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.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

HaHaHa Bonnie....they want to be Laurie's sons.

[Bonnie and Kona]

@Jane. Your doodles are so stinkin' lucky to have you!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, of course you're right.  That said, my boys are very thankful that I'm their Mom.  When they dreamed about the perfect Mom.....it was ME.  There are plenty of "easy" Moms out there...but they wanted a tough one who would make them tow the mark day in and day out.  They wanted a Mom who would make them do "down/stays" when there was all kinds of chaotic fun happening all around then....yes they did.  They actually prayed for a Mom who would make them work for EVERYTHING....because they understand that makes them better "men".  Most of all, they're so thankful that I don't wear orange bikinis.

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

As usual, a great blog and a good reminder to accept individuals (on 4 legs or 2) for what they are and not what we expect them to be.  Tank's mother was 30 lbs, his father was 20 lbs and Tank weights 54 lbs.  He is perfect in every way to us.    Sully was the runt of the litter and has more love to give than any human I've ever known.  Beau is the only one in our family with long slim legs (I am jealous).  They are all unique and we embrace every difference that makes them special.  

[Donna K & Quincy]

Well said my friend! I just wanted a doodle because I fell in love with how they looked. I didn't care about color, size or sex. My doodle turned out to look exactly like a doodle, one who gets really dirty has to be brushed a lot and is the best thing I could have ever hoped for. If he had not looked so doodley I am pretty sure it wouldn't matter because it is the love bug, goof ball personality that I love and I wouldn't change a thing. Well. I could do without the hair I clean up daily from my non-shedding dog but that doesn't make me love him any less. When Quincy was a puppy and he started to grow and grow, I had a few moments of panic when I begged him not to get too big, LOL, now I wish I had begged him to keep growing, the bigger the better. What I am trying to say is that I would love him no matter what and I have no regrets. The only thing that scares me is how much I love him and then being without him, that really scares me.

[Charlotte and Bo]

My family and I did have one dog choose us. I was in high school so it was a long long time ago:-)  Mom, my brother and I were out in front of our house raking leaves when a stray invited herself to come play with us.  We were all completely smitten and my mom opened the front door and in she went.  My dad said no more dogs, at which point she climbed up on his lap and gave him a kiss.  That was that.  Maybe that is the reason I have always looked to rescue groups or the pound when the time comes for a new dog.  I love puppies and talk about the breeds I like but when it's time, I find a dog that needs me as much as I need the dog.  That makes it hard to choose by hair color or a specific size etc.  I see nothing wrong with buying a pup of a specific breed but choose them by how the interact with you not very specific aspects of their physical appearance.

 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Thank you Laurie for another awesome and meaningful blog.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I find it amazing that you had 138 views and so little comments. I am thinking you may have touched a cord.

When we went on the search we did choose a doodle because of their looks. I actually wanted a Labradoodle, Daisy is a Goldendoodle.  I was naive to the fact that she could shed, she doesn't. I thought she would always be a deep dark chocolate with white paws, she is not. I thought she would love all dogs and we would go to every doodle romp on the face of the earth, she doesn't like many other dogs and we don't usually romp because of it. We thought she would be 55lbs top, she's 70. Guess what, every ounce, every curl, every creamy light brown bit of her is loved more each day. 

Eyes wide open everyone, all the way.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Well said Laurie!  Couldn't agree with you more!  We knew nothing about Doodles when we got Libby and when I went to the Airport to pick her up and her eyes locked into mine, it was over.  Doodle love at first sight:)

[Deborah and Molly]

High five, golf clap, or whatever you want to use; I applaud this blog. Very well said. I had not found Doodle Kisses before I got Molly. I found her through a local breeder, whose golden retriever was the farm pet. When I went to see the puppies, who were four weeks old at the time, they were being kept in a barn. It was icy outside and very cold. But when I entered that barn and saw that those puppies were in a very well made pen with lots of hay, a large dog house with a warming light, and a few children who played with them and gave them love...I was ok with that. I met the mother and saw photos of the father. The puppies (10 of them) were all healthy and actively playing. I wanted a female (my only criteria) and there were only two. I held them both, looked them over, and spent some time with them. The largest female kept coming back to me and jumping up on my legs. That is all it took. I picked her, they marked her for me and four weeks later I had my puppy. Since then, I have found her father's owner and have spoken with her on several occasions. I would not trade or take any money for Molly. She's an almost perfect companion (perfect when she obeys consistently!). I didn't have your guidelines on how to pick a breeder but went with my gut instinct, What a wonderful addition she has made to our family.