Puppy selection based on coat type

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Ok-I have read and read about coats on Goldendoodles. I know there is really no predicting, but there is experience from all my DK friends, right? My puppy will be born next week. I have pick of the litter and must choose the sex right away, and the actual puppy in the fifth week. I want it all really, and that may be the problem! In a nutshell, I want pretty, calm, and smart.

Parents are; dad-red moyen Standard Poodle, mom-cream English Golden Retriever. I chose the English because I like the thick body style. I want my puppy to exhibit the retriever style of short and wide face and thick body with shorter ears, but I also want soft ringlets and a beard. I understand curls mean no beard, and shaggy coats get beards. I also understand that curls are harder to maintain than shaggy coats.

Is there a way for me to look at the litter photos and pick close to what I'm after in looks since I have to choose at least sex immediately? Because what if there are only one or two girls? My breeder's current litter has five boys and one girl and even though you could pick out the curly ones, all their faces and ears look the same. 

I have read on here that some breeders actually pick the puppy based on it's personality to match with the prospective parents. Is that a good idea? Do the puppies really exhibit enough personality at five-eight weeks of age to know whom they should placed with? I want a smart girl who is calm and pretty :)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Sandy, being as I had never had a dog, I did rely heavily on my breeder and she really made sure she knew my priorities and had me list them as to what would be the most important to me. I think it went something like 1.personality,2.male,3.non-shedding,4.color etc.. can't remember exactly, but I was certain I wanted a male and calm, easy-going but energetic enough to run with me. I never could have looked at a litter and made anywhere near as educated a guess as she did in choosing.

You may not get absolutely everything you think you want now. but once you have your puppy he/she will be the most perfect puppy in the world to you.

[April Cliber]

F1's are tricky.  Usually all their coats are pretty flat until 4-6 weeks.  F1b and deeper gens are easier to predict.  He's a couple pictures....

 

F1 English goldendoodles at birth.  See how all their coats are flat?

 

F1b goldendoodles at birth. See the ripples in some of the coats?

[Adina P]

I don't think it's reasonable to pick based on coats prior to 5 weeks.  They start to finally really look like dogs/pups about then and before that there are hints but I'd still want to wait until the last possible day.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have a F3 Labradoodle, but he looks so similar to some of these pictures I thought I would post.

 

Vern as a baby

Vern at one

[BG and Gavin]

I had no idea that Vern was an F3 Labradoodle!  He looks just like Gavin who is an F1 Goldendoodle!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It never ceases to amaze me how little difference there is between some Goldendoodles and some Labradoodles. We already know Vern and Gavin are twins....we just don't know how it happened :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I would be less interested in the sex of the dog than in the personality type and the coat.  I would trust your breeder to help you choose the doodle predicted to have the stockier body,  and personality that suits you as well as the coat.  You need to prioritize what is most important and number them from there because sometimes you can't get everything you want with what is available in that litter.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

when i first got Sasha she was kind of fluffy and wavy... now you would think she is a poodle...she is very poodly.  She is a goldendoodle.  She has the coloring of a golden but the hair of a poodle.  oliver is my first boy dog ever.... i too was worried about him lifting his leg on my flowers... he is 9months old and kind of squats when he pees.  When i picked him from the litter he was curly, his coat now is curly and fluffy ..still kind of puppy like, he is a labradoodle.  It takes me about 2 hrs to groom Sasha and about 45 minutes to groom Oliver.  Sasha's coat is very dense, tight curls/corkscrews.  good luck with your new puppy :)

[Holly St Pierre]

 I know it was mentioned earlier about hiking, I have had 2 male dogs, a maltese I had for 12 years & Gunner, my doodle, I have had for 2.  Neither have ever hiked, both squat

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

If you have to pick the sex first then if there are more boys than girls in the litter choose the sex with most pups, this will give you more choice when you come to the five week stage. I really don't think the boy or girl makes a difference as both are neutered young and you will love whichever. Personality is the next decision and I would be guided by the breeder and hopefully your coat choice will fit in too. Very best of luck getting your perfect puppy, (I'm only a few weeks behind you!)

[BG and Gavin]

This is great advice.  FYI my  boy dosen't leg lift either - he is 1.5 years.  I thought I wanted a girl, but there were only boys available.  Can't imagine having anything else now!

[Dori & Rua]

Rua was the first puppy I ever picked out of a litter.  Before I started, I knew I wanted a red, really curly petite female.  The litter was F1B Miniature Goldendoodles.  When I say the pictures (5 boys and 3 girls), I knew which one I wanted.  Unfortunately, my deposit came in second!  The person before me, though, wasn't sure if she wanted a boy or a girl, her DH wanted a slightly larger puppy.

 

Well, to my great INITIAL disappointment, the women picked the puppy I wanted.  I was so disappointed.  I really wanted her.  The other females foreheads were totally smooth - one red and one copper.  I didn't want a boy, so I was thinking I would have to wait for another litter.  I decided to go visit them (the breeder lives 2-3/4 hours away).  I did some studying on temperments, and decided that a Beta would best suit what I wanted (the breeder did some submission testing and the curly girl was quite a squirmer).  We got out there and the pups were 5-1/2 weeks old.  He brought the 3 girls (including Female Curly) out on the lawn.  She was SOOO cute...she had to been the smaller of the litter, but let me tell you she was quite the ALPHA.  After spending 45 minutes sitting on the grass, interacting with the girl puppies, I decided to pick Female Red (who became Rua - which means red-haired).  Female Red was a Beta, and even though she wasn't curly, I just loved her. 

 

So, here is Rua at about 4 weeks:

 

 

Here was Rua her second day with us at 8-1/2 weeks:

 

And, here is Rua a few weeks ago (she had her first puppy cut 3-1/2 weeks before this):

 

Here is a picture of her wet after a bath, from last weekend:

 

She is not curly obviously, but she has waves going down her back and her hair is a bit spirally!  She has a wonderful temperament (and initially that wasn't even a concern of mine...my DH was the one who brought that up to me), she has proven to be easy to train and is quite smart.  Everyone who sees her comments on her beautiful coat. 

 

So, what I learned was temperament is the most important thing to start with.  Sex, male or female, was second - I didn't want leg-lifting (and yes, many males don't but there is not guarantee) nor did I want to start belly rubbing and have male parts in my way (LOL).  Third ended up being coat!  I ended up with, IMHO, with probably the most beautiful Doodle in all of OMAHA, for sure!!!!!

 

Can't wait to see pictures.  Take lot's of them and record stats and events when you get your new puppy!  Check out our page...I post Rua's puppy stats - helps me remember dates and weights and I have an album called Month by Month, which so far has 7 pictures...the 8th will be taken on 3/27!