Doodle coat question

[Lynn Stoops]

Hi

 

I am not sure where I should have posted this question...my neighbor that loves my doodles started her doodle quest and found a doodle pup that she loves the breeder is sending her some updated photos this week however the breeder sent her a pic of the mama doodle and a puppy pic from last month and I was hoping to get your opinion on this doodles coat and size ~ the breeder said that the puppy has the same soft loose coat as the mom.  The doodle dad is a standard chocolate labradoodle (curly fleece coat).

How would you describe this coat ~ straight, fleece????   Moms coat looks very long and silky my doodles have the fleece coats.  The mama doodle is a standard multi-gen labradoodle according to the breeder.

I think she looks small for a standard doodle???  My neighbor does not want a heavy shedding dog ~ the breeder said that all dogs will shed some hairs (I agree).  My neighbor also wants a standard size doodle  and is concerned that mama doodle looks small.   The pup is 24 pounds at 14 weeks.

 

Thoughts or opinions

 

Thanks!

[Sorana, Darwin and Chance]

Hi Lynn,

 

Yes, that looks like a pretty straight coat on the puppy.  With time he might develop a loose wave (not really a curl), like his mom has.  He's really adorable! 

 

As for size, that's a tricky question.  I remember trying this with my first dog, and it worked pretty well from what I remember:  http://www.goldendoodles.com/care/growth_chart.htm

From that growth chart, it looks like a 24 pound 14 week old pup will grow into a 72-75 lb adult dog.  Obviously there will be some variability in this estimation, but he is a boy, so he will likely grow a bit bigger than his mom.  I can't remember what the threshold weight/height is for standard doodles, but I have a medium and he's only 41lb, so 72 seems quite big to me.

[Amy Murphy]

Hi, I'm a breeder and would describe his coat as 'relaxed fleece'. We have one and they can be low shed. He is very cute, by the way. For size the formula I've heard is this; larger dogs, take their weight at 16 weeks, double it and add 20% of that total. (So if he's 26 pounds at 16 weeks, that's 52 pounds, 20% is 10.4 pounds which comes to around 62 pounds.) And from 16 weeks on, they would probably get another 1 inch in height average per month until 9 months of age. But look at the parents, puppy should fall between their two sizes. Weight also depends on the frame of mom and dad, they could be husky or pretty thin which would also add a variable. It is a tough call though, you can be surprised in either direction.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would say that a pup who is 24 pounds at 14 weeks is going to be a good-sized dog.  I would also be concerned if the pup is 14 weeks and still with the breeder.  He is really overaged now for a puppy.  Both the parents are labradoodles?  That is also a little unusual.  The F1b is a labradoodle bred back to a poodle, but I thought it was unadvisable to breed labradoodles to other labradoodles.  Multi-generational?  I think that is common with Australian Labradoodles, but not with labradoodles.  Check it out before commiting to this pup.  He is darling, but some things to be considered.

[Lynn Stoops]

Thanks Lynda

Is there a reason you should not bred 2 Labradoodles? I think with the economy puppies are staying with the breeders longer ~ just taking longer to find forever homes.

I will be interested in hearing about breeding the 2 Labradoodles ~ I had never heard that before.

[Adina P]

It's FINE to breed two labradoodles.  That's how you get multigenerational labradoodles.  Usually it's breeding F1 to F1 that is not done unless a breeder has a very specific goal in mind for furthering their program.  That's because two F1's bred together will create the BIGGEST variation in doodles.  There will be more that are likely to look like retrievers and more that will likely look like poodles than in other types of litters.

[Adina P]

Not all pups sell right away thought that is the ideal.  I would definitely want to know the breeder spent time socializing it to all sorts of people and places by this time, though.  8-12 weeks is a critical socialization time.

[Adina P]

There's shedding...and there's SHEDDING. Poodles DO NOT shed...ever. Just like people.  Of course if you brush your hair and do things that pull hairs or break hairs then hair will come out.  But usually 'shedding' refers to hair that falls out on its own rather than keeps growing.  So no not all dogs shed.  All dogs will lose hair from breakage and brushing...but nonshedding dogs don't just drop hair on the ground as they walk like labs and retrievers do.  The second photo looks promising.  Remember "Standard" means the dog's height is: 21 to 24 inches to the shoulder.  21 inches is not huge but still qualifies.  24lbs at 14 weeks sounds like she very well will end up 'standard'. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

I have a fleece/wooly doodle who does not shed. His hair comes out when I am brushing him but not on its own. Our puppy has much straighter hair and some big waves. He sheds some. I have seen doodle owners here say their dogs shed more than any dog they ever had. If she wants a dog that doesn't shed she needs to find a curlier one. My pup looked a little like this one at 14 weeks but had/has waves on his back.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I know I am a bit late but wanted to throw my opinion in since I have been doing this for a very long time.  The mom has a shedding fleece coat or a hair fleece combo coat. The pup may end up with the same type of coat, the coat is very thin. If it does shape up it will be a wavy fleece.