Prospective Owner looking for advice

[Kristin & Hudson]

My husband and I have decided that it's time for a dog.  Our first thought was to rescue one from a shelter but we're limited to what we can have because of our allergies. We also want to make sure we own a dog that fits our active lifestyle.  We have a friend with a Golden and we absolutely love the dog - but allergy flair ups really prevent us from owning one.  So we're thinking that a goldendoodle would be the best dog for us.  Unfortunately we don't know of anyone who owns one so we've never had the opportunity to meet one.  Of course we understand that there is no true hypo-allergenic animal (except for maybe a hairless cat - but....).  So my question is, do any of you know of a breeder in the New Jersey area that would allow us to visit a doodle or two to see if our allergies stay in check?  I've read that most don't allow this but we don't live on a farm or have kids or have any other animals so I would think we're not going to carry any diseases. 

It may turn out that a doodle isn't for us.  But from all the research we've done, the intuition of the golden and the intelligence of the poodle would make for the perfect fit.

Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions would be extremely helpful.  Thank you so much for your time.

[Kristin & Hudson]

Thanks Christine.  After doing our initial online searches we found some breeders who wouldn't allow us to visit but after more research we found plenty of others who would.  I would feel more comfortable being able to visit with the dogs first before making a decision.  I'm happy to hear you had such a great experience and are very happy with your ALD.  We have started to look into them as well as the goldendoodle.

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

Hi Kristen,

My husband has severe allergies (wheezing and welts) and we now have one F1B Labradoodle and one F2B with different coats one fleece the other just wavy.  He has had no problem at all, in fact, since we have gotten our first Roxie his allergies have become less severe around other dogs.  The true test was going to the Doodle Get Together and he did not have a reaction from any of the doodles.  I live about 15 minutes from you.  If you want to come play with them, just let me.  I have to tell you Doodles are fantastic :) - Roe

[Kristin & Hudson]

Thanks Rosemarie, I posted a message on your page.  That's good to know that since you have your dogs your husbands allergies have improved.  I wondered if that would happen to us as well.  Thanks for the offer to meet your pups, they are adorable and we would love to meet them.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Lots of great advice already. I think that a Standard Poodle might be a better choice if you have allergies. They are active, loving, and very intelligent. However, if you are set on a Goldendoodle or Labradoodle, definitely go with the later generations, as they have more of a poodle type coat. 

 

Definitely browse DK, look at your local group, maybe go to a romp and meet the doodles. See how your allergies are around them. And definitely look into Standard Poodles to, they are great dogs!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We live off exit 142 - you are welcome to come and visit mine. Just let me know if you want to visit.

I have Samantha, a non-shedding F1; Charli, an F1b something (can't be sure due to being a puppy mill puppy) and then we have Mickey, I believe is an F1b (also a puppy mill doodle).

 

I have not read all the replies but I am sure you have been told that if you want a Doodle, the best thing for you to do is find an adult doodle that has their adult coat. A doodle needing a new home might be something to consider.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Adrianne, do you know where this "adult coat" idea comes from. We discussed earlier in this discussion that allegies are likely due to saliva and dander and not the coat per se so that puppy versus adult coat should not be an issue. But people keep saying this and it makes me wonder if we have cases where the change of coat really was a problem. Any articles etc.? Not saying it isn't so but wondering.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Might it not be that shedding dogs throw off more dander than non-shedding dogs? So if a dog who didn't previously shed starts to shed, couldn't the extra dander being thrown off cause an allergic reaction where there wasn't one previously? I'm just guessing here. I know that people who have dogs allergies are more allergic to dogs who themselves have allergies, like JD, because of the extra scratching/shedding/dander throwing that allergic dogs do.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The first part makes sense if dogs start to shed when they didn't previously. We need some DKers who have had dogs that didn't shed as puppies and then did to shed some light on this : ), if there are such dogs. Breeders might also be aware of this.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

What I meant was that you won't know if a puppy will shed or how much until they are past the 14 month (or so) age. That is IF the allergy is to the shedding and not saliva, etc. The more the shedding, the more the dander.

 

Samantha, being an F1, didn't shed as a puppy. Around a year of age when her coat changed, I thought she might start to shed but she does not. Her coat went from a long, silky, shiny, lab like to wirey and coarse. No one has ever told me that that they have had a reaction to her. Even my BIL who is very allergic cats and lots of dogs, has not had a reaction to her.

Charli, being a F something (Mom came from 2 labradoodles and Dad was a poodle - not sure what that makes her) started life curly and has stayed that way - very poodley. Her coat never changed.

I am no expert on the allergy 'myth' - I only know what I have learned from Karen and so many others here in DK.

[F, Calla & Luca]

More shedding leading to more dander flying around does make sense though. But I think the puppies shed if the adults will shed. One thing that happens sometimes is that we see something on DK or elsewhere and it becomes passed around even if there are no real facts behind it, sort of doodle lore. It happens easily but I think we need to watch for it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do think there are puppies who don't start shedding until they're 7-10 months old. At least, we do hear about it here on DK. I had never heard of a "coat change" before I read about it here. Poodles don't have them.

Don't some other breeds "blow their puppy coats", though?

[F, Calla & Luca]

According to a fast fly by on Google chows and poodles have puppy coats so maybe all dogs do.

"The Chow's thick coat requires a lot of care. Puppy coat is very dense and soft, easily tangled and can take several hours a week to groom. The transition period from puppy to adult coat may take several months and
your Chow needs to be groomed almost daily during that time. Adult coat
is easier to care for but will still need at least an hour or two a week
to look its best and prevent matting. Chows shed seasonally, not daily.
Once or twice a year they shed their coats and you'll literally be
filling trash bags full of hair at that time! Although the smooth coated
variety would seem to be less work, it, too, sheds seasonally and needs
regular, thorough grooming. You'll need to train your Chow to cooperate
and lie on his side during the long hours of grooming. Most Chows would
prefer to be groomed by their owners rather than suffer the indignity
of going to a professional groomer."

"Poodles do have a puppy coat.  This is the coat that a pup  is born with.  Often, this coat will look and feel much different than the future adult coat. 
Many Poodle puppies have very soft, wavy hair as opposed to the adult's thick and curly coat.

For Miniature & Toy Poodles, beginning at approximately 9 months old, a Poodle's coat will steadily change over to their adult coat.  This process usually takes about 9 months.  Therefore, when a Poodle is approximately 18 months old, they will have their full adult coat. In some cases it will be 24 months until the adult coat comes in.  During this time, the coat can become very
matted.  Large matts (tangles) can ruin a coat, often needing to be
clipped off if they cannot be worked out by hand.  For this reason, it
is important to brush the coat with a pin brush very often and thoroughly during this stage.   Once this change over is complete, the coat will be easier to maintain.

This above also happens with Standard Poodles, however this stage does not last quite as long. The Standard Poodle will go through a coat change starting anytime between 9 and 16 months.  The changeover will last approximately 3 months."