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 :)

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

The pictures of Rua are adorable and I agree with you that temperament is everything.  I also don't want an Alpha puppy no matter what sex or how gorgeous looking  as I think I'm just too soft.  You would think looking at her baby coat that she wouldn't even have the beautiful coat that she now has. So a win, win. I Love Rua X

[Dori & Rua]

Awe, thanks Nicky!  I love her to pieces.  Yesterday I went to a 2-hour Digital SLR class that the camera store that I purchased my camera from in December provides.  I was gone about 3 hours (I stopped at the grocery store on the way back).  My DH was home with Rua...he stood at the office window with her as I drove away and said she cried as I left.  She kept running to the back door where her "bye-bye" bag is, like she was waiting for me to come back and get her and take her with me (I usually take her with me on Saturday's while I do all of my errands, but couldn't this time).  I would say that I have created a bit of a Momma's girl...but, she doesn't mind when we both leave her, nor when I take her to daycare twice a week. Since she does well around other people, and will socialize and play with dogs, I guess I can take a bit of a Momma's girl.

[Adina P]

Rua is totally adorable!  She has a lovely coat and I probably would have chosen one just like her BECAUSE her coat was smooth.  Although it was smooth, you can tell it wasn't a short retriever coat plus it was super shiny and that usually indicates a nice fleecy coat. You got lucky with Rua ... she's great!

[Dori & Rua]

Thanks Adina.  I had no idea that the super shiny was indicative of a nice fleecy coat.  I did get lucky...I love the look of the fleecy coats the best!

[Adina P]

Fleece is a texture...soft vs. course.  It can be shaggy/wavy or a bit curlier.   

[Adina P]

I think just telling your breeder you want a more mild mannered dog is plenty.  I wouldn't worry too much about alpha vs. beta vs. whatever.  I don't think you can do more than get a GENERAL idea of personality from those terms.  Dogs aren't always so cut and dry.  Some dogs are very alpha-like with other dogs but aren't pushy with people...and vice versa.  As long as you rule out the most boisterous pushy puppies you should be fine =)  A pup with an obviously lower prey drive would be good if you have cats, but if the pup grows up with the cats then that pup should be fine with them as long as you set the boundaries and the cats do. 

[Dori & Rua]

I agree, Adina.  I happen to have a DH who has picked out many puppies over the course of his life, so he used those terms.  From the spectrum of Alpha to Beta to Omega, I just wanted a middle of the road dog.  Not too boisterous of a dog that had to rule the roost nor a dog that was so timid, it was afraid of it's own shadow.  Part of it is making sure the breeder is asking you the right questions about you/your families lifestyle to make a good match.  Are you (your household) very active or are you (your household couch potatoes) or somewhere in between?  Is your idea of fun going for a jog, followed by eating tofu (both sound awful to me) or sitting on your behind, watching TV all day, with the most active thing being going to the fridge for a snack or somewhere in between?  Etc.

 

 

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

The worst leg hiker I ever met was a dominant female.  Yes female, who could lift her leg higher than any male and really let loose around the house.  She marked every thing  including Spud's head. 

As for males who hike, I've had a few males, all neutered at different ages--actually all neutered after 7 months and none marked in my house.  A few who never lifted their legs.  The heavy Mastiff, was just that, too heavy to bother lifting his leg.

Beards--Spud is a  thick curly curly doodle who has a serious beard going on.   He is also English.  Shorter in height and length. 

  I too,  would rate personality the highest in priority.   

Good luck and have lots of fun with your new puppy. Lucky you.  I miss those days.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I will agree with many of the others and say that personality is key. When we picked Darwin, there were 3 puppies left. Two were white and a little bit curlier, he was more apricot and shaggy. We loved both looks and we had no preference between the three that way. However, his two brothers were very loud, boisterous and nippy. Darwin was mellow and quiet, but still interested in us, not afraid at all. We thought  his personality was a great fit for us and it was. Although his litter was already 12 weeks old... so we had a much better idea of coat and personality

 

When we brought him home to recent:

 

[Camilla and Darwin]

I know the feeling, I could not wait to bring Darwin home! :-)

[Jennifer Tramell]

Picking a puppy - how exciting.  Here's my 2 cents - judge your puppy on the parents.  If you like the personality of the parents, you have a great shot of having a great puppy.  Seems that laid back, calm parents produce laid back, calm pups, etc. 

Our puppy picking experience: Webster was easy - I had pick and I wanted chocolate.  There was only 1 chocolate so - voila! that was my pup.  I had spent time with the parent dogs and I was very comfortable taking any pup from that litter.  With Charlotte I knew I wanted a curly blond girl with a rose nose.  I had 3 to pick from and my DH liked the more apricot color.  We picked Charlotte when she was 4 weeks old and it was clear that she would be curly.  Again, I was confident in the parent dogs so I had no worries choosing based on coat color or type.

I do enjoy watching litters and have watched several litters from both Webster's and Charlotte's parents.  I have seen pups who look like they will be curly (lots of ripples at birth) turn out wavy, and pups who look straight as a board turn out curly/shaggy.  It's a guessing game when dealing with very young pups :-)

The boy/girl question?  My boy is more laid back, my girl is more assertive but both are mild mannered and very affectionate. 

Good Luck & keep us posted!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I told my breeder to go based on temperament - I was different than most and told her I wanted a puppy with spunk like her mother.  I got it!  I didn't care about sex - I originally wanted a male, but the litter only produced two males and 4 females.  Temperament is most important in my opinion.  You will end up loving your puppy no matter what.

 

for what it is worth, another family on the waitlist for Peri's litter had allergies and wanted one with a curlier coat.  So, my breeder gave them the one with the curlier coat that she thought might shed less (with F1s it is too hard to tell).  Peri had a flatter (still slightly curly though) coat.  Look how she has turned out - non-shed and looks exactly like her sister that went to the allergy family:

Peri 7 weeks:

 

Peri and her sister Bella (Peri is on right - Bella had much curlier coat at 7-8 weeks);