Wanted: Perfect Doodle

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

When we got Fudge, I don’t remember what research I did on the computer regarding Doodles, but I remember the no shedding was the icing on the cake.  I had spent years vacuuming up after two Labs and for a short haired dog, those dogs shed like nobody’s business.  A Labradoodle seemed like the best of both worlds for our family.  The wonderful personality of a Lab combined with no shedding just seemed perfect to me.  Luckily for us, without knowing what we were doing, we decided on Fudge, a F1B Labradoodle and she absolutely does not shed a hair.  What she does do is mat and mat and mat.   Imagine my surprise when I got on DoodleKisses AFTER we got Fudge and found out that many Doodles do indeed shed, and many shed buckets of hair, and others need lots and lots of grooming.  Next, we got our Vern, a F3 Labradoodle and while he sheds just a little, he does not mat like Fudge, although he should have come in a different color because he does like to roll in everything.  Sometimes, it is true that God looks out for fools, because we sure got lucky with our Doodles and the no shedding.

 

I also kept hearing that Doodles have the absolute best personality of any dog.  They love all other dogs, people, children, infants, and small creatures.  Well, guess what?  I socialized Fudge with other dogs at a very early age.  She has been to Puppy classes, doggie daycare, the pet sitter, and on play dates, but there are lots of dogs she does not like.  We no longer go to the dog park for this reason, yet I feel I did everything right, so why doesn’t Fudge love all other dogs?  Why isn’t she perfect? Everyone said Doodles get along with all dogs.  What I have come to terms with regarding Fudge is that she gets along with the dogs I care about, Vern, my daughter’s dogs, and my pet sitter’s dogs, and while we will probably never go to a Doodle Romp or back to the Dog Park, it does not diminish the love I feel for her.  She is also the most wonderful dog around the elderly, family and friends, nieces and nephews, and I am her favorite person in the whole wide world and she lets me know that every single day.

 

Next, we have our Vern, the sweetest dog on the planet, but not the bravest.  He spends half his life looking over his shoulder for the bogeyman and is much more cautious than Fudge is with people.  Once he loves you, he does not forget, but he wants to be sure you are worthy first.  Maybe I didn’t take him as many places as we did Fudge, because taking two dogs is a lot harder than taking one dog, but still we got out every single day and he has been to all the same places as Fudge, doggie daycare, dog sitter, puppy classes, and obedience classes.  When we brought him home and he met Fudge for the first time, he peed all over himself and made fearful sounds like you cannot believe.  It didn’t take long for him to fall in love with Fudge, but Vern is never going to be as brave as Fudge or let a stranger into our house without a word of warning first.  Why isn’t Vern perfect?  Everyone told me Doodles love everyone.  What I have come to terms with regarding Vern is that what he lacks in the bravery department, he makes up for in his ability to make me smile every day with his goofy ways and his infectious spirit.  Even when he peed in the Vet’s office after seeing himself in the mirror, I still was proud he was my dog and it did not diminish the love I feel for him.  I also feel safe when Vern is around because for a big old Chicken Doodle he has the absolute fiercest bark around and I really believe he would find a way to be brave if anyone threatened his much loved humans or Fudge.

 

I am a firm believer in that dogs and kids come with their own personality.  You can teach children right from wrong, but there is always going to be some kid that tests his parents daily and some kid that doesn’t.  My mom always talks about how much energy I had as a kid and how hard I was for her at times.  She claims my middle sister was far easier and the oldest preferred to stay in her room and read.  She also likes to tell everyone that her aunt made some sort of a lid for the top of my crib and a harness for me that kept me from climbing out of the crib.  The funny thing is she thinks crating a dog is mean, but apparently crating her own young child did not seem to bother her in the least.  The point I am trying to make is not that my mother should probably never speak of her parenting methods in public, but rather that every kid is different and you get what you get, in my opinion.  I feel the same way about dogs.  There is no breed of dog that arrives perfect or is perfect.  There is no human being on the planet that does not have quirks, flaws, and qualities that makes that person unique.   Aren’t we told as parents not to compare our children, yet we do it all the time with our dogs?

