions.  Seda choose me, end of story.  I just went to look at what a chocolate doodle looked like!!  I just want to throw out there that sometimes knowing what you need might be a good thing.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

BG, Another good point. I picked my DH at age 17, however, and he was dirt poor and not too tall. I always thought he was handsome, so I guess one out of three ain't bad :) Actually, I do marvel that I got it right at such a young age :) This is off the point and I do understand what you are saying!

Karen, Well said and I totally agree, except about the strange taste in swimwear :) Thank you for summing up what I tried to say!

F, I don't mean to be discouraging, but it just seems to me that we are setting the bar higher and higher and asking for definites when there are too many variables. Just my opinion, and as usual, everyone is free to disagree, although I must warn you, I am never wrong :) LOL

Leslie, Thank you for your comment!  More great points!  I have no doubt Halas would pick you :)

Thanks, Joanna!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

DJ, Isn't it funny how Chance found you? Chance is adorable, too!

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

:)

[Leslie and Halas]

And I love that statement, "Please help me be the person my dog thinks I am."