 

What does all this mean?  It means that one of the big problems with all the hype about Doodles is it is not fair to Doodles. People see an ad with a cute Doodle or hear a heartwarming story about a Doodle and right away think a Doodle is the dog for them.  After all, they must all be exactly like the dog in the story, right?  What they don’t take into consideration is the owner probably spent hours and hours training that dog and another few grooming the dog, because they sure don’t come that way.  I am not saying we don’t have some great dogs, because we definitely do, but when we use words like perfect, never, and always, we are making broad assumptions and setting expectations at an unattainable level even for our much loved Doodles.  Doodles have medical problems, some can shed, none are immune to illness, they all go through the puppy biting stage, some are easily trained, some not so much, some have separation anxiety, others do not, some are fearful, some are not, some have food issues, and I think you get the picture.

 

All I know is I am tired of seeing those Doodles scroll down the front page; many of them purchased by people who wanted a perfect dog and when reality sets in, out goes the dog.  A dog is a huge commitment and lots of research, questions, and soul searching should be done before bringing one home to be a member of the family.  Every dog, Doodle or not, deserves a commitment by the person taking that dog into their home.  If you are a parent and your child wants a dog, make sure you know you will be the primary caretaker, no matter what they say.  I was dumb and fell for that line and while my daughter was talking on the phone and out with friends, I was running home at lunch letting out the dog, cleaning up throw up, walking the dog, going to the vet, and filling food and water dishes. My daughter says all the time, “mom, I was ten, let it go,” but I guess I can’t just yet.  I think a dog is one of the best things you can do for your children and I think it teaches them love, selflessness, and kindness, BUT, and it is a big but, kids and dogs equal more work for the adult, and it is not fair to get rid of the dog because you didn’t think about that beforehand. I don’t know what to do to get people to stop buying dogs impulsively and to realize that a dog is a living creature with feelings and shouldn’t be tossed out like trash when the going gets tough.  All I know is that it starts maybe with all of us and when someone asks us about our Doodles, we should make sure we say and I am going to misquote Forrest Gump, “Doodles are like a box of chocolate.  You never know what you are gonna get.”

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I really think that doodles are so cute that people often fall in love with the "look" without giving the entire ownership total thought.  The time, training, care and expense not to add in the fact that everyone thinks that every doodle is non-shedding.  As far as when the going gets tough - wow - been there.  As much as I wanted to love little Stuart right from the start - there was such an offensive smell coming out of his body (that I could NOT get rid of) - that it actually was repulsive - I was so worried that I had made a big mistake.  Then suddenly one day - the smell finally was gone and it was instant love.  It took about 3 months!  What if I had just given up?  So well said Laurie!!!  And always with a laugh, thanks.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Sorry, Donna but you are perfectly wrong about having the only perfect doodle. Please reference the previous page for evidence of another. :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

Sorry Laurie, I have the only perfect doodle and you can't have him. :>)

Well he would be perfect if he didn't shed, steal socks, bug us for attention and hog the bed.

I think instead of dogs having to be licensed the owners should have to do doggie education, sign a lifetime contract and then they could be licensed to own a dog.

You already know my opinion of people who give up on their dogs because they are an inconvenience and I couldn't agree more. Well said my friend.

[Anna and Achilles]

Whenever I am out with Achilles and people ask about him I always say he is  a wonderful dog however he is high energy and needs a great deal of attention and exercise. That usually is enough said. Thanks for posting this.

[Charlotte and Bo]

You have it all right.  I adopted Bo (Formerly Stanley) from the DRC as an 18mo old knowing he was not well cared for in his previous home.  I expected issues and I got them.  He is fear aggressive (especially at the vet), anxious, and a thief.  He is friendly with other dogs and people and like your Vern is the sweetest funniest dog around.  Some things an be fixed with training and love. but in the end they are what they are just like us.  If you want perfect, then get a nice soft stuffed animal.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Wow Laurie this is great and so true! Kudos to you!

That is EXACTLY what I say to people when they start talking to us about our dogs. Especially because they are mini they think that they can whatever size they want and they say they don"t want it to get too big(are they going to get rid of it if it does?)-I say look at these 2-you never know what you are going to get! People have to know that just because they love their"perfect" dog that it doesn't mean you will get a second "perfect" dog a lot of the times the first dog can change because of this. It has to be considered at least that it might not go well??

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

  You have done a wonderful job of telling it like it is about this breed in a way that is truly informative but funny.  Please consider posting this on the DRC website.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

great blog!  Our Zoe is anything but the perfect dog...but she is the perfect Zoe and we love her to death!  

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

FOUND:  a near-PERFECT writer!  (Laurie, I added "near" so you wouldn't get a big head!) We love you!!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Oh, Carol, you know my Stink Eye better than that! LOL